EXHIBIT 10.3

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                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                           Dated as of March 12, 1996,



                                      Among



               SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD COMMUNICATIONS CORP.,


                            SHARED TECHNOLOGIES INC.,


                         THE LENDERS REFERRED TO HEREIN,


                     THE FRONTING BANKS REFERRED TO HEREIN,


                                 CREDIT SUISSE,
                        as Arranger, Administrative Agent
                              and Collateral Agent

                               CITICORP USA, INC.
                             as Documentation Agent

                                       and


                                NATIONSBANK, N.A.
                             as Documentation Agent




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                                                        [CS&M Ref. No. 5874-122]






                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                                                                              Page

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   Definitions

                                                                                          
SECTION 1.01.       Defined Terms...............................................................1
SECTION 1.02.       Terms Generally.............................................................22


                                   ARTICLE II

                                   The Credits

SECTION 2.01.       Commitments.................................................................22
SECTION 2.02.       Loans.......................................................................22
SECTION 2.03.       Borrowing Procedure.........................................................24
SECTION 2.04.       Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans........................................25
SECTION 2.05.       Fees........................................................................25
SECTION 2.06.       Interest on Loans...........................................................26
SECTION 2.07.       Default Interest............................................................27
SECTION 2.08.       Alternate Rate of Interest..................................................27
SECTION 2.09.       Termination and Reduction of Commitments....................................27
SECTION 2.10.       Conversion and Continuation of Term Borrowings..............................28
SECTION 2.11.       Repayment of Term Borrowings................................................29
SECTION 2.12.       Optional Prepayments........................................................30
SECTION 2.13.       Mandatory Prepayments.......................................................30
SECTION 2.14.       Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances...............................32
SECTION 2.15        Change in Legality..........................................................33
SECTION 2.16.       Indemnity...................................................................34
SECTION 2.17.       Pro Rata Treatment..........................................................34
SECTION 2.18.       Sharing of Setoffs..........................................................34
SECTION 2.19.       Payments....................................................................35
SECTION 2.20.       Taxes.......................................................................35
SECTION 2.21.       Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances; Duty to
                    Mitigate....................................................................37
SECTION 2.22.       Letters of Credit...........................................................38


                                   ARTICLE III

                         Representations and Warranties

SECTION 3.01.       Organization; Powers........................................................42
SECTION 3.02.       Authorization...............................................................42
SECTION 3.03.       Enforceability..............................................................43





SECTION 3.04.       Governmental Approvals......................................................43
SECTION 3.05.       Financial Statements........................................................43
SECTION 3.06.       No Material Adverse Change..................................................44
SECTION 3.07.       Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases................................44
SECTION 3.08.       Subsidiaries................................................................44
SECTION 3.09.       Litigation; Compliance with Laws............................................44
SECTION 3.10.       Agreements..................................................................44
SECTION 3.11.       Federal Reserve Regulations.................................................45
SECTION 3.12.       Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act..................45
SECTION 3.13.       Use of Proceeds.............................................................45
SECTION 3.14.       Tax Returns.................................................................45
SECTION 3.15.       No Material Misstatements...................................................45
SECTION 3.16.       Employee Benefit Plans......................................................46
SECTION 3.17.       Environmental Matters.......................................................46
SECTION 3.18.       Insurance...................................................................46
SECTION 3.19.       Security Documents..........................................................47
SECTION 3.20.       Location of Real Property and Leased Premises...............................47
SECTION 3.21.       Labor Matters...............................................................47
SECTION 3.22.       Solvency....................................................................48


                                   ARTICLE IV

                              Conditions of Lending

SECTION 4.01.       All Credit Events...........................................................48
SECTION 4.02.       First Credit Event..........................................................49


                                    ARTICLE V

                              Affirmative Covenants

SECTION 5.01.       Existence; Businesses and Properties........................................52
SECTION 5.02.       Insurance...................................................................52
SECTION 5.03.       Obligations and Taxes.......................................................53
SECTION 5.04.       Financial Statements, Reports, etc..........................................53
SECTION 5.05.       Litigation and Other Notices................................................55
SECTION 5.06.       Employee Benefits...........................................................55
SECTION 5.07.       Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections...................55
SECTION 5.08.       Use of Proceeds.............................................................55
SECTION 5.09.       Compliance with Environmental Laws..........................................55
SECTION 5.10.       Preparation of Environmental Reports........................................56
SECTION 5.11.       Further Assurances..........................................................56
SECTION 5.12.       Fiscal Year.................................................................57
SECTION 5.13.       Interest Rate Protection Agreements.........................................57
SECTION 5.14.       Corporate Identity..........................................................57





                                   ARTICLE VI

                               Negative Covenants

SECTION 6.01.       Indebtedness................................................................57
SECTION 6.02.       Liens.......................................................................58
SECTION 6.03.       Sale and Lease-Back Transactions............................................59
SECTION 6.04.       Investments, Loans and Advances.............................................59
SECTION 6.05.       Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions...................60
SECTION 6.06.       Dividends and Distributions; Restrictions on Ability of Subsidiaries
                    to Pay Dividends............................................................61
SECTION 6.07.       Transactions with Affiliates................................................62
SECTION 6.08.       Business of STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.........................62
SECTION 6.09.       Other Indebtedness and Agreements...........................................62
SECTION 6.10.       Capital Expenditures........................................................63
SECTION 6.11.       Minimum EBITDA..............................................................64
SECTION 6.12.       Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.................................................64
SECTION 6.13.       Leverage Ratio..............................................................64
SECTION 6.14        Interest Expense Coverage Ratio.............................................64
SECTION 6.15        Minimum Net Worth...........................................................64


                                   ARTICLE VII

                                Events of Default

                    Events of Default...........................................................64


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   The Agents

                    The Agents..................................................................66


                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.01.       Notices.....................................................................68
SECTION 9.02.       Survival of Agreement.......................................................69
SECTION 9.03.       Binding Effect..............................................................69
SECTION 9.04.       Successors and Assigns......................................................69
SECTION 9.05.       Expenses; Indemnity.........................................................72
SECTION 9.06.       Right of Setoff.............................................................73
SECTION 9.07.       Applicable Law..............................................................73
SECTION 9.08.       Waivers; Amendment..........................................................73





SECTION 9.09.       Interest Rate Limitation....................................................74
SECTION 9.10.       Entire Agreement............................................................74
SECTION 9.11.       Waiver of Jury Trial........................................................74
SECTION 9.12.       Severability................................................................75
SECTION 9.13.       Counterparts................................................................75
SECTION 9.14.       Headings....................................................................75
SECTION 9.15.       Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.................................75
SECTION 9.16.       Confidentiality ............................................................76



                             Exhibits and Schedules


                        
Exhibit A                  Form of Administrative Questionnaire
Exhibit B                  Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit C                  Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit D                  Form of Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement
Exhibit E                  Form of Parent Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit F                  Form of Pledge Agreement
Exhibit G                  Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit H                  Form of Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit I-1                Form of Opinion of Gadsby & Hannah, counsel for STFI and the Borrower
Exhibit I-2                Form of Opinions of other counsel



Schedule 2.01              Lenders
Schedule 2.20              Fronting Banks
Schedule 3.08              Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.09              Litigation
Schedule 3.17              Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.18              Insurance
Schedule 3.20(b)           Leased Premises
Schedule 4.02(a)           Counsel
Schedule 4.02(q)           Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.01(a)           Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02              Liens
Schedule 6.04              Investments
Schedule 6.11              Minimum EBITDA
Schedule 6.13              Leverage Ratio
Schedule 6.14              Interest Expense Coverage Ratio







                                                                 CONFORMED COPY





                                    CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of March 12, 1996,
                           among SHARED  TECHNOLOGIES  FAIRCHILD  COMMUNICATIONS
                           CORP.,  a  Delaware   corporation  (the  "Borrower"),
                           SHARED  TECHNOLOGIES  INC.,  a  Delaware  corporation
                           ("STFI",  which term shall, after the Merger referred
                           to herein,  include the surviving corporation in such
                           Merger), the financial institutions from time to time
                           party hereto, initially consisting of those financial
                           institutions listed on Schedule 2.01 (the "Lenders"),
                           CREDIT  SUISSE,  a bank  organized  under the laws of
                           Switzerland,  acting through its New York branch,  as
                           administrative   agent   (in   such   capacity,   the
                           "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral  agent (in
                           such  capacity,   the  "Collateral  Agent")  for  the
                           Lenders,  the fronting  banks listed on Schedule 2.20
                           (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of CITICORP  USA,
                           INC. and NATIONSBANK,  N.A., as  documentation  agent
                           (individually and collectively in such capacity,  the
                           "Documentation Agent").

                  The Borrower has requested the Lenders to extend credit in the
form of (a) Tranche A Term Loans (such term and each other capitalized term used
but not defined herein having the meaning  assigned thereto in Article I) on the
Closing Date, in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $50,000,000, (b)
Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date, in an aggregate  principal  amount not
in excess of $70,000,000,  (c) Revolving Loans at any time and from time to time
prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal amount at
any time outstanding not in excess of the difference between $25,000,000 and the
L/C Exposure at such time and (d) Letters of Credit at any time and from time to
time prior to the Revolving  Credit Maturity Date, in an aggregate stated amount
at any time outstanding not in excess of $5,000,000.  The proceeds of Term Loans
will be used,  on the Closing  Date,  together with a portion of the proceeds of
the Discount Notes, to discharge in full the Specified  Liabilities.  Letters of
Credit and the  proceeds of Revolving  Loans will be used for general  corporate
purposes.

                  The Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the  Borrower
and the Fronting Banks are willing to issue Letters of Credit for the account of
the  Borrower  on the terms and  subject  to the  conditions  set forth  herein.
Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:


ARTICLE I.  DEFINITIONS

                  SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms. As used in this  Agreement,  the
following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

                  "ABR Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans.

                  "ABR Loan" shall mean any ABR Term Loan or ABR Revolving Loan.

                  "ABR  Revolving  Loan" shall mean any  Revolving  Loan bearing
interest  at a rate  determined  by  reference  to the  Alternate  Base  Rate in
accordance with the provisions of Article II.

                  "ABR Term Borrowing"  shall mean a Borrowing  comprised of ABR
Term Loans.


 


                  "ABR Term Loan" shall mean any Term Loan bearing interest at a
rate  determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate in accordance  with the
provisions of Article II.

                  "Accreted  Value" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 1.01 of the Discount Note Indenture.

                  "Acquired Business" shall mean the telecommunications business
of FII.

                  "Acquisition Documents" shall mean all documentation effecting
or entered into in  connection  with (a) the FII  Reorganization,  including the
transfer  of assets  and the  assumption  of  liabilities  not  included  in the
Acquired  Business  from FII to RHI or other  persons,  or (b) the  Merger,  the
Section 351 Exchange and the other Acquisition Transactions.

                  "Acquisition  Transactions" shall mean the acquisition by STFI
of the Acquired Business in the series of transactions described in the Offering
Circular,  pursuant to which (a) FII and its Affiliates  will consummate the FII
Reorganization;  (b) the Borrower will issue the Discount Notes and will receive
gross proceeds of not less than $100,000,000 therefrom;  (c) STFI will adopt the
Amendments to Charter and Bylaws;  (d) the Merger will be consummated;  (e) STFI
will issue to RHI, the holder of all the issued and outstanding  common stock of
FII, as consideration in respect of the cancellation of all such common stock in
the Merger (i) the  Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  (ii) the Special
Preferred  Stock  and  (iii)  6,000,000  shares  of  common  stock of STFI  and,
immediately upon the effectiveness of the Merger,  the transactions set forth in
the Exchange  Agreement shall be consummated;  (f) RHI will cancel all preferred
stock of FII held by it and the  holders of all the  preferred  stock of FII not
held by RHI will receive the Preferred  Consideration  in respect  thereof in an
aggregate amount equal to approximately  $39,600,000;  (g) STFI and the Borrower
will  consummate  the Section 351  Exchange;  (h) STFI will assume the  Existing
Indebtedness  and the FII  Senior  Notes in an  aggregate  principal  amount  of
$125,000,000,  all of which will be prepaid upon the consummation of the Merger;
and (i) the Borrower  will in  consideration  of the Section 351 Exchange pay an
amount  to  STFI   sufficient  to  enable  it  to  consummate  the   Acquisition
Transactions to be consummated by it.

                  "Adjusted   LIBO  Rate"  shall  mean,   with  respect  to  any
Eurodollar  Borrowing  for any  Interest  Period,  an  interest  rate per  annum
(rounded upwards, if necessary,  to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the product of
(a) the LIBO Rate in effect for such Interest Period and (b) Statutory Reserves.

                  "Administrative Agent Fees" shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in Section  2.05(b).

                  "Administrative  Questionnaire"  shall mean an  Administrative
Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit A.

                  "Affiliate"  shall mean, when used with respect to a specified
person,  another  person  that  directly,  or  indirectly  through  one or  more
intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the
person specified.

                  "Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure" shall mean the aggregate
amount of the Lenders' Revolving Credit Exposures.


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                  "Alternate  Base  Rate"  shall  mean,  for any day, a rate per
annum  (rounded  upwards,  if  necessary,  to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to the
greater  of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the  Federal  Funds
Effective  Rate in  effect  on such day plus 1/2 of 1%.  If for any  reason  the
Administrative  Agent  shall  have  determined  (which  determination  shall  be
conclusive  absent  manifest  error) that it is unable to ascertain  the Federal
Funds   Effective   Rate  for  any  reason,   including  the  inability  of  the
Administrative  Agent to obtain  sufficient  quotations in  accordance  with the
terms of the  definition  thereof,  the Alternate  Base Rate shall be determined
without regard to clause (b) of the preceding  sentence until the  circumstances
giving rise to such inability no longer exist.  Any change in the Alternate Base
Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall
be  effective  on the  effective  date of such  change in the Prime  Rate or the
Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

                   "Amendments  to Charter and Bylaws" shall mean the amendments
to charter and bylaws of STFI described in the Proxy Statement.

                  "ANSI" shall mean Access Network Services Inc., a wholly owned
Subsidiary of ATG.

                  "Applicable  Percentage" of any Revolving Credit Lender at any
time  shall  mean  the  percentage  of the  Total  Revolving  Credit  Commitment
represented  by such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit  Commitment.  In the event the
Revolving  Credit  Commitments  shall  have  expired  or  been  terminated,  the
Applicable  Percentages shall be determined on the basis of the Revolving Credit
Commitments  most  recently  in  effect,  but  giving  effect to any  subsequent
assignments pursuant to Section 9.04.

                  "Assignment  and  Acceptance"  shall  mean an  assignment  and
acceptance  entered  into by a  Lender  and an  assignee,  and  accepted  by the
Administrative  Agent,  in the form of  Exhibit B or such other form as shall be
approved by the Administrative Agent.

                  "ATG"  shall mean  Access  Telecommunication  Group,  L.P.,  a
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

                  "Board"  shall  mean the  Board of  Governors  of the  Federal
Reserve System of the United States of America.

                  "Borrowing"  shall mean a group of Loans of a single Type made
by the Lenders on a single date and as to which a single  Interest  Period is in
effect.

                  "Borrowing  Request"  shall mean a request by the  Borrower in
accordance  with the  terms of  Section  2.03 and  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit C.

                  "Business  Day"  shall  mean any day  other  than a  Saturday,
Sunday or day on which banks in New York City are  authorized or required by law
to close;  provided,  however,  that when used in  connection  with a Eurodollar
Loan,  the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any day on which banks are not
open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

                  "Capital  Expenditures"  shall mean, for any person in respect
of any period, the sum of (a) the aggregate of all expenditures incurred by such
person  during such  period  that,  in  accordance  with GAAP,  are or should be
included in "additions to property, plant or equipment" or similar items


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reflected  in the  statement  of cash flows of such person and (b) to the extent
not  covered by clause (a) above,  the  aggregate  of all  expenditures  by such
person to acquire by  purchase  or  otherwise  the  business,  property or fixed
assets of, or stock or other  evidence  of  beneficial  ownership  of, any other
person;   provided,   however,  that  Capital  Expenditures  shall  not  include
expenditures of proceeds of insurance  settlements in respect of lost, destroyed
or damaged assets,  equipment or other property to the extent such  expenditures
are made to replace or repair such lost, destroyed or damaged assets,  equipment
or other property within 12 months of such destruction or damage.

                  "Capital  Lease  Obligations"  of any  person  shall  mean the
obligations  of such person to pay rent or other  amounts under any lease of (or
other arrangement  conveying the right to use) real or personal  property,  or a
combination  thereof,  which  obligations  are  required  to be  classified  and
accounted  for as capital  leases on a balance  sheet of such person under GAAP,
and the  amount of such  obligations  shall be the  capitalized  amount  thereof
determined in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Capital  Stock" of any person  shall mean any and all shares,
interests,  rights  to  purchase,  warrants,  options,  participation  or  other
equivalents  of or  interests  in (however  designated)  equity of such  person,
including any preferred stock, any limited or general  partnership  interest and
any limited  liability  company  membership  interest,  but  excluding  any debt
securities convertible into such equity.

                  "Certificates  of  Designation"   shall  mean  the  respective
certificates of designation  establishing the Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred
Stock and the Special  Preferred Stock, in each case in  substantially  the form
delivered to the Lenders  under cover of a letter  dated March 9, 1996,  with no
changes therefrom  adverse to the Borrower or the Lenders,  as amended from time
to time in accordance with Section 6.09.

                  A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if

                  (a)  STFI  shall  fail to own  directly,  beneficially  and of
         record,  free and clear of any and all Liens (other than Liens in favor
         of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Pledge Agreement),  100% of the
         issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Borrower;

                  (b)  RHI  and  the  Management  Investors  (collectively,  the
         "Designated  Persons") or any  combination of Designated  Persons shall
         cease to own  beneficially,  directly or  indirectly,  in the aggregate
         shares representing at least 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power
         represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of STFI;

                  (c) any person or group  (within  the meaning of Rule 13d-5 of
         the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 as in effect on the date hereof)
         other than the Designated  Persons shall own beneficially,  directly or
         indirectly, shares representing more than 25% of the aggregate ordinary
         voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of
         STFI;

                  (d) a majority of the seats  (excluding  vacant  seats) on the
         board of  directors  of STFI shall at any time after the  Closing  Date
         have been occupied by persons who were neither (i) nominated by any one
         or more  Designated  Persons or by a majority of the board of directors
         of STFI nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated;


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                  (e) RHI shall fail to own at any time  directly,  beneficially
         and of  record,  free and clear of any and all Liens,  all the  Special
         Preferred Stock outstanding at such time;

                  (f) The Fairchild  Corporation  shall fail to own, directly or
         indirectly,  beneficially and of record,  free and clear of any and all
         Liens, at least 51% of the issued and outstanding  Capital Stock of RHI
         or shall otherwise fail to Control RHI;

                  (g) Jeffrey J.  Steiner,  The Fairchild  Corporation,  RHI and
         their  Affiliates  collectively  shall own  beneficially,  directly  or
         indirectly, shares representing more than 49% of the aggregate ordinary
         voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of
         STFI; or

                  (h) a change in control  with  respect to STFI or the Borrower
         (or  similar  event,  however  denominated)  shall  occur  under and as
         defined  in any  Certificate  of  Designation  or in any  indenture  or
         agreement  in  respect  of  Indebtedness  in an  aggregate  outstanding
         principal amount in excess of $1,000,000 to which STFI, the Borrower or
         any Subsidiary is party.

                  "Closing  Date" shall mean a single  date  (which  shall in no
event be later than April 15,  1996) on which the initial  Credit  Event  occurs
hereunder.

                  "Code"  shall  mean the  Internal  Revenue  Code of  1986,  as
amended from time to ---- time.

                  "Collateral" shall mean all the "Collateral" as defined in any
Security Document.

                  "Commitment  Fee" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 2.05(a).

                  "Commitments"  shall mean,  with  respect to any Lender,  such
Lender's Revolving
Credit Commitment and Term Loan Commitment.

                  "Confidential   Information   Memorandum"   shall   mean   the
Confidential Information Memorandum of the Borrower dated February, 1996.

                  "Consolidated  Cash Interest Expense" shall mean, with respect
to STFI,  the  Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis for any
period,  Consolidated  Interest  Expense  for  such  period  less the sum of (a)
pay-in-kind or accreted  Consolidated Interest Expense not involving any payment
of cash,  (b) to the extent  included  in  Consolidated  Interest  Expense,  the
amortization of fees paid by STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary on or prior to
the  Closing  Date  in  connection  with  the  Acquisition  Transactions  or  in
connection  with the incurrence of any  Indebtedness  incurred after the Closing
Date and (c) the  amortization of debt discounts,  if any, or fees in respect of
Interest Rate Protection Agreements.

                   "Consolidated  Current  Assets"  shall mean,  with respect to
STFI, the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis at any date of
determination,  all assets (other than cash and Permitted  Investments  or other
cash  equivalents)  that would,  in  accordance  with GAAP,  be  classified on a
consolidated balance sheet of STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as current
assets at such date of determination.


                                       5



                  "Consolidated Current Liabilities" shall mean, with respect to
STFI, the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis at any date of
determination,   all  liabilities  that  would,  in  accordance  with  GAAP,  be
classified  on a  consolidated  balance  sheet of  STFI,  the  Borrower  and the
Subsidiaries as current  liabilities at such date of  determination,  other than
(a) the current portion of long-term Indebtedness,  (b) accruals of Consolidated
Interest  Expense  (excluding  Consolidated  Interest  Expense  that  is due and
unpaid),  (c)  Revolving  Loans  classified  as  current  and  (d)  accruals  of
transaction costs resulting from the Acquisition Transactions.

                  "Consolidated  Interest  Expense" shall mean,  with respect to
STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis for any period,
interest  and fees  accrued,  accreted  or paid by STFI,  the  Borrower  and the
Subsidiaries  during such  period in respect of the  Indebtedness  of STFI,  the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries,  determined on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP.

                  "Consolidated  Working  Capital"  shall mean,  with respect to
STFI, the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis at any date of
determination,  Consolidated  Current Assets at such date of determination minus
Consolidated Current Liabilities at such date of determination.

                  "Control" shall mean the  possession,  directly or indirectly,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a
person,  whether  through the  ownership  of voting  securities,  by contract or
otherwise,  and "Controlling" and "Controlled"  shall have meanings  correlative
thereto.

                  "Credit Event" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.01.

                  "Cumulative   Convertible  Preferred  Stock"  shall  mean  the
cumulative  convertible  preferred  stock of STFI  with an  initial  liquidation
preference  of  $25,000,000  to be issued to RHI on the Closing Date pursuant to
the Exchange Agreement.

                  "Debt Service" shall mean,  with respect to STFI, the Borrower
and the  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis for any period,  the sum of (a)
Consolidated  Cash Interest  Expense of STFI, the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries
for such period plus (b) scheduled principal amortization of Total Debt for such
period (whether or not such payments are made).

                  "Default" shall mean any event or condition which upon notice,
lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

                  "Discount  Exchange  Notes"  shall  mean  senior  subordinated
discount  notes of the Borrower  issued in exchange for Discount  Notes on terms
substantially identical to the terms of the Discount Notes.

                  "Discount Note Guarantees" shall mean the senior  subordinated
Guarantees of the Discount Notes by the Guarantors  given on the Closing Date on
terms  satisfactory  to the  Lenders  and  any  subsequent  senior  subordinated
Guarantees by the  Guarantors on terms no less  favorable to the  Guarantors and
the Lenders of the  Indebtedness of the Borrower under the Discount Notes or the
Discount Exchange Notes.

                  "Discount Note Indenture" shall mean the indenture pursuant to
which the Discount Notes are issued,  in substantially  the form of the draft of
March 8, 1996, thereof, delivered to the


                                       6




Lenders under cover of a letter dated March 9, 1996,  with no changes  therefrom
adverse  to the  Borrower  or the  Lenders,  as  amended  from  time  to time in
accordance with Section 6.09.

                  "Discount  Note  Value"  shall  mean at any time the  Accreted
Value at such time of the Discount  Notes  issued on the Closing Date  (assuming
such  Discount  Notes  remained  outstanding  at such time) minus the  aggregate
amount  at such  time of the  Accreted  Value of  Discount  Notes  and  Discount
Exchange Notes repaid or prepaid on or prior to such time  (calculated  assuming
the applicable original Discount Notes remained outstanding until such time.)

                  "Discount Notes" shall mean the Senior  Subordinated  Discount
Notes of the Borrower issued pursuant to the Discount Note Indenture.

                  "dollars" or "$" shall mean lawful money of the United  States
of America.

                  "EBITDA"  shall mean,  with respect to STFI,  the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, the net income of STFI,
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis for such period plus,
to the extent  deducted in  computing  such  consolidated  net  income,  without
duplication,  the sum of (a) income  tax  expense,  (b)  interest  expense,  (c)
depreciation and amortization  expense,  (d) any  extraordinary or non-recurring
losses and (e) other noncash items reducing  consolidated net income,  minus, to
the extent added in computing such consolidated net income, without duplication,
the sum of (i) interest income,  (ii) any  extraordinary or non-recurring  gains
and (iii) other noncash items increasing consolidated net income,  determined on
a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

                  "ECF  Percentage"  shall mean 75%, except that if the Leverage
Ratio as of the December 31 immediately preceding any date on which a prepayment
is to be made  pursuant  to Section  2.13(c)  shall be less than 4.00,  the "ECF
Percentage" applicable to such prepayment shall be 50%.

                  "environment"  shall  mean  ambient  air,  surface  water  and
groundwater  (including potable water,  navigable water and wetlands),  the land
surface or  subsurface  strata,  the  workplace or as  otherwise  defined in any
Environmental Law.

                  "Environmental  Claim"  shall  mean  any  written  accusation,
allegation,  notice of violation, claim, demand, order, directive, cost recovery
action or other cause of action by, or on behalf of, any Governmental  Authority
or any person for damages,  injunctive  or  equitable  relief,  personal  injury
(including  sickness,  disease or death),  Remedial  Action  costs,  tangible or
intangible property damage, natural resource damages,  nuisance,  pollution, any
adverse  effect on the  environment  caused by any  Hazardous  Material,  or for
fines,  penalties  or  restrictions,  resulting  from  or  based  upon:  (a) the
existence,  or the continuation of the existence, of a Release (including sudden
or  non-sudden,  accidental  or  non-accidental  Releases);  (b) exposure to any
Hazardous Material; (c) the presence,  use, handling,  transportation,  storage,
treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Material; or (d) the violation or alleged
violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.

                  "Environmental  Law" shall mean any and all applicable present
and future  treaties,  laws,  rules,  regulations,  codes,  ordinances,  orders,
decrees,   judgments,   injunctions,   notices  or  binding  agreements  issued,
promulgated or entered into by any Governmental  Authority,  relating in any way
to


                                       7


the  environment,   preservation  or  reclamation  of  natural  resources,   the
management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health
and safety matters.

                  "Environmental  Permit"  shall  mean  any  permit,   approval,
authorization,  certificate, license, variance, filing or permission required by
or from any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Law.

                  "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as the same may be amended from time to time.

                  "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean any trade or business (whether or
not  incorporated)  that,  together  with the  Borrower,  is treated as a single
employer  under  Section  414(b) or (c) of the Code,  or solely for  purposes of
Section  302 of ERISA  and  Section  412 of the  Code,  is  treated  as a single
employer under Section 414 of the Code.

                  "ERISA  Event"  shall  mean  (a) any  "reportable  event",  as
defined in Section  4043 of ERISA or the  regulations  issued  thereunder,  with
respect  to a Plan;  (b) the  adoption  of any  amendment  to a Plan that  would
require the provision of security pursuant to Section  401(a)(29) of the Code or
Section  307 of  ERISA;  (c)  the  existence  with  respect  to any  Plan  of an
"accumulated  funding  deficiency"  (as  defined in  Section  412 of the Code or
Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (d) the filing pursuant to Section
412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application  for a waiver of
the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (e) the incurrence of any
liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan or
the  withdrawal  or  partial  withdrawal  of the  Borrower  or any of its  ERISA
Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer  Plan; (f) the receipt by the Borrower
or any  ERISA  Affiliate  from the PBGC or a plan  administrator  of any  notice
relating to the intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee
to administer any Plan;  (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate
of  any  notice   concerning  the  imposition  of  Withdrawal   Liability  or  a
determination  that a Multiemployer  Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or
in  reorganization,  within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; (h) the occurrence
of a "prohibited  transaction"  with respect to which the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is a  "disqualified  person" (within the meaning of Section 4975 of
the Code) or with  respect to which the  Borrower or any such  Subsidiary  could
otherwise be liable; and (i) any other event or condition with respect to a Plan
or  Multiemployer  Plan that could reasonably be expected to result in liability
of the Borrower.

                  "Eurodollar  Borrowing"  shall mean a Borrowing  comprised  of
Eurodollar Loans.

                  "Eurodollar Loan" shall mean any Eurodollar  Revolving Loan or
Eurodollar Term Loan.

                  "Eurodollar  Revolving  Loan"  shall mean any  Revolving  Loan
bearing  interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate in
accordance with the provisions of Article II.

                  "Eurodollar Term Borrowing"  shall mean a Borrowing  comprised
of Eurodollar Term Loans.

                  "Eurodollar  Term  Loan"  shall  mean  any Term  Loan  bearing
interest  at a rate  determined  by  reference  to the  Adjusted  LIBO  Rate  in
accordance with the provisions of Article II.


                                       8




                  "Event of  Default"  shall have the  meaning  assigned to such
term in Article VII.

                  "Excess  Cash Flow"  shall  mean,  with  respect to STFI,  the
Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis for any fiscal  year,
EBITDA of STFI, the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  on a consolidated  basis for
such fiscal year,  minus,  without  duplication,  (a) Debt Service of STFI,  the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, (b) Capital  Expenditures by
STFI,  the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis during such
fiscal  year  that are paid in cash,  (c) all  taxes  paid in cash by STFI,  the
Borrower and the  Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis during such fiscal year,
(d) an amount equal to any increase in Consolidated Working Capital of STFI, the
Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  during such fiscal year,  (e) dividends  paid by
STFI (i) on the Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred Stock during such fiscal year
in an  aggregate  amount  not in excess of  $1,500,000  and (ii) on the Series C
Preferred  Stock of STFI and the Series D  Preferred  Stock of STFI  during such
fiscal  year  in an  aggregate  amount  not in  excess  of  $400,000,  (f)  cash
expenditures made in respect of Interest Rate Protection  Agreements during such
fiscal year,  to the extent not  reflected  in the  computation  of EBITDA,  (g)
amounts  paid in cash  during  such  fiscal  year on  account of items that were
accounted for as noncash  reductions  of  consolidated  net income of STFI,  the
Borrower  and  the  Subsidiaries  in the  current  or a  prior  period,  (h) any
extraordinary or non-recurring loss paid in cash during such fiscal year and (i)
to the extent added in determining  EBITDA, all items that did not result from a
cash payment to STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis
during such fiscal year plus,  without  duplication,  (i) an amount equal to any
decrease in  Consolidated  Working  Capital  during such fiscal  year,  (ii) all
proceeds received during such fiscal year of Capital Lease Obligations, purchase
money  Indebtedness and any other Indebtedness to the extent used to finance any
Capital  Expenditure (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement to the extent
there is no corresponding  deduction to Excess Cash Flow above in respect of the
use of such  Borrowings  for such  fiscal year or any prior  period),  (iii) all
amounts  referred to in clause (b) above to the extent  funded with the proceeds
of the  issuance of Capital  Stock of STFI after the Closing  Date or any amount
that would have  constituted  Net Proceeds under clause (a) of the definition of
"Net  Proceeds"  if not  so  spent,  in  each  case  to the  extent  there  is a
corresponding  deduction  to Excess  Cash Flow above for such fiscal year or any
prior period, (iv) cash payments received in respect of Interest Rate Protection
Agreements during such fiscal year to the extent not included in EBITDA, (v) any
extraordinary  or  non-recurring  gain  realized in cash during such fiscal year
(except to the extent  such gain is  subject  to Section  2.13(b)),  (vi) to the
extent  subtracted in the computation of EBITDA,  interest income,  (vii) to the
extent  subtracted in determining  EBITDA,  all items that did not result from a
cash payment by STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis
during  such  fiscal  year and  (viii)  any cash  dividends  or any  other  cash
distributions paid or made by, and received from, any Unrestricted Subsidiary or
any STFI Unrestricted Subsidiary.

                  "Exchange  Agreement"  shall mean the Agreement to Exchange 6%
Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred Stock and Special Preferred Stock dated as of
March 1, 1996, among FII, RHI, The Fairchild Corporation and STFI.

                  "Existing Indebtedness" shall mean the existing bank and other
Indebtedness  of FII set forth on  Schedule  4.02(q) in an  aggregate  principal
amount not in excess of $58,000,000.

                  "Federal  Funds  Effective  Rate" shall mean, for any day, the
weighted  average of the rates on  overnight  Federal  funds  transactions  with
members of the Federal  Reserve  System  arranged by Federal funds  brokers,  as
published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York,  or, if such rate is not so published  for any day that is a Business Day,
the average of the


                                       9



quotations  for the day for such  transactions  received  by the  Administrative
Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

                  "Fee  Letter"  shall mean the Fee Letter  dated  February  15,
1996, between STFI and the Administrative Agent.

                  "Fees"  shall mean the  Commitment  Fees,  the  Administrative
Agent Fees, the L/C Participation Fees and the Fronting Bank Fees.

                  "Financial  Officer"  of  any  person  shall  mean  the  chief
financial officer, principal accounting officer, Treasurer or Controller of such
person.

                  "FII"  shall  mean  Fairchild  Industries,  Inc.,  a  Delaware
Corporation.

                  "FII  Reorganization"  shall  mean  the  restructuring  of FII
pursuant  to which FII will  divest all its  non-telecommunications  assets,  as
contemplated by the Offering Circular.

                  "FII Senior Notes" shall mean the 12 1/4% Senior Secured Notes
due 1999 of FII.

                  "Fixed Charge  Coverage  Ratio" shall mean, as of the last day
of any fiscal  quarter,  the ratio of (a) EBITDA of STFI,  the  Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for the  four-quarter  period ended on such date, minus the sum for
such four-quarter  period of (i) Capital  Expenditures,  (ii) taxes paid in cash
and  (iii)  dividends  paid in cash in  respect  of the  Cumulative  Convertible
Preferred  Stock,  to  (b)  Debt  Service  for  such  four-quarter  period,  all
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;  provided,  however,
that the Fixed Charge  Coverage  Ratio as of June 30, 1996,  September 30, 1996,
and December 30, 1996,  shall be determined by multiplying the items referred to
in clauses (a) and (b) above for the period commencing April 1, 1996, and ending
as of such date by (A) 4, in the case of the quarter  ending June 30, 1996,  (B)
2, in the case of the two-quarter period ending September 30, 1996, and (C) 4/3,
in the case of the three-quarter period ending December 31, 1996.

                  "Fronting  Bank Fees" shall have the meaning  assigned to such
term in Section 2.05(c).

                  "GAAP" shall mean  generally  accepted  accounting  principles
applied on a consistent basis.

                  "Governmental  Authority" shall mean any Federal, state, local
or  foreign  court  or  governmental  agency,   authority,   instrumentality  or
regulatory body.

                  "Guarantee"  of or by any person  shall  mean any  obligation,
contingent  or  otherwise,  of such person  guaranteeing  or having the economic
effect of  guaranteeing  any  Indebtedness  of any other  person  (the  "primary
obligor") in any manner,  whether  directly or  indirectly,  and  including  any
obligation  of such  person,  direct or  indirect,  (a) to  purchase  or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such  Indebtedness or to
purchase  (or to advance or supply  funds for the  purchase of) any security for
the payment of such Indebtedness,  (b) to purchase or lease property, securities
or services  for the purpose of assuring the owner of such  Indebtedness  of the
payment of such Indebtedness or (c) to maintain working capital,  equity capital
or any other financial  statement  condition or liquidity of the primary obligor
so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such


                                       10



Indebtedness;  provided,  however,  that the term  Guarantee  shall not  include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

                  "Guarantee   Agreements"   shall  mean  the  Parent  Guarantee
Agreement and the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement.

                  "Guarantors" shall mean STFI and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

                  "Hazardous  Materials" shall mean all explosive or radioactive
substances  or wastes,  hazardous  or toxic  substances  or wastes,  pollutants,
solid, liquid or gaseous wastes,  including petroleum or petroleum  distillates,
asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs") or
PCB-containing materials or equipment, radon gas, urea formaldelyde,  infectious
or medical  wastes and all other  substances  or wastes of any nature  regulated
pursuant to any Environmental Law.

                  "Indebtedness" of any person shall mean, without  duplication,
(a) all  obligations  of such  person  for  borrowed  money or with  respect  to
deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all  obligations of such person  evidenced
by bonds, debentures,  notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such
person upon which interest charges are customarily  paid, (d) all obligations of
such person under conditional sale or other title retention  agreements relating
to property or assets  purchased by such  person,  (e) all  obligations  of such
person issued or assumed as the deferred  purchase price of property or services
(excluding  trade  accounts  payable  and  accrued  obligations  incurred in the
ordinary course of business),  (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for
which the holder of such  Indebtedness  has an  existing  right,  contingent  or
otherwise,  to be secured  by) any Lien on  property  owned or  acquired by such
person,  whether or not the obligations  secured thereby have been assumed,  (g)
all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness  of others,  (h) all Capital Lease
Obligations  of such person,  (i) all  obligations  of such person in respect of
interest rate protection  agreements,  foreign currency  exchange  agreements or
other interest or exchange rate hedging  arrangements and (j) all obligations of
such  person as an account  party in  respect of letters of credit and  bankers'
acceptances.  The  Indebtedness of any person shall include the  Indebtedness of
any partnership in which such person is a general partner.

                  "Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement" shall mean
the Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement, substantially in the form
of Exhibit D, among  STFI,  the  Borrower,  the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  and the
Collateral Agent.

                  "Installment  Date"  shall have the  meaning  assigned to such
term in Section 2.11.

                  "Interest  Expense  Coverage Ratio" shall mean, as of the last
day of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) EBITDA of STFI, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for the four-quarter  period ended on such date to (b) Consolidated
Cash  Interest  Expense  for the  four-quarter  period  ended on such date,  all
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;  provided,  however,
that the Interest  Expense  Coverage  Ratio as of June 30, 1996,  September  30,
1996,  and December 31,  1996,  shall be  determined  by  multiplying  the items
referred  to in  clauses  (a) and (b) above for the period  commencing  April 1,
1996, and ending as of such date by (i) 4, in the case of the period ending June
30, 1996,  (ii) 2, in the case of the  two-quarter  period ending  September 30,
1996, and (iii) 4/3, in the case of the three-quarter period ending December 31,
1996.

                  "Interest  Payment Date" shall mean, with respect to any Loan,
the last day of the Interest  Period  applicable  to the Borrowing of which such
Loan is a part and, in the case of a


                                       11




Eurodollar  Borrowing  with an  Interest  Period  of  more  than  three  months'
duration,  each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive
Interest  Periods of three months'  duration been  applicable to such Borrowing,
and, in addition, the date of any prepayment of such Borrowing or refinancing or
conversion of such Borrowing with or to a Borrowing of a different Type.

                  "Interest   Period"  shall  mean  (a)  as  to  any  Eurodollar
Borrowing,  the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing (or, in the case
of a Term Borrowing,  the last day of the preceding  Interest Period  applicable
thereto)  and ending on the  numerically  corresponding  day (or, if there is no
numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is 1,
2, 3 or 6 months  thereafter,  as the  Borrower  may elect and (b) as to any ABR
Borrowing,  the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing (or, in the case
of a Term Borrowing,  the last day of the preceding  Interest Period  applicable
thereto)  and ending on the  earliest of (i) the last  Business  Day of the next
succeeding  March,  June,  September  or  December,  (ii) the  Revolving  Credit
Maturity  Date,  the Tranche A Maturity Date or the Tranche B Maturity  Date, as
applicable,  and (iii) the date such  Borrowing is converted to a Borrowing of a
different  Type  in  accordance  with  Section  2.10 or  repaid  or  prepaid  in
accordance  with Section  2.11,  2.12 or 2.13;  provided,  however,  that if any
Interest  Period  would end on a day other than a Business  Day,  such  Interest
Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case
of a Eurodollar  Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in
the next calendar  month,  in which case such  Interest  Period shall end on the
next preceding  Business Day. Interest shall accrue from and including the first
day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest Period.

                  "Interest Rate Protection  Agreement"  shall mean any interest
rate cap  agreement  or  other  agreement  or  arrangement  satisfactory  to the
Administrative  Agent  entered  into by the  Borrower  designed  to protect  the
Borrower against fluctuations in interest rates.

                  "L/C  Commitment"  shall mean,  with  respect to any  Fronting
Bank, the  commitment of such Fronting Bank to issue Letters of Credit  pursuant
to Section 2.22.

                  "L/C  Disbursement"  shall mean a payment or disbursement made
by a Fronting Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

                  "L/C  Exposure"  shall  mean  at any  time  the sum of (a) the
aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding  Letters of Credit at such time plus
(b) the aggregate  principal amount of all L/C  Disbursements  that have not yet
been reimbursed at such time. The L/C Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender at
any time shall mean its  Applicable  Percentage of the aggregate L/C Exposure at
such time.

                  "L/C  Participation  Fee" shall have the  meaning  assigned to
such term in Section 2.05(c).

                  "Letter  of Credit"  shall  mean any  letter of credit  issued
pursuant to Section 2.22.

                  "Leverage  Ratio" shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal
quarter,  the ratio of (a) Total Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA of STFI, the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries  for the  four-quarter  period ended on such date,
all  determined  on a  consolidated  basis in  accordance  with  GAAP;  provided
however,  that the  Leverage  Ratio as of September  30, 1996,  and December 31,
1996, shall be determined by multiplying  EBITDA for the period commencing April
1, 1996, and ending as of such


                                       12



date by (i) 2, in the case of the two-quarter  period ending September 30, 1996,
and (ii) 4/3, in the case of the three-quarter period ending December 31, 1996.

                  "LIBO  Rate"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to  any  Eurodollar
Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate (rounded upwards,  if necessary,  to
the next 1/16 of 1%) at which  deposits in dollars for a maturity  comparable to
such  Interest  Period  are  offered  by  the  principal  London  office  of the
Administrative  Agent to first  class  banks in the London  interbank  market in
immediately  available  funds at  approximately  11:00 a.m.,  London  time,  two
Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

                  "Lien"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to  any  asset,  (a)  any
mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, encumbrance,  charge or security interest
in or on such  asset,  (b) the  interest  of a  vendor  or a  lessor  under  any
conditional sale agreement,  capital lease or title retention  agreement (or any
financing  lease having  substantially  the same  economic  effect as any of the
foregoing)  relating  to such  asset  and (c) in the  case  of  securities,  any
purchase  option,  call or similar  right of a third party with  respect to such
securities.

                  "Loan  Documents"  shall mean this  Agreement,  the Letters of
Credit,  the Guarantee  Agreements,  the Security  Documents and the  Indemnity,
Subrogation and Contribution Agreement.

                  "Loan Parties" shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors.

                  "Loans" shall mean the Revolving Loans and the Term Loans.

                  "Management  Investors"  shall mean members of  management  of
STFI, the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  holding directly voting stock of STFI,
or options to acquire such stock, on the Closing Date.

                  "Margin Stock" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Regulation U.

                  "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean (a) a materially  adverse
effect on the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or
otherwise,  of the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or of STFI
or, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the Acquired Business,  (b) any material
impairment of the ability of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to perform any
of its obligations  under any Loan Document to which it is or will be a party or
(c) any  material  impairment  of the  rights of or  benefits  available  to the
Lenders under any Loan Document.

                  "Merger"  shall  mean the  merger  of FII with and into  STFI,
following  which STFI shall be the  surviving  corporation  and shall change its
name to Shared Technologies Fairchild Inc.

                  "Merger Agreement" shall mean the Agreement and Plan of Merger
among FII, RHI, The Fairchild Corporation and STFI dated as of November 9, 1995,
as amended by the First  Amendment  thereto  dated as of February  2, 1996,  the
Second Amendment  thereto dated as of February 23, 1996, and the Third Amendment
thereto dated as of March 1, 1996.

                  "Minimum  Net  Worth"  shall  mean,  as of the last day of any
fiscal quarter, $75,000,000 plus (a) 75% of consolidated net income of STFI, the
Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  (to the extent such net income is positive)  for
such fiscal quarter and 75% of such consolidated net income


                                       13



for each other prior completed fiscal quarter included in the period  commencing
April 1, 1996 (to the extent net income for such quarter is  positive)  plus (b)
the aggregate amount of proceeds  received by STFI in respect of the issuance of
Capital Stock of STFI after the Closing Date minus (c) the  aggregate  amount of
payments in respect of the Cumulative  Convertible Preferred Stock, the Series C
Preferred Stock of STFI and the Series D Preferred Stock of STFI and redemptions
of Special  Preferred  Stock  made after the  Closing  Date in  accordance  with
Section  6.06(a)(ii)(A),  (C) and (D),  provided  that in making  the  foregoing
calculation  for any  quarter in respect of which the  Leverage  Ratio as of the
last day of such quarter shall be less than 4.00, the percentage  used in clause
(a) shall be 50% rather than 75%.

                  "Multiemployer  Plan"  shall  mean  a  multiemployer  plan  as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                  "Net  Proceeds"  shall  mean  (a)  100% of the  cash  proceeds
actually  received by STFI,  the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  (including  cash
proceeds  subsequently  received in respect of noncash  consideration  initially
received and including all insurance  settlements and condemnation awards in any
fiscal  year of the  Borrower  but only as and when  received),  net of  selling
expenses  (including  reasonable  broker's  fees or  commissions,  transfer  and
similar taxes and the Borrower's good faith estimate of income taxes incurred in
connection  with the  receipt  of such cash  proceeds)  from any  loss,  damage,
destruction  or  condemnation  of, or any sale,  transfer  or other  disposition
(other than the sale of inventory  in the ordinary  course) to any person in any
transaction  or related series of  transactions  of any asset or assets of STFI,
the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  provided  that,  with respect to proceeds that
would  otherwise  constitute Net Proceeds in an aggregate  amount for any fiscal
year not in excess of $250,000, such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds,
and provided further that proceeds from any sale,  transfer or other disposition
of any equity interest in STC that would otherwise constitute Net Proceeds shall
not  constitute  Net Proceeds  (i) to the extent such  proceeds are in excess of
$2,000,000 or (ii) in the case of the first $2,000,000 of such proceeds,  to the
extent such proceeds are applied to reduce outstanding Revolving Loans, (b) 100%
of the cash proceeds from the incurrence, issuance or sale by STFI, the Borrower
or any  Subsidiary of any  Indebtedness  of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
(other than  Indebtedness  permitted  under Section 6.01),  net of all taxes and
customary  fees,  commissions,  costs and other expenses  incurred in connection
with such issuance or sale or (c) 100% (or, if the Leverage Ratio as of the last
day of the  fiscal  quarter  most  recently  preceding  the  applicable  date of
determination  shall  be less  than  4.00,  50%) of the cash  proceeds  from the
issuance  or sale by  STFI,  the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  (other  than the
issuance or sale to STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary) of any equity security
of STFI,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  (other than sales of Capital Stock of
STFI to directors,  officers or employees of the Subsidiaries,  the Unrestricted
Subsidiaries or the STFI Unrestricted  Subsidiaries in connection with permitted
employee  compensation  and  incentive  arrangements),  net  of  all  taxes  and
customary  fees,  commissions,  costs and other expenses  incurred in connection
with such issuance or sale.

                  "Net Worth" shall mean, as of any date,  with respect to STFI,
the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries,  stockholders'  equity of STFI, the Borrower
and  the  Subsidiaries  as of  such  date  plus  the  aggregate  amount  of  the
liquidation  preference of the Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred  Stock and the
Special Preferred Stock issued on the Closing Date minus the aggregate amount as
of  such  date  of the  liquidation  preference  of all  Cumulative  Convertible
Preferred Stock and Special  Preferred  Stock  redeemed,  cancelled or otherwise
discharged  after the Closing Date, all  determined on a  consolidated  basis in
accordance with GAAP.


                                       14



                  "Obligations"   shall   mean  all   obligations   defined   as
"Obligations" in the Guarantee Agreements and the Security Documents.

                  "Offering  Circular"  shall  mean  the  Confidential  Offering
Circular dated February 17, 1996, in respect of the Discount  Notes,  as amended
through March [ ], 1996,  with no changes  therefrom  adverse to the Borrower or
the Lenders.

                  "Parent  Guarantee  Agreement" shall mean the Parent Guarantee
Agreement,  substantially in the form of Exhibit E, made by STFI in favor of the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

                  "PBGC"  shall mean the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation
referred to and defined in ERISA.

                  "Perfection Certificate" shall mean the Perfection Certificate
substantially in the form of Annex 2 to the Security Agreement.

                  "Permitted Business Acquisition" shall mean any acquisition of
all or  substantially  all the  assets  of, or all the  shares  or other  equity
interests  in, a person or  division  or line of  business  of a person  (or any
subsequent   investment  made  in  a  previously   acquired  Permitted  Business
Acquisition) if immediately after giving effect thereto: (a) no Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom,  (b)
all  transactions  related  thereto  shall be  consummated  in  accordance  with
applicable  laws,  (c) all the Capital  Stock of any  acquired  or newly  formed
person shall be owned directly by the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary (or,
in the case of a  Permitted  Business  Acquisition  funded  as  contemplated  by
Section  6.04(j),  STFI) and all  actions  required  to be taken,  if any,  with
respect to such  acquired or newly formed  person under  Section 5.11 shall have
been taken,  (d) any acquired  assets shall be located in the United  States and
any acquired or newly formed person shall be incorporated or organized under the
laws of the United  States,  any State  thereof or the  District of Columbia and
substantially all the activities of such person shall be conducted in the United
States,  (e) any  acquired  assets  shall be used in, and any  acquired or newly
formed person shall be engaged in the business  currently  conducted by STFI and
its subsidiaries or by the Acquired Business and business activities  reasonably
incidental  thereto and (f)(i) the  Borrower  shall be in  compliance,  on a pro
forma basis after  giving  effect to such  acquisition  or  formation,  with the
covenants  contained in Sections 6.11,  6.12, 6.13, 6.14 and 6.15 (A) recomputed
as at the last day of the most recently  ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower as
if such  acquisition  had occurred on the first day of each relevant  period for
testing such  compliance  and (B) computed for each  relevant  period during the
remaining term of this Agreement (based, in the case of such projected  periods,
upon  reasonable  assumptions  as to costs to be  incurred  and  revenues  to be
realized  from such  acquisition  or  formation),  and the  Borrower  shall have
delivered to the Administrative  Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer to
such  effect,   together  with  all  relevant  financial  information  for  such
subsidiary or assets and calculations  demonstrating  such compliance,  and (ii)
any acquired or newly formed subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness
(except for Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01).


                                       15



                  "Permitted Investments" shall mean:

                  (a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and
         interest on which are unconditionally  guaranteed by, the United States
         of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are
         backed by the full faith and credit of the United  States of  America),
         in each  case  maturing  within  90 days  from the date of  acquisition
         thereof;

                  (b)  investments in commercial  paper maturing  within 90 days
         from  the date of  acquisition  thereof  and  having,  at such  date of
         acquisition,  the highest  credit  rating  obtainable  from  Standard &
         Poor's Ratings Group or from Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;

                  (c)   investments  in   certificates   of  deposit,   banker's
         acceptances and time deposits  maturing within 90 days from the date of
         acquisition  thereof  issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money
         market  deposit  accounts  issued or  offered  by, any Lender or by any
         domestic  office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the
         United States of America or any State thereof, in each case which has a
         combined  capital and surplus  and  undivided  profits of not less than
         $500,000,000   and  whose   short-term   debt  has,  at  such  date  of
         acquisition,  a rating of A or better  from  Standard & Poor's  Ratings
         Group or a rating of A or better from Moody's Investors  Service,  Inc.
         (or, if either shall change the basis on which it establishes  ratings,
         the equivalent rating after such change); and

                  (d) other  investment  instruments  approved in writing by the
         Required  Lenders and offered by  financial  institutions  which have a
         combined  capital and surplus  and  undivided  profits of not less than
         $250,000,000.

                  "person" shall mean any natural person, corporation,  business
trust, joint venture,  association,  company,  partnership or government, or any
agency or political subdivision thereof.

                  "Plan"  shall mean any  employee  pension  benefit plan (other
than a  Multiemployer  Plan)  subject to the  provisions of Title IV of ERISA or
Section  412 of the Code or  Section  307 of ERISA,  and in respect of which the
Borrower  or any ERISA  Affiliate  is (or, if such plan were  terminated,  would
under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in Section
3(5) of ERISA.

                  "Pledge   Agreement"   shall   mean  the   Pledge   Agreement,
substantially  in the  form  of  Exhibit  F,  among  STFI,  the  Borrower,  each
Subsidiary having any subsidiary and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Secured Parties.

                  "Preferred  Consideration" shall mean cash consideration in an
aggregate amount of approximately  $39,600,000 to be paid by STFI to the holders
of preferred stock of FII other than RHI, which represents the liquidation value
of the respective  series of such preferred stock plus dividends  accrued to the
effective time of the Merger.

                   "Prime  Rate"  shall  mean the  rate of  interest  per  annum
publicly  announced from time to time by the  Administrative  Agent as its prime
rate in effect at its branch  office in New York City;  each change in the Prime
Rate shall be effective  on the date such change is publicly  announced as being
effective.


                                       16



                  "Proxy Statement" shall mean the proxy statement of STFI dated
February 12, 1996, as amended through March 2, 1996,  with no changes  therefrom
adverse to the Borrower or the Lenders.

                  "Register"  shall have the meaning  given such term in Section
9.04(d).

                  "Regulation  G" shall mean  Regulation  G of the Board as from
time to time in effect and all official rulings and  interpretations  thereunder
or thereof.

                  "Regulation  U" shall mean  Regulation  U of the Board as from
time to time in effect and all official rulings and  interpretations  thereunder
or thereof.

                  "Regulation  X" shall mean  Regulation  X of the Board as from
time to time in effect and all official rulings and  interpretations  thereunder
or thereof.

                  "Release"  means  any  spilling,  leaking,  pumping,  pouring,
emitting,  emptying,   discharging,   injecting,  escaping,  leaching,  dumping,
disposing,  depositing,  dispersing,  emanating or  migrating  of any  Hazardous
Material in, into, onto or through the environment.

                  "Remedial  Action"  means any and all actions  required by any
Governmental  Authority or voluntarily  undertaken to: (i)  investigate,  study,
cleanup, remove, treat, abate or in any other way address any Hazardous Material
in the  environment;  or (ii)  prevent  the  Release  or threat of  Release,  or
minimize the further Release of any Hazardous Material in the environment.

                  "Required  Lenders"  shall mean, at any time,  Lenders  having
Loans, L/C Exposures and, without duplication,  unused Commitments  representing
at least 50.01% of the sum of all Loans outstanding,  L/C Exposures and, without
duplication, unused Commitments at such time.

                  "Responsible  Officer" of any person shall mean any  executive
officer or  Financial  Officer of such  person and any other  officer or similar
official thereof  responsible for the  administration of the obligations of such
person in respect of this Agreement.

                  "Revolving Credit Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing  comprised
of Revolving Loans.

                  "Revolving Credit Commitment" shall mean, with respect to each
Lender,  the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving  Loans hereunder as set
forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the  Assignment  and  Acceptance  pursuant to which
such Lender assumed its Revolving Credit Commitment,  as applicable, as the same
may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or
increased  from  time to  time  pursuant  to  assignments  by or to such  Lender
pursuant to Section 9.04.

                  "Revolving  Credit  Exposure"  shall mean, with respect to any
Lender  at any  time,  the  aggregate  principal  amount  at  such  time  of all
outstanding Revolving Loans of such Lender, plus the amount at such time of such
Lender's L/C Exposure.

                  "Revolving Credit Lender" shall mean a Lender with a Revolving
Credit Commitment.


                                       17




                  "Revolving Credit Maturity Date" shall mean March 30, 2001.

                  "Revolving  Loans" shall mean the revolving  loans made by the
Lenders to the Borrower  pursuant to clause (c) of Section 2.01.  Each Revolving
Loan shall be a Eurodollar Revolving Loan or an ABR Revolving Loan.

                  "RHI" shall mean RHI Holdings, Inc., a Delaware Corporation.

                  "Section   351   Exchange"   shall   mean  the   transfer   of
substantially all the assets of STFI,  including the Acquired  Business,  to the
Borrower in exchange for all the Capital Stock of the Borrower.

                  "Secured Parties" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the Security Agreement.

                  "Security   Agreement"  shall  mean  the  Security  Agreement,
substantially  in  the  form  of  Exhibit  G,  among  STFI,  the  Borrower,  the
Subsidiaries  and the Collateral  Agent for the benefit of the Secured  Parties,
provided that ATG, ANSI and their subsidiaries shall not be party thereto except
as set forth in Section 5.11.

                  "Security  Documents" shall mean the Security  Agreement,  the
Pledge  Agreement  and each of the  security  agreements,  mortgages  and  other
instruments  and  documents  executed  and  delivered  pursuant  to  any  of the
foregoing or pursuant to Section 5.11.

                  "Special  Preferred  Stock"  shall mean the special  preferred
stock of STFI with an initial liquidation preference of $20,000,000 to be issued
to RHI on the Closing Date pursuant to the Exchange Agreement.

                  "Specified  Liabilities" shall mean the Existing  Indebtedness
and the FII Senior Notes.

                  "Statutory  Reserves"  shall mean a fraction  (expressed  as a
decimal),  the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which
is the number one minus the aggregate of the highest maximum reserve percentages
(including any marginal,  special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed
as a decimal established by the Board and any other banking authority,  domestic
or  foreign,  to which the  Administrative  Agent or any Lender  (including  any
branch, Affiliate, or other fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject
with  respect to  Eurocurrency  Liabilities  (as defined in  Regulation D of the
Board).  Such reserve  percentages  shall include those imposed pursuant to such
Regulation  D.  Eurodollar  Loans  shall be  deemed to  constitute  Eurocurrency
Liabilities and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or
credit for  proration,  exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to
time to any Lender under such Regulation D. Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted
automatically  on and as of the  effective  date of any  change  in any  reserve
percentage.

                  "STC"  shall  mean  Shared  Technologies  Cellular,   Inc.,  a
Delaware corporation.

                  "STFI"  shall  mean  Shared   Technologies  Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation,  the name of which will be changed to Shared Technologies Fairchild
Inc. after the consummation of the Merger.


                                       18



                  "STFI  Unrestricted  Subsidiary"  shall mean any subsidiary of
STFI (other than STC) or any other direct or indirect  investment by STFI in the
Capital  Stock of any other person (other than STFI) so long as at the time such
subsidiary  is acquired or created or such  investment is made (a) no Default or
Event  of  Default  shall  have  occurred  and be  continuing  or  would  result
therefrom,  (b) the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent of the
acquisition or creation of such  subsidiary or such other  investment and STFI's
ownership  interest therein and its designation  thereof as an STFI unrestricted
subsidiary  concurrently with such  acquisition,  creation or investment and the
intended purposes of such subsidiary or investment, (c) all transactions related
thereto  shall be  consummated  in  accordance  with  applicable  laws,  (d) the
Borrower  shall be in  compliance,  on a pro forma basis after giving  effect to
such acquisition,  creation or investment,  with covenants contained in Sections
6.11,  6.12,  6.13,  6.14 and 6.15 (i) recomputed as at the last day of the most
recently  ended  fiscal  quarter  of the  Borrower  as if such  acquisition  had
occurred on the first day of each  relevant  period for testing such  compliance
and (ii)  computed for each relevant  period  during the remaining  term of this
Agreement  (based,  in the  case  of such  projected  periods,  upon  reasonable
assumptions  as to costs to be incurred  and  revenues to be realized  from such
investment  or  subsidiary),  and  the  Borrower  shall  have  delivered  to the
Administrative  Agent a  certificate  of a  Responsible  Officer to such effect,
together  with  all  relevant  financial  information  for  such  subsidiary  or
investment and calculations demonstrating such compliance, (e) none of STFI, the
Borrower or any of their  subsidiaries  shall have any  contingent  liability in
respect  thereof (other than any contingent tax  liabilities in respect of which
there  shall exist a tax sharing  agreement  with the other  owners of such STFI
Unrestricted  Subsidiary  providing  for an allocation  of tax  liabilities  and
benefits  customary in similar  circumstances),  (f) any  management  or service
provided  by  STFI,  the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  to  such  investment  or
subsidiary shall be provided in consideration of cash  remuneration in an amount
not less than could have been  obtained  from a third  party on an arm's  length
basis and (g) such investment or subsidiary shall be capitalized solely from the
following  sources:  (i) investments by persons other than STFI, the Borrower or
any  Subsidiary,  (ii) the proceeds of  Indebtedness of persons other than STFI,
the  Borrower,  the  Subsidiaries,  any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  or  any  STFI
Unrestricted  Subsidiary  or (iii) in the case of any  acquisition,  creation or
investment in any fiscal year, (A) the portion of the proceeds  received in such
fiscal year from any  issuance or sale of any equity  securities  of STFI (other
than sales of Capital Stock of STFI to  directors,  officers or employees of the
Subsidiaries,   the  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  or  the  STFI  Subsidiaries  in
connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements) that
does not  constitute  Net Proceeds,  (B) the portion of Excess Cash Flow for the
immediately  preceding  fiscal  year not  subject to  prepayment  under  Section
2.13(c)  and (C) any  proceeds  received  in such year in  respect  of any sale,
transfer  or  other  disposition  of  any  equity  interest  in STC  that  would
constitute Net Proceeds but for clause (i) of the further  proviso  contained in
clause (c) of the  definition of "Net  Proceeds" (in each case to the extent not
previously used to prepay  Indebtedness  (other than Revolving  Loans),  pay any
amount in respect of any Capital Stock of STFI,  make any  investment or Capital
Expenditure or otherwise for any purpose resulting in a deduction to Excess Cash
Flow in any fiscal year).

                  "subsidiary"  shall mean,  with respect to any person  (herein
referred to as the "parent"), any corporation, company, partnership, association
or other business entity (a) of which  securities or other  ownership  interests
representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting
power or more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any
determination is being made,  owned,  Controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the
time any determination is made,  otherwise  Controlled,  by the parent or one or
more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of
the parent.


                                       19



                  "Subsidiary"  shall mean each subsidiary of STFI, the Borrower
or any of their  subsidiaries  other than the Unrestricted  Subsidiaries and the
STFI  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries,  provided  that each  reference to  Subsidiary
contained in Article III shall include the STFI Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

                  "Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreement"  shall mean the  Subsidiary
Guarantee  Agreement,  substantially  in the  form  of  Exhibit  H,  made by the
Subsidiary  Guarantors in favor of the  Collateral  Agent for the benefit of the
Secured  Parties,  provided that ATG, ANSI and their  subsidiaries  shall not be
party thereto except as set forth in Section 5.11.

                  "Subsidiary  Guarantor"  shall mean each Subsidiary that is or
becomes a party to a Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement.

                  "Tender  Offer"  shall  mean  the  tender  offer  and  consent
solicitation  conducted by FII for the FII Senior Notes,  as contemplated by the
Offering Circular.

                  "Term Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Tranche A
Term Loans or Tranche B Term Loans.

                  "Term Loan  Commitments"  shall mean the Tranche A Commitments
and the Tranche B Commitments.

                  "Term  Loans"  shall  mean the  Tranche  A Term  Loans and the
Tranche B Term Loans.

                  "Total Debt" shall mean,  with  respect to STFI,  the Borrower
and the  Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis at any time,  all  Indebtedness
(other  than  Indebtedness   described  in  clause  (i)  of  the  definition  of
"Indebtedness")  of  STFI,  the  Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries  at such  time,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Total Revolving Credit  Commitment"  shall mean, at any time,
the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit  Commitments,  as in effect at such
time.

                  "Tranche  A  Commitment"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to each
Lender,  the commitment of such Lender to make Tranche A Term Loans hereunder as
set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which
such Lender assumed its Tranche A Commitment,  as applicable, as the same may be
(a)  reduced  from time to time  pursuant  to  Section  2.09 and (b)  reduced or
increased  from  time to  time  pursuant  to  assignments  by or to such  Lender
pursuant to Section 9.04.

                  "Tranche A Maturity Date" shall mean March 30, 2001.

                  "Tranche A Term  Loans"  shall mean the term loans made by the
Lenders to the Borrower  pursuant to clause (a) of Section 2.01.  Each Tranche A
Term Loan shall be either a Eurodollar Term Loan or an ABR Term Loan.

                  "Tranche  B  Commitment"  shall  mean,  with  respect  to each
Lender,  the commitment of such Lender to make Tranche B Term Loans hereunder as
set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which
such Lender assumed its Tranche B Commitment, as


                                       20


applicable, as the same may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section
2.09 and (b) reduced or increased  from time to time pursuant to  assignments by
or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.

                  "Tranche B Maturity Date" shall mean March 31, 2003.

                  "Tranche B Term  Loans"  shall mean the term loans made by the
Lenders to the Borrower  pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.01.  Each Tranche B
Term Loan shall be either a Eurodollar Term Loan or an ABR Term Loan.

                  "Transactions" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.02.

                  "Type",  when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing,  shall
refer to the Rate by  reference  to which  interest on such Loan or on the Loans
comprising such Borrowing is determined.  For purposes  hereof,  the term "Rate"
shall include the Adjusted LIBO Rate and the Alternate Base Rate.

                  "Unrestricted  Subsidiary"  shall  mean  (a)  STC  and (b) any
subsidiary  of the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  or any other direct or indirect
investment  by the Borrower or any  Subsidiary in the Capital Stock of any other
person  (other than STFI) so long as at the time such  subsidiary is acquired or
created or such investment is made (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing or would result  therefrom,  (ii) the Borrower  shall
have notified the  Administrative  Agent of its  acquisition or creation of such
subsidiary or such other  investment and its ownership  interest therein and its
designation  thereof  as  an  unrestricted  subsidiary  concurrently  with  such
acquisition, creation or investment and the intended purposes of such subsidiary
or investment,  (iii) all  transactions  related thereto shall be consummated in
accordance with applicable laws, (iv) the Borrower shall be in compliance,  on a
pro forma basis after giving effect to such acquisition, creation or investment,
with  covenants  contained  in  Sections  6.11,  6.12,  6.13,  6.14 and 6.15 (A)
recomputed as at the last day of the most recently  ended fiscal  quarter of the
Borrower as if such  acquisition  had occurred on the first day of each relevant
period for testing such  compliance  and (B) computed for each  relevant  period
during  the  remaining  term  of  this  Agreement  (based,  in the  case of such
projected  periods,  upon reasonable  assumptions as to costs to be incurred and
revenues to be realized from such  investment or  subsidiary),  and the Borrower
shall have delivered to the Administrative  Agent a certificate of a Responsible
Officer to such effect,  together with all relevant  financial  information  for
such subsidiary or investment and  calculations  demonstrating  such compliance,
(v) none of STFI,  the  Borrower  or any of their  subsidiaries  shall  have any
contingent   liability  in  respect  thereof  (other  than  any  contingent  tax
liabilities  in respect of which there shall exist a tax sharing  agreement with
the other owners of such Unrestricted  Subsidiary providing for an allocation of
tax  liabilities  and  benefits  customary in similar  circumstances),  (vi) any
management or service  provided by STFI,  the Borrower or any Subsidiary to such
investment or subsidiary shall be provided in consideration of cash remuneration
in an amount  not less than could have been  obtained  from a third  party on an
arm's length basis and (vii) such investment or subsidiary  shall be capitalized
solely from the following  sources:  (A) investments by persons other than STFI,
the Borrower or any  Subsidiary or (B) the proceeds of  Indebtedness  of persons
other than STFI, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries,  any Unrestricted Subsidiary or
any STFI Unrestricted Subsidiary.

                  "wholly owned  Subsidiary" shall mean a Subsidiary 100% of the
Capital Stock of which (except for directors' qualifying shares) is, at the time
any determination is being made, owned,


                                       21


controlled or held by the Borrower or one or more wholly owned  Subsidiaries  of
or by the Borrower and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries.

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

                  SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally. The definitions in Section 1.01
shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms  defined.
Whenever the context may require,  any pronoun shall  include the  corresponding
masculine,  feminine  and neuter  forms.  The words  "include",  "includes"  and
"including"  shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without  limitation".
All references  herein to Articles,  Sections,  Exhibits and Schedules  shall be
deemed  references  to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and  Schedules to,
this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise  require.  Except as otherwise
expressly  provided  herein,  (a) any  reference  in this  Agreement to any Loan
Document  shall  mean  such  document  as  amended,  restated,  supplemented  or
otherwise  modified  from  time to time and (b) all  terms of an  accounting  or
financial  nature shall be construed in accordance  with GAAP, as in effect from
time to time;  provided,  however,  that if within 30 days after delivery of the
first  financial  statements  delivered  pursuant  to  Section  5.04  after  the
effectiveness  of any change in GAAP occurring  after the date of this Agreement
the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend
any covenant in Article VI or any related  definition to eliminate the effect of
such change on the  operation of such covenant (or if the  Administrative  Agent
notifies the Borrower that the Required  Lenders wish to amend Article VI or any
related   definition  for  such   purpose),   then  (i)  the  Borrower  and  the
Administrative  Agent shall negotiate in good faith to agree upon an appropriate
amendment to such  covenant and (ii) until such  covenant is amended in a manner
satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders, the Borrower's compliance
with  such  covenant  shall  be  determined  on the  basis  of  GAAP  in  effect
immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective.


ARTICLE II.  THE CREDITS

                  SECTION  2.01.  Commitments.  On the terms and  subject to the
conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth,
each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, (a) to make a Tranche A Term Loan
to the  Borrower  on the Closing  Date in a  principal  amount not to exceed its
Tranche A  Commitment,  (b) to make a Tranche B Term Loan to the Borrower on the
Closing Date in a principal  amount not to exceed its Tranche B Commitment,  and
(c) to make Revolving  Loans to the Borrower,  at any time and from time to time
on or after the date  hereof,  and until the  earlier  of the  Revolving  Credit
Maturity Date and the  termination  of the Revolving  Credit  Commitment of such
Lender in accordance with the terms hereof, in an aggregate  principal amount at
any time  outstanding  that will not result in such  Lender's  Revolving  Credit
Exposure exceeding such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment.  Within the limits
set forth in clause  (c) of the  preceding  sentence  and  subject to the terms,
conditions and  limitations  set forth herein,  the Borrower may borrow,  pay or
prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.  Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Term
Loans may not be reborrowed.

                  SECTION 2.02.  Loans. (a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a
Borrowing  consisting of Loans made by the Lenders  ratably in  accordance  with
their applicable Commitments;  provided, however, that the failure of any Lender
to make any Loan shall not in itself relieve any other


                                       22



Lender of its obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood,  however,  that
no Lender shall be  responsible  for the failure of any other Lender to make any
Loan required to be made by such other Lender).  The Term Loans must be drawn in
a single  drawing in their entire amount on the Closing  Date.  Except for Loans
deemed made pursuant to Section  2.02(g),  the Revolving  Loans  comprising  any
Borrowing  shall be in an  aggregate  principal  amount  that is (i) an integral
multiple  of  $1,000,000  and not  less  than  $5,000,000  or (ii)  equal to the
remaining available balance of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.

                  (b) Subject to Sections 2.08 and 2.15, each Borrowing shall be
comprised  entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request
pursuant to Section 2.03. Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Loan
by causing any  domestic or foreign  branch or  Affiliate of such Lender to make
such  Loan;  provided  that any  exercise  of such  option  shall not affect the
obligation  of the Borrower to repay such Loan in  accordance  with the terms of
this Agreement.  Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same
time; provided,  however, that the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any
Borrowing  that, if made,  would result in more than six  Eurodollar  Borrowings
outstanding  hereunder at any time.  For purposes of the  foregoing,  Borrowings
having different  Interest  Periods,  regardless of whether they commence on the
same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.

                  (c)  Each  Lender  shall  make  each  Loan  to be  made  by it
hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to such account in New York City as the Administrative Agent may designate
not later than 11:00  a.m.,  New York City time,  and the  Administrative  Agent
shall  promptly upon receipt credit the amounts so received as designated by the
Borrower in the applicable  Borrowing Request or, if a Borrowing shall not occur
on such date because any condition  precedent  herein  specified  shall not have
been met, return the amounts so received to the respective Lenders.

                  (d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice
from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing  that such Lender will not make
available to the  Administrative  Agent such Lender's portion of such Borrowing,
the  Administrative  Agent may assume  that such  Lender  has made such  portion
available  to the  Administrative  Agent  on  the  date  of  such  Borrowing  in
accordance  with  paragraph  (c)  above and the  Administrative  Agent  may,  in
reliance  upon such  assumption,  make  available to the Borrower on such date a
corresponding  amount.  If the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have so made funds
available  then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion
available to the  Administrative  Agent, such Lender and the Borrower  severally
agree  to  repay  to  the   Administrative   Agent   forthwith  on  demand  such
corresponding  amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such  amount is made  available  to the  Borrower  until the date such amount is
repaid  to the  Administrative  Agent  at (i) in the case of the  Borrower,  the
interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans  comprising such Borrowing and
(ii) in the case of such Lender,  for the first day, the Federal Funds Effective
Rate and, for each day thereafter, the Alternate Base Rate. If such Lender shall
repay to the Administrative  Agent such corresponding  amount, such amount shall
constitute  such  Lender's  Loan as part of such  Borrowing for purposes of this
Agreement.

                  (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Revolving  Credit Borrowing if the
Interest  Period  requested  with respect  thereto would end after the Revolving
Credit Maturity Date.


                                       23



                  (f) The Borrower may  refinance all or any part of a Revolving
Credit  Borrowing  with  another  Revolving  Credit  Borrowing,  subject  to the
conditions and  limitations set forth in this  Agreement.  Any Revolving  Credit
Borrowing or part thereof so refinanced  shall be deemed to be repaid or prepaid
in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement with the proceeds
of the new Revolving  Credit  Borrowing,  and the proceeds of such new Revolving
Credit  Borrowing,  to the extent they do not exceed the principal amount of the
Revolving Credit Borrowing being refinanced, shall not be paid by the Lenders to
the Administrative Agent or by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower pursuant
to paragraph (c) above.

                  (g) If a  Fronting  Bank  shall  not  have  received  from the
Borrower  a payment  required  to be made by  Section  2.22(e)  within  the time
specified  in  such  Section,  such  Fronting  Bank  will  promptly  notify  the
Administrative  Agent of the L/C Disbursement and the Administrative  Agent will
promptly notify each Revolving  Credit Lender of such L/C  Disbursement  and its
Applicable  Percentage  thereof.  Each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay by wire
transfer of immediately  available funds to the  Administrative  Agent not later
than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date (or, if such  Revolving  Credit
Lender  shall have  received  such notice  later than 12:00 noon,  New York City
time,  on any day,  not  later  than  10:00  a.m.,  New York City  time,  on the
immediately following Business Day), an amount equal to such Lender's Applicable
Percentage of such L/C  Disbursement (it being understood that such amount shall
be deemed to constitute  an ABR  Revolving  Loan of such Lender and such payment
shall be deemed to have reduced the L/C Exposure),  and the Administrative Agent
will promptly pay to the applicable Fronting Bank amounts so received by it from
the Revolving Credit Lenders.  The Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the
applicable  Fronting Bank any amounts received by it from the Borrower  pursuant
to Section 2.22(e) prior to the time that any Revolving  Credit Lender makes any
payment  pursuant  to this  paragraph  (g);  any such  amounts  received  by the
Administrative  Agent thereafter will be promptly remitted by the Administrative
Agent to the Revolving  Credit Lenders that shall have made such payments and to
the applicable  Fronting Bank, as their  interests may appear.  If any Revolving
Credit  Lender  shall  not  have  made  its  Applicable  Percentage  of such L/C
Disbursement  available  to the  Administrative  Agent as provided  above,  such
Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay interest on such amount, for each
day from and including the date such amount is required to be paid in accordance
with  this  paragraph  to but  excluding  the date such  amount is paid,  to the
Administrative  Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrower, a rate per annum equal
to the interest rate applicable to ABR Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.06,
and (ii) in the case of such Lender,  for the first such day, the Federal  Funds
Effective Rate, and for each day thereafter, the Alternate Base Rate.

                  SECTION  2.03.  Borrowing  Procedure.  In order to  request  a
Borrowing  (other than a deemed  Borrowing  pursuant to Section  2.02(g),  as to
which this  Section 2.03 shall not apply),  the  Borrower  shall hand deliver or
telecopy to the Administrative  Agent a duly completed  Borrowing Request (a) in
the case of a  Eurodollar  Borrowing,  not later than 12:00 noon,  New York City
time, three Business Days before a proposed Borrowing, and (b) in the case of an
ABR  Borrowing,  not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, one Business Day
before a proposed Borrowing. Each Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable,  shall
be signed  by or on behalf of the  Borrower  and  shall  specify  the  following
information: (i) whether the Borrowing then being requested is to be a Borrowing
of Tranche A Term  Loans,  a  Borrowing  of Tranche B Term Loans or a  Revolving
Credit Borrowing,  and whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or
an ABR  Borrowing;  (ii) the date of such  Borrowing  (which shall be a Business
Day),  (iii) the number and  location  of the  account to which  funds are to be
disbursed  (which shall be an account that  complies  with the  requirements  of
Section 2.02(c));  (iv) the amount of such Borrowing;  and (v) if such Borrowing
is to


                                       24



be a Eurodollar Borrowing,  the Interest Period with respect thereto;  provided,
however,  that,  notwithstanding  any contrary  specification  in any  Borrowing
Request,  each requested  Borrowing shall comply with the requirements set forth
in Section  2.02. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified in any
such notice,  then the  requested  Borrowing  shall be an ABR  Borrowing.  If no
Interest  Period with  respect to any  Eurodollar  Borrowing is specified in any
such  notice,  then the  Borrower  shall be deemed to have  selected an Interest
Period of one month's duration.  The Administrative  Agent shall promptly advise
the  applicable  Lenders of any notice given  pursuant to this Section 2.03 (and
the contents thereof), and of each Lender's portion of the requested Borrowing.

                  If the Borrower shall not have  delivered a Borrowing  Request
in  accordance  with this Section  2.03 prior to the end of the Interest  Period
then in effect for any  Revolving  Credit  Borrowing  and  requesting  that such
Borrowing  be  refinanced,  then the  Borrower  shall  (unless the  Borrower has
notified the  Administrative  Agent,  not less than three Business Days prior to
the end of such Interest Period,  that such Borrowing is to be repaid at the end
of such  Interest  Period)  be  deemed to have  delivered  a  Borrowing  Request
requesting  that such Borrowing be refinanced with a new Borrowing of equivalent
amount, and such new Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing.

                  SECTION 2.04.  Evidence of Debt;  Repayment of Loans.  (a) The
Borrower hereby unconditionally  promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for
the  account of each Lender (i) the  principal  amount of each Term Loan of such
Lender  as  provided  in  Section  2.11 and (ii) the  principal  amount  of each
Revolving  Loan  outstanding on the last day of the Interest  Period  applicable
thereto.

                  (b) Each Lender shall  maintain in  accordance  with its usual
practice an account or accounts  evidencing the  indebtedness of the Borrower to
such  Lender  resulting  from each Loan made by such  Lender  from time to time,
including  the amounts of principal  and  interest  payable and paid such Lender
from time to time under this Agreement.

                  (c) The Administrative  Agent shall maintain accounts in which
it will record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder,  the Type thereof and
the Interest  Period  applicable  thereto,  (ii) the amount of any  principal or
interest  due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each
Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the  Administrative
Agent  hereunder  from the Borrower or any  Guarantor  and each  Lender's  share
thereof.

                  (d) The entries  made in the accounts  maintained  pursuant to
paragraphs  (b) and (c) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and
amounts of the obligations  therein  recorded  absent manifest error;  provided,
however,  that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain
such  accounts  or  any  error  therein  shall  not  in any  manner  affect  the
obligations of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with their terms.

                  (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,  in
the event any Lender shall request a promissory  note payable to such Lender and
its registered assigns, the Borrower shall deliver such a note and the interests
represented  by such  note  shall  at all  times  after  receipt  of  such  note
(including  after any  assignment of all or part of such  interests  pursuant to
Section  9.04) be  represented  by one or more  promissory  notes payable to the
payee named therein or its registered assigns.

                  SECTION  2.05.  Fees.  (a) The Borrower  agrees to pay to each
Lender,  through the  Administrative  Agent, on the Closing Date and on the last
Business  Day of March,  June,  September  and December in each year and on each
date on which any Commitment of such Lender shall expire or


                                       25



be terminated as provided herein, a commitment fee (a "Commitment Fee") of 0.50%
per annum on the average daily unused amount of the  Commitments  of such Lender
during the preceding quarter (or other period commencing with the date hereof or
ending  with  the  Revolving  Credit  Maturity  Date or the  date on  which  the
Commitments  of all the Lenders shall expire or be  terminated).  All Commitment
Fees shall be  computed on the basis of the actual  number of days  elapsed in a
year of 360 days. The Commitment Fee due to each Lender shall commence to accrue
on the date  hereof  and  shall  cease to  accrue  on the date on which  all the
Commitments of such Lender shall have been terminated as provided herein.

                  (b) The Borrower  agrees to pay to the  Administrative  Agent,
for its own  account,  the fees set forth in the Fee  Letter at the times and in
the amounts specified therein (the "Administrative Agent Fees").

                  (c) The Borrower  agrees to pay (i) to each  Revolving  Credit
Lender,  through the  Administrative  Agent,  on the last Business Day of March,
June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving
Credit  Commitments of all the Lenders shall be terminated as provided herein, a
fee  (an  "L/C  Participation  Fee")  calculated  on  such  Lender's  Applicable
Percentage of the average daily  aggregate L/C Exposure  (excluding  the portion
thereof  attributable to unreimbursed  L/C  Disbursements)  during the preceding
quarter (or shorter  period  commencing  with the date hereof or ending with the
Revolving  Credit Maturity Date or the date on which all Letters of Credit shall
have been canceled or have expired and the Revolving  Credit  Commitments of all
the Lenders shall have been  terminated)  at a rate equal to 2.75% per annum and
(ii) to each  Fronting  Bank,  the fees  separately  agreed  upon by STFI or the
Borrower and such Fronting  Bank,  plus,  with respect to each Letter of Credit,
the customary fronting,  issuance, amending and drawing fees specified from time
to time by such Fronting Bank (the "Fronting Bank Fees").  All L/C Participation
Fees and Fronting  Bank Fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual number
of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

                    (d) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in  immediately
available  funds,  to  the  Administrative  Agent  for  distribution,  if and as
appropriate, among the Lenders, except that the Fronting Bank Fees shall be paid
directly to the applicable  Fronting Bank.  Once paid, none of the Fees shall be
refundable under any circumstances.

                  SECTION 2.06. Interest on Loans. (a) Subject to the provisions
of Section 2.07,  the Loans  comprising  each ABR Borrowing  shall bear interest
(computed  on the basis of the actual  number of days elapsed over a year of 365
or 366 days, as the case may be, when the  Alternate  Base Rate is determined by
reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other times) at a
rate per  annum  equal  to the  Alternate  Base  Rate  plus,  in the case of (i)
Revolving Loans,  1.75%,  (ii) Tranche A Term Loans,  1.75%, and (iii) Tranche B
Term Loans 2.50%.

                  (b)  Subject  to the  provisions  of Section  2.07,  the Loans
comprising each Eurodollar  Borrowing shall bear interest (computed on the basis
of the  actual  number  of days  elapsed  over a year of 360 days) at a rate per
annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such
Borrowing plus, in the case of (i) Revolving Loans,  2.75%,  (ii) Tranche A Term
Loans, 2.75%, and (iii) Tranche B Term Loans, 3.50%.

                  (c)  Interest  on each Loan shall be  payable on the  Interest
Payment  Dates  applicable  to such Loan  except as  otherwise  provided in this
Agreement.  The  applicable  Alternate  Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate for each
Interest Period or day within an Interest Period, as the case may be, shall


                                       26



be determined  by the  Administrative  Agent,  and such  determination  shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.

                  SECTION 2.07. Default Interest.  If the Borrower shall default
in the payment of the  principal  of or interest on any Loan or any other amount
becoming due hereunder,  by acceleration  or otherwise,  or under any other Loan
Document,  the Borrower  shall on demand from time to time pay interest,  to the
extent (and only to such extent)  permitted by law, on such defaulted  amount to
but excluding the date of actual payment (after as well as before  judgment) (a)
in the case of overdue principal,  at the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan
pursuant to Section 2.06 plus 2.00% per annum and (b) in all other  cases,  at a
rate per annum  (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over
a year of 365 or 366 days,  as the case may be, when  determined by reference to
the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other  times) equal to the sum
of the Alternate Base Rate plus 3.75%.

                  SECTION 2.08. Alternate Rate of Interest. In the event, and on
each occasion,  that on the day two Business Days prior to the  commencement  of
any Interest Period for a Eurodollar  Borrowing the  Administrative  Agent shall
have  determined  that  dollar  deposits in the  principal  amounts of the Loans
comprising  such Borrowing are not generally  available in the London  interbank
market,  or that the rates at which such dollar  deposits are being offered will
not  adequately  and  fairly  reflect  the  cost  to any  Lender  of  making  or
maintaining its Eurodollar Loan during such Interest Period,  or that reasonable
means do not exist for ascertaining  the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the  Administrative
Agent shall, as soon as practicable thereafter,  give written or telecopy notice
of such determination to the Borrower and the Lenders.  In the event of any such
determination,  until the  Administrative  Agent shall have advised the Borrower
and the  Lenders  that the  circumstances  giving  rise to such notice no longer
exist,  any  request by the  Borrower  for a  Eurodollar  Borrowing  pursuant to
Section 2.03 or 2.10 shall be deemed to be a request for an ABR Borrowing.  Each
determination by the  Administrative  Agent hereunder shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.

                  SECTION 2.09.  Termination and Reduction of  Commitments.  (a)
The Term Loan Commitments shall  automatically  terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the Closing Date.  The Revolving  Credit  Commitments  and the L/C
Commitments shall automatically terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  all the Commitments  and L/C Commitments  shall
automatically  terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 15, 1996, if
the initial Credit Event shall not have occurred by such time.

                  (b) Upon at  least  three  Business  Days'  prior  irrevocable
written or telecopy notice to the Administrative  Agent, the Borrower may at any
time in whole  permanently  terminate,  or from time to time in part permanently
reduce, the Term Loan Commitments or the Revolving Credit Commitments; provided,
however,  that (i) each partial  reduction of the Term Loan  Commitments  or the
Revolving Credit  Commitments shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and
in a minimum  amount of $5,000,000  (or, if less,  the  remaining  amount of the
Revolving Credit  Commitments)  and (ii) the Total Revolving  Credit  Commitment
shall not be  reduced at any time to an amount  that is less than the  Aggregate
Revolving Credit Exposure at such time.

                  (c) The Revolving  Credit  Commitments  shall be automatically
and permanently reduced by an amount equal to any amount applied under paragraph
(b) or (c) of Section 2.13 to prepay Revolving Credit  Borrowings (or that would
have been required to be so applied if Revolving Credit Borrowings equal to such
amount had been outstanding).


                                       27


                  (d)  Each  reduction  in  the  Term  Loan  Commitments  or the
Revolving Credit  Commitments  hereunder shall be made ratably among the Lenders
in accordance with their respective applicable  Commitments.  The Borrower shall
pay to the Administrative  Agent for the account of the applicable  Lenders,  on
the date of each termination or reduction,  the Commitment Fees on the amount of
the  Commitments  so terminated or reduced  accrued to but excluding the date of
such termination or reduction.

                  SECTION 2.10.  Conversion and Continuation of Term Borrowings.
The Borrower shall have the right at any time upon prior  irrevocable  notice to
the Administrative  Agent (a) not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, one
Business Day prior to conversion,  to convert any Eurodollar Term Borrowing into
an ABR Term Borrowing,  (b) not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, three
Business  Days prior to  conversion  or  continuation,  to convert  any ABR Term
Borrowing into a Eurodollar  Term  Borrowing or to continue any Eurodollar  Term
Borrowing as a Eurodollar Term Borrowing for an additional  Interest Period, and
(c) not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time,  three Business Days prior to
conversion,  to convert the Interest  Period with respect to any Eurodollar Term
Borrowing to another  permissible  Interest Period,  subject in each case to the
following:

                   (i) each  conversion or  continuation  shall be made pro rata
         among the Lenders in accordance with the respective  principal  amounts
         of the Loans comprising the converted or continued Term Borrowing;

                  (ii) if less than all the outstanding  principal amount of any
         Term  Borrowing  shall be converted or continued,  then each  resulting
         Term  Borrowing  shall  satisfy the  limitations  specified in Sections
         2.02(a) and 2.02(b)  regarding the principal  amount and maximum number
         of Borrowings of the relevant Type;

                 (iii) each conversion  shall be effected by each Lender and the
         Administrative  Agent by  recording  for the account of such Lender the
         new  Term  Loan of such  Lender  resulting  from  such  conversion  and
         reducing  the Term  Loan (or  portion  thereof)  of such  Lender  being
         converted by an equivalent  principal  amount;  accrued interest on any
         Eurodollar Term Loan (or portion thereof) being converted shall be paid
         by the Borrower at the time of conversion;

                  (iv) if any  Eurodollar  Term Borrowing is converted at a time
         other  than the end of the  Interest  Period  applicable  thereto,  the
         Borrower  shall  pay,  upon  demand,  any  amounts  due to the  Lenders
         pursuant to Section 2.16;

                   (v) any portion of a Term  Borrowing  maturing or required to
         be repaid in less than one month may not be converted into or continued
         as a Eurodollar Term Borrowing;

                  (vi) any portion of a Term  Borrowing that cannot be converted
         into or  continued  as a  Eurodollar  Term  Borrowing  by reason of the
         immediately  preceding clause shall be  automatically  converted at the
         end of the  Interest  Period in effect for such  Borrowing  into an ABR
         Term Borrowing;

                 (vii) no  Interest  Period may be selected  for any  Eurodollar
         Term Borrowing that would end later than an Installment  Date occurring
         on or after the first day of such  Interest  Period and  applicable  to
         such Borrowing if, after giving effect to such selection, the aggregate


                                       28


         outstanding  amount of (A) the Eurodollar Term Borrowings to which such
         Installment  Date applies with Interest  Periods  ending on or prior to
         such  Installment  Date and (B) the ABR Term  Borrowings  to which such
         Installment  Date applies  would not be at least equal to the principal
         amount of Term Borrowings to be paid on such Installment Date; and

                (viii)  after the  occurrence  and during the  continuance  of a
         Default or Event of Default, no outstanding Loan may be converted into,
         or continued as, a Eurodollar Loan.

                  Each notice pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be irrevocable
and shall refer to this Agreement and specify (i) the identity and amount of the
Term  Borrowing  that the  Borrower  requests be converted  or  continued,  (ii)
whether  such Term  Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar
Term  Borrowing  or an ABR Term  Borrowing,  (iii)  if such  notice  requests  a
conversion  or  continuation,  the  date of such  conversion  (which  shall be a
Business Day) and (iv) if such Term Borrowing is to be converted to or continued
as a Eurodollar Term Borrowing,  the Interest Period with respect thereto. If no
Interest  Period is specified in any such notice with respect to any  conversion
to or continuation as a Eurodollar Term Borrowing,  the Borrower shall be deemed
to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.  The Administrative
Agent shall advise the Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.10
and of each Lender's  portion of any converted or continued Term  Borrowing.  If
the Borrower shall not have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to
continue any Term  Borrowing  into a subsequent  Interest  Period (and shall not
otherwise have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to convert such
Term  Borrowing),  such Term Borrowing  shall, at the end of the Interest Period
applicable  thereto (unless repaid pursuant to the terms hereof),  automatically
be continued into a new Interest Period as an ABR Term Borrowing.

                  SECTION  2.11.  Repayment  of Term  Borrowings.  (a) The  Term
Borrowings  shall be payable as to principal in the aggregate  amounts set forth
below in  consecutive  quarterly  installments  on the last Business Day of each
March, June, September and December (each an "Installment Date"),  commencing on
June 28,  1996,  with 25% of the  amount  set forth  below  for each  applicable
four-quarter  period being paid on each  Installment  Date occurring during such
four-quarter period:



Four-Quarter                   Tranche A                    Tranche B
Period Ending               Term Loan Amount             Term Loan Amount

                                                           
March 31, 1997                $ 7,000,000                  $ 2,000,000
March 31, 1998                 12,000,000                    2,000,000
March 31, 1999                 15,000,000                    2,000,000
March 31, 2000                  8,000,000                    2,000,000
March 30, 2001                  8,000,000                    2,000,000
March 29, 2002                                              25,000,000
March 31, 2003                                              35,000,000



                  (b)  Except  as set forth in  paragraph  (c)  below,  (i) each
prepayment  of  principal of Term  Borrowings  pursuant to Section 2.12 shall be
applied  to the  Tranche A Term Loans and the  Tranche B Term  Loans  ratably in
accordance with the respective  outstanding  principal amounts thereof and shall
reduce scheduled  payments  required under paragraph (a) above after the date of
such  prepayments  in the scheduled  order of maturity,  unless and until deemed
made  under  Section  2.13(c)  as  contemplated   thereby  (at  which  time  the
application  of such  prepayments  (and any  subsequent  payments  under Section
2.11(a) and  prepayments  under Section  2.13(a) or (b)) shall be  retroactively
adjusted as if


                                       29



such prepayments had originally been made under Section 2.13(c)),  and (ii) each
prepayment of principal of the Term  Borrowings  made or deemed made pursuant to
Section 2.13 shall be applied to the Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche B Term
Loans ratably in accordance with the respective  outstanding  principal  amounts
thereof and shall reduce the scheduled  payments  required  under  paragraph (a)
above after the date of such  prepayment on a pro rata basis.  To the extent not
previously paid or reduced, all Tranche A Term Loans shall be due and payable on
the  Tranche  A  Maturity  Date and all  Tranche B Term  Loans  shall be due and
payable on the Tranche B Maturity Date. All repayments  pursuant to this Section
2.11 shall be subject to Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or
penalty.  Each  payment of  Borrowings  pursuant to this  Section  2.11 shall be
accompanied  by accrued  interest on the principal  amount paid to but excluding
the date of such payment.

                  (c) Any Lender holding Tranche B Term Loans may, to the extent
Tranche A Term Loans are outstanding,  elect on not less than two Business Days'
prior written or telecopy  notice (or  telephone  notice  promptly  confirmed by
written or  telecopy  notice) to the  Administrative  Agent with  respect to any
optional prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.12(a) or any mandatory prepayment
made  pursuant  to  Section  2.13 not to have such  prepayment  applied  to such
Lender's  Tranche B Term Loans  until all  Tranche A Term Loans  shall have been
paid in full, in which case the amount not so applied shall be applied to prepay
(i)  Tranche A Term  Loans  and (ii)  Tranche B Term  Loans of  Lenders  holding
Tranche  B Term  Loans  which did not elect to  reject  the  initial  applicable
prepayment  on a pro rata basis based upon the aggregate  outstanding  principal
amount of the  Tranche A Term Loans and the  Tranche B Term Loans of the Lenders
referred to in clause (ii).

                  SECTION 2.12.  Optional  Prepayments.  (a) The Borrower  shall
have the  right at any time and from time to time to prepay  any  Borrowing,  in
whole or in part,  upon at least three  Business Days' prior written or telecopy
notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or telecopy notice) to
the  Administrative  Agent  before  11:00  a.m.,  New York City time;  provided,
however,  that each partial prepayment shall be in an amount that is an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than  $5,000,000 (or, if less, the remaining
amount outstanding under the applicable Tranche).

                  (b) Each notice of  prepayment  shall  specify the  prepayment
date and the  principal  amount of each  Borrowing  (or  portion  thereof) to be
prepaid,  shall be  irrevocable  and shall  commit the  Borrower  to prepay such
Borrowing  by  the  amount  stated  therein  on the  date  stated  therein.  All
prepayments  under this  Section  2.12  shall be  subject  to  Section  2.16 but
otherwise  without  premium  or  penalty  and shall be  accompanied  by  accrued
interest on the  principal  amount being  prepaid to but  excluding  the date of
payment.

                  SECTION 2.13. Mandatory  Prepayments.  (a) In the event of the
termination of all the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Borrower shall repay or
prepay  all its  outstanding  Revolving  Credit  Borrowings  on the date of such
termination.  In the event of any  partial  reduction  of the  Revolving  Credit
Commitments,  then (i) at or prior to the effective date of such reduction,  the
Administrative  Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Revolving Credit Lenders
of the Aggregate  Revolving Credit Exposure after giving effect thereto and (ii)
if the Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure  would exceed the Total  Revolving
Credit Commitment after giving effect to such reduction or termination, then the
Borrower shall,  on the date of such reduction or  termination,  repay or prepay
Revolving Credit Borrowings in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.


                                       30



                  (b) Not  later  than the  fifth  Business  Day  following  the
receipt by STFI,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of any Net Proceeds,  all such
Net  Proceeds  shall be applied  to prepay  Term Loans (and after the Term Loans
have been paid in full, to prepay Revolving Loans).

                  (c) Not later  than the  earlier of (i) 100 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Borrower,  commencing  with the fiscal year ending on
December  31,  1996,  and (ii) ten days  after the date on which  the  financial
statements  with respect to such fiscal year are  delivered  pursuant to Section
5.04(a),  the Borrower shall calculate Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year and
prepay  outstanding Term Loans (and after the Term Loans have been paid in full,
prepay  Revolving  Loans)  in an  aggregate  principal  amount  equal to the ECF
Percentage of such Excess Cash Flow;  provided,  however,  that, with respect to
the period ended on December 31, 1996,  Excess Cash Flow shall,  notwithstanding
anything  to the  contrary  herein,  be  determined  with  respect to the period
beginning on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 1996.  In the event the
Borrower  shall have prepaid Term  Borrowings  under Section  2.12(a) during any
fiscal  year in an  aggregate  amount in excess of Debt  Service for such fiscal
year, the Borrower may in the  certificate  delivered  pursuant to paragraph (e)
below in respect of the  prepayment to be made pursuant to this paragraph (c) in
respect of such  fiscal  year  designate  all or any portion of such excess over
Debt  Service  as a payment  in  respect  of the  payment  required  under  this
paragraph (c) in respect of such fiscal year and such amount shall thereafter be
deemed to have been paid under this paragraph (c).

                  (d) The Borrower shall repay or prepay  outstanding  Revolving
Loans and shall refrain from making  additional  Revolving Credit  Borrowings to
the  extent  necessary  in order  that  there  shall be a period  of at least 30
consecutive days in each fiscal year during which the aggregate principal amount
of outstanding Revolving Loans shall not exceed $5,000,000.

                  (e) The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent not
later than three  Business  Days prior to each  prepayment  required  under this
Section 2.13 a certificate signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower setting
forth in reasonable  detail the  calculation  of the amount of such  prepayment.
Each notice of prepayment  shall specify the  prepayment  date, the Type of each
Loan being prepaid and the principal amount of each Loan (or portion thereof) to
be  prepaid.  All pre-  payments  under  this  Section  2.13 shall be subject to
Section  2.16,  but shall  otherwise be without  premium or penalty and shall be
accompanied  by accrued  interest on the  principal  amount being prepaid to but
excluding the date of payment.

                  (f) Amounts to be applied pursuant to this Section 2.13 to the
prepayment of Term Loans and Revolving  Loans shall be applied,  as  applicable,
first to reduce  outstanding  ABR Borrowings.  Any amounts  remaining after each
such  application  shall,  at the option of the  Borrower,  be applied to prepay
Eurodollar  Borrowings  immediately  or shall  be  deposited  in the  Prepayment
Account (as  defined  below) for a period of up to 30 days.  The  Administrative
Agent shall apply any cash deposited in the Prepayment Account allocable to Term
Loans to prepay Eurodollar Term Loans and allocable to Revolving Loans to prepay
Eurodollar  Revolving  Loans (i) prior to the 30th day  following the deposit of
such amounts in such account,  in each case on the last day of their  respective
Interest Periods (or, at the direction of the Borrower, on any earlier date) and
(ii) on the 30th day following  the deposit of such amounts in such account,  in
each case to prepay Loans in the order of the  maturity of the Interest  Periods
of such Loans, in each case until all outstanding Term Loans or Revolving Loans,
as the case may be, have been prepaid or until all the allocable cash on deposit
with respect to such Loans has been  exhausted.  For purposes of this Agreement,
the term "Prepayment  Account" shall mean an account established by the Borrower
with the Administrative Agent and over


                                       31


which the  Administrative  Agent  shall have  exclusive  dominion  and  control,
including the exclusive  right of withdrawal for  application in accordance with
this  paragraph  (f).  The  Administrative  Agent  will,  at the  request of the
Borrower,  invest  amounts  on deposit in the  Prepayment  Account in  overnight
investments  that are Permitted  Investments;  provided,  however,  that (i) the
Administrative  Agent shall not be required to make any investment  that, in its
sole  judgment,  would  require or cause the  Administrative  Agent to be in, or
would result in any, violation of any law, statute,  rule or regulation and (ii)
the  Administrative  Agent shall have no obligation to invest amounts on deposit
in the  Prepayment  Account if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent for any
losses  relating  to the  investments  so that the  amount  available  to prepay
Eurodollar  Borrowings on the last day of the applicable  Interest Period is not
less than the amount that would have been available had no investments been made
pursuant  thereto.  Other  than any  interest  earned on such  investments,  the
Prepayment Account shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such
investments  shall be deposited in the  Prepayment  Account and  reinvested  and
disbursed as specified  above. If the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated
pursuant to Article VII, the  Administrative  Agent may, in its sole discretion,
apply all  amounts on deposit in the  Prepayment  Account to satisfy  any of the
Obligations in a manner  consistent with the terms thereof.  The Borrower hereby
grants to the  Administrative  Agent,  for its  benefit  and the  benefit of the
Fronting Banks and the Lenders, a security interest in the Prepayment Account to
secure the Obligations.

                  SECTION 2.14. Reserve  Requirements;  Change in Circumstances.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,  if after the date of
this   Agreement  any  change  in  applicable   law  or  regulation  or  in  the
interpretation or administration  thereof by any Governmental  Authority charged
with the  interpretation  or  administration  thereof (whether or not having the
force of law) shall  change the basis of  taxation  of payments to any Lender or
any Fronting Bank of the principal of or interest on any Eurodollar Loan made by
such Lender or any Fees or other amounts payable  hereunder  (other than changes
in respect of taxes imposed on the overall net income of such Lender or Fronting
Bank by the jurisdiction in which such Lender or Fronting Bank has its principal
office or by any political  subdivision or taxing authority  therein),  or shall
impose,  modify or deem  applicable  any  reserve,  special  deposit  or similar
requirement  against  assets of,  deposits  with or for the account of or credit
extended  by  any  Lender  or  such  Fronting  Bank  (except  any  such  reserve
requirement  which is reflected  in the  Adjusted  LIBO Rate) or shall impose on
such  Lender or such  Fronting  Bank or the  London  interbank  market any other
condition  affecting this  Agreement or Eurodollar  Loans made by such Lender or
any  Letter of Credit or  participation  therein,  and the  result of any of the
foregoing  shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such Fronting Bank of
making or maintaining  any Eurodollar Loan or increase the cost to any Lender of
issuing or  maintaining  any Letter of Credit or  purchasing  or  maintaining  a
participation  therein or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable
by such Lender or such Fronting Bank hereunder  (whether of principal,  interest
or  otherwise)  by an amount  deemed by such Lender or such  Fronting Bank to be
material,  then the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such  Fronting  Bank, as
the  case  may be,  upon  demand  such  additional  amount  or  amounts  as will
compensate such Lender or Fronting Bank, as the case may be, for such additional
costs incurred or reduction suffered.

                  (b) If any Lender or Fronting Bank shall have  determined that
the adoption  after the date hereof of any law, rule,  regulation,  agreement or
guideline regarding capital adequacy, or any change after the date hereof in any
such law,  rule,  regulation,  agreement or guideline  (whether such law,  rule,
regulation, agreement or guideline has been adopted) or in the interpretation or
administration   thereof  by  any  Governmental   Authority   charged  with  the
interpretation or administration


                                       32



thereof,  or compliance by any Lender (or any lending  office of such Lender) or
any Fronting Bank or any Lender's or Fronting  Bank's holding  company (or other
person Controlling such Lender or Fronting Bank (a "holding  company")) with any
request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force
of law) of any  Governmental  Authority has or would have the effect of reducing
the rate of return on such Lender's or Fronting Bank's capital or on the capital
of such Lender's or Fronting Bank's holding company, if any, as a consequence of
this  Agreement  or the  Loans  made or  participations  in  Letters  of  Credit
purchased by such Lender pursuant hereto or the Letters of Credit issued by such
Fronting  Bank  pursuant  hereto to a level  below  that  which  such  Lender or
Fronting Bank or such  Lender's or Fronting  Bank's  holding  company could have
achieved but for such applicability, adoption, change or compliance (taking into
consideration such Lender's or Fronting Bank's policies and the policies of such
Lender's or Fronting Bank's holding company with respect to capital adequacy) by
an amount deemed by such Lender or Fronting Bank to be material,  then from time
to time the Borrower  shall pay to such Lender or Fronting Bank, as the case may
be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Fronting
Bank or such Lender's or Fronting  Bank's holding company for any such reduction
suffered.

                  (c) A  certificate  of a Lender or Fronting Bank setting forth
the amount or amounts  necessary to  compensate  such Lender or Fronting Bank or
its holding company,  as applicable,  as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) above
shall be  delivered  to the Borrower  and shall be  conclusive  absent  manifest
error.  The Borrower  shall pay such Lender or Fronting Bank the amount shown as
due on any such certificate  delivered by it within 10 days after its receipt of
the same.

                  (d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Fronting
Bank to demand  compensation  for any  increased  costs or  reduction in amounts
received or receivable or reduction in return on capital shall not  constitute a
waiver of such  Lender's or Fronting  Bank's right to demand such  compensation.
The  protection  of this  Section  2.14 shall be  available  to each  Lender and
Fronting  Bank  regardless  of any  possible  contention  of the  invalidity  or
inapplicability  of the law,  rule,  regulation,  agreement,  guideline or other
change or condition that shall have occurred or been imposed.

                  SECTION  2.15.  Change in Legality.  (a)  Notwithstanding  any
other provision of this Agreement,  if, after the date hereof, any change in any
law or regulation or in the interpretation thereof by any Governmental Authority
charged with the administration or interpretation thereof shall make it unlawful
for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar  Loan or to give effect to its
obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by
written notice to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent:

                  (i) such Lender may  declare  that  Eurodollar  Loans will not
         thereafter  (for the  duration  of such  unlawfulness)  be made by such
         Lender  hereunder (or be continued for additional  Interest Periods and
         ABR Loans will not  thereafter  (for such  duration) be converted  into
         Eurodollar Loans), whereupon any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing (or
         to convert an ABR Borrowing to a Eurodollar  Borrowing or to continue a
         Eurodollar  Borrowing for an additional  Interest  Period) shall, as to
         such Lender only,  be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or a request to
         continue an ABR Loan as such for an  additional  Interest  Period or to
         convert a Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as the case may be), unless
         such declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and

                (ii) such Lender may  require  that all  outstanding  Eurodollar
         Loans made by it be  converted  to ABR Loans,  in which  event all such
         Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically con-


                                       33



         verted to ABR Loans as of the effective date of such notice as provided
         in paragraph (b) below.

In the event any Lender shall  exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above,  all
payments and  prepayments of principal that would otherwise have been applied to
repay the  Eurodollar  Loans  that  would  have been made by such  Lender or the
converted  Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the
ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting  from the  conversion of,
such Eurodollar Loans.

                  (b) For  purposes  of  this  Section  2.15,  a  notice  to the
Borrower by any Lender  shall be effective  as to each  Eurodollar  Loan made by
such  Lender,  if  lawful,  on the last  day of the  Interest  Period  currently
applicable  to such  Eurodollar  Loan;  in all other cases such notice  shall be
effective on the date of receipt by the Borrower.

                  SECTION 2.16.  Indemnity.  The Borrower  shall  indemnify each
Lender  against  any loss or expense  that such Lender may sustain or incur as a
consequence  of (a) any  event,  other  than a  default  by such  Lender  in the
performance  of its  obligations  hereunder,  which  results in (i) such  Lender
receiving or being  deemed to receive any amount on account of the  principal of
any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period in effect  therefor,
(ii) the conversion of any Eurodollar  Loan to an ABR Loan, or the conversion of
the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, in each case other than
on the last  day of the  Interest  Period  in  effect  therefor,  or  (iii)  any
Eurodollar  Loan to be made by such Lender  (including any Eurodollar Loan to be
made pursuant to a conversion or continuation under Section 2.10) not being made
after notice of such Loan shall have been given by the Borrower  hereunder  (any
of the events referred to in this clause (a) being called a "Breakage Event") or
(b) any default in the making of any payment or  prepayment  required to be made
hereunder.  In the case of any Breakage Event, such loss shall include an amount
equal to the excess, as reasonably determined by such Lender, of (i) its cost of
obtaining  funds for the  Eurodollar  Loan that is the subject of such  Breakage
Event for the period from the date of such Breakage Event to the last day of the
Interest Period in effect (or that would have been in effect) for such Loan over
(ii) the amount of interest  likely to be realized by such Lender in redeploying
the funds  released or not  utilized by reason of such  Breakage  Event for such
period.  A certificate  of any Lender  setting forth any amount or amounts which
such  Lender is  entitled  to receive  pursuant  to this  Section  2.16 shall be
delivered  to  the  Borrower  and to  the  Administrative  Agent  and  shall  be
conclusive absent manifest error.

                  SECTION 2.17.  Pro Rata  Treatment.  Except as required  under
Section  2.15,  each  Borrowing,  each payment or prepayment of principal of any
Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each payment of the Commitment
Fees and the L/C Participation Fees, each reduction of the Term Loan Commitments
or the Revolving Credit  Commitments and each refinancing of any Borrowing with,
conversion of any Borrowing to or  continuation  of any Borrowing as a Borrowing
of any Type shall be  allocated  pro rata among the Lenders in  accordance  with
their respective  applicable  Commitments  (or, if such  Commitments  shall have
expired or been terminated,  in accordance with the respective principal amounts
of their applicable outstanding Loans).

                  SECTION 2.18.  Sharing of Setoffs.  Each Lender agrees that if
it  shall,  through  the  exercise  of a  right  of  banker's  lien,  setoff  or
counterclaim  against the  Borrower  or any other Loan  Party,  or pursuant to a
secured  claim under  Section 506 of Title 11 of the United States Code or other
security or interest  arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim,  received
by such Lender under any applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency or other similar law
or otherwise, or by any other means, obtain



                                       34


payment  (voluntary  or  involuntary)  in  respect  of any  Loan or Loans or L/C
Disbursement as a result of which the unpaid principal  portion of its Tranche A
Term  Loans,  Tranche B Term Loans,  Revolving  Loans or  participations  in L/C
Disbursements shall be proportionately less than the unpaid principal portion of
the  Tranche  A  Term  Loans,   Tranche  B  Term  Loans,   Revolving   Loans  or
participations in L/C Disbursements, respectively, of any other Lender, it shall
be deemed simultaneously to have purchased from such other Lender at face value,
and  shall  promptly  pay to  such  other  Lender  the  purchase  price  for,  a
participation in the Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche B Term Loans, Revolving Loans
or L/C Exposure,  as the case may be of such other Lender, so that the aggregate
unpaid  principal  amount of the  Tranche A Term  Loans,  Tranche B Term  Loans,
Revolving  Loans or L/C  Exposure  and  participations  in Tranche A Term Loans,
Tranche B Term Loans,  Revolving Loans or L/C Exposure held by each Lender shall
be in the same  proportion  to the  aggregate  unpaid  principal  amount  of all
Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche B Term Loans, Revolving Loans or L/C Exposure then
outstanding as the principal amount of its Tranche A Term Loans,  Tranche B Term
Loans,  Revolving Loans or L/C Exposure prior to such exercise of banker's lien,
setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the principal amount of all Tranche
A Term Loans, Tranche B Term Loans,  Revolving Loans or L/C Exposure outstanding
prior to such exercise of banker's lien,  setoff or counterclaim or other event;
provided,  however,  that if any such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall
be made pursuant to this Section 2.18 and the payment  giving rise thereto shall
thereafter be  recovered,  such  purchase or purchases or  adjustments  shall be
rescinded to the extent of such  recovery  and the  purchase  price or prices or
adjustment restored without interest. The Borrower and STFI expressly consent to
the foregoing  arrangements and agree that any Lender holding a participation in
a Term  Loan  or  Revolving  Loan or L/C  Disbursement  deemed  to have  been so
purchased  may  exercise  any  and  all  rights  of  banker's  lien,  setoff  or
counterclaim  with  respect to any and all moneys owing by the Borrower and STFI
to such  Lender by reason  thereof  as fully as if such  Lender  had made a Loan
directly to the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

                  SECTION  2.19.  Payments.  (a) The  Borrower  shall  make each
payment  (including  principal  of or  interest  on any  Borrowing  or  any  L/C
Disbursement  or any Fees or other  amounts)  hereunder and under any other Loan
Document not later than 12:00 noon,  New York City time, on the date when due in
immediately  available dollars,  without setoff,  defense or counterclaim.  Each
such payment (other than Fronting Bank Fees, which shall be paid directly to the
applicable  Fronting  Bank)  shall  be made to the  Administrative  Agent at its
offices at 12 East 49th Street,  New York,  New York. The  Administrative  Agent
shall  distribute  such funds  promptly  after  receipt to the  Lenders  and the
Fronting Banks, as applicable.

                  (b) Whenever any payment  (including  principal of or interest
on any Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan
Document  shall  become due, or otherwise  would  occur,  on a day that is not a
Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding  Business Day, and
such  extension  of time shall in such case be  included in the  computation  of
interest or Fees, if applicable.

                  SECTION 2.20.  Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on behalf
of the Borrower or any Loan Party  hereunder  and under any other Loan  Document
shall be made,  in accordance  with Section 2.19,  free and clear of and without
deduction for any and all current or future taxes, levies, imposts,  deductions,
charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding (i)
income taxes imposed on the net income of the  Administrative  Agent, any Lender
or any  Fronting  Bank (or any  transferee  or  assignee  thereof,  including  a
participation  holder (any such entity a "Transferee")) and (ii) franchise taxes
imposed on the net income of the Administrative Agent, any


                                       35


Lender or any Fronting Bank (or  Transferee),  in each case by the  jurisdiction
under the laws of which the  Administrative  Agent, such Lender or such Fronting
Bank (or Transferee) is organized or any political subdivision thereof (all such
nonexcluded  taxes,  levies,  imposts,  deductions,  charges,  withholdings  and
liabilities,  collectively  or  individually,  being  called  "Taxes").  If  the
Borrower  or any Loan  Party  shall be  required  to deduct any Taxes from or in
respect of any sum  payable  hereunder  or under any other Loan  Document to the
Administrative  Agent, any Lender or any Fronting Bank (or any Transferee),  (i)
the sum  payable  shall be  increased  by the  amount (an  "additional  amount")
necessary  so that after making all required  deductions  (including  deductions
applicable   to   additional   sums  payable   under  this  Section   2.20)  the
Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Fronting Bank (or Transferee),  as the
case may be, shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had
no such  deductions  been made,  (ii) the Borrower or such Loan Party shall make
such  deductions  and (iii) the  Borrower  or such Loan Party shall pay the full
amount  deducted to the  relevant  Governmental  Authority  in  accordance  with
applicable law.

                  (b) In addition,  the  Borrower  agrees to pay to the relevant
Governmental  Authority in accordance  with applicable law any current or future
stamp or  documentary  taxes or any other excise or property  taxes,  charges or
similar levies  (including,  without  limitation,  mortgage  recording taxes and
similar fees) that arise from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan
Document or from the execution,  delivery or registration  of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document ("Other Taxes").

                  (c) The Borrower will indemnify the Administrative Agent, each
Lender and each Fronting Bank (or  Transferee)  for the full amount of Taxes and
Other Taxes paid by the Administrative  Agent, such Lender or such Fronting Bank
(or  Transferee),  as the case may be, and any liability  (including  penalties,
interest and  expenses  (including  reasonable  attorney's  fees and  expenses))
arising  therefrom or with respect  thereto,  whether or not such Taxes or Other
Taxes were correctly or legally asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.
A  certificate  as to the amount of such  payment or  liability  prepared by the
Administrative  Agent,  a Lender  or a  Fronting  Bank (or  Transferee),  or the
Administrative  Agent on its  behalf,  absent  manifest  error,  shall be final,
conclusive  and binding for all  purposes.  Such  indemnification  shall be made
within  30 days  after  the date the  Administrative  Agent,  any  Lender or any
Fronting  Bank  (or  Transferee),  as the  case  may be,  makes  written  demand
therefor.

                  (d) As soon as  practicable  after the date of any  payment of
Taxes or Other  Taxes by the  Borrower  or any other Loan Party to the  relevant
Governmental  Authority,  the  Borrower or such other Loan Party will deliver to
the  Administrative  Agent,  at its  address  referred to in Section  9.01,  the
original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental  Authority
evidencing payment thereof.

                  (e) Each  Lender and  Fronting  Bank (or  Transferee)  that is
organized  under the laws of a jurisdiction  other than the United  States,  any
State thereof or the District of Columbia (a "Non- U.S.  Lender")  shall deliver
to the Borrower and the Administrative  Agent two copies of either United States
Internal  Revenue  Service Form 1001 or Form 4224, or, in the case of a Non-U.S.
Lender or Fronting Bank claiming  exemption from U.S.  Federal  withholding  tax
under  Section  871(h)  or  881(c)  of the Code  with  respect  to  payments  of
"portfolio  interest",  a  Form  W-8,  or any  subsequent  versions  thereof  or
successors  thereto (and,  if such  Non-U.S.  Lender or Fronting Bank delivers a
Form W-8, a certificate  representing that such Non-U.S. Lender or Fronting Bank
is not a bank for  purposes of Section  881(c) of the Code,  is not a 10-percent
shareholder  (within  the  meaning of Section  871(h)(3)(B)  of the Code) of the
Borrower and is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower


                                       36


(within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code)),  properly  completed and
duly  executed  by such  Non-U.S.  Lender or  Fronting  Bank  claiming  complete
exemption from, or reduced rate of, U.S. Federal  withholding tax on payments by
the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Such forms shall
be delivered by each  Non-U.S.  Lender or Fronting Bank on or before the date it
becomes a party to this  Agreement  (or, in the case of a  Transferee  that is a
participation  holder, on or before the date such participation holder becomes a
Transferee hereunder) and on or before the date, if any, such Non-U.S. Lender or
Fronting Bank changes its  applicable  lending office by designating a different
lending office (a "New Lending Office").  In addition,  each Non-U.S.  Lender or
Fronting  Bank  shall  deliver  such forms  promptly  upon the  obsolescence  or
invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Non-U.S.  Lender or Fronting
Bank.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Section 2.20(e),  a Non-U.S.
Lender or Fronting  Bank shall not be  required to deliver any form  pursuant to
this Section  2.20(e) that such Non-U.S.  Lender or Fronting Bank is not legally
able to deliver.

                  (f) The  Borrower  shall  not be  required  to  indemnify  any
Non-U.S.  Lender  or  Fronting  Bank or to pay  any  additional  amounts  to any
Non-U.S.   Lender  or  Fronting  Bank,  in  respect  of  United  States  Federal
withholding  tax pursuant to  paragraph  (a) or (c) above to the extent that (i)
the  obligation  to  withhold  amounts  with  respect to United  States  Federal
withholding tax existed on the date such Non-U.S. Lender or Fronting Bank became
a  party  to  this  Agreement  (or,  in  the  case  of a  Transferee  that  is a
participation  holder, on the date such participation holder became a Transferee
hereunder) or, with respect to payments to a New Lending  Office,  the date such
Non-U.S. Lender or Fronting Bank designated such New Lending Office with respect
to a Loan or a Letter of Credit;  provided,  however,  that this  paragraph  (f)
shall not apply (x) to any  Transferee  or New  Lending  Office  that  becomes a
Transferee or New Lending  Office as a result of an  assignment,  participation,
transfer  or  designation  made at the  request of the  Borrower  and (y) to the
extent the indemnity payment or additional amounts any Transferee, or any Lender
or Fronting Bank (or Transferee),  acting through a New Lending Office, would be
entitled to receive  (without  regard to this  paragraph  (f)) do not exceed the
indemnity  payment or additional  amounts that the person making the assignment,
participation  or transfer to such  Transferee,  or Lender or Fronting  Bank (or
Transferee)  making the designation of such New Lending Office,  would have been
entitled to receive in the absence of such assignment,  participation,  transfer
or designation or (ii) the obligation to pay such  additional  amounts would not
have arisen but for a failure by such Non-U.S. Lender or Fronting Bank to comply
with the provisions of paragraph (e) above.

                  (g) Nothing  contained in this Section 2.20 shall  require any
Lender or Fronting Bank (or any Transferee) or the Administrative  Agent to make
available any of its tax returns (or any other  information  that it deems to be
confidential or proprietary).

                  SECTION  2.21.   Assignment  of   Commitments   Under  Certain
Circumstances;  Duty to  Mitigate.  (a) In the event (i) any Lender or  Fronting
Bank delivers a certificate  requesting  compensation  pursuant to Section 2.14,
(ii) any Lender or Fronting Bank delivers a notice  described in Section 2.15 or
(iii) the  Borrower is required  to pay any  additional  amount to any Lender or
Fronting Bank or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender or Fronting
Bank pursuant to Section 2.20,  the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort
(including  with respect to the  processing and  recordation  fee referred to in
Section  9.04(b)),  upon  notice  to  such  Lender  or  Fronting  Bank  and  the
Administrative  Agent,  require  such  Lender or Fronting  Bank to transfer  and
assign,  without  recourse (in accordance  with and subject to the  restrictions
contained in Section 9.04), all of its interests,  rights and obligations  under
this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such assigned


                                       37



obligations  (which  assignee may be another  Lender,  if a Lender  accepts such
assignment);  provided that (x) such assignment shall not conflict with any law,
rule or regulation or order of any court or other Governmental  Authority having
jurisdiction,  (y) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of
the  Administrative  Agent  (and,  if a  Revolving  Credit  Commitment  is being
assigned,  of the Fronting  Banks),  which  consents shall not  unreasonably  be
withheld,  and (z) the Borrower or such assignee shall have paid to the affected
Lender or Fronting Bank in  immediately  available  funds an amount equal to the
sum of the principal of and interest  accrued to the date of such payment on the
outstanding  Loans  or L/C  Disbursements  of  such  Lender  or  Fronting  Bank,
respectively,  plus all Fees and other  amounts  accrued for the account of such
Lender or Fronting Bank hereunder  (including any amounts under Section 2.14 and
Section 2.16).

                  (b)  If  (i)  any  Lender  or  Fronting   Bank  shall  request
compensation  under  Section  2.14,  (ii) any Lender or Fronting Bank delivers a
notice  described  in Section  2.15 or (iii) the Borrower is required to pay any
additional  amount to any Lender or Fronting Bank or any Governmental  Authority
on account of any Lender or Fronting Bank,  pursuant to Section 2.20,  then such
Lender or Fronting Bank shall use  reasonable  efforts  (which shall not require
such Lender or Fronting Bank to incur an unreimbursed  loss or unreimbursed cost
or expense or otherwise take any action  inconsistent with its internal policies
or legal or regulatory  restrictions or suffer any disadvantage or burden deemed
by it to be  significant)  (x) to file any  certificate  or document  reasonably
requested  in writing by the  Borrower or (y) to assign its rights and  delegate
and transfer its  obligations  hereunder to another of its offices,  branches or
affiliates,   if  such  filing  or  assignment   would  reduce  its  claims  for
compensation  under Section 2.14 or enable it to withdraw its notice pursuant to
Section 2.15 or would reduce  amounts  payable  pursuant to Section 2.20, as the
case may be, in the future.  The Borrower  hereby  agrees to pay all  reasonable
costs and expenses  incurred by any Lender or Fronting Bank in  connection  with
any such filing or assignment, delegation and transfer.

                  SECTION 2.22. Letters of Credit. (a) General. The Borrower may
request the issuance of a Letter of Credit,  in a form reasonably  acceptable to
the  Administrative  Agent  and  the  applicable  Fronting  Bank,  appropriately
completed,  for the account of the  Borrower,  at any time and from time to time
while the Revolving Credit Commitments remain in effect.  This Section shall not
be construed to impose an obligation  upon any Fronting Bank to issue any Letter
of Credit that is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

                  (b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain
Conditions. In order to request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or to amend,
renew or extend an existing  Letter of Credit),  the Borrower shall give written
or  telecopy  notice  (or  telephone  notice  promptly  confirmed  by written or
telecopy notice) to the applicable  Fronting Bank and the  Administrative  Agent
(not less than 5 Business  Days in advance of the  requested  date of  issuance,
amendment,  renewal or extension) requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit,
or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, the date
of issuance,  amendment,  renewal or extension, the date on which such Letter of
Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) below), the amount of
such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary  thereof and such
other  information  as shall be  necessary  to  prepare  such  Letter of Credit.
Following  receipt of such  notice and prior to the  issuance  of the  requested
Letter  of  Credit  or the  applicable  amendment,  renewal  or  extension,  the
Administrative  Agent  shall,  if the  conditions  set forth in the  penultimate
sentence of this paragraph  would not be satisfied,  notify the Borrower and the
applicable  Fronting  Bank  of the  amount  of the  Aggregate  Revolving  Credit
Exposure  after  giving  effect  to (i)  the  issuance,  amendment,  renewal  or
extension of such Letter of Credit, (ii) the issuance or expiration of any other
Letter of Credit that is to be issued or


                                       38


will expire prior to the requested date of issuance of such Letter of Credit and
(iii) the borrowing or repayment of any Revolving  Credit Loans that (based upon
notices  delivered  to  the  Administrative  Agent  by the  Borrower)  are to be
borrowed  or repaid  prior to the  requested  date of issuance of such Letter of
Credit.  A Letter of Credit shall be issued,  amended,  renewed or extended only
if, and upon issuance,  amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit
the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that,  after giving effect
to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (A) the L/C Exposure shall not
exceed  $5,000,000  and (B) the Aggregate  Revolving  Credit  Exposure shall not
exceed  the Total  Revolving  Credit  Commitment.  Promptly  upon the  issuance,
amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, the applicable Fronting
Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof.

                  (c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at the
close of  business  on the  earlier  of the date one year  after the date of the
issuance of such Letter of Credit and the date that is five  Business Days prior
to the Revolving  Credit Maturity Date,  unless such Letter of Credit expires by
its terms on an earlier date.

                  (d) Participations.  By the issuance of a Letter of Credit and
without any further  action on the part of the  applicable  Fronting Bank or the
Revolving  Credit  Lenders,  the applicable  Fronting Bank hereby grants to each
Revolving  Credit  Lender,  and  each  such  Lender  hereby  acquires  from  the
applicable Fronting Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such
Lender's  Applicable  Percentage of the aggregate  amount  available to be drawn
under such  Letter of Credit,  effective  upon the  issuance  of such  Letter of
Credit.  In  consideration  and in furtherance of the foregoing,  each Revolving
Credit  Lender  hereby  absolutely  and  unconditionally  agrees  to  pay to the
Administrative  Agent,  for the account of the applicable  Fronting  Bank,  such
Lender's  Applicable  Percentage of each L/C Disbursement  made by such Fronting
Bank and not  reimbursed  by the  Borrower  (or, if  applicable,  another  party
pursuant to its obligations under any other Loan Document) forthwith on the date
due as provided in Section 2.02(g).  Each Revolving  Credit Lender  acknowledges
and agrees  that its  obligation  to  acquire  participations  pursuant  to this
paragraph  in respect of Letters of Credit is  absolute  and  unconditional  and
shall not be affected by any circumstance  whatsoever,  including the occurrence
and continuance of a Default or an Event of Default,  and that each such payment
shall  be  made  without  any  offset,   abatement,   withholding  or  reduction
whatsoever.

                  (e)  Reimbursement.  If a  Fronting  Bank  shall  make any L/C
Disbursement  in respect of a Letter of Credit,  the  Borrower  shall pay to the
applicable Fronting Bank an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement not later than
two hours after the Borrower shall have received  notice from such Fronting Bank
that payment of such draft will be made, or, if the Borrower shall have received
such notice later than 10:00 a.m.,  New York City time, on any Business Day, not
later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the immediately following Business
Day.

                  (f)  Obligations  Absolute.   The  Borrower's  obligations  to
reimburse  L/C  Disbursements  as  provided  in  paragraph  (e)  above  shall be
absolute,  unconditional  and  irrevocable,  and shall be performed  strictly in
accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement,  under any and all  circumstances
whatsoever, and irrespective of:

                  (i) any lack of  validity or  enforceability  of any Letter of
Credit or any Loan Document, or any term or provision therein;


                                       39


                  (ii)   any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure
         from all or any of the provisions of any Letter of Credit or any Loan 
         Document;

                 (iii) the  existence  of any  claim,  setoff,  defense or other
         right that the  Borrower,  any other party  guaranteeing,  or otherwise
         obligated with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof
         or any other person may at any time have against the beneficiary  under
         any Letter of Credit,  any Fronting Bank, the  Administrative  Agent or
         any  Lender  or any  other  person,  whether  in  connection  with this
         Agreement,  any other Loan  Document or any other  related or unrelated
         agreement or transaction;

                  (iv) any draft or other document  presented  under a Letter of
         Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any
         respect or any  statement  therein  being untrue or  inaccurate  in any
         respect;

                   (v) payment by the applicable Fronting Bank under a Letter of
         Credit against  presentation of a draft or other document that does not
         comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and

                  (vi) any other act or  omission to act or delay of any kind of
         any Fronting Bank, any Lender,  the  Administrative  Agent or any other
         person or any other event or  circumstance  whatsoever,  whether or not
         similar to any of the foregoing,  that might, but for the provisions of
         this  Section,  constitute  a  legal  or  equitable  discharge  of  the
         Borrower's obligations hereunder.

                  Without  limiting  the  generality  of  the  foregoing,  it is
expressly  understood and agreed that the absolute and unconditional  obligation
of the Borrower  hereunder to reimburse L/C Disbursements will not be excused by
the gross  negligence or wilful  misconduct of any Fronting Bank.  However,  the
foregoing  shall not be construed to excuse such Fronting Bank from liability to
the  Borrower to the extent of any direct  damages (as opposed to  consequential
damages,  claims in respect of which are hereby  waived by the  Borrower  to the
extent  permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by
such  Fronting  Bank's gross  negligence  or wilful  misconduct  in  determining
whether  drafts and other  documents  presented  under a Letter of Credit comply
with the terms  thereof;  it is  understood  that the Fronting  Banks may accept
documents that appear on their face to be in order,  without  responsibility for
further  investigation,  regardless of any notice or information to the contrary
and, in making any payment  under any Letter of Credit (i) any  Fronting  Bank's
exclusive reliance on the documents  presented to it under such Letter of Credit
as to any and all matters set forth therein, including reliance on the amount of
any draft presented  under such Letter of Credit,  whether or not the amount due
to the beneficiary thereunder equals the amount of such draft and whether or not
any  document  presented  pursuant  to  such  Letter  of  Credit  proves  to  be
insufficient  in any  respect,  if such  document  on its face  appears to be in
order,  and whether or not any other  statement or any other document  presented
pursuant  to such  Letter of  Credit  proves  to be  forged  or  invalid  or any
statement  therein  proves to be inaccurate or untrue in any respect  whatsoever
and (ii) any noncompliance in any immaterial respect of the documents  presented
under such  Letter of Credit  with the terms  thereof  shall,  in each case,  be
deemed not to constitute  wilful misconduct or gross negligence of such Fronting
Bank.

                  (g)  Disbursement  Procedures.  The  applicable  Fronting Bank
shall, promptly following its receipt thereof,  examine all documents purporting
to represent a demand for payment  under a Letter of Credit.  Such Fronting Bank
shall as promptly as possible give telephonic notification,


                                       40



confirmed  by  telecopy,  to the  Administrative  Agent and the Borrower of such
demand for payment and whether such  Fronting  Bank has made or will make an L/C
Disbursement  thereunder;  provided  that any failure to give or delay in giving
such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its  obligation to reimburse  such
Fronting  Bank and the  Revolving  Credit  Lenders  with respect to any such L/C
Disbursement.

                  (h) Interim  Interest.  If a Fronting  Bank shall make any L/C
Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit,  then,  unless the Borrower shall
reimburse such L/C  Disbursement in full on such date, the unpaid amount thereof
shall bear interest for the account of such Fronting Bank, for each day from and
including the date of such L/C Disbursement, to but excluding the earlier of the
date of payment by the Borrower or the date on which  interest shall commence to
accrue thereon as provided in Section 2.02(g),  at the rate per annum that would
apply to such amount if such amount were an ABR Loan.

                  (i) Resignation or Removal of a Fronting Bank. A Fronting Bank
may  resign  at any  time by  giving  180  days'  prior  written  notice  to the
Administrative  Agent,  the Lenders and the Borrower,  and may be removed at any
time by the Borrower by notice to (a) Fronting  Bank, the  Administrative  Agent
and the Lenders.  Subject to the next succeeding paragraph,  upon the acceptance
of any  appointment  as (a) Fronting Bank hereunder by a Lender that shall agree
to serve as successor  Fronting Bank, such successor shall succeed to and become
vested with all the interests,  rights and obligations of the retiring  Fronting
Bank and the retiring  Fronting Bank shall be discharged from its obligations to
issue  additional  Letters  of Credit  hereunder.  At the time such  removal  or
resignation  shall  become  effective,  the  Borrower  shall pay all accrued and
unpaid fees pursuant to Section  2.05(c)(ii).  The acceptance of any appointment
as a Fronting  Bank  hereunder  by a successor  Lender  shall be evidenced by an
agreement entered into by such successor, in a form satisfactory to the Borrower
and the  Administrative  Agent,  and, from and after the effective  date of such
agreement,  (i) such successor  Lender shall have all the rights and obligations
of the previous  Fronting Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
and (ii) references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the term "Fronting
Bank" shall be deemed to refer to such  successor  or to any  previous  Fronting
Bank, or to such successor and all previous Fronting Banks, as the context shall
require.  After the  resignation  or removal of a Fronting Bank  hereunder,  the
retiring  Fronting  Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall  continue to have
all the rights and  obligations  of a Fronting Bank under this Agreement and the
other Loan  Documents  with  respect to Letters of Credit  issued by it prior to
such  resignation  or removal,  but shall not be  required  to issue  additional
Letters of Credit.

                  (j) Cash  Collateralization.  If any  Event of  Default  shall
occur and be  continuing,  the Borrower  shall,  on the Business Day it receives
notice  from  the  Administrative  Agent or the  Required  Lenders  (or,  if the
maturity of the Loans has been  accelerated,  Revolving  Credit Lenders  holding
participations in outstanding Letters of Credit representing greater than 50% of
the aggregate  undrawn amount of all outstanding  Letters of Credit) thereof and
of the amount to be deposited,  deposit in an account with the Collateral Agent,
for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders,  an amount in cash equal to the
L/C Exposure as of such date. Such deposit shall be held by the Collateral Agent
as collateral for the payment and performance of the Obligations. The Collateral
Agent shall have exclusive  dominion and control,  including the exclusive right
of  withdrawal,  over  such  account.  Other  than any  interest  earned  on the
investment of such deposits in Permitted Investments, which investments shall be
made at the option and sole  discretion of the Collateral  Agent,  such deposits
shall not bear interest.  Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall
accumulate in such account.  Moneys in such account shall (i)  automatically  be
applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Fronting


                                       41



Banks for L/C  Disbursements  for which they have not been  reimbursed,  (ii) be
held for the satisfaction of the  reimbursement  obligations of the Borrower for
the L/C  Exposure  at such time and (iii) if the  maturity of the Loans has been
accelerated  (but subject to the consent of  Revolving  Credit  Lenders  holding
participations in outstanding Letters of Credit representing greater than 50% of
the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding  Letters of Credit),  be applied
to satisfy the Obligations.  If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of
cash collateral  hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default,
such  amount (to the extent not applied as  aforesaid)  shall be returned to the
Borrower  within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured
or waived.


ARTICLE III.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  Each of STFI and the Borrower  represents  and warrants to the
Administrative  Agent, the Collateral  Agent, the Fronting Banks and each of the
Lenders that:

                  SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of STFI, the Borrower
and each of the Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  organization,  (b) has all
requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its
business as now conducted  and as proposed to be conducted,  (c) is qualified to
do  business  in, and is in good  standing  in,  every  jurisdiction  where such
qualification  is  required,  except  where the failure so to qualify  could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material  Adverse Effect,  and (d) has the
corporate or  partnership  power,  as the case may be, and authority to execute,
deliver  and  perform  its  obligations  under each of the Loan  Documents,  the
Acquisition Documents and each other agreement or instrument contemplated hereby
to which it is or will be a party and,  in the case of the  Borrower,  to borrow
hereunder.

                  SECTION  3.02.  Authorization.  The  execution,  delivery  and
performance by each Loan Party of each of the Loan Documents and the Acquisition
Documents,  the borrowings hereunder, the Acquisition Transactions and the other
transactions  contemplated  hereby  (collectively,  the "Transactions") (a) have
been duly  authorized by all requisite  corporate and, if required,  stockholder
action and (b) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law,  statute,  rule or
regulation,  or of  the  certificate  or  articles  of  incorporation  or  other
constitutive  documents  or by-laws  of RHI,  FII,  STFI,  the  Borrower  or any
Subsidiary,  (B) any order of any Governmental Authority or (C) any provision of
any  indenture,  agreement or other  instrument  to which RHI,  FII,  STFI,  the
Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  is a party or by which any of them or any of their
property is or may be bound,  except for any such  violations of agreements  not
involving borrowed money or other extensions of credit that could not reasonably
be expected  individually or in the aggregate to have any material effect on the
business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or of STFI, or on or prior
to the Closing Date, of the Acquired Business,  or on the rights or interests of
the  Lenders,  (ii) be in  conflict  with,  result in a breach of or  constitute
(alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to
any right to accelerate or to require the  prepayment,  repurchase or redemption
of any  obligation  under any such  indenture,  agreement  or other  instrument,
except,  in the case of any agreement not involving  borrowed money or any other
extension  of  credit,  such  conflicts  as could  not  reasonably  be  expected
individually  or in the  aggregate to have any material  effect on the business,
assets,  operations,  prospects or  condition,  financial or  otherwise,  of the
Borrower and the  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or of STFI, or on or prior to
the Closing Date, of the Acquired Business, or on the rights or interests of the
Lenders,  or (iii) result in or require the creation or  imposition  of any Lien
upon or with respect to any property or assets now


                                       42



owned by RHI or FII or now owned or hereafter  acquired by STFI, the Borrower or
any Subsidiary (other than any Lien created under the Security Documents).

                  SECTION  3.03.  Enforceability.  This  Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by STFI and the Borrower and constitutes,  and each other
Loan  Document when executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto will
constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable
against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms.

                  SECTION 3.04.  Governmental  Approvals.  No action, consent or
approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental
Authority is or will be required in connection with the Transactions, except for
(a) the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing  statements and filings with
the United States Patent and  Trademark  Office and the United States  Copyright
Office  and (b) such as have been  made or  obtained  and are in full  force and
effect and a state  regulatory  approval in Indiana the failure to obtain  which
could not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 3.05.  Financial  Statements.  (a) STFI has heretofore
furnished  to the Lenders its  consolidated  balance  sheets and  statements  of
operations,  stockholders'  equity  and cash  flows (a) as of and for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1994 and December 31, 1993,  audited by and accompanied
by the opinions of Rothstein,  Kass & Company,  P.C.,  and Arthur  Andersen LLP,
independent  public  accountants,  and (b) as of and for the fiscal quarters and
the portion of the fiscal years ended September 30, 1995 and September 30, 1994.
The Borrower has heretofore  furnished to the Lenders the  consolidated  balance
sheets and  statements of earnings,  stockholders'  equity and cash flows of FII
(a) as of and for the fiscal  years  ended  June 30,  1995,  and June 30,  1994,
audited and accompanied by the opinion of Arthur Andersen LLP, and (b) as of and
for the fiscal  quarters  and the portion of the fiscal  years ended  October 1,
1995,  and  October  2,  1994.  Such  financial  statements  present  fairly the
financial condition and results of operations and cash flows of the STFI and FII
and their  respective  consolidated  Subsidiaries  as of such dates and for such
periods.  Such  balance  sheets  and the notes  thereto  disclose  all  material
liabilities,  direct or  contingent,  of the STFI and FII and  their  respective
consolidated  subsidiaries  as of the dates thereof.  Such financial  statements
were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

                  (b) The Borrower has  heretofore  delivered to the Lenders the
unaudited  pro forma  combined  balance  sheet of STFI dated as of September 30,
1995,  giving effect to the Acquisition  Transactions as if they had occurred on
such date.  Such pro forma  balance sheet has been prepared in good faith by the
Borrower,  based on the  assumptions  used to  prepare  the pro forma  financial
information  contained  in  the  Confidential   Information   Memorandum  (which
assumptions  are believed by STFI and the Borrower on the date hereof and on the
Closing Date to be reasonable),  is based on the best  information  available to
the  Borrower  as of the  date of  delivery  thereof,  accurately  reflects  all
adjustments  required to be made to give effect to the Acquisition  Transactions
and presents  fairly on a pro forma basis the estimated  consolidated  financial
position of STFI, the Borrower and their  subsidiaries as of September 30, 1995,
assuming that the Acquisition  Transactions  had actually  occurred at September
30, 1995.

                  (c) The  Borrower has  delivered  to the Lenders  complete and
correct copies of the Offering  Circular and all amendments,  modifications  and
supplements thereto.


                                       43


                  SECTION 3.06. No Material  Adverse  Change.  There has been no
material  adverse  change  in  the  business,  assets,  operations,   prospects,
condition,  financial or otherwise, or material agreements of STFI, the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, since June 30, 1995 with respect to the
Acquired   Business   and  since   December  31,  1994  with  respect  to  STFI,
respectively.

                  SECTION 3.07.  Title to Properties;  Possession  Under Leases.
(a) Each of STFI,  the Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries  has good and  marketable
title to, or valid  leasehold  interests  in, all its  material  properties  and
assets, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability
to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and
assets for their intended purposes.  All such material properties and assets are
free and clear of Liens, other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02.

                  (b)  Each of  STFI,  the  Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries  has
complied with all  obligations  under all material leases to which it is a party
and all such leases are in full force and effect, except for noncompliance which
could not  reasonably be expected  individually  or in the aggregate to have any
material  effect on the business,  assets,  operations,  prospects or condition,
financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,
or of STFI, or on or prior to the Closing Date, of the Acquired Business,  or on
the rights or  interests  of the  Lenders.  Each of STFI,  the  Borrower and the
Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed  possession under all such material
leases.

                  SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.08 sets forth as of the
Closing Date a list of all Subsidiaries and the percentage ownership interest of
the Borrower  therein after giving effect to the Acquisition  Transactions  that
shall occur prior to or simultaneously  with the initial Credit Event hereunder.
The  shares of  capital  stock or other  ownership  interests  so  indicated  on
Schedule 3.08 are fully paid and  non-assessable  and are owned by the Borrower,
directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens.

                  SECTION 3.09. Litigation;  Compliance with Laws. (a) Except as
set forth on Schedule 3.09,  there are not any actions,  suits or proceedings at
law or in equity or by or before any  Governmental  Authority now pending or, to
the knowledge of STFI or the Borrower,  threatened  against or affecting STFI or
the Borrower or any  Subsidiary or any business,  property or rights of any such
person (i) that  involve  any Loan  Document or the  Transactions  or (ii) as to
which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if
adversely  determined,  could  reasonably  be expected,  individually  or in the
aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b) None of STFI, the Borrower or any of the  Subsidiaries  or
any of their  respective  material  properties or assets is in violation of, nor
will the  continued  operation  of  their  material  properties  and  assets  as
currently conducted violate, any law, rule or regulation  (including any zoning,
building,  Environmental  Law,  ordinance,  code  or  approval  or any  building
permits) or any  restrictions of record or agreements  affecting any of its real
property,  or is in default  with  respect to any  judgment,  writ,  injunction,
decree or order of any Governmental  Authority,  where such violation or default
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 3.10.  Agreements.  (a) None of STFI,  the Borrower or
any of the  Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to
any corporate  restriction  that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect. No tenant service


                                       44


contract to which STFI,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  is party  contains any
restriction on assignment, and each such contract is under applicable law freely
assignable by STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, as applicable.

                  (b) None of STFI, the Borrower or any of the  Subsidiaries  is
in default in any manner under any provision of any indenture or other agreement
or  instrument  evidencing  Indebtedness,  or any other  material  agreement  or
instrument  to which it is a party  or by which it or any of its  properties  or
assets are or may be bound,  where such default could  reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 3.11. Federal Reserve  Regulations.  (a) None of STFI,
the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its
important  activities,  in the business of  extending  credit for the purpose of
buying or carrying Margin Stock.

                  (b) No part of the  proceeds  of any  Loan  or any  Letter  of
Credit will be used,  whether directly or indirectly,  and whether  immediately,
incidentally or ultimately, for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that
is inconsistent with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board,  including
Regulation G, U or X.

                  SECTION 3.12.  Investment  Company Act; Public Utility Holding
Company Act. None of STFI,  the Borrower or any Subsidiary is (a) an "investment
company" as defined in, or subject to regulation  under, the Investment  Company
Act of 1940 or (b) a "holding  company" as defined in, or subject to  regulation
under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

                  SECTION  3.13.  Use of  Proceeds.  The  Borrower  will use the
proceeds of the Loans and will  request  the  issuance of Letters of Credit only
for the purposes specified in the preamble to this Agreement.

                  SECTION 3.14. Tax Returns.  Each of STFI, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries  has  filed or caused to be filed  all  Federal,  state,  local and
foreign tax returns or materials  required to have been filed by it and has paid
or  caused  to be paid  all  taxes  due and  payable  by it and all  assessments
received  by it,  except  taxes  that  are  being  contested  in good  faith  by
appropriate proceedings and for which STFI, the Borrower or such Subsidiary,  as
applicable,  shall have set aside on its books  adequate  reserves  with respect
thereto in accordance with GAAP and such contest operates to suspend  collection
of the contested  obligation,  tax,  assessment or charge and  enforcement  of a
Lien.

                  SECTION   3.15.  No  Material   Misstatements.   None  of  the
Confidential  Information  Memorandum,   the  Offering  Circular  or  any  other
information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule furnished by or on
behalf of STFI or the  Borrower  to the  Administrative  Agent or any  Lender in
connection  with the  negotiation  of any Loan  Document or included  therein or
delivered  pursuant  thereto  contained,  contains or will  contain any material
misstatement  of fact or omitted,  omits or will omit to state any material fact
necessary  to make the  statements  therein,  in the light of the  circumstances
under which they were, are or will be made, not misleading; provided that to the
extent any such information,  report,  financial statement,  exhibit or schedule
was based upon or  constitutes  a forecast or  projection,  each of STFI and the
Borrower  represents  only that it acted in good faith and  utilized  reasonable
assumptions  and  due  care in the  preparation  of  such  information,  report,
financial statement, exhibit or schedule.


                                       45


                  SECTION 3.16. Employee Benefit Plans. Each of the Borrower and
its  ERISA  Affiliates  is in  compliance  in all  material  respects  with  the
applicable  provisions of ERISA and the Code and the  regulations  and published
interpretations  thereunder.  No  ERISA  Event  has  occurred  or is  reasonably
expected to occur that,  when taken  together  with all other such ERISA Events,
could reasonably be expected to result in material  liability of the Borrower or
any of its ERISA Affiliates.  The present value of all benefit liabilities under
each Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan) did not, as of the
last annual valuation date applicable thereto,  exceed by more than $500,000 the
fair  market  value of the assets of such  Plan,  and the  present  value of all
benefit liabilities of all underfunded Plans (based on those assumptions used to
fund each such Plan) did not, as of the last annual  valuation dates  applicable
thereto,  exceed by more than  $1,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of
all such underfunded Plans.

                  SECTION 3.17.  Environmental  Matters.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.17:

                  (a) The properties owned or operated by STFI, the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries  (the  "Properties") do not contain any Hazardous  Materials in
amounts or concentrations  which (i) constitute,  or constituted a violation of,
or (ii) could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, which violations
and liabilities, in the aggregate, could result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b) The  Properties and all operations of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries  are  in  compliance,  and in the  last  ten  years  have  been  in
compliance,  with all Environmental Laws and all necessary Environmental Permits
have  been  obtained  and  are  in  effect,  except  to  the  extent  that  such
noncompliance  or failure to obtain any  necessary  permits,  in the  aggregate,
could not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (c) There have been no Releases  or  threatened  Releases  at,
from,  under or proximate to the Properties or otherwise in connection  with the
operations  of the Borrower or the  Subsidiaries,  which  Releases or threatened
Releases, in the aggregate, could result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (d) None of STFI, the Borrower or any of the  Subsidiaries has
received any notice of an Environmental  Claim in connection with the Properties
or the  operations  of the  Borrower or the  Subsidiaries  or with regard to any
person whose  liabilities  for  environmental  matters STFI, the Borrower or the
Subsidiaries  has retained or assumed,  in whole or in part,  contractually,  by
operation  of law or  otherwise,  which,  in the  aggregate,  could  result in a
Material  Adverse  Effect,  nor do STFI, the Borrower or the  Subsidiaries  have
reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened.

                  (e) None of STFI, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries retained or
assumed any  liability,  contractually,  by operation of law or otherwise,  with
respect to the generation,  treatment,  storage or disposal  (including off-site
disposal) of Hazardous Materials, which transportation,  generation,  treatment,
storage or disposal, or retained or assumed liabilities, in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION  3.18.  Insurance.  Schedule  3.18 sets  forth a true,
complete and correct description of all insurance maintained by the Borrower, by
the Borrower for its  Subsidiaries or by the  Subsidiaries as of the date hereof
and the Closing Date. As of each such date,  such insurance is in full force and
effect and all premiums have been duly paid.  The Borrower and its  Subsidiaries
have


                                       46


insurance  in such  amounts and covering  such risks and  liabilities  as are in
accordance with normal industry practice.

                  SECTION 3.19. Security Documents.  (a) The Pledge Agreement is
effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of
the Secured Parties,  a legal,  valid and enforceable  security  interest in the
Collateral  (as defined in the Pledge  Agreement)  and,  when the  Collateral is
delivered to the Collateral Agent, the Pledge Agreement shall constitute a fully
perfected first priority Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and
interest of the pledgors  thereunder in such Collateral,  in each case prior and
superior in right to any other person.

                  (b) The Security  Agreement is effective to create in favor of
the Collateral  Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties,  a legal,
valid and  enforceable  security  interest in the  Collateral (as defined in the
Security Agreement) and, when financing statements in appropriate form are filed
in the  offices  specified  on  Schedule 6 to the  Perfection  Certificate,  the
Security  Agreement  shall  constitute a fully  perfected  Lien on, and security
interest in, all right,  title and interest of the grantors  thereunder  in such
Collateral  to the extent that a Lien may be perfected by filing such  financing
statements  (other than the  Intellectual  Property,  as defined in the Security
Agreement),  in each case prior and superior in right to any other person, other
than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02.

                  (c) When the Security  Agreement is filed in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, the Security
Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security  interest in,
all right,  title and interest of the grantors  thereunder  in the  Intellectual
Property (as defined in the Security Agreement), in each case prior and superior
in right to any other person (it being understood that subsequent  recordings in
the United States Patent and  Trademark  Office and the United States  Copyright
Office may be necessary to perfect a Lien on  registered  trademarks,  trademark
applications  and  copyrights  acquired by the grantors  after the date hereof),
other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02.

                  SECTION 3.20.  Location of Real Property and Leased  Premises.
(a) As of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Acquisition Transactions,
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries do not own any real property.

                  (b) Schedule  3.20(b) lists completely and correctly as of the
Closing Date all real property leased by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries under
leases  having  annual  rental  payments in excess of $35,000 and the  locations
thereof.  The  Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  have valid leases in all the real
property set forth on Schedule 3.20(b).

                  SECTION 3.21. Labor Matters. There are no strikes, lockouts or
slowdowns  against the Acquired  Business,  STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
pending or, to the knowledge of STFI or the Borrower, threatened, other than any
strikes  which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  could  not  reasonably  be
expected  to result  in a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  The  hours  worked by and
payments made to employees of STFI, the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  have not
been in  violation  of the Fair  Labor  Standards  Act or any  other  applicable
Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters. All payments due
from STFI,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  or for which any claim may be made
against STFI, the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  on account of wages and employee
health and welfare insurance and other benefits,  have been paid or accrued as a
liability  on  the  books  of  STFI,  the  Borrower  or  such  Subsidiary.   The
consummation of the Acquisition Transactions will not give rise to


                                       47


any  right of  termination  or right of  renegotiation  on the part of any union
under any collective  bargaining agreement to which RHI, FII, STFI, the Borrower
or any Subsidiary is bound.

                  SECTION 3.22. Solvency.  Immediately after the consummation of
the  Transactions  to occur on the Closing Date and  immediately  following  the
making of each  Loan made on the  Closing  Date and after  giving  effect to the
application  of the proceeds of such Loans,  (i) the fair value of the assets of
each Loan Party,  at a fair  valuation,  will exceed its debts and  liabilities,
subordinated,  contingent or otherwise;  (ii) the present fair saleable value of
the  property  of each Loan Party will be greater  than the amount  that will be
required  to pay the  probable  liability  of its debts  and other  liabilities,
subordinated,  contingent  or  otherwise,  as such  debts and other  liabilities
become absolute and matured; (iii) each Loan Party will be able to pay its debts
and  liabilities,  subordinated,  contingent  or  otherwise,  as such  debts and
liabilities become absolute and matured;  and (iv) each Loan Party will not have
unreasonably  small  capital  with which to conduct the  business in which it is
engaged as such  business  is now  conducted  and is  proposed  to be  conducted
following the Closing Date.


ARTICLE IV.  CONDITIONS OF LENDING

                  The  obligations  of the  Lenders  to  make  Loans  and of the
Fronting  Banks  to  issue  Letters  of  Credit  hereunder  are  subject  to the
satisfaction of the following conditions:

                  SECTION  4.01.  All  Credit  Events.   On  the  date  of  each
Borrowing, including each Borrowing in which Loans are refinanced with new Loans
as  contemplated by Section 2.02(f) and on the date of each issuance of a Letter
of Credit (each such event being called a "Credit Event"):

                  (a) The  Administrative  Agent shall have received a notice of
         such  Borrowing  as required by Section 2.03 (or such notice shall have
         been deemed given in  accordance  with Section 2.03) or, in the case of
         the issuance of a Letter of Credit,  the  applicable  Fronting Bank and
         the  Administrative  Agent shall have received a notice  requesting the
         issuance of such Letter of Credit as required by Section 2.22(b).

                  (b) The  representations and warranties set forth in each Loan
         Document  shall be true and correct in all material  respects on and as
         of the date of such Credit Event with the same effect as though made on
         and as of such date,  except to the  extent  such  representations  and
         warranties expressly relate to an earlier date.

                  (c) The  Borrower  and  each  other  Loan  Party  shall  be in
         compliance  with all the terms and  provisions  set forth herein and in
         each other Loan Document on its part to be observed or  performed,  and
         at the time of and  immediately  after such Credit  Event,  no Event of
         Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Each Credit Event shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by
the  Borrower on the date of such Credit  Event as to the matters  specified  in
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 4.01.


                                       48



                  SECTION 4.02.  First Credit Event.  On the Closing Date:

                  (a) The Administrative Agent shall have received, on behalf of
         itself, the Lenders and the Fronting Banks, a favorable written opinion
         of  (i)  Gadsby  &  Hannah,   counsel   for  STFI  and  the   Borrower,
         substantially  to the  effect  set forth in  Exhibit  I-1 and (ii) each
         other opinion listed on Schedule  4.02(a),  substantially to the effect
         set forth in Exhibit I-2, in each case (A) dated the Closing Date,  (B)
         addressed  to the  Administrative  Agent,  the Lenders and the Fronting
         Banks,  and (C)  covering  such  other  matters  relating  to the  Loan
         Documents  and  the  Transactions  as the  Administrative  Agent  shall
         reasonably  request,  and STFI and the  Borrower  hereby  request  such
         counsel to deliver such opinions.

                  (b)  All  legal  matters  incident  to  this  Agreement,   the
         Borrowings  and  extensions  of credit  hereunder  and the  other  Loan
         Documents shall be satisfactory to the Lenders,  the Fronting Banks and
         Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Administrative Agent.

                  (c) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a copy of
         the certificate or articles of incorporation,  including all amendments
         thereto,  of each  Loan  Party,  certified  as of a recent  date by the
         Secretary of State of the state of its organization,  and a certificate
         as to the good  standing of each Loan Party as of a recent  date,  from
         such  Secretary  of  State;  (ii) a  certificate  of the  Secretary  or
         Assistant  Secretary  of each Loan  Party  dated the  Closing  Date and
         certifying (A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the
         by-laws of such Loan Party as in effect on the Closing  Date and at all
         times since a date prior to the date of the  resolutions  described  in
         clause (B) below, (B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy
         of  resolutions  duly  adopted by the Board of  Directors  of such Loan
         Party  authorizing the execution,  delivery and performance of the Loan
         Documents  to which  such  person  is a party  and,  in the case of the
         Borrower, the borrowings hereunder,  and that such resolutions have not
         been  modified,  rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect,
         (C) that the  certificate  or  articles of  incorporation  of such Loan
         Party  have  not been  amended  since  the  date of the last  amendment
         thereto shown on the certificate of good standing furnished pursuant to
         clause (i) above,  and (D) as to the incumbency and specimen  signature
         of each  officer  executing  any Loan  Document  or any other  document
         delivered in connection  herewith on behalf of such Loan Party; (iii) a
         certificate  of  another  officer  as to the  incumbency  and  specimen
         signature  of  the  Secretary  or  Assistant  Secretary  executing  the
         certificate  pursuant to (ii) above;  and (iv) such other  documents as
         the Lenders, the Fronting Banks or Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel for
         the Administrative Agent, may reasonably request.

                  (d)  The   Administrative   Agent   shall   have   received  a
         certificate,  dated the Closing Date and signed by a Financial  Officer
         of the Borrower,  confirming  compliance with the conditions  precedent
         set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 4.01.

                  (e) The Administrative  Agent shall have received all Fees and
         other  amounts  due  and  payable  on or  prior  to the  Closing  Date,
         including,  to the  extent  invoiced,  reimbursement  or payment of all
         out-of-pocket  expenses  required  to be  reimbursed  or  paid  by  the
         Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

                  (f) The Pledge  Agreement shall have been duly executed by the
         parties  thereto and delivered to the Collateral  Agent and shall be in
         full force and effect,  and all the  outstanding  Capital  Stock of the
         Borrower and the Subsidiaries other than ATG, ANSI and their


                                       49


         subsidiaries shall have been duly and validly pledged thereunder to the
         Collateral  Agent for the ratable  benefit of the  Secured  Parties and
         certificates  representing  such shares,  accompanied by instruments of
         transfer  and stock  powers  endorsed in blank,  shall be in the actual
         possession of the Collateral Agent.

                  (g) The Security  Agreement  shall have been duly  executed by
         the Loan  Parties  party  thereto and shall have been  delivered to the
         Collateral Agent and shall be in full force and effect on such date and
         each  document   (including  each  Uniform  Commercial  Code  financing
         statement)   required   by  law   or   reasonably   requested   by  the
         Administrative  Agent to be filed,  registered  or recorded in order to
         create in favor of the Collateral  Agent for the benefit of the Secured
         Parties a valid, legal and perfected  first-priority  security interest
         in and lien on the Collateral  described in such agreement  (subject to
         any Lien expressly permitted by Section 6.02) shall have been delivered
         to the Collateral Agent.

                  (h) The Collateral  Agent shall have received the results of a
         search of the Uniform  Commercial Code filings (or equivalent  filings)
         made  with  respect  to the  Loan  Parties  in  the  states  (or  other
         jurisdictions)  in which the chief executive office of each such person
         is located and the other jurisdictions in which Uniform Commercial Code
         filings  (or  equivalent  filings)  are  to be  made  pursuant  to  the
         preceding  paragraph,  together with copies of the financing statements
         (or similar  documents)  disclosed by such search,  and  accompanied by
         evidence  satisfactory to the Collateral Agent that the Liens indicated
         in  any  such  financing  statement  (or  similar  document)  would  be
         permitted  under  Section  6.02  or  have  been  released,   except  as
         contemplated by Section 6.09(k).  The  Administrative  Agent shall have
         received duly executed documentation  evidencing the termination of (i)
         all the security  interests granted in the Pledged Stock (as defined in
         the Pledge  Agreement) and in any other  Collateral in connection  with
         any of the Specified  Liabilities or any existing  Indebtedness of STFI
         and (ii) the credit  facility of STFI with State  Street Bank and Trust
         Company.

                  (i) The  Collateral  Agent  shall have  received a  Perfection
         Certificate with respect to the Loan Parties dated the Closing Date and
         duly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

                  (j) Each of the Parent Guarantee  Agreement and the Subsidiary
         Guarantee  Agreement  shall  have been  duly  executed  by the  parties
         thereto,  respectively,  shall have been  delivered  to the  Collateral
         Agent and shall be in full force and effect.

                  (k) The  Indemnity,  Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement
         shall have been duly executed by the parties  thereto,  shall have been
         delivered  to the  Collateral  Agent  and  shall be in full  force  and
         effect.

                  (l) The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of, or
         a certificate as to coverage under, the insurance  policies required by
         Section 5.02 and the applicable  provisions of the Security  Documents,
         each of which  policies  shall be  endorsed  or  otherwise  amended  to
         include a "standard" or "New York"  lender's  loss payable  endorsement
         and to name the  Collateral  Agent as additional  insured,  in form and
         substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.


                                       50


                  (m) All requisite Governmental  Authorities and material third
         parties   shall  have   approved  or  consented   to  the   Acquisition
         Transactions  and the other  Transactions  to the extent required other
         than a state  regulatory  approval  required  in Indiana the failure to
         obtain  which  could  not  result in a  Material  Adverse  Effect,  all
         applicable  appeal  periods  shall have  expired  and there shall be no
         governmental  or judicial  action,  actual or  threatened,  that has or
         could  have a  reasonable  likelihood  of  restraining,  preventing  or
         imposing burdensome  conditions on the Acquisition  Transactions or the
         consummation of the other Transactions.

                  (n)  The FII  Reorganization,  the  Merger,  the  Section  351
         Exchange  and  the  other  Acquisition  Transactions  shall  have  been
         consummated  prior to or  simultaneously  with the initial Credit Event
         hereunder in accordance with  applicable law, the Merger  Agreement and
         the Exchange  Agreement  (including the cancellation of preferred stock
         contemplated  thereby  immediately  upon the issuance of the Cumulative
         Convertible  Preferred  Stock and the Special  Preferred  Stock) and as
         contemplated by the Offering  Circular without any changes not approved
         by the Lenders,  and  otherwise on terms  satisfactory  to the Lenders.
         Each Acquisition  Document shall be in form and substance  satisfactory
         to the Lenders and the Lenders shall be satisfied with all arrangements
         for the transfer of employees  and services  from,  or the provision of
         services by, STFI to the Subsidiaries.

                  (o) The  Amendments  to Charter  and Bylaws  shall have become
         effective  prior to or  simultaneously  with the initial  Credit  Event
         hereunder, and prior to or simultaneously with the initial Credit Event
         hereunder STFI shall have issued to RHI (i) the Cumulative  Convertible
         Preferred  Stock  with  a  liquidation  preference  not  in  excess  of
         $25,000,000,   (ii)  the  Special   Preferred  Stock  with  an  initial
         liquidation  preference not in excess of $20,000,000 and (iii) not more
         than  6,000,000  shares of common stock of STFI,  in each case on terms
         satisfactory in all respects to the Lenders.

                  (p) The  Discount  Notes  shall have been  issued  prior to or
         simultaneously  with the initial Credit Event  hereunder and shall have
         an  interest  rate not in excess of 14% and a maturity  not sooner than
         the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date and otherwise be on the terms
         set forth in the Discount Note  Indenture,  and the Borrower shall have
         received gross proceeds of not less than $115,000,000 therefrom.

                  (q)  The  proceeds  of the  Term  Loans  and,  to  the  extent
         thereafter  required,  the net  proceeds  of  Discount  Notes  shall be
         applied  simultaneously  with the initial  Credit  Event  hereunder  to
         discharge in full all the Specified  Liabilities and, immediately after
         giving effect to the  Acquisition  Transactions  (i) STFI, the Borrower
         and the Subsidiaries  shall have outstanding no Indebtedness other than
         the Loans, the Discount Notes and the Indebtedness of STFI for borrowed
         money as set forth on Schedule 6.01(a) in an aggregate principal amount
         not in excess of $4,000,000,  (ii) STFI shall not have  outstanding any
         equity  interests  other than common stock of STFI existing on the date
         hereof and the Capital  Stock of STFI issued to RHI in the  Acquisition
         Transactions,  as  contemplated  by paragraph (o) above,  and (iii) the
         Borrower shall not have  outstanding  any equity  interests  other than
         common stock owned by STFI and pledged to secure the Obligations.

                  (r) The Tender Offer shall have been  consummated  prior to or
         simultaneously  with the initial Credit Event hereunder and all the FII
         Senior Notes shall have been tendered and repaid in accordance with the
         terms thereof.


                                       51


                  (s) The Lenders shall have received a  satisfactory  pro forma
         consolidated  balance sheet of STFI as of September 30, 1995,  together
         with a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to the effect
         that  such pro  forma  balance  sheet  fairly  presents  the pro  forma
         financial  position of STFI,  the Borrower,  the  Subsidiaries  and the
         Acquired  Business in  accordance  with GAAP,  and the Lenders shall be
         satisfied that such balance sheet and the Acquisition  Transactions and
         the financing arrangements  contemplated hereby are consistent with the
         sources and uses shown in the Confidential  Information  Memorandum and
         are not materially inconsistent with the information or projections and
         the  financial   model  contained  in  the   Confidential   Information
         Memorandum.

                  (t) The  Lenders  shall have  received a solvency  letter from
         Corporate Valuation Advisors Inc. in form and substance satisfactory to
         the Lenders, as to the solvency of STFI, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries
         and the Acquired  Business on a consolidated  basis after giving effect
         to the  Acquisition  Transactions  and the  consummation  of the  other
         Transactions contemplated hereby.


ARTICLE V.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

                  Each of STFI and the Borrower  covenants  and agrees with each
Lender  that so long as this  Agreement  shall  remain in  effect  and until the
Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan,
all Fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Loan Document shall
have been paid in full and all  Letters  of Credit  have been  canceled  or have
expired and all amounts drawn  thereunder have been  reimbursed in full,  unless
the Required  Lenders shall otherwise  consent in writing,  each of STFI and the
Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to:

                  SECTION 5.01. Existence;  Businesses and Properties. (a) Do or
cause to be done all things necessary to preserve,  renew and keep in full force
and effect its legal existence,  except as otherwise  expressly  permitted under
Section 6.05.

                  (b) Do or cause to be done all  things  necessary  to  obtain,
preserve,  renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses,
permits, franchises,  authorizations,  patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade
names  material  to the  conduct of its  business;  maintain  and  operate  such
business in  substantially  the manner in which it is  presently  conducted  and
operated;  comply in all material  respects  with all  applicable  laws,  rules,
regulations  (including  any  zoning,  building,  Environmental  and Safety Law,
ordinance,  code or  approval or any  building  permits or any  restrictions  of
record or agreements  affecting any of its real property) and decrees and orders
of any Governmental  Authority,  whether now in effect or hereafter enacted; and
at all times maintain and preserve all property  material to the conduct of such
business and keep such property in good repair,  working order and condition and
from time to time make,  or cause to be made,  all needful  and proper  repairs,
renewals,  additions,  improvements and replacements  thereto necessary in order
that the business carried on in connection  therewith may be properly  conducted
at all times.

                  SECTION  5.02.   Insurance.   Keep  its  insurable  properties
adequately  insured at all times by  financially  sound and reputable  insurers;
maintain such other insurance,  to such extent and against such risks, including
fire and other risks insured against by extended coverage,  as is customary with
companies  in the same or similar  businesses  operating  in the same or similar
locations, including

                                       52


public  liability  insurance  against  claims  for  personal  injury or death or
property  damage  occurring upon, in, about or in connection with the use of any
properties  owned,  occupied  or  controlled  by it;  and  maintain  such  other
insurance as may be required by law.

                  SECTION 5.03.  Obligations and Taxes. Pay its Indebtedness and
other  obligations  promptly  and in  accordance  with  their  terms and pay and
discharge promptly when due all taxes,  assessments and governmental  charges or
levies  imposed  upon it or upon its  income or  profits  or in  respect  of its
property,  before the same shall become delinquent or in default, as well as all
lawful claims for labor,  materials  and supplies or otherwise  that, if unpaid,
might give rise to a Lien upon such  properties or any part  thereof;  provided,
however,  that such payment and discharge  shall not be required with respect to
any such  tax,  assessment,  charge,  levy or claim so long as the  validity  or
amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings  and
the Borrower  shall have set aside on its books  adequate  reserves with respect
thereto in accordance with GAAP and such contest operates to suspend  collection
of the contested  obligation,  tax,  assessment or charge and  enforcement  of a
Lien.

                  SECTION 5.04. Financial  Statements,  Reports, etc. Furnish to
the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

                  (a)  within  90  days  after  the  end of  each  fiscal  year,
         consolidated and consolidating balance sheets and related statements of
         operations,  stockholders'  equity and cash flows showing the financial
         condition of STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the close of
         such fiscal year and the results of  operations  of STFI,  the Borrower
         and  the  Subsidiaries  during  such  year,  all  audited  by a big six
         accounting firm or other independent  public  accountants of recognized
         national standing acceptable to the Required Lenders and accompanied by
         an opinion of such  accountants  (which  shall not be  qualified in any
         material  respect)  to the  effect  that  such  consolidated  financial
         statements  fairly  present  the  financial  condition  and  results of
         operations of STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated
         basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

                  (b)  within 45 days  after the end of each of the first  three
         fiscal  quarters of each fiscal year,  consolidated  and  consolidating
         balance  sheets and related  statements  of  operations,  stockholders'
         equity  and cash  flows  showing  the  financial  condition  STFI,  the
         Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  as of the close of such fiscal  quarter
         and  the  results  of  operations   of  STFI,   the  Borrower  and  the
         Subsidiaries during such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of
         the fiscal year,  all  certified by a Financial  Officer of STFI or the
         Borrower as fairly  presenting  the financial  condition and results of
         operations of STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated
         basis in accordance with GAAP consistently  applied,  subject to normal
         year-end audit adjustments;

                  (c) (i) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements
         under  paragraph  (a) or (b) above (but no later than the date on which
         such  statements  are due), a  certificate  of the  accounting  firm or
         Financial  Officer  opining on or  certifying  such  statements  (which
         certificate,  when  furnished by an accounting  firm, may be limited to
         accounting    matters   and   disclaim    responsibility    for   legal
         interpretations) (A) certifying that no Event of Default or Default has
         occurred  or, if such an Event of  Default  or  Default  has  occurred,
         specifying  the nature and extent  thereof  and any  corrective  action
         taken or  proposed  to be taken with  respect  thereto  and (B) setting
         forth   computations   in  reasonable   detail   satisfactory   to  the
         Administrative


                                       53


         Agent demonstrating compliance with the covenants contained in Sections
         6.11,  6.12,  6.13, 6.14 and 6.15 and (ii) within 45 days after the end
         of each fiscal year, a certificate of a Financial Officer certifying as
         to the matters set forth in clauses (A) and (B) above;

                  (d) promptly after the same become publicly available,  copies
         of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials
         filed by STFI, the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  with the Securities and
         Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or
         all  of  the  functions  of  such  Commission,  or  with  any  national
         securities  exchange,  or distributed to its shareholders,  as the case
         may be;

                  (e)  concurrently  with the delivery of  financial  statements
         under  paragraph  (a)  or  (b)  above,  a  balance  sheet  and  related
         statements of operations,  stockholders' equity and cash flows for each
         Unrestricted  Subsidiary and each STFI Unrestricted  Subsidiary for the
         applicable period;

                  (f) within 45 days after the end of each month,  a certificate
         of a Financial  Officer of the Borrower  reporting  revenues and EBITDA
         for such month and  containing  statements of operations and cash flows
         for such month and a comparison of actual results with planned  results
         for such month;

                  (g)  upon the  earlier  of (i) 90 days  after  the end of each
         fiscal year of the  Borrower  and (ii) the date on which the  financial
         statements  in  respect  of  such  period  are  delivered  pursuant  to
         paragraph  (a)  above,  a  certificate  of a  Financial  Officer of the
         Borrower (A) setting  forth,  in  reasonable  detail,  an operating and
         capital  expenditure  budget  for the  succeeding  fiscal  year and (B)
         setting  forth the  insurance  policies of STFI,  the  Borrower and the
         Subsidiaries  and  evidencing  compliance  with  Section  5.02  and the
         applicable provisions of the Security Documents;

                  (h)  promptly  following  the creation or  acquisition  of any
         Subsidiary,  a certificate  from a  Responsible  Officer of STFI or the
         Borrower, identifying such new Subsidiary and the ownership interest of
         the Borrower or any Subsidiary therein;

                  (i)  promptly,  a copy of all reports  submitted in connection
         with  any  material  interim  or  special  audit  made  by  independent
         accountants of the books of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

                  (j)  promptly,  from  time to  time,  such  other  information
         regarding the operations,  business affairs and financial  condition of
         STFI, the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries,  or compliance with the terms
         of any Loan Document, or such consolidating  financial  statements,  or
         such  financial  statements  showing the results of  operations  of any
         Unrestricted Subsidiary or any STFI Unrestricted Subsidiary, as in each
         case the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.


                                       54



                  SECTION 5.05.  Litigation  and Other  Notices.  Furnish to the
Administrative  Agent,  the Fronting Banks and each Lender prompt written notice
of the following:

                  (a) any Event of Default or Default, specifying the nature and
         extent thereof and the corrective  action (if any) taken or proposed to
         be taken with respect thereto;

                  (b) the filing or commencement  of, or any threat or notice of
         intention  of any  person  to file or  commence,  any  action,  suit or
         proceeding,   whether  at  law  or  in  equity  or  by  or  before  any
         Governmental  Authority,  against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof
         that could  reasonably  be  expected  to result in a  Material  Adverse
         Effect;

                  (c) the loss,  suspension or other material  impairment of any
         material FCC license or any other material  approval,  certification or
         authorization of any Governmental Authority; and

                  (d) any development  that has resulted in, or could reasonably
         be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 5.06.  Employee  Benefits.  (a) Comply in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and (b) furnish to
the Administrative  Agent (i) as soon as possible after, and in any event within
10 days after any  Responsible  Officer of the  Borrower or any ERISA  Affiliate
knows or has reason to know that,  any ERISA Event has occurred  that,  alone or
together  with any other ERISA Event could  reasonably  be expected to result in
liability  of the  Borrower  in an  aggregate  amount  exceeding  $1,000,000  or
requiring  payments  exceeding  $500,000 in any year, a statement of a Financial
Officer of the  Borrower  setting  forth  details as to such ERISA Event and the
action, if any, that the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.

                  SECTION 5.07.  Maintaining  Records;  Access to Properties and
Inspections.  Keep proper  books of record and  account in which full,  true and
correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all  requirements of law are made of
all dealings and  transactions in relation to its business and activities.  Each
Loan Party will,  and will cause each of its  subsidiaries  (except,  other than
during the continuance of an Event of Default, in the case of the Borrower,  the
Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  and,  in the  case of STFI,  the  STFI  Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) to, permit any  representatives  designated by the  Administrative
Agent  or any  Lender  to  visit  and  inspect  the  financial  records  and the
properties of STFI,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary at reasonable  times and as
often as  reasonably  requested  and to make  extracts  from and  copies of such
financial   records,   and  permit  any   representatives   designated   by  the
Administrative  Agent  or any  Lender  to  discuss  the  affairs,  finances  and
condition of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the officers  thereof and
independent accountants therefor.

                  SECTION 5.08.  Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of the Loans
and request the issuance of Letters of Credit only for the purposes set forth in
the preamble to this Agreement.

                  SECTION 5.09.  Compliance with Environmental Laws. Comply, and
cause all lessees and other persons  occupying its Properties to comply,  in all
material  respects  with  all  Environmental  Laws  and  Environmental   Permits
applicable to their respective  operations and Properties;  obtain and renew all
material  Environmental  Permits  necessary for their respective  operations and
Properties;  conduct any Remedial Action in accordance with Environmental  Laws;
and  provide  the  Administrative  Agent  with  prompt  written  notice  of  any
Environmental  Claim that could  reasonably  be  expected  to result in material
liability.


                                       55


                  SECTION  5.10.  Preparation  of  Environmental  Reports.  If a
Default caused by reason of a breach of Section 3.17 or 5.09 shall have occurred
and  be  continuing,  at  the  request  of  the  Required  Lenders  through  the
Administrative  Agent, provide to the Lenders within 45 days after such request,
at the expense of the Borrower,  an environmental site assessment report for the
Properties  which are the subject of such default  prepared by an  environmental
consulting  firm  acceptable  to the  Administrative  Agent and  indicating  the
presence  or  absence  of  Hazardous  Materials  and the  estimated  cost of any
compliance or Remedial Action in connection with such Properties.

                  SECTION 5.11. Further Assurances.  Execute any and all further
documents,  financing  statements,  agreements  and  instruments,  and  take all
further action  (including  filing Uniform  Commercial  Code and other financing
statements,  mortgages and deeds of trust) that may be required under applicable
law, or that the Required Lenders,  the  Administrative  Agent or the Collateral
Agent  may  reasonably   request,   in  order  to  effectuate  the  transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents and in order to grant, preserve,  protect and
perfect the validity and first  priority of the  security  interests  created or
intended to be created by the  Security  Documents.  In  addition,  from time to
time, STFI, the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  will, at their cost and expense,
on or promptly (but in any event within 10 Business Days)  following the date of
acquisition  or formation by STFI,  the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  of any new
subsidiary  (subject  to the  receipt of  required  consents  from  Governmental
Authorities and, in the case of Unrestricted  Subsidiaries and STFI Unrestricted
Subsidiaries,  consents of other third parties), promptly secure the Obligations
by causing the  following to occur:  (i) promptly upon creating or acquiring any
additional  subsidiary,  the Capital Stock of such  subsidiary will (unless such
subsidiary is a subsidiary of an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary or a subsidiary of an
STFI  Unrestricted  Subsidiary) be pledged  pursuant to the Pledge Agreement and
(ii) such subsidiary will (unless such subsidiary is an Unrestricted  Subsidiary
or an STFI Unrestricted  Subsidiary)  become a party to the Security  Agreement,
the Pledge  Agreement (if such subsidiary owns Capital Stock of any subsidiary),
the  Subsidiary   Guarantee   Agreement  and  the  Indemnity,   Subrogation  and
Contribution  Agreement as  contemplated  under each such agreement and will, if
such subsidiary  owns any material real property,  enter into and deliver to the
Collateral Agent a first mortgage in respect of such property in form reasonably
satisfactory  to the  Collateral  Agent  and  pay  all  recording  taxes,  title
insurance costs,  survey costs and other costs in connection with such mortgage.
STFI and the  Borrower  further  agree  that,  upon  receipt of notice  from the
Administrative Agent requesting a first mortgage in respect of any real property
or  leasehold  interest of STFI,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  STFI and the
Borrower will, and will cause the Subsidiaries to, at their sole cost,  promptly
deliver  to the  Collateral  Agent  each  such  mortgage  in a  form  reasonably
satisfactory  to the  Collateral  Agent  and  pay  all  recording  taxes,  title
insurance  costs,  survey  costs and other  costs in  connection  with each such
mortgage.  All such  security  interests  and Liens  will be  created  under the
Security  Documents  and other  instruments  and documents in form and substance
reasonably  satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, and STFI, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative  Agent
all such instruments and documents  (including legal opinions and lien searches)
as the Required  Lenders shall  reasonably  request to evidence  compliance with
this Section  5.11.  STFI and the Borrower  agree to provide,  and to cause each
Subsidiary to provide,  such evidence as the Collateral  Agent shall  reasonably
request as to the perfection and priority status of each such security  interest
and Lien.  STFI and Borrower  will,  and will cause their  Subsidiaries  to, use
their best  efforts to take all  actions  and obtain all  approvals  required to
permit the pledge under the Pledge Agreement of all the equity interests in ATG,
ANSI and their  subsidiaries  and to permit ATG, ANSI and their  subsidiaries to
become Guarantors,  Grantors under the Security Agreement and Pledgors under the
Pledge  Agreement,  and  immediately  upon the taking of all required action and
receipt of all required approvals in respect of any of them, cause the equity


                                       56


interests in such person to be pledged under the Pledge Agreement and cause such
person to become a  Guarantor,  a Grantor  under the  Security  Agreement  and a
Pledgor under the Pledge Agreement.

                  SECTION  5.12.  Fiscal  Year.  Cause its fiscal year to end on
December 31.

                  SECTION 5.13. Interest Rate Protection Agreements. In the case
of the  Borrower,  as promptly as  practicable  and in any event  within 90 days
after the Closing Date,  enter into, and thereafter  maintain in effect,  one or
more  Interest  Rate  Protection  Agreements  with any of the  Lenders  or other
financial institutions  reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the
effect of which shall be to limit for the 3-year  period  commencing on the date
such Interest Rate Protection  Agreements are entered into the interest  payable
in connection with Indebtedness having an aggregate outstanding principal amount
equal  to not  less  than  50% of the  aggregate  principal  amount  of the Term
Borrowings  outstanding at the time such Interest Rate Protection Agreements are
entered into to a maximum rate and on terms and conditions  otherwise reasonably
acceptable,   taking  into  account  then  current  market  conditions,  to  the
Administrative Agent, and deliver evidence of the execution and delivery thereof
to the Administrative Agent.

                  SECTION 5.14.  Corporate Identity.  Do or cause to be done (or
refrain  from  doing  or  causing  to be done,  as the  case may be) all  things
necessary to ensure that the separate legal identity of the Borrower will at all
times be respected  and that  neither the  Borrower nor any of the  Subsidiaries
will be liable for any  obligations,  contractual  or otherwise,  of STFI or any
other entity in which STFI owns any equity  interest,  except as permitted under
Section 6.06 or Section 6.07 or pursuant to any Loan Document.  Without limiting
the  foregoing,   the  Borrower  and  STFI  will  (a)  observe,  and  cause  the
Subsidiaries to observe, all requirements,  procedures and formalities necessary
or advisable in order that the  Borrower  will for all purposes be  considered a
validly  existing  corporation  separate  and  distinct  from STFI and its other
subsidiaries, (b) not permit any commingling of the assets of STFI or any of its
other  subsidiaries  with assets of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  which would
prevent  the  assets  of  STFI or any of its  subsidiaries  from  being  readily
distinguished  from the assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and (c) take
reasonable and customary  actions to ensure that creditors of STFI and its other
subsidiaries  are aware that each such person is an entity separate and distinct
from the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.


ARTICLE VI.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS

                  Each of STFI and the Borrower  covenants  and agrees with each
Lender  that,  so long as this  Agreement  shall  remain in effect and until the
Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan,
all Fees and all other expenses or amounts  payable under any Loan Document have
been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been  cancelled or have expired
and all  amounts  drawn  thereunder  have been  reimbursed  in full,  unless the
Required  Lenders  shall  otherwise  consent in  writing,  neither  STFI nor the
Borrower will, nor will they cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to:

                  SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. Incur, create, assume or permit to
exist any Indebtedness, except:

                  (a)  Indebtedness  for  borrowed  money  existing  on the date
hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01(a);


                                       57



                  (b) Indebtedness created hereunder;

                  (c) in the case of the Borrower,  Discount  Notes and Discount
         Exchange  Notes having an aggregate  Accreted  Value at any time not in
         excess of the Discount Note Value at such time;

                  (d) in the case of the Guarantors, the guarantees under the 
         Guarantee Agreements and the Discount Note Guarantees;

                  (e) in  the  case  of the  Borrower,  Indebtedness  under  the
         Interest Rate  Protection  Agreements  entered into in accordance  with
         Section 5.13;

                  (f)  Capital  Lease  Obligations,   mortgage   financings  and
         purchase  money   Indebtedness   in  an  aggregate   principal   amount
         outstanding  at any time not in excess of  $2,000,000  incurred  by the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary  prior to or within 270 days after a Capital
         Expenditure  in order to finance such Capital  Expenditure  and secured
         only by the assets  that are the subject of such  Capital  Expenditure,
         and extensions,  renewals and refinancings thereof if the interest rate
         with respect  thereto and other terms thereof are no less  favorable to
         the Borrower or such Subsidiary than the Indebtedness  being refinanced
         and the average  life to maturity  thereof is greater  than or equal to
         that of the Indebtedness being refinanced; provided, however, that such
         refinancing  Indebtedness  shall not be (i)  Indebtedness of an obligor
         that  was  not  an  obligor  with  respect  to the  Indebtedness  being
         extended,  renewed  or  refinanced,  (ii) in a  principal  amount  that
         exceeds the Indebtedness being renewed, extended or refinanced or (iii)
         incurred,  created or assumed  if any  Default or Event of Default  has
         occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom;

                  (g)Indebtedness of the Borrower or any wholly owned Subsidiary
         to any Subsidiary or the Borrower; and

                  (h)  all  premium   (if  any),   interest,   fees,   expenses,
         indemnities,   charges  and   additional  or  contingent   interest  on
         obligations described in clauses (a) through (g) above.


                  SECTION 6.02. Liens. Create,  incur, assume or permit to exist
any Lien on any property or assets  (including  stock or other securities of any
person,  including any Subsidiary)  now owned or hereafter  acquired by it or on
any  income or  revenues  or  rights in  respect  of any  thereof,  or assign or
transfer any income or revenues or rights in respect thereof, except:

                  (a)  Liens on  property  or  assets  of the  Borrower  and its
         Subsidiaries  existing  on the date  hereof  and set forth in  Schedule
         6.02;  provided  that such Liens shall  secure  only those  obligations
         which they secure on the date hereof;

                  (b) any Lien created under the Loan Documents;

                  (c) Liens consisting of interests of lessors under capital 
        leases permitted by Section 6.01(f);


                                       58


                  (d) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested 
         in compliance with Section 5.03;

                  (e)  carriers',  warehousemen's,   mechanics',  materialmen's,
         repairmen's  or other like  Liens  arising  in the  ordinary  course of
         business and securing  obligations that are not due and payable or that
         are being contested in compliance with Section 5.03;

                  (f)  pledges  and  deposits  made in the  ordinary  course  of
         business  in  compliance  with  workmen's  compensation,   unemployment
         insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

                  (g)  deposits  to  secure  the  performance  of  bids,   trade
         contracts  (other than for  Indebtedness),  leases  (other than Capital
         Lease  Obligations),  statutory  obligations,  surety and appeal bonds,
         performance  bonds and other  obligations of a like nature  incurred in
         the ordinary course of business;

                  (h)    zoning    restrictions,    easements,    rights-of-way,
         restrictions  on use of real  property and other  similar  encumbrances
         incurred in the ordinary  course of business  which,  in the aggregate,
         are not  substantial in amount and do not  materially  detract from the
         value of the property  subject  thereto or interfere  with the ordinary
         conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and

                  (i) other  Liens  with  respect  to  property  or  assets  not
         constituting  collateral  for the  Obligations  with an aggregate  fair
         market value of not more than $2,000,000 at any time.

                  SECTION 6.03. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. Enter into any
arrangement,  directly or  indirectly,  with any person whereby it shall sell or
transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether
now owned or hereafter  acquired,  and thereafter rent or lease such property or
other  property  which it intends to use for  substantially  the same purpose or
purposes as the property being sold or transferred.

                  SECTION 6.04. Investments,  Loans and Advances. Purchase, hold
or acquire any capital stock,  evidences of indebtedness or other securities of,
make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, or make or permit to exist any
investment or any other interest in, any other person, except:

                  (a)  investments  (i) by the  Borrower  existing  on the  date
         hereof in the  Capital  Stock of the  Subsidiaries  and STC, or (ii) by
         STFI in the Capital Stock of the Borrower;

                  (b) Permitted Investments and investments that were Permitted
         Investments when made;

                  (c) in the case of the Borrower, Interest Rate Protection 
         Agreements entered into in accordance with Section 5.13;

                  (d)intercompany loans permitted to be incurred as Indebtedness
         under Section 6.01(g);

                                       59


                  (e) (i) loans and advances to employees of STFI,  the Borrower
         or the  Subsidiaries  not to exceed  $1,000,000 in the aggregate at any
         time  outstanding and (ii) advances of payroll payments and expenses to
         employees in the ordinary course of business;

                  (f) (i) accounts  receivable  arising and trade credit granted
         in the  ordinary  course of  business  and any  securities  received in
         satisfaction or partial  satisfaction thereof from financially troubled
         account debtors to the extent reasonably  necessary in order to prevent
         or limit loss and (ii)  prepayments and other credits to suppliers made
         in the ordinary  course of business  consistent with the past practices
         of the Acquired Business, STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries;

                  (g) investments,  other than investments  listed in paragraphs
         (a) through (f) of this  Section,  existing on the Closing Date and set
         forth on Schedule 6.04;

                  (h) ownership interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, provided
         that the  capitalization  requirement  set forth in clause (vii) of the
         definition  of  "Unrestricted   Subsidiary"   shall  at  all  times  be
         satisfied;

                  (i)  in  the  case  of  STFI,   ownership  interests  in  STFI
         Unrestricted Subsidiaries, provided that the capitalization requirement
         set  forth  in  clause  (g) of the  definition  of  "STFI  Unrestricted
         Subsidiary" shall at all times be satisfied;

                  (j)  investments  in any  fiscal  year in  Permitted  Business
         Acquisitions  funded solely with funds  described in clause (g)(iii) of
         the definition of "STFI Unrestricted  Subsidiary" and available in such
         fiscal  year  as  set  forth  in  such  clause  (iii),  subject  to the
         limitation set forth in the  parenthetical set forth at the end of such
         clause (iii); and

                  (k) other  investments  in  Permitted  Business  Acquisitions,
         provided that the aggregate  amount of  consideration  (whether cash or
         property,  as valued at the time each such  investment is made) for all
         investments  made  in  Permitted   Business   Acquisitions  under  this
         paragraph (k) shall not exceed $3,500,000 for any fiscal year (of which
         not more  than  $2,500,000  may be in the form of cash)  and  shall not
         exceed $12,500,000 for the period following the Closing Date.

                  SECTION  6.05.  Mergers,  Consolidations,  Sales of Assets and
Acquisitions.  Merge into or  consolidate  with any other person,  or permit any
other person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell,  transfer,  lease or
otherwise  dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or
any substantial  part of its assets  (whether now owned or hereafter  acquired),
other than assets of the Borrower  constituting an Unrestricted  Subsidiary,  or
any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary or purchase,  lease or otherwise acquire (in
one transaction or a series of transactions)  all or any substantial part of the
assets of any other person,  except that (a) the Borrower and any Subsidiary may
purchase and sell  inventory in the ordinary  course of business,  (b) if at the
time thereof and immediately  after giving effect thereto no Event of Default or
Default shall have occurred and be continuing  any wholly owned  Subsidiary  may
merge  into  or  consolidate  with  any  other  wholly  owned  Subsidiary  in  a
transaction  in which the surviving  entity is a wholly owned  Subsidiary and no
person  other  than the  Borrower  or a wholly  owned  Subsidiary  receives  any
consideration,  (c) the  Borrower  and the  Subsidiaries  may acquire  Permitted
Business  Acquisitions and other  investments  permitted by Section 6.04 and (d)
the  Subsidiaries  may sell,  lease or  otherwise  dispose of property  for cash
consideration  equal to the fair  market  value of the  asset  sold,  leased  or
otherwise disposed of, provided that (i) the Net Proceeds


                                       60


thereof are applied in  accordance  with  Section  2.13(b),  (ii) the  aggregate
consideration  received  in respect of all  transactions  under this  clause (d)
shall not exceed  $1,000,000 in any fiscal year and (iii) no sale may be made of
the Capital Stock (or any warrant,  right, or option to purchase any and Capital
Stock or any  security  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for any such Capital
Stock) of any Subsidiary.

                  SECTION 6.06.  Dividends and  Distributions;  Restrictions  on
Ability of  Subsidiaries  to Pay  Dividends.  (a)  Declare or pay,  directly  or
indirectly, any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital
or otherwise),  whether in cash, property,  securities or a combination thereof,
with  respect to any  shares of its  Capital  Stock or  directly  or  indirectly
redeem,  purchase,  retire  or  otherwise  acquire  for  value  (or  permit  any
Subsidiary  to purchase or acquire) any shares of any class of its Capital Stock
or set aside any amount for any such purpose;  provided,  however,  that (i) any
Subsidiary  may declare and pay  dividends  or make other  distributions  to the
Borrower  or to any wholly  owned  Subsidiary,  and (ii) so long as  immediately
after  giving  effect to such  payment or  distribution,  no Event of Default or
Default  shall have  occurred and be  continuing  and the  Borrower  shall be in
compliance, on a pro forma basis, with the covenants contained in Sections 6.11,
6.12,  6.13,  6.14 and 6.15  recomputed  as of the last day of the most recently
ended fiscal  quarter of the Borrower as if such  payment or  distribution  were
made on the  first day of each  relevant  period  for  testing  compliance,  the
Borrower may declare and pay dividends or make other  distributions  to STFI (A)
in an aggregate  amount not in excess of  $1,500,000  in any fiscal year,  to be
used by STFI to pay dividends on the Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, (B)
to fund the  payment by STFI of tax  liabilities,  legal,  accounting  and other
professional fees and expenses,  compensation, fees and expenses of the board of
directors of STFI and fees and expenses associated with registration  statements
filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission and subsequent ongoing public
reporting requirements,  in each case to the extent actually incurred by STFI in
connection  with the  business  of its  ownership  of the  Capital  Stock of the
Borrower,  (C) in an  aggregate  amount not in excess of  $400,000 in any fiscal
year, to be used by STFI to pay dividends on its Series C Preferred Stock and on
its Series D Preferred  Stock, (D) solely to the extent a portion of Excess Cash
Flow for the most  recently  ended  fiscal  year not  subject  to the  mandatory
prepayments in accordance with Section 2.13(c) is available for such purpose, to
make mandatory  redemptions  required  under Section 5(c) of the  Certificate of
Designation  in respect  of the  Special  Preferred  Stock and (E) solely to the
extent  funds  described  in  clauses  (A)  or  (B) of  clause  (g)(iii)  of the
definition of "STFI  Unrestricted  Subsidiary" are available in such fiscal year
as set forth in such clause (iii),  subject to the  limitation  set forth in the
parenthetical  set forth at the end of such clause (iii),  to be used by STFI to
pay dividends on any of its Capital Stock; provided further, that no payment may
be made under  clause (A) or clause (D) above at any time that there  shall have
been  outstanding  for 30 days or more any  amount  due and  payable  by STFI in
excess of $100,000 in respect of any liability purported to have been assumed by
any person other than STFI in the Acquisition  Transactions.  This paragraph (a)
shall not  constitute  a  restriction  on the payment of dividends on any of the
preferred stock cancelled upon the exchange set forth in the Exchange Agreement,
all of which  preferred  stock  shall  have  been  cancelled  on or prior to the
initial Credit Event hereunder as required under Section 4.02(n).

                  (b) Permit any subsidiary to,  directly or indirectly,  create
or otherwise  cause or suffer to exist or become  effective any  encumbrance  or
restriction  on the ability of any such  Subsidiary  to (i) pay any dividends or
make any other  distributions  on its Capital Stock or any other equity interest
or (ii) make or repay any loans or  advances  to the  Borrower  or the parent of
such Subsidiary.


                                       61


                  SECTION 6.07.  Transactions with Affiliates.  Sell or transfer
any  property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any  property or assets from,
or  otherwise  engage in any other  transactions  with,  any of its  Affiliates,
except that the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  may engage in any of the  foregoing
transactions  in the  ordinary  course of  business  at prices  and on terms and
conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such  Subsidiary  than could be
obtained on an arm's-length  basis from unrelated  third parties,  provided that
the  foregoing  shall not prohibit any issuance of  securities  of STFI or other
awards,  payments or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the
funding of,  employment  agreements,  stock  options and stock  ownership  plans
approved by the Board of Directors of STFI.

                  SECTION  6.08.   Business  of  STFI,   the  Borrower  and  the
Subsidiaries. Engage at any time in any business or business activity other than
(a) in the case of STFI, the ownership of all the Capital Stock of the Borrower,
the  ownership of STFI  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries,  the  ownership of Permitted
Business  Acquisitions  permitted  under Section  6.04(j),  the ownership of the
general partnership interest in Financial Place Communications  Company owned by
STFI on the date hereof, the ownership of Capital Stock of STC and the ownership
of certain  contracts of STFI owned on the Closing  Date after giving  effect to
the Acquisition  Transactions,  (b) in the case of the Borrower,  being party to
tenant service  contracts and the ownership of Capital Stock of the Subsidiaries
and the Unrestricted  Subsidiaries and business activities reasonably incidental
thereto  and  (c) in  the  case  of the  Subsidiaries,  the  business  currently
conducted by STFI and its subsidiaries or by the Acquired  Business and business
activities reasonably incidental thereto.

                  SECTION 6.09. Other  Indebtedness  and Agreements.  (a) Permit
any waiver, supplement,  modification,  amendment, termination or release of (i)
the Discount Notes, the Discount Note Indenture,  the Discount Exchange Notes or
the Discount Note Guarantees,  (ii) the Merger Agreement,  (iii) the Charter and
Bylaws of STFI,  as amended by the  Amendments  to Charter and Bylaws,  (iv) the
Certificates of Designation,  (v) any other  instrument or agreement (other than
the Loan  Documents)  pursuant  to which any  other  Indebtedness  of STFI,  the
Borrower or any Subsidiary is outstanding  in an aggregate  principal  amount in
excess of $1,000,000 or (vi) any other material  agreement of STFI, the Borrower
or any Subsidiary, including the other Acquisition Documents.

                  (b) Directly or indirectly,  make any distribution or payment,
whether in cash,  property,  securities  or a  combination  thereof,  other than
scheduled  payments of principal and interest as and when due (to the extent not
prohibited by applicable  subordination  provisions),  in respect of, or pay, or
offer to commit to pay, or directly or indirectly redeem, repurchase,  retire or
otherwise  acquire  for  consideration  (or set apart any sum for the  aforesaid
purposes),  or prepay or defease,  any Indebtedness of STFI, the Borrower or any
of the Subsidiaries  (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents) prior to
the stated maturity date of such Indebtedness,  except in any fiscal year to the
extent funds  described in clause (A) of clause  (g)(iii) of the  definition  of
"STFI Unrestricted Subsidiary" are available in such fiscal year as set forth in
such clause (iii),  subject to the limitation set forth in the parenthetical set
forth at the end of such clause (iii), such funds may be used to prepay Discount
Notes or Discount Exchange Notes.

                  (c) Permit any  agreement of STFI,  the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries  to include  any  provision  that would allow the  counterparty  to
offset against its  obligations  under such agreement the  obligations  owing by
such  counterparty  to STFI, the Borrower or any of the  Subsidiaries  under any
other agreement.


                                       62


                  (d) Permit any agreement of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary to
include a restriction on the assignment of such agreement based on any change in
control or similar provisions.

                  (e) Make any cash  payment on or in  respect  of the  Discount
Notes or the  Discount  Exchange  Notes at any time that a cash  payment  is not
required to be made.

                  (f) Permit the Borrower to issue any Capital Stock,  or permit
any Subsidiary to issue any Capital Stock other than to the Borrower or a wholly
owned Subsidiary.

                  (g)  Provide  any  management  or service to any  Unrestricted
Subsidiary or any STFI  Unrestricted  Subsidiary except in consideration of cash
remuneration  in an amount not less than could have been  obtained  from a third
party on an arm's length basis.

                  (h)  Designate  any   Indebtedness   as   "Designated   Senior
Indebtedness"  for  purposes of the  Discount  Note  Indenture  or any  Discount
Exchange Note Indenture.

                  (i) Permit ANSI to terminate any agency  relationship with any
Guarantor  or to modify the terms of any such  agency in any manner that is less
favorable to such Guarantor than the terms in effect  immediately  prior to such
modification or permit ATG, ANSI or any of their  subsidiaries at any time prior
to the date on which it shall become a Guarantor  to enter into any  transaction
with STFI,  the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  that it would  otherwise  have been
permitted to enter into as a Subsidiary under this Article VI.

                  (j) Enter into any tenant  service  contract that would result
in a breach of Section 3.10.

                  (k) (i) fail to furnish  to the  Collateral  Agent  within two
weeks  after  the  Closing  Date the  results  of all the  searches  of  Uniform
Commercial Code filings (or equivalent filings)  contemplated by Section 4.02(h)
that were not  delivered  on the  Closing  Date or (ii) fail to  deliver  to the
Collateral Agent within four weeks after the Closing Date evidence  satisfactory
to the Collateral Agent that the Liens indicated in any financing  statement (or
similar document)  disclosed in the results of any search furnished under clause
(i) would be permitted under Section 6.02 or have been released.

                  SECTION  6.10.  Capital  Expenditures.  Permit  the  aggregate
amount of Capital  Expenditures  made by STFI, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
taken as a whole in any  fiscal  year to  exceed  the  amount  set  forth  below
opposite such period:

                                               Fiscal Period
                                           Capital Expenditures

April 1, 1996 - March 31, 1997                  $13,500,000
April 1, 1997 - March 31, 1998                   14,000,000
April 1, 1998 - March 31, 1999                   15,500,000
April 1, 1999 - March 31, 2000                   16,000,000
April 1, 2000 - March 31, 2001                   16,500,000
April 1, 2001 - March 31, 2002                   17,500,000
April 1, 2002 - March 31, 2003                   18,000,000;


                                       63


provided,  however,  that to the extent Capital  Expenditures in any fiscal year
are less than the amount set forth above opposite such year, up to $2,000,000 of
such  unused  amount  in any  fiscal  year may be  carried  forward  to the next
succeeding fiscal year.

                  SECTION  6.11.  Minimum  EBITDA.  Permit  EBITDA of STFI,  the
Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  at the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than
the amount set forth for such quarter on Schedule 6.11.

                  SECTION 6.12.  Fixed Charge Coverage  Ratio.  Permit the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than 1.00.

                  SECTION 6.13.  Leverage Ratio. Permit the Leverage Ratio as of
the end of any  fiscal  quarter  to be in excess of the ratio set forth for such
quarter on Schedule 6.13.

                  SECTION 6.14.  Interest  Expense  Coverage  Ratio.  Permit the
Interest  Expense  Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be less
than that set forth for such quarter on Schedule 6.14.

                  SECTION  6.15.  Minimum Net Worth.  Permit Net Worth as of the
end of any fiscal quarter to be less than the Minimum Net Worth as of such date.


ARTICLE VII.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT

                  In  case  of the  happening  of any  of the  following  events
          ("Events of Default"):

                  (a) any  representation  or warranty made or deemed made in or
         in connection  with any Loan Document or the borrowings or issuances of
         Letters of Credit hereunder, or any representation, warranty, statement
         or  information  contained  in  any  report,   certificate,   financial
         statement or other instrument  furnished in connection with or pursuant
         to any Loan  Document,  shall prove to have been false or misleading in
         any material respect when so made, deemed made or furnished;

                  (b) default  shall be made in the payment of any  principal of
         any Loan or the  reimbursement  with respect to any L/C Disbursement or
         in  the  payment  of  any  interest  on  any  Loan  or  any  Fee or L/C
         Disbursement  or any other amount (other than an amount  referred to in
         (a)  above)  due under any Loan  Document,  when and as the same  shall
         become due and  payable,  whether at the due date  thereof or at a date
         fixed for prepayment thereof or by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

                  (c) default shall be made in the due observance or performance
         by STFI, the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of any covenant,  condition or
         agreement contained in Section 5.01(a), 5.05 or 5.08 or in Article VI;

                  (d) default shall be made in the due observance or performance
         by STFI, the Borrower or any  Subsidiary of any covenant,  condition or
         agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in
         (b), or (c) above) and such default  shall  continue  unremedied  for a
         period of 15 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent or
         any Lender to the Borrower;

                  (e) there shall have occurred a Change in Control;


                                       64


                  (f) STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) fail to pay
         any principal or interest,  regardless of amount, due in respect of any
         Indebtedness in a principal amount in excess of $1,000,000, when and as
         the same  shall  become  due and  payable,  or (ii) fail to  observe or
         perform any other term,  covenant,  condition or agreement contained in
         any   agreement  or   instrument   evidencing  or  governing  any  such
         Indebtedness  if the effect of any  failure  referred to in this clause
         (ii)  is to  cause,  or  to  permit  the  holder  or  holders  of  such
         Indebtedness  or a trustee on its or their  behalf (with or without the
         giving  of  notice,   the  lapse  of  time  or  both)  to  cause,  such
         Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity;

                  (g)  an  involuntary  proceeding  shall  be  commenced  or  an
         involuntary   petition   shall  be  filed  in  a  court  of   competent
         jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of STFI, the Borrower or any
         Subsidiary, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of STFI,
         the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary,  under Title 11 of the United  States
         Code, as now  constituted or hereafter  amended,  or any other Federal,
         state or foreign bankruptcy,  insolvency,  receivership or similar law,
         (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee,  custodian,  sequestrator,
         conservator  or  similar   official  for  STFI,  the  Borrower  or  any
         Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the property or assets of STFI,
         the Borrower or a Subsidiary or (iii) the  winding-up or liquidation of
         STFI, the Borrower or any  Subsidiary;  and such proceeding or petition
         shall continue  undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving
         or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

                  (h) STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily
         commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief under Title
         11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter  amended,
         or  any  other  Federal,  state  or  foreign  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
         receivership  or similar law,  (ii) consent to the  institution  of, or
         fail to contest in a timely and appropriate  manner,  any proceeding or
         the filing of any petition  described in (g) above,  (iii) apply for or
         consent  to  the  appointment  of  a  receiver,   trustee,   custodian,
         sequestrator, conservator or similar official for STFI, the Borrower or
         any  Subsidiary or for a substantial  part of the property or assets of
         STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iv) file an answer admitting the
         material  allegations  of a  petition  filed  against  it in  any  such
         proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors,
         (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to
         pay its  debts as they  become  due or (vii)  take any  action  for the
         purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

                  (i) one or more  judgments  for the  payment  of  money  in an
         aggregate  amount in excess of  $1,000,000  shall be  rendered  against
         STFI, the Borrower,  any Subsidiary or any combination  thereof and the
         same shall  remain  undischarged  for a period of 30  consecutive  days
         during which execution shall not be effectively  stayed,  or any action
         shall be legally  taken by a judgment  creditor  to levy upon assets or
         properties of STFI,  the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such
         judgment;

                  (j) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of
         the Required  Lenders,  when taken  together  with all other such ERISA
         Events,  could  reasonably  be expected to result in  liability  of the
         Borrower  and its ERISA  Affiliates  in an aggregate  amount  exceeding
         $1,000,000 or requires payments exceeding $500,000 in any year;

                  (k) any  security  interest  purported  to be  created  by any
         Security  Document  shall  cease to be,  or shall  be  asserted  by the
         Borrower or any other Loan Party not to be, a valid,  perfected,  first
         priority (except as otherwise  expressly  provided in this Agreement or
         such Security Document) security interest in the securities,  assets or
         properties covered thereby,  except to the extent that any such loss of
         perfection or priority results from the failure of the Collateral Agent
         to maintain


                                       65


         possession of certificates  representing  securities  pledged under the
         Pledge  Agreement and except to the extent that such loss is covered by
         a lender's  title  insurance  policy and the related  insurer  promptly
         after such loss shall have  acknowledged  in writing  that such loss is
         covered by such title insurance policy; or

                  (l) any Loan Document shall not be for any reason, or shall be
         asserted by STFI,  the  Borrower or any  Subsidiary  not to be, in full
         force and effect and enforceable in all material respects in accordance
         with its terms;

then,  and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower
described in paragraph (g) or (h) above),  and at any time thereafter during the
continuance of such event, the  Administrative  Agent may, and at the request of
the Required  Lenders shall,  by notice to the Borrower,  take either or both of
the following actions,  at the same or different times: (i) terminate  forthwith
the Commitments and (ii) declare the Loans then  outstanding to be forthwith due
and  payable  in whole or in  part,  whereupon  the  principal  of the  Loans so
declared to be due and payable,  together with accrued  interest thereon and any
unpaid accrued Fees and all other  liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder
and under any other Loan  Document,  shall  become  forthwith  due and  payable,
without  presentment,  demand,  protest or any other notice of any kind,  all of
which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower,  anything contained herein or
in any other Loan  Document to the  contrary  notwithstanding;  and in any event
with  respect to the  Borrower  described  in  paragraph  (g) or (h) above,  the
Commitments  shall  automatically  terminate and the principal of the Loans then
outstanding,  together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees
and all other  liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other
Loan Document,  shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment,
demand,  protest  or any  other  notice of any  kind,  all of which  are  hereby
expressly waived by the Borrower, anything contained herein or in any other Loan
Document to the contrary notwithstanding.


ARTICLE VIII.  THE AGENTS

                  In order to expedite  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  Credit Suisse is hereby appointed to act as Administrative Agent and
Collateral  Agent on behalf of the Lenders and the Fronting  Banks (for purposes
of this Article VIII,  the  Administrative  Agent and the  Collateral  Agent are
referred to collectively as the "Agents"). Each of the Lenders and each assignee
of any such  Lender,  hereby  irrevocably  authorizes  the  Agents  to take such
actions on behalf of such Lender or  assignee  or Fronting  Bank and to exercise
such  powers  as are  specifically  delegated  to the  Agents  by the  terms and
provisions  hereof and of the other Loan  Documents,  together with such actions
and powers as are reasonably  incidental  thereto.  The Administrative  Agent is
hereby  expressly  authorized  by the Lenders and the  Fronting  Banks,  without
hereby limiting any implied  authority,  (a) to receive on behalf of the Lenders
and the  Fronting  Banks all payments of principal of and interest on the Loans,
all payments in respect of L/C  Disbursements  and all other  amounts due to the
Lenders  hereunder,  and promptly to  distribute to each Lender or Fronting Bank
its proper share of each  payment so  received;  (b) to give notice on behalf of
each of the Lenders to the  Borrower of any Event of Default  specified  in this
Agreement of which the  Administrative  Agent has actual  knowledge  acquired in
connection with its agency  hereunder;  and (c) to distribute to each Lender and
Fronting Bank copies of all notices,  financial  statements and other  materials
delivered by the Borrower or any other Loan Party  pursuant to this Agreement or
the other Loan  Documents  as received by the  Administrative  Agent (other than
such materials delivered pursuant to Section 5.04) and the Administrative  Agent
shall promptly after receipt  thereof  deliver such notices and distribute  such
copies to the Lenders and the Fronting  Banks, as applicable.  Without  limiting
the generality of the foregoing,  the Agents are hereby expressly  authorized to
execute  any  and  all  documents  (including  releases)  with  respect  to  the
Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect


                                       66


thereto,  as  contemplated  by and in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this
Agreement and the Security Documents. In the event that any party other than the
Lenders and the Agents shall participate in all or any portion of the Collateral
pursuant to the Security  Documents,  all rights and remedies in respect of such
Collateral shall be controlled by the Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, no Lender identified herein as Documentation Agent shall
have  any  separate  duties,  responsibilities,   obligations  or  authority  as
Documentation Agent hereunder.

                  Neither  the  Agents  nor any of their  respective  directors,
officers,  employees  or agents  shall be liable as such for any action taken or
omitted  by any of them  except  for its or his own gross  negligence  or wilful
misconduct,  or be  responsible  for any statement,  warranty or  representation
herein or the contents of any document delivered in connection  herewith,  or be
required to  ascertain  or to make any inquiry  concerning  the  performance  or
observance  by the  Borrower  or  any  other  Loan  Party  of any of the  terms,
conditions,  covenants or agreements contained in any Loan Document.  The Agents
shall not be  responsible  to the  Lenders for the due  execution,  genuineness,
validity,  enforceability  or  effectiveness of this Agreement or any other Loan
Documents,  instruments  or  agreements.  The Agents shall in all cases be fully
protected in acting,  or  refraining  from acting,  in  accordance  with written
instructions   signed  by  the  Required   Lenders  and,   except  as  otherwise
specifically  provided  herein,  such  instructions  and any action or  inaction
pursuant  thereto shall be binding on all the Lenders.  Each Agent shall, in the
absence of knowledge to the contrary,  be entitled to rely on any  instrument or
document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been
signed or sent by the proper  person or  persons.  Neither the Agents nor any of
their  respective  directors,  officers,  employees  or  agents  shall  have any
responsibility to the Borrower or any other Loan Party on account of the failure
of or delay in  performance  or breach by any Lender or Fronting  Bank of any of
its  obligations  hereunder or to any Lender or Fronting  Bank on account of the
failure of or delay in  performance  or breach by any other  Lender or  Fronting
Bank  or the  Borrower  or any  other  Loan  Party  of any of  their  respective
obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in connection herewith
or therewith.  Each of the Agents may execute any and all duties hereunder by or
through  agents or  employees  and each of the Agents  shall be entitled to rely
upon the advice of legal  counsel  selected  by it with  respect to all  matters
arising  hereunder  and shall not be liable for any action  taken or suffered in
good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel.

                  The Lenders  hereby  acknowledge  that neither  Agent shall be
under  any duty to take any  discretionary  action  permitted  to be taken by it
pursuant to the  provisions  of this  Agreement  unless it shall be requested in
writing to do so by the Required Lenders.

                  Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent
as provided below,  either Agent (which term includes,  for the purposes of this
paragraph,  the  Documentation  Agent) may resign at any time by  notifying  the
Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation,  the Required Lenders shall
have the right to  appoint  a  successor.  If no  successor  shall  have been so
appointed  by the  Required  Lenders and shall have  accepted  such  appointment
within 30 days after the retiring  Agent gives notice of its  resignation,  then
the  retiring  Agent may, on behalf of the  Lenders,  appoint a successor  Agent
which  shall be a bank with an office in New York,  New York,  having a combined
capital and surplus of at least  $500,000,000  or an Affiliate of any such bank.
Upon the acceptance of any  appointment as Agent  hereunder by a successor bank,
such successor  shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights,  powers,
privileges  and duties of the  retiring  Agent and the  retiring  Agent shall be
discharged  from  its  duties  and  obligations  hereunder.  After  the  Agent's
resignation  hereunder,  the  provisions  of this Article and Section 9.05 shall
continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to
be taken by it while it was acting as Agent.


                                       67


                  With  respect  to the Loans  made by it  hereunder,  any Agent
(which term  includes,  for the purposes of this  paragraph,  the  Documentation
Agent) in its  individual  capacity  and not as Agent shall have the same rights
and powers as any other  Lender and may  exercise the same as though it were not
an Agent,  and the Agents and their  Affiliates may accept  deposits from,  lend
money to and generally engage in any kind of business with STFI, the Borrower or
any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not an Agent.

                  Each Lender agrees (a) to reimburse the Agents,  on demand, in
the amount of its pro rata share (based on its Commitments hereunder or, if such
Commitments have expired or been  terminated,  in accordance with the respective
principal  amounts  of  their  applicable  outstanding  Loans)  of any  expenses
incurred  for the  benefit of the Lenders by the  Agents,  including  reasonable
counsel fees and compensation of agents and employees paid for services rendered
on behalf of the  Lenders,  that  shall not have been  reimbursed  (but  without
limiting any obligation of the Borrower or any Loan Party hereunder or under any
other Loan  Document to reimburse the same) by the Borrower and (b) to indemnify
and hold harmless each Agent and any of its  directors,  officers,  employees or
agents,  on demand,  in the amount of such pro rata share,  from and against any
and all liabilities,  taxes, obligations,  losses, damages, penalties,  actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses  or  disbursements  of any  kind or  nature
whatsoever  that may be imposed on,  incurred  by or asserted  against it in its
capacity  as Agent or any of them in any way  relating to or arising out of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted by it or any
of them under this Agreement or any other Loan Document,  to the extent the same
shall not have been  reimbursed  (but  without  limiting any  obligation  of the
Borrower  or any Loan  Party  hereunder  or under any  other  Loan  Document  to
reimburse  the same) by the Borrower or any other Loan Party,  provided  that no
Lender shall be liable to an Agent or any such other indemnified  person for any
portion of such liabilities,  obligations,  losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments,  suits,  costs,  expenses or  disbursements  that are determined by a
court of  competent  jurisdiction  by final and  nonappealable  judgment to have
resulted from the gross negligence or wilful  misconduct of such Agent or any of
its directors, officers, employees or agents.

                  Each  Lender  acknowledges  that  it  has,  independently  and
without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender and based on such documents
and information as it has deemed  appropriate,  made its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into this  Agreement.  Each Lender also  acknowledges  that it
will, independently and without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender and
based on such  documents  and  information  as it shall  from  time to time deem
appropriate,  continue to make its own  decisions in taking or not taking action
under or based upon this  Agreement  or any other  Loan  Document,  any  related
agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

                  In  its  capacity  as  Administrative  Agent  hereunder,   the
Administrative Agent will serve as Representative of the Bank Indebtedness under
the  Discount  Note  Indenture  and agrees to notify  each  Lender of any notice
received by it as such Representative.


ARTICLE IX.  MISCELLANEOUS

                  SECTION  9.01.  Notices.   Notices  and  other  communications
provided  for  herein  shall be in  writing  and shall be  delivered  by hand or
overnight  courier  service,  mailed by certified or registered  mail or sent by
telecopy, as follows:

                  (a) if to the  Borrower  or STFI,  to it at 100  Great  Meadow
         Road,  Wethersfield,  CT 06109,  Attention of Chief  Executive  Officer
         (Telecopy No. (203) 258-2455);


                                       68



                  (b) if to the  Administrative  Agent, to Credit Suisse,  Tower
         49, 12 East 49th Street,  New York,  New York 10017,  Attention of Lisa
         Perrotto,  Agency Group (Telecopy No. (212)  238-5073),  with a copy to
         Credit Suisse, Attention of Jack Deutsch (Telecopy No. (212) 238-5838);
         and

                  (c) if to a Lender,  to it at its address (or telecopy number)
         set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant
         to which such Lender shall have become a party hereto.

All notices and other  communications  given to any party  hereto in  accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement  shall be deemed to have been given on the
date of receipt if  delivered by hand or  overnight  courier  service or sent by
telecopy  or on the date five  Business  Days after  dispatch  by  certified  or
registered  mail if mailed,  in each case  delivered,  sent or mailed  (properly
addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance  with
the latest  unrevoked  direction  from such party given in accordance  with this
Section 9.01.

                  SECTION   9.02.   Survival  of   Agreement.   All   covenants,
agreements,  representations  and warranties made by the Borrower or STFI herein
and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection
with or  pursuant  to  this  Agreement  or any  other  Loan  Document  shall  be
considered  to have been relied upon by the Lenders and the  Fronting  Banks and
shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the issuance of Letters
of Credit by the Fronting  Banks,  regardless of any  investigation  made by the
Lenders or the Fronting  Banks or on their  behalf,  and shall  continue in full
force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan
or any Fee or any other amount  payable  under this  Agreement or any other Loan
Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so
long as the  Commitments  have not been  terminated.  The provisions of Sections
2.14,  2.16,  2.20 and 9.05 shall remain  operative and in full force and effect
regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement,  the consummation of
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  the repayment of any of the Loans, the
expiration  of the  Commitments,  the  expiration  of any Letter of Credit,  the
invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any
other  Loan  Document,  or  any  investigation  made  by or  on  behalf  of  the
Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Documentation Agent, any Lender
or the Fronting Banks.

                  SECTION 9.03.  Binding  Effect.  This  Agreement  shall become
effective  when it  shall  have  been  executed  by the  Borrower,  STFI and the
Administrative  Agent and when the  Administrative  Agent  shall  have  received
counterparts  hereof which, when taken together,  bear the signatures of each of
the other parties hereto,  and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties  hereto and their  respective  permitted  successors  and
assigns.

                  SECTION  9.04.  Successors  and Assigns.  (a) Whenever in this
Agreement  any of the parties  hereto is referred  to, such  reference  shall be
deemed to include the permitted  successors  and assigns of such party;  and all
covenants,  promises and  agreements by or on behalf of the Borrower,  STFI, the
Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Fronting Banks or the Lenders
that are  contained  in this  Agreement  shall bind and inure to the  benefit of
their respective successors and assigns.

                  (b)  Each   Lender  may  assign  to  one  or  more   financial
institutions  all or a portion of its interests,  rights and  obligations  under
this Agreement  (including all or a portion of its  Commitments and the Loans at
the time  owing to it);  provided,  however,  that (i)  except in the case of an
assignment  to a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender,  (x) the  Administrative
Agent (and, in the case of any assignment of a Revolving Credit Commitment,  the
Fronting Banks) must give their prior written consent to such assignment  (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and (y) the amount of the
Commitments and, without  duplication,  Loans of the assigning Lender subject to
each such assignment (determined as of the date the


                                       69


Assignment  and Acceptance  with respect to such  assignment is delivered to the
Administrative  Agent)  shall be in integral  multiples of  $1,000,000  and in a
minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 (or, if less, the entire remaining amount
of the  Commitments  and Loans of such  Lender)  (ii) the  parties  to each such
assignment shall execute and deliver to the  Administrative  Agent an Assignment
and  Acceptance,  together  with (other than in the case of an  assignment  by a
Lender to an  Affiliate  of such Lender) a  processing  and  recordation  fee of
$3,500 and (iii) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Administrative  Questionnaire and the documents required
pursuant to Section 2.20(e). Upon acceptance and recording pursuant to paragraph
(e) of this Section 9.04,  from and after the effective  date  specified in each
Assignment and  Acceptance,  which effective date shall be (unless waived by the
Administrative  Agent) at least five Business Days after the execution  thereof,
(A) the  assignee  thereunder  shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the
interest  assigned  by such  Assignment  and  Acceptance,  have the  rights  and
obligations  of a Lender  under  this  Agreement  and (B) the  assigning  Lender
thereunder  shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and
Acceptance,  be released from its obligations  under this Agreement (and, in the
case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an
assigning  Lender's  rights and obligations  under this  Agreement,  such Lender
shall  cease to be a party  hereto  but shall  continue  to be  entitled  to the
benefits of Sections 2.14,  2.16,  2.20 and 9.05, as well as to any Fees accrued
for its account and not yet paid).

                  (c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and  Acceptance,
the assigning Lender  thereunder and the assignee  thereunder shall be deemed to
confirm to and agree with each other and the other  parties  hereto as  follows:
(i) such assigning  Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of
the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that
its Term Loan Commitment and Revolving  Credit  Commitment,  and the outstanding
balances of its Term Loans and  Revolving  Loans,  in each case  without  giving
effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective,  are as set forth
in such Assignment and Acceptance,  (ii) except as set forth in (i) above,  such
assigning   Lender   makes  no   representation   or  warranty  and  assumes  no
responsibility  with respect to any  statements,  warranties or  representations
made in or in  connection  with  this  Agreement,  or the  execution,  legality,
validity, enforceability,  genuineness,  sufficiency or value of this Agreement,
any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document  furnished  pursuant
hereto,  or the  financial  condition of the Borrower or any  Subsidiary  or the
performance  or  observance  by the  Borrower  or any  Subsidiary  of any of its
obligations  under  this  Agreement,  any  other  Loan  Document  or  any  other
instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee represents
and warrants  that it is legally  authorized to enter into such  Assignment  and
Acceptance;  (iv) such  assignee  confirms  that it has  received a copy of this
Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred
to in  Section  3.05(a) or  delivered  pursuant  to Section  5.04 and such other
documents and  information  as it has deemed  appropriate to make its own credit
analysis and decision to enter into such  Assignment  and  Acceptance;  (v) such
assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative  Agent,
the Collateral  Agent,  such  assigning  Lender or any other Lender and based on
such  documents  and  information  as it shall  deem  appropriate  at the  time,
continue to make its own credit  decisions in taking or not taking  action under
this Agreement;  (vi) such assignee  appoints and authorizes the  Administrative
Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to
exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative
Agent and the Collateral Agent, respectively, by the terms hereof, together with
such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees
that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by
the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

                  (d) The  Administrative  Agent,  acting for this purpose as an
agent of the Borrower,  shall  maintain at one of its offices in The City of New
York a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for
the  recordation  of the names and addresses of the Lenders,  and the Commitment
of,

                                       70


and  principal  amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender  pursuant to the terms
hereof from time to time (the "Register").  The entries in the Register shall be
conclusive and the Borrower,  the Administrative  Agent, the Fronting Banks, the
Collateral Agent and the Lenders may treat each person whose name is recorded in
the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes
of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be
available for  inspection by the Borrower,  the Fronting  Banks,  the Collateral
Agent, the  Documentation  Agent and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from
time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

                  (e)  Upon  its  receipt  of a duly  completed  Assignment  and
Acceptance  executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee,  an  Administrative
Questionnaire  completed in respect of the assignee  (unless the assignee  shall
already be a Lender  hereunder),  the processing and recordation fee referred to
in  paragraph  (b) above and, if required,  the written  consent of the Fronting
Bank and the Administrative  Agent to such assignment,  the Administrative Agent
shall (i) accept such  Assignment and  Acceptance,  (ii) record the  information
contained  therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt  notice  thereof to the
Lenders and the Fronting  Bank. No assignment  shall be effective  unless it has
been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (e).

                  (f) Each Lender may without the consent of the  Borrower,  the
Fronting Banks or the  Administrative  Agent sell  participations to one or more
banks or other entities in all or a portion of its rights and obligations  under
this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing
to it);  provided,  however,  that  (i) such  Lender's  obligations  under  this
Agreement  shall  remain  unchanged,   (ii)  such  Lender  shall  remain  solely
responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,
(iii) the participating banks or other entities shall be entitled to the benefit
of the cost protection  provisions  contained in Sections 2.14, 2.16 and 2.20 to
the  same  extent  as  if  they  were  Lenders  and  (iv)  the   Borrower,   the
Administrative  Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Lenders shall continue to deal
solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to
enforce  the  obligations  of  the  Borrower   relating  to  the  Loans  or  L/C
Disbursements  and to  approve  any  amendment,  modification  or  waiver of any
provision of this Agreement  (other than  amendments,  modifications  or waivers
decreasing any fees payable  hereunder or the amount of principal of or the rate
at which  interest is payable on the Loans,  extending any  scheduled  principal
payment  date  or date  fixed  for the  payment  of  interest  on the  Loans  or
increasing or extending the Commitments).

                  (g) Any Lender or  participant  may,  in  connection  with any
assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation  pursuant to
this Section 9.04,  disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee
or participant any information relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender
by or on behalf of the Borrower;  provided that, prior to any such disclosure of
information  designated by the Borrower as  confidential,  each such assignee or
participant  or proposed  assignee or  participant  shall  execute an  agreement
whereby  such  assignee  or  participant   shall  agree  (subject  to  customary
exceptions) to preserve the confidentiality of such confidential  information on
terms no less  restrictive  than those  applicable  to the  Lenders  pursuant to
Section 9.16.

                  (h) Any  Lender may at any time  assign all or any  portion of
its rights under this Agreement to a Federal  Reserve Bank to secure  extensions
of credit by such Federal  Reserve Bank to such  Lender;  provided  that no such
assignment  shall  release a Lender  from any of its  obligations  hereunder  or
substitute  any  such  Bank  for  such  Lender  as a party  hereto.  In order to
facilitate  such an assignment to a Federal Reserve Bank, the Borrower shall, at
the request of the assigning  Lender,  duly execute and deliver to the assigning
Lender a promissory  note or notes  evidencing the Loans made to the Borrower by
the assigning Lender hereunder.


                                       71


                  (i) Neither STFI nor the Borrower shall assign or delegate any
of its  rights or duties  hereunder  without  the prior  written  consent of the
Administrative  Agent,  the Fronting  Banks and each Lender,  and any  attempted
assignment without such consent shall be null and void.

                  (j) In the  event  that  Standard  & Poor's  Ratings  Group or
Moody's Investors Service,  Inc. shall, after the date that any Lender becomes a
Revolving Credit Lender,  downgrade the long-term credit ratings of such Lender,
and the resulting  ratings  shall be below BBB+ or Baa1,  then any Fronting Bank
shall have the right, but not the obligation, at its own expense, upon notice to
such Lender and the Administrative Agent, to replace (or to request the Borrower
to use its  reasonable  efforts to replace)  such  Lender  with an assignee  (in
accordance  with and subject to the  restrictions  contained  in  paragraph  (b)
above),  and such Lender hereby agrees to transfer and assign  without  recourse
(in accordance with and subject to the  restrictions  contained in paragraph (b)
above) all its  interests,  rights and  obligations  in respect of its Revolving
Credit  Commitment  to  such  assignee;  provided,  however,  that  (i) no  such
assignment  shall  conflict  with any law,  rule and  regulation or order of any
Governmental Authority and (ii) such Fronting Bank or such assignee, as the case
may be, shall pay to such Lender in immediately  available  funds on the date of
such assignment the principal of and interest  accrued to the date of payment on
the Loans made by such Lender  hereunder and all other amounts  accrued for such
Lender's account or owed to it hereunder.

                  SECTION 9.05. Expenses;  Indemnity.  (a) The Borrower and STFI
agree, jointly and severally,  to pay all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent, the  Documentation  Agent and the
Fronting  Banks in  connection  with the  syndication  of the credit  facilities
provided for herein and the preparation and administration of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents or in connection with any amendments,  modifications or
waivers of the  provisions  hereof or thereof  (whether or not the  transactions
hereby  or  thereby  contemplated  shall  be  consummated)  or  incurred  by the
Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent,  the  Documentation  Agent or any
Lender  in  connection  with the  enforcement  or  protection  of its  rights in
connection  with this  Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents or in connection
with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued  hereunder,  including the fees,
charges  and  disbursements  of  Cravath,   Swaine  &  Moore,  counsel  for  the
Administrative  Agent and the Collateral Agent, and, in connection with any such
enforcement  or protection,  the fees,  charges and  disbursements  of any other
counsel for the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral  Agent, the Documentation
Agent or any Lender.

                  (b) The Borrower  and STFI agree,  jointly and  severally,  to
indemnify the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral  Agent,  the  Documentation
Agent,  each  Lender  and  each  Fronting  Bank,  each  Affiliate  of any of the
foregoing persons and each of their respective  directors,  officers,  employees
and agents (each such person being called an "Indemnitee")  against, and to hold
each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages,  liabilities
and  related  expenses,   including   reasonable   counsel  fees,   charges  and
disbursements, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in
any way connected  with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated
thereby, the performance by the parties thereto of their respective  obligations
thereunder or the consummation of the  Transactions  and the other  transactions
contemplated  thereby,  (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans or issuance of
Letters of Credit,  (iii) any claim,  litigation,  investigation  or  proceeding
relating  to any of the  foregoing,  whether  or not any  Indemnitee  is a party
thereto,  or (iv) any  actual  or  alleged  presence  or  Release  of  Hazardous
Materials  on any  property  owned or  operated  by the  Borrower  or any of the
Subsidiaries,  or any Environmental  Claim related in any way to the Borrower or
the Subsidiaries;  provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee,
be available to the extent that such losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  or
related  expenses are determined by a court of competent  jurisdiction  by final
and nonappealable  judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or wilful
misconduct of such Indemnitee.


                                       72


                  (c) The provisions of this Section 9.05 shall remain operative
and in full force and effect  regardless  of the  expiration of the term of this
Agreement,  the  consummation  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  the
repayment of any of the Loans, the expiration of the Commitments, the expiration
of any Letter of  Credit,  the  invalidity  or  unenforceability  of any term or
provision of this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document,  or any  investigation
made by or on behalf of the  Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent,  the
Documentation Agent, any Lender or any Fronting Bank. All amounts due under this
Section 9.05 shall be payable on written demand therefor.

                  SECTION  9.06.  Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall
have occurred and be  continuing,  each Lender is hereby  authorized at any time
and from time to time,  to the fullest  extent  permitted by law, to set off and
apply any and all deposits (general or special,  time or demand,  provisional or
final) at any time held by such Lender and other  indebtedness at any time owing
by such  Lender to or for the  credit or the  account  of the  Borrower  or STFI
against any of and all the  obligations of the Borrower or STFI now or hereafter
existing  under this  Agreement and the other Loan  Documents,  irrespective  of
whether or not such Lender  shall have made any demand  under this  Agreement or
such other Loan Document and although  such  obligations  may be unmatured.  The
rights of each Lender  under this  Section  9.06 are in addition to other rights
and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

                  SECTION 9.07.  Applicable  Law.  THIS  AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER
LOAN  DOCUMENTS  (OTHER THAN  LETTERS OF CREDIT AND AS OTHERWISE  EXPRESSLY  SET
FORTH  IN OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS)  SHALL BE  CONSTRUED  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH AND
GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  EACH  LETTER OF CREDIT  SHALL BE
GOVERNED  BY,  AND SHALL BE  CONSTRUED  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH,  THE LAWS OR RULES
DESIGNATED IN SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT, OR IF NO SUCH LAWS OR RULES ARE DESIGNATED,
THE UNIFORM  CUSTOMS AND  PRACTICE  FOR  DOCUMENTARY  CREDITS  (1993  REVISION),
INTERNATIONAL  CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,  PUBLICATION NO. 500 (THE "UNIFORM CUSTOMS")
AND, AS TO MATTERS NOT GOVERNED BY THE UNIFORM CUSTOMS, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 9.08. Waivers;  Amendment.  (a) No failure or delay of
the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral Agent, the  Documentation  Agent, any
Lender or any Fronting Bank in exercising any power or right  hereunder or under
any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof,  nor shall any single
or  partial  exercise  of  any  such  right  or  power,  or any  abandonment  or
discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,  preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights
and remedies of the  Administrative  Agent,  the Collateral  Agent, the Fronting
Banks,  the  Documentation  Agent and the Lenders  hereunder and under the other
Loan  Documents are  cumulative  and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies
that they would  otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other
Loan Party  therefrom  shall in any event be effective  unless the same shall be
permitted  by  paragraph  (b) below,  and then such  waiver or consent  shall be
effective only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which given. No
notice or demand on the Borrower or STFI in any case shall  entitle the Borrower
or  STFI  to any  other  or  further  notice  or  demand  in  similar  or  other
circumstances.

                  (b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any
provision  hereof or thereof may be waived,  amended or modified except pursuant
to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower,  STFI and
the  Required  Lenders;  provided,  however,  that no such  agreement  shall (i)
decrease the  principal  amount of, or extend the  maturity of or any  scheduled
principal  payment  date or date for the payment of any  interest on any Loan or
any date for reimbursement of an L/C Disbursement,


                                       73


or waive or excuse any such payment or any part thereof, or decrease the rate of
interest on any Loan or L/C  Disbursement,  without the prior written consent of
each Lender affected thereby, (ii) increase or extend the Commitment or decrease
or extend the  payment  date of the  Commitment  Fees of any Lender  without the
prior written consent of such Lender,  (iii) advance any Installment Date or any
other date on which principal of the Term Loans is due without the prior written
consent  of  Lenders  holding  Term  Loans  and  Revolving  Credit   Commitments
representing  (A) at least  80% of the  aggregate  principal  amount of the then
outstanding  Tranche A Term Loans,  (B) at least 80% of the aggregate  principal
amount of the then outstanding  Tranche B Term Loans and (C) at least 80% of the
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Revolving Credit Commitments,
(iv) effect any waiver,  amendment or  modification  that by its terms adversely
affects the rights in respect of payments or collateral of the Revolving  Credit
Lenders or Lenders  participating  in any Tranche  differently from those of the
Revolving Credit Lenders or Lenders participating in other Tranches, as the case
may be,  without the consent of a majority in interest of the  Revolving  Credit
Lenders,  if  adversely  affected,  or Lenders  participating  in the  adversely
affected  Tranche,  as the case may be, or change the relative rights in respect
of  payments  or  collateral  of  the  Revolving   Credit   Lenders  or  Lenders
participating  in  different  Tranches  without  the  consent of a  majority  in
interest of the Revolving  Credit  Lenders,  if adversely  affected,  or Lenders
participating  in each adversely  affected  Tranche,  as the case may be, or (v)
amend or modify the  provisions  of Section 2.17 or 9.04(i),  the  provisions of
this Section 9.08 or the  definition of the term  "Required  Lenders" or release
any  Guarantor or all or  substantially  all the  Collateral,  without the prior
written  consent of each Lender;  provided  further that no such agreement shall
amend,  modify or  otherwise  affect the rights or duties of the  Administrative
Agent,  the  Collateral  Agent,  any Fronting  Bank or the  Documentation  Agent
hereunder or under any other Loan Document  without the prior written consent of
the  Administrative  Agent,  the  Collateral  Agent,  such  Fronting Bank or the
Documentation Agent.

                  SECTION  9.09.   Interest  Rate  Limitation.   Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary,  if at any time the interest rate applicable to
any Loan or  participation  in any L/C  Disbursement,  together  with all  fees,
charges  and  other  amounts  which  are  treated  as  interest  on such Loan or
participation in such L/C Disbursement  under applicable law  (collectively  the
"Charges"),  shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which may
be contracted for,  charged,  taken,  received or reserved by the Lender holding
such Loan or  participation  in  accordance  with  applicable  law,  the rate of
interest  payable in respect of such Loan or participation  hereunder,  together
with all  Charges  payable in respect  thereof,  shall be limited to the Maximum
Rate and, to the extent  lawful,  the  interest and Charges that would have been
payable  in  respect  of such Loan or  participation  but were not  payable as a
result of the operation of this Section 9.09 shall be cumulated and the interest
and Charges  payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or  participations
or periods shall be increased  (but not above the Maximum Rate  therefor)  until
such  cumulated  amount,  together  with  interest  thereon at the Federal Funds
Effective  Rate to the date of  repayment,  shall  have  been  received  by such
Lender.

                  SECTION 9.10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Fee Letter
and the other Loan Documents  constitute the entire contract between the parties
relative to the subject matter hereof.  Any other previous  agreement  among the
parties  with  respect  to the  subject  matter  hereof  is  superseded  by this
Agreement  and the other Loan  Documents.  Nothing in this  Agreement  or in the
other Loan Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party
other than the parties hereto and thereto any rights,  remedies,  obligations or
liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

                  SECTION 9.11.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY  ARISING
OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE


                                       74


OTHER LOAN  DOCUMENTS.  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO  REPRESENTATIVE,
AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS  REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY OR  OTHERWISE,
THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE
FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE
BEEN  INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS  AGREEMENT  AND THE OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS,  AS
APPLICABLE,  BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,  THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND  CERTIFICATIONS  IN
THIS SECTION 9.11.

                  SECTION  9.12.  Severability.  In the event any one or more of
the provisions  contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should
be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality
and  enforceability  of the remaining  provisions  contained  herein and therein
shall not in any way be affected or impaired  thereby (it being  understood that
the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular  jurisdiction shall not
in  and  of  itself  affect  the  validity  of  such   provision  in  any  other
jurisdiction).  The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace
the invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  provisions  with valid  provisions  the
economic  effect of which  comes as close as  possible  to that of the  invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 9.13. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different  counterparts),  each
of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall
constitute a single contract,  and shall become effective as provided in Section
9.03.  Delivery of an executed  signature  page to this  Agreement  by facsimile
transmission  shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Agreement.

                  SECTION 9.14.  Headings.  Article and Section headings and the
Table of Contents used herein are for  convenience  of reference  only,  are not
part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken
into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

                  SECTION 9.15. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a)
Each of STFI and the Borrower hereby  irrevocably and  unconditionally  submits,
for itself and its property,  to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction of any New York
State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York
City,  and any  appellate  court from any thereof,  in any action or  proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for
recognition  or  enforcement  of any  judgment,  and each of the parties  hereto
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  agrees that all claims in respect of any
such action or  proceeding  may be heard and  determined  in such New York State
court or, to the extent  permitted  by law, in such Federal  court.  Each of the
parties  hereto  agrees that a final  judgment in any such action or  proceeding
shall be conclusive  and may be enforced in other  jurisdictions  by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall
affect  any right that the  Administrative  Agent,  the  Collateral  Agent,  the
Documentation Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring
any action or proceeding  relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents
against the Borrower,  STFI or their respective  properties in the courts of any
jurisdiction.

                  (b)  Each of STFI  and the  Borrower  hereby  irrevocably  and
unconditionally  waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do
so, any objection  which it may now or hereafter  have to the laying of venue of
any suit,  action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
the other Loan  Documents  in any New York State or Federal  court.  Each of the
parties hereto hereby  irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest extent  permitted by
law, the defense of an  inconvenient  forum to the maintenance of such action or
proceeding in any such court.


                                       75


                  (c)  Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to
service of process in the manner  provided for notices in Section 9.01.  Nothing
in this  Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.

                  SECTION 9.16.  Confidentiality.  The Administrative Agent, the
Collateral  Agent, the  Documentation  Agent, each Fronting Bank and each Lender
agrees to keep confidential (and to use its best efforts to cause its respective
agents and  representatives  to keep  confidential)  the Information (as defined
below)  and all  copies  thereof,  extracts  therefrom  and  analyses  or  other
materials based thereon,  except that the  Administrative  Agent, the Collateral
Agent,  the  Documentation  Agent,  any  Fronting  Bank or any  Lender  shall be
permitted  to  disclose  Information  (a) to  such of its  respective  officers,
directors,  employees,  agents,  affiliates and  representatives as need to know
such  Information  in connection  with a business  relationship  with STFI,  the
Borrower  or any  Subsidiary,  (b) to the  extent  requested  by any  regulatory
authority,  (c)  to  the  extent  otherwise  required  by  applicable  laws  and
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process,  (d) in connection with
any  suit,  action or  proceeding  relating  to the  enforcement  of its  rights
hereunder  or  under  the  other  Loan  Documents  or  (e) to  the  extent  such
Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of
this Section 9.16 or (ii) becomes  available to the  Administrative  Agent,  the
Documentation  Agent, any Fronting Bank, any Lender or the Collateral Agent on a
nonconfidential  basis from a source  other than the  Borrower or STFI.  For the
purposes of this Section,  "Information"  shall mean all  financial  statements,
certificates,   reports,  agreements  and  written  information  (including  all
analyses,  compilations  and studies prepared by the  Administrative  Agent, the
Collateral Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Fronting Bank or any Lender based
on any of the foregoing) that are received from the Borrower or STFI and related
to the  Borrower  or  STFI,  any  shareholder  of the  Borrower  or  STFI or any
employee,  customer or supplier of the  Borrower or STFI,  other than any of the
foregoing that were available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent,
the  Documentation  Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Lender on a  nonconfidential
basis prior to its disclosure  thereto by the Borrower or STFI, and which are in
the case of Information  provided after the date hereof,  clearly  identified at
the time of delivery as confidential.  The provisions of this Section 9.16 shall
remain  operative and in full force and effect  regardless of the expiration and
term of this Agreement for a period of one year.


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


                                                  SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD
                                                  COMMUNICATIONS CORP.,

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


                                       76


                                     SHARED TECHNOLOGIES INC.,

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


                                     CREDIT SUISSE, individually and as
                                     Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and
                                     Fronting Bank,

                                     by
                                     /s/  Kathleen D. O'Brien
                                     Name:  Kathleen D. O'Brien
                                     Title:  Member of Senior Management

                                     by
                                     /s/  Jack Deutsch
                                     Name:  Jack Deutsch
                                     Title:  Associate


                                     CITICORP USA INC., individually and as
                                     Documentation Agent,

                                     by
                                     /s/  Marjorie Futornick
                                     Name:  Marjorie Futornick
                                     Title:  Vice President


                                     NATIONSBANK, N.A., individually and as
                                     Documentation Agent,

                                     by
                                     /s/  John D. Mindnich
                                     Name:  John D. Mindnich
                                     Title:  Senior Vice President



                                       77


                                     CAISSE NATIONALE DE CREDIT AGRICOLE,

                                     by
                                     /s/  David Bouhl, F.V.P.
                                     Name:  David Bouhl, F.V.P.
                                     Title:  Head of Corporate Banking
                                                 Chicago


                                     CHL HIGH YIELD LOAN PORTFOLIO,
                                     (a unit of Chemical Bank)

                                     by
                                     /s/  Andrew D. Gordon
                                     Name:  Andrew D. Gordon
                                     Title:  Managing Director


                                     FIRST SOURCE FINANCIAL LLP,

                                     by FIRST SOURCE FINANCIAL, INC.,
                                         its Agent/Manager

                                     by
                                     /s/  Gary L. Francis
                                     Name:  Gary L. Francis
                                     Title:  Senior Vice President


                                     PILGRIM PRIME RATE TRUST,

                                     by
                                     /s/  Michael J. Bacevich
                                     Name:  Michael J. Bacevich
                                     Title:  Vice President


                                     VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL,
                                     PRIME RATE INCOME TRUST,

                                     by
                                     /s/  Jeffrey W. Maillet
                                     Name:  Jeffrey W. Maillet
                                     Title:  Sr. Vice Pres. - Portfolio Mgr.



                                       78


                                     SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO, INC.,

                                     by
                                     /s/  John W. Fraser
                                     Name:  John W. Fraser
                                     Title:  Authorized Signatory


                                     MERRILL LYNCH SENIOR FLOATING RATE
                                     FUND, INC.,

                                     by
                                     /s/  John W. Fraser
                                     Name:  John W. Fraser
                                     Title:  Authorized Signatory



                                       79

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                                    [Form of]

               SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

                          ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE




Please accurately complete the following  information and return via Telecopy to
the  attention  of Lisa  Perrotto  at  Credit  Suisse,  Agency  Group as soon as
possible, at Telecopy No. (212) 238-5073.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LENDER LEGAL NAME TO APPEAR IN DOCUMENTATION:

GENERAL INFORMATION - DOMESTIC LENDING OFFICE:

Institution Name:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:


GENERAL INFORMATION - EURODOLLAR LENDING OFFICE:

Institution Name:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:


POST-CLOSING, ONGOING CREDIT CONTACTS/NOTIFICATION METHODS:

CREDIT CONTACTS:

Primary Contact:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

Phone Number:

Telecopy Number:


Backup Contact:

Street Address:





City, State, Zip Code:

Phone Number:

Telecopy Number:


TAX WITHHOLDING:

         Nonresident Alien                  Y*               N

         * Form 4224 Enclosed

         Tax ID Number  _________________________


POST-CLOSING, ONGOING ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACTS/NOTIFICATION METHODS:

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACTS - BORROWINGS, PAYDOWNS, FEES, ETC.

Contact:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

Phone Number:

Telecopy Number:


PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

Name of Bank to which funds are to be transferred:



Routing Transit/ABA number of Bank to which funds are to be transferred:



Name of Account, if applicable:



Account Number:



                                       2


Additional information:




MAILINGS:

Please  specify  the  person to whom the  Borrower  should  send  financial  and
compliance  information  received  subsequent to the closing (if different  from
primary credit contact):

Name:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

It is very important that all the above information be accurately  completed and
that this  questionnaire be returned to the person specified in the introductory
paragraph of this  questionnaire as soon as possible.  If there is someone other
than yourself who should  receive this  questionnaire,  please notify us of that
person's  name  and  telecopy  number  and  we  will  telecopy  a  copy  of  the
questionnaire.  If you have any  questions  about  this form,  please  call Lisa
Perrotto at (212) 238-5056.



                                       3


                                                                       EXHIBIT B


                                    [Form of]

                            ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE



                  Reference  is made to the Credit  Agreement  dated as of March
12,  1996  (the  "Credit  Agreement"),   among  Shared  Technologies   Fairchild
Communications   Corp.,  a  Delaware   corporation  (the   "Borrower"),   Shared
Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation  ("STFI",  which term shall, after the
Merger  referred to herein,  include the surviving  corporation in such Merger),
the financial institutions from time to time party hereto,  initially consisting
of those financial institutions listed on Schedule 2.01 (the "Lenders"),  CREDIT
SUISSE,  a bank organized under the laws of Switzerland,  acting through its New
York branch,  as  administrative  agent (in such capacity,  the  "Administrative
Agent") and as collateral agent (in such capacity,  the "Collateral  Agent") for
the Lenders,  the fronting banks listed on Schedule 2.20 (the "Fronting Banks"),
and each of Citicorp USA, Inc. and  NationsBank,  N.A., as  documentation  agent
(individually  and collectively in such capacity,  the  "Documentation  Agent").
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.

                  1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns, without recourse, to
the Assignee,  and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes,  without recourse,
from the Assignor,  effective as of the Effective  Date set forth below (but not
prior to the  registration of the information  contained  herein in the Register
pursuant to Section  9.04(e) of the Credit  Agreement),  the interests set forth
below (the "Assigned  Interest") in the Assignor's  rights and obligations under
the  Credit  Agreement  and  the  other  Loan  Documents,   including,   without
limitation,  the amounts and  percentages set forth below of (i) the Commitments
of the  Assignor on the  Effective  Date,  (ii) the Loans owing to the  Assignor
which are outstanding on the Effective Date and (iii)  participations in Letters
of Credit and L/C  Disbursements  which are  outstanding on the Effective  Date.
Each of the Assignor and the Assignee hereby makes and agrees to be bound by all
the  representations,  warranties and agreements set forth in Section 9.04(c) of
the Credit Agreement, a copy of which has been received by each such party. From
and after the Effective  Date (i) the Assignee  shall be a party to and be bound
by the  provisions of the Credit  Agreement  and, to the extent of the interests
assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a
Lender  thereunder and under the Loan Documents and (ii) the Assignor  shall, to
the  extent  of the  interests  assigned  by  this  Assignment  and  Acceptance,
relinquish  its rights and be  released  from its  obligations  under the Credit
Agreement.

                  2. This  Assignment and  Acceptance is being  delivered to the
Administrative  Agent  together with (i) if the Assignee is organized  under the
laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, the forms specified in Section
2.20(e) of the Credit  Agreement,  duly completed and executed by such Assignee,
(ii) if the  Assignee is not  already a Lender  under the Credit  Agreement,  an
Administrative  Questionnaire  in the form of Exhibit A to the Credit  Agreement
and (iii) a processing and recordation fee of $3,500.

                  3. This  Assignment  and  Acceptance  shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Date of Assignment:






Legal Name of Assignor:

Legal Name of Assignee:

Assignee's Address for Notices:

Effective  Date of  Assignment  
(may not be fewer than 5 Business
 Days after the Date of Assignment):



                                                                              Percentage Assigned of
                                                                              Applicable
                                                                              Facility/Commitment (set
                                                                              forth, to at least 8
                                                                              decimals, as a percentage
                                                                              of the Facility and the
                                          Principal Amount                    aggregate Commitments of
Facility/Commitment                       Assigned                            all Lenders thereunder)

                                                                                  
Revolving Credit
Commitment                                $                                                %

Tranche A Commitment                      $                                                %

Tranche A Term Loans                      $                                                %

Tranche B Commitment                      $                                                %

Tranche B Term Loans                      $                                                %


The terms set forth above are
hereby agreed to:                                    Accepted */



_________________, as Assignor                       CREDIT SUISSE,
                                                     as Administrative Agent


by:___________________________                       by:________________________
   Name:                                                Name:
   Title:                                               Title:


                                                     by:________________________
                                                        Name:
                                                        Title:

_________________, as Assignee                       [Fronting Bank]



                                                     by:________________________
                                                        Name:
                                                        Title:


                                       2



         */       To be completed to the extent consents are required under
Section 9.04(b) of the Credit Agreement.

                                       3



                                                                       EXHIBIT C


                            FORM OF BORROWING REQUEST


Credit Suisse, as Administrative  Agent for
the Lenders referred to below,
Tower 49 
12 East 49th Street 
New York, NY 10017

Attention of [        ]

                                                                          [Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  The undersigned,  Shared Technologies Fairchild Communications
Corp. (the "Company"), refers to the Credit Agreement dated as of March 12, 1996
(the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Company, Shared Technologies Inc., ("STFI",
which term shall,  after the Merger  referred to herein,  include the  surviving
corporation in such Merger), the financial  institutions from time to time party
thereto  (the  "Lenders"),  Credit  Suisse,  as  administrative  agent  (in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent") and as collateral agent (in such capacity,
the "Collateral  Agent") for the Lenders,  the fronting banks listed on Schedule
2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of Citicorp USA, Inc. and  NationsBank,
N.A., as documentation  agent  (individually  and collectively in such capacity,
the  "Documentation  Agent").  Capitalized  terms used herein and not  otherwise
defined  herein  shall have the  meanings  assigned  to such terms in the Credit
Agreement.  The Company hereby gives you notice  pursuant to Section 2.03 of the
Credit Agreement that it requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in
that  connection sets forth below the terms on which such Borrowing is requested
to be made:

(A)  Date of Borrowing
         (which is a Business Day    ______________________

(B)  Principal Amount of
         Borrowing  1/               ______________________







- ---------------------
         1/ Not less than $5,000,000 and in an integral  multiple of $1,000,000,
but in any event not exceeding,  as applicable,  the available  Total  Revolving
Credit Commitment or the aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitments available
at such time.






(C)  Interest rate basis                                    ____________________

(D)  Type of Borrowing Request 2/                           ____________________
                               -

(E)  Interest Period 3/                                     ____________________

(F) Funds are requested to be disbursed as follows:
    
    Dollar Amount                                           ____________________

    Bank Name                                               ____________________

    Bank ABA #                                              ____________________

    Beneficiary Name                                        ____________________

    Beneficiary A/C #                                       ____________________

    REF                                                     ____________________



                  Upon  acceptance  of any or all of the  Loans  offered  by the
Lenders  in  response  to this  request,  the  Company  shall be  deemed to have
represented  and warranted that the conditions to lending  specified in Sections
4.01(b) and (c) of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied.



                                SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD
                                COMMUNICATIONS CORP.,

                                by
                                      ______________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title: [Responsible Officer]






- ---------------------
         2/ Specify (a) Borrowing of Tranche A Term Loans,  Borrowing of Tranche
B Term Loans or Revolving Credit  Borrowing and (b) Eurodollar  Borrowing or ABR
Borrowing.

         3/ Which shall be subject to the  definition  of "Interest  Period" and
end not later than the Tranche A Maturity  Date,  the Tranche B Maturity Date or
the Revolving Credit Maturity Date  (applicable  only for Eurodollar  Borrowings
only).


                                       2



                                                                       EXHIBIT D



                                    INDEMNITY,   SUBROGATION  and   CONTRIBUTION
                           AGREEMENT  dated as of March 12,  1996,  among SHARED
                           TECHNOLOGIES   FAIRCHILD   COMMUNICATIONS   CORP.,  a
                           Delaware    corporation   (the   "Borrower"),    each
                           Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  listed  on  Schedule  I
                           hereto (the  "Guarantors")  and CREDIT SUISSE, a bank
                           organized  under  the  laws  of  Switzerland,  acting
                           through its New York  branch  ("Credit  Suisse"),  as
                           collateral  agent (in such capacity,  the "Collateral
                           Agent")  for the  Secured  Parties (as defined in the
                           Credit Agreement referred to below).


                  Reference  is made to (a) the  Credit  Agreement  dated  as of
March 12, 1996 (as  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI, the lenders from time
to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as  administrative  agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule  2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank, N.A., as documentation agent (individually and collectively in such
capacity,  the "Documentation Agent") and (b) the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement
dated as of March 12, 1996,  among the Guarantors and the Collateral  Agent (the
"Guarantee  Agreement").  Capitalized  terms used herein and not defined  herein
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

                  The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower, and the
Fronting  Banks have  agreed to issue  Letters of Credit for the  account of the
Borrower,  pursuant  to,  and upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions
specified in, the Credit  Agreement.  The Guarantors  have guaranteed such Loans
and the  other  Obligations  (as  defined  in the  Guarantee  Agreement)  of the
Borrower under the Credit Agreement pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement; certain
Guarantors  have  granted  Liens on and  security  interests in certain of their
assets to secure such  guarantees.  The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans
and of the Fronting Banks to issue Letters of Credit are  conditioned  on, among
other things,  the execution and delivery by the Borrower and the  Guarantors of
an agreement in the form hereof.

                  Accordingly,  the Borrower,  each Guarantor and the Collateral
Agent agree as follows:

                  SECTION 1. Indemnity and Subrogation.  In addition to all such
rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Guarantors may have under  applicable
law (but  subject to Section  3), the  Borrower  agrees  that (a) in the event a
payment  shall be made by any  Guarantor  under  the  Guarantee  Agreement,  the
Borrower shall  indemnify such Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and
such  Guarantor  shall be  subrogated  to the  rights of the person to whom such
payment  shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (b) in the event
any assets of any Guarantor  shall be sold pursuant to any Security  Document to
satisfy  a claim  of any  Secured  Party,  the  Borrower  shall  indemnify  such
Guarantor in an amount equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market
value of the assets so sold.

                  SECTION 2.  Contribution  and  Subrogation.  Each Guarantor (a
"Contributing  Guarantor")  agrees  (subject to Section 3) that,  in the event a
payment shall be made by any other  Guarantor  under the Guarantee  Agreement or
assets of any other Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to
satisfy a claim of any Secured  Party and such other  Guarantor  (the  "Claiming
Guarantor") shall not have been fully indemnified by the Borrower as provided in
Section 1, the Contributing  Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in
an amount  equal to the amount of such  payment or the greater of the book value
or the fair  market  value of such  assets,  as the  case may be,  in each  case
multiplied  by a fraction of which the  numerator  shall be the net worth of the
Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and






the  denominator  shall be the aggregate net worth of all the  Guarantors on the
date hereof (or, in the case of any Guarantor  becoming a party hereto  pursuant
to Section 12, the date of the Supplement  hereto executed and delivered by such
Guarantor).  Any  Contributing  Guarantor  making  any  payment  to  a  Claiming
Guarantor  pursuant to this Section 2 shall be  subrogated to the rights of such
Claiming Guarantor under Section 1 to the extent of such payment.

                  SECTION 3.  Subordination.  Notwithstanding  any  provision of
this Agreement to the contrary,  all rights of the  Guarantors  under Sections 1
and 2 and all other  rights of  indemnity,  contribution  or  subrogation  under
applicable  law or otherwise  shall be fully  subordinated  to the  indefeasible
payment  in full  in cash of the  Obligations.  No  failure  on the  part of the
Borrower or any Guarantor to make the payments  required by Sections 1 and 2 (or
any other  payments  required under  applicable  law or otherwise)  shall in any
respect limit the  obligations  and liabilities of any Guarantor with respect to
its obligations  hereunder,  and each Guarantor shall remain liable for the full
amount of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.

                  SECTION 4. Termination. This Agreement shall survive and be in
full force and effect so long as any Obligation is outstanding  and has not been
indefeasibly  paid in full in cash, and so long as the L/C Exposure has not been
reduced to zero or any of the  Commitments  under the Credit  Agreement have not
been  terminated,  and shall continue to be effective or be  reinstated,  as the
case may be, if at any time payment,  or any part thereof,  of any Obligation is
rescinded or must  otherwise be restored by any Secured  Party or any  Guarantor
upon  the  bankruptcy  or  reorganization  of the  Borrower,  any  Guarantor  or
otherwise.

                  SECTION 5. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 6. No Waiver; Amendment. (a) No failure on the part of
the Collateral  Agent or any Guarantor to exercise,  and no delay in exercising,
any right,  power or remedy  hereunder  shall operate as a waiver  thereof,  nor
shall any single or partial  exercise of any such right,  power or remedy by the
Collateral Agent or any Guarantor preclude any other or further exercise thereof
or the exercise of any other right,  power or remedy. All remedies hereunder are
cumulative and are not exclusive of any other remedies  provided by law. None of
the  Collateral  Agent and the  Guarantors  shall be deemed to have  waived  any
rights  hereunder  unless  such  waiver  shall be in writing  and signed by such
parties.

                  (b) Neither this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be
waived,  amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into
between the Borrower,  the Guarantors and the Collateral  Agent,  with the prior
written  consent of the Required  Lenders  (except as otherwise  provided in the
Credit Agreement).

                  SECTION 7. Notices.  All  communications and notices hereunder
shall be in  writing  and  given as  provided  in the  Guarantee  Agreement  and
addressed as specified therein.

                  SECTION 8. Binding  Agreement;  Assignments.  Whenever in this
Agreement  any of the parties  hereto is referred  to, such  reference  shall be
deemed to include the successors  and assigns of such party;  and all covenants,
promises and  agreements  by or on behalf of the parties  that are  contained in
this  Agreement  shall  bind  and  inure  to the  benefit  of  their  respective
successors  and assigns.  Neither the Borrower nor any  Guarantor  may assign or
transfer  any of its rights or  obligations  hereunder  (and any such  attempted
assignment or transfer  shall be void) without the prior written  consent of the
Required Lenders.


                                       2


Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  at the time any Guarantor is released from its
obligations  under the  Guarantee  Agreement in accordance  with such  Guarantee
Agreement and the Credit Agreement, such Guarantor will cease to have any rights
or obligations under this Agreement.

                  SECTION  9.  Survival  of  Agreement;  Severability.  (a)  All
covenants and agreements  made by the Borrower and each Guarantor  herein and in
the certificates or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in connection with
this  Agreement or the other Loan  Documents  shall be  considered  to have been
relied  upon by the  Collateral  Agent,  the  other  Secured  Parties  and  each
Guarantor  and shall  survive  the  making by the  Lenders  of the Loans and the
issuance of the Letters of Credit by the Fronting  Banks,  and shall continue in
full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any
Loans or any other fee or amount  payable  under the  Credit  Agreement  or this
Agreement or under any of the other Loan Documents is outstanding  and unpaid or
the L/C  Exposure  does not equal zero and as long as the  Commitments  have not
been terminated.

                  (b) In case  any one or more of the  provisions  contained  in
this Agreement should be held invalid,  illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
no party hereto shall be required to comply with such  provision  for so long as
such  provision  is  held  to be  invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable,  but the
validity,  legality and  enforceability  of the remaining  provisions  contained
herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired  thereby.  The parties shall
endeavor  in  good-faith  negotiations  to  replace  the  invalid,   illegal  or
unenforceable  provisions  with valid  provisions  the economic  effect of which
comes as close as  possible  to that of the  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable
provisions.

                  SECTION 10.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in
counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different  counterparts),  each
of which shall  constitute  an  original,  but all of which when taken  together
shall  constitute a single  contract.  This  Agreement  shall be effective  with
respect to any  Guarantor  when a  counterpart  bearing  the  signature  of such
Guarantor  shall have been  delivered to the  Collateral  Agent.  Delivery of an
executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile  transmission shall be as
effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

                  SECTION   11.   Rules   of   Interpretation.   The   rules  of
interpretation  specified  in  Section  1.02 of the  Credit  Agreement  shall be
applicable to this Agreement.

                  SECTION 12. Additional Guarantors. Pursuant to Section 5.11 of
the Credit  Agreement,  each  Subsidiary of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
that was not in  existence  or not such a  Subsidiary  on the date of the Credit
Agreement is required to enter into the Guarantee  Agreement as a Guarantor upon
becoming such a Subsidiary.  Upon execution and delivery, after the date hereof,
by the  Collateral  Agent and such a Subsidiary  of an instrument in the form of
Annex 1 hereto, such Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor hereunder with the same
force and effect as if originally named as a Guarantor hereunder.  The execution
and delivery of any instrument adding an additional Guarantor as a party to this
Agreement shall not require the consent of any Guarantor  hereunder.  The rights
and obligations of each Guarantor


                                       3


hereunder shall remain in full force and effect  notwithstanding the addition of
any new Guarantor as a party to this Agreement.


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized  officers as of the date first
appearing above.



                                         SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD
                                         COMMUNICATIONS CORP.,

                                          by
                                            _____________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:




                                         EACH OF THE SUBSIDIARIES LISTED ON
                                         SCHEDULE I HERETO, as a Guarantor,

                                          by
                                            _____________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:  Authorized Officer



                                         CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,

                                          by
                                            _____________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:


                                          by
                                            _____________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:




                                       4



                                                                      SCHEDULE I
                           GUARANTORS               to the Indemnity Subrogation
                                                      and Contribution Agreement


Name               Address



                                       5




                                                                      Annex 1 to
                                                  the Indemnity, Subrogation and
                                                          Contribution Agreement




                                    SUPPLEMENT  NO.  dated  as  of [ ],  to  the
                           Indemnity,  Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement
                           dated  as of  March  12,  1996  (as the  same  may be
                           amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
                           to time, the "Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution
                           Agreement"),   among  SHARED  TECHNOLOGIES  FAIRCHILD
                           COMMUNICATIONS  CORP.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
                           "Borrower") each Subsidiary of the Borrower listed on
                           Shedule  I thereto  (the  "Guarantors"),  and  CREDIT
                           SUISSE,   a  bank   organized   under   the  laws  of
                           Switzerland,  acting  through  its  New  York  branch
                           ("Credit   Suisse"),   as   collateral   agent   (the
                           "Collateral  Agent")  for  the  Secured  Parties  (as
                           defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).


                  A. Reference is made to (a) the Credit  Agreement  dated as of
March 12, 1996 (as  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI, the lenders from time
to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as  administrative  agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule  2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank, N.A., as documentation agent (individually and collectively in such
capacity,  the "Documentation Agent") and (b) the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement
dated as of March 12, 1996,  among the Guarantors and the Collateral  Agent (the
"Guarantee Agreement").

                  B.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not  otherwise  defined
herein  shall  have  the  meanings  assigned  to such  terms  in the  Indemnity,
Subrogation and Contribution Agreement and the Credit Agreement.

                  C. The  Borrower  and the  Guarantors  have  entered  into the
Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement in order to induce the Lenders
to make Loans and the  Fronting  Banks to issue  Letters of Credit.  Pursuant to
Section 5.11 of the Credit  Agreement,  each Subsidiary of STFI, the Borrower or
any Subsidiary that was not in existence or not such a Subsidiary on the date of
the Credit  Agreement  is required to enter into the  Guarantee  Agreement  as a
Guarantor upon becoming a Subsidiary.  Section 12 of the Indemnity,  Subrogation
and Contribution Agreement provides that additional Subsidiaries of the Borrower
may  become  Guarantors  under  the  Indemnity,   Subrogation  and  Contribution
Agreement  by  execution  and  delivery  of an  instrument  in the  form of this
Supplement.  The undersigned Subsidiary of the Borrower (the "New Guarantor") is
executing  this  Supplement in accordance  with the  requirements  of the Credit
Agreement  to  become  a  Guarantor   under  the  Indemnity,   Subrogation   and
Contribution  Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional  Loans
and  the  Fronting  Banks  to  issue   additional   Letters  of  Credit  and  as
consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.






                  Accordingly,  the Collateral Agent and the New Guarantor agree
as follows:

                  SECTION 1. In  accordance  with  Section 12 of the  Indemnity,
Subrogation and Contribution Agreement, the New Guarantor by its signature below
becomes a Guarantor under the Indemnity,  Subrogation and Contribution Agreement
with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Guarantor and
the  New  Guarantor  hereby  agrees  to all  the  terms  and  provisions  of the
Indemnity,  Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement  applicable  to  it  as  a
Guarantor  thereunder.  Each  reference  to  a  "Guarantor"  in  the  Indemnity,
Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement  shall be  deemed to  include  the New
Guarantor.  The  Indemnity,  Subrogation  and  Contribution  Agreement is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.

                  SECTION 2. The New  Guarantor  represents  and warrants to the
Collateral  Agent and the other Secured  Parties that this  Supplement  has been
duly authorized,  executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal,  valid
and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

                  SECTION 3. This  Supplement  may be executed  in  counterparts
(and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall
constitute an original,  but all of which when taken together shall constitute a
single  contract.  This  Supplement  shall become  effective when the Collateral
Agent shall have  received  counterparts  of this  Supplement  that,  when taken
together,  bear the  signatures of the New Guarantor and the  Collateral  Agent.
Delivery  of  an  executed  signature  page  to  this  Supplement  by  facsimile
transmission  shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Supplement.

                  SECTION  4.  Except  as  expressly  supplemented  hereby,  the
Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.

                  SECTION 5. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 6. In case any one or more of the provisions contained
in this  Supplement  should be held  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  in any
respect,  neither  party hereto shall be required to comply with such  provision
for so long as such provision is held to be invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable,
but the  validity,  legality  and  enforceability  of the  remaining  provisions
contained herein and in the Indemnity,  Subrogation and  Contribution  Agreement
shall not in any way be affected or impaired.  The parties hereto shall endeavor
in  good-faith  negotiations  to replace the invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable
provisions with valid  provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as
possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 7. All  communications  and notices hereunder shall be
in writing and given as provided in Section 7 of the Indemnity,  Subrogation and
Contribution  Agreement.  All  communications  and notices  hereunder to the New
Guarantor shall be given to it at the address set forth under its signature.


                                       2



                  SECTION  8.  The  New   Guarantor   agrees  to  reimburse  the
Collateral  Agent for its reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses in connection with
this Supplement,  including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements
of counsel for the Collateral Agent.


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Guarantor and the Collateral Agent
have  duly  executed  this   Supplement  to  the  Indemnity,   Subrogation   and
Contribution Agreement as of the day and year first above written.



                                         [Name Of New Guarantor],

                                           by
                                             ____________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:
                                             Address:



                                         CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral
                                          Agent,

                                           by
                                             ____________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:


                                           by
                                             ____________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:


                                       3


                                                                     SCHEDULE I
                                          to Supplement No.___ to the Indemnity
                                         Subrogation and Contribution Agreement









                                   GUARANTORS



Name                          Address





                                                                       EXHIBIT E


                                    PARENT GUARANTEE AGREEMENT dated as of March
                           12,  1996,   between  SHARED   TECHNOLOGIES  INC.,  a
                           Delaware  corporation  (the  "Guarantor",  which term
                           shall,  after the  Merger  referred  to in the Credit
                           Agreement  referred to below,  include the  surviving
                           corporation in such Merger) and CREDIT SUISSE, a bank
                           organized  under  the  laws  of  Switzerland,  acting
                           through its New York branch, as collateral agent (the
                           "Collateral  Agent")  for  the  Secured  Parties  (as
                           defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).


                  Reference  is made to the Credit  Agreement  dated as of March
12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Credit Agreement"), among Shared Technologies Fairchild Communications Corp., a
Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"),  the Guarantor,  the lenders from time to
time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as administrative  agent (in
such  capacity,  the  "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral  agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule  2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank, N.A., as documentation agent (individually and collectively in such
capacity,  the  "Documentation  Agent").  Capitalized  terms used herein and not
defined  herein  shall have the  meanings  assigned  to such terms in the Credit
Agreement.

                  The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower, and the
Fronting  Banks have  agreed to issue  Letters of Credit for the  account of the
Borrower,  pursuant  to,  and upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions
specified  in,  the  Credit  Agreement.  As the owner of all of the  issued  and
outstanding  capital stock of the Borrower,  the Guarantor  acknowledges that it
will derive substantial  benefit from the making of the Loans by the Lenders and
the issuance of the Letters of Credit by the Fronting Banks.  The obligations of
the Lenders to make Loans and of the Fronting  Banks to issue  Letters of Credit
are  conditioned  on,  among other  things,  the  execution  and delivery by the
Guarantor of a Guarantee Agreement in the form hereof. As consideration therefor
and in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and the Fronting Banks to issue
Letters of Credit, the Guarantor is willing to execute this Agreement.

                  Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                  SECTION   1.   Guarantee.   The   Guarantor    unconditionally
guarantees,  as a primary  obligor  and not merely as a surety,  (a) the due and
punctual  payment of (i) the  principal  of and  premium,  if any,  and interest
(including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy,  insolvency,
receivership  or other  similar  proceeding,  regardless  of whether  allowed or
allowable  in  such  proceeding)  on the  Loans,  when  and as due,  whether  at
maturity,  by  acceleration,  upon  one or  more  dates  set for  prepayment  or
otherwise,  (ii) each  payment  required  to be made by the  Borrower  under the
Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit,  when and as due, including
payments in respect of  reimbursement  of  disbursements,  interest  thereon and
obligations to provide cash collateral and (iii) all other monetary obligations,
including fees,  costs,  expenses and indemnities,  whether primary,  secondary,
direct, contingent,  fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred
during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding,  regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding),  of
the Loan Parties to the Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement and the other
Loan  Documents,  (b)  the  due  and  punctual  performance  of  all  covenants,
agreements, obligations and liabilities of the Loan Parties under or pursuant to
the Credit  Agreement  and the other  Loan  Documents  and (c) unless  otherwise
agreed upon in writing by the applicable  Lender party thereto,  all obligations
of the  Borrower,  monetary or otherwise,  under each  Interest Rate  Protection
Agreement  entered into with a  counterparty  that was a Lender at the time such
Interest Rate Protection  Agreement was entered into (all the monetary and other
obligations





referred to in the preceding clauses (a) through (c) being  collectively  called
the  "Obligations").  The Guarantor  further agrees that the  Obligations may be
extended or renewed,  in whole or in part,  without  notice to or further assent
from it, and that it will remain bound upon its  guarantee  notwithstanding  any
extension or renewal of any  Obligation.  The Guarantor  further agrees that (a)
the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided
in Article  VII of the Credit  Agreement  for the  purposes  of the  Guarantor's
guarantee  herein,  notwithstanding  any stay,  injunction or other  prohibition
preventing such  acceleration in respect of the Obligations  guaranteed  hereby,
and (b) in the event of any declaration of  acceleration of such  obligations as
provided in such Article VII, such Obligations  (whether or not due and payable)
shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purposes of this
Section.

                  SECTION 2.  Obligations  Not  Waived.  To the  fullest  extent
permitted by applicable  law, the  Guarantor  waives  presentment  to, demand of
payment  from and protest to the  Borrower of any of the  Obligations,  and also
waives  notice  of  acceptance  of its  guarantee  and  notice  of  protest  for
nonpayment.  To the fullest extent  permitted by applicable law, the obligations
of the  Guarantor  hereunder  shall not be  affected  by (a) the  failure of the
Collateral  Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to
enforce  or  exercise  any right or remedy  against  the  Borrower  or any other
guarantor of the Obligations under the provisions of the Credit  Agreement,  any
other Loan  Document or  otherwise,  (b) any  rescission,  waiver,  amendment or
modification  of, or any  release  from any of the terms or  provisions  of this
Agreement,  any other  Loan  Document,  any  Guarantee  or any other  agreement,
including  with  respect to any other  guarantor of the  Obligations  or (c) the
failure to perfect  any  security  interest  in, or the  release  of, any of the
security  held by or on behalf  of the  Collateral  Agent or any  other  Secured
Party.

                  SECTION 3. Security.  The Guarantor  authorizes the Collateral
Agent and each of the other  Secured  Parties to (a) take and hold  security for
the payment of this Guarantee and the Obligations and exchange,  enforce,  waive
and release any such  security,  (b) apply such security and direct the order or
manner of sale thereof as they in their sole  discretion  may  determine and (c)
release or  substitute  any one or more  endorsees,  other  guarantors  or other
obligors.

                  SECTION 4. Guarantee of Payment.  The Guarantor further agrees
that its  guarantee  constitutes  a  guarantee  of  payment  when due and not of
collection,  and  waives  any  right to  require  that any  resort be had by the
Collateral  Agent or any other  Secured  Party to any of the  security  held for
payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on
the books of the  Collateral  Agent or any other  Secured  Party in favor of the
Borrower or any other person.

                  SECTION 5. No  Discharge or  Diminishment  of  Guarantee.  The
obligations  of the Guarantor  hereunder  shall not be subject to any reduction,
limitation,   impairment  or   termination   for  any  reason  (other  than  the
indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations), including any claim of
waiver, release, surrender,  alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations,
and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff,  counterclaim,  recoupment or
termination   whatsoever   by   reason   of  the   invalidity,   illegality   or
unenforceability   of  the  Obligations  or  otherwise.   Without  limiting  the
generality of the foregoing,  the  obligations of the Guarantor  hereunder shall
not be  discharged  or  impaired  or  otherwise  affected  by the failure of the
Collateral  Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to
enforce any remedy under the Credit  Agreement,  any other Loan  Document or any
other agreement,  by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof,
by any default, failure or delay, wilful or otherwise, in the performance of the
Obligations,  or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or
to any extent vary the risk of the Guarantor or that would otherwise  operate as
a  discharge  of the  Guarantor  as a matter  of law or equity  (other  than the
indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the


                                       2


Obligations).

                  SECTION 6. Defenses of Borrower Waived.  To the fullest extent
permitted  by  applicable  law,  the  Guarantor  waives any defense  based on or
arising  out of any  defense  of the  Borrower  or the  unenforceability  of the
Obligations or any part thereof from any cause,  or the cessation from any cause
of the liability of the Borrower,  other than the final and indefeasible payment
in full in cash of the  Obligations.  The Collateral Agent and the other Secured
Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of
them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial  sales,  accept an assignment of any
such  security  in lieu of  foreclosure,  compromise  or adjust  any part of the
Obligations,  make any  other  accommodation  with  the  Borrower  or any  other
guarantor  or exercise  any other right or remedy  available to them against the
Borrower or any other guarantor,  without  affecting or impairing in any way the
liability of the Guarantor  hereunder  except to the extent the Obligations have
been  fully,  finally  and  indefeasibly  paid in cash.  To the  fullest  extent
permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any
such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to
impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right
or remedy of the Guarantor  against the Borrower or any other guarantor,  as the
case may be, or any security.

                  SECTION 7. Agreement to Pay; Subordination.  In furtherance of
the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Collateral Agent
or any other  Secured  Party has at law or in equity  against the  Guarantor  by
virtue  hereof,  upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay
any Obligation  when and as the same shall become due,  whether at maturity,  by
acceleration,  after notice of  prepayment or  otherwise,  the Guarantor  hereby
promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Collateral Agent
or such other  Secured  Party as  designated  thereby in cash the amount of such
unpaid Obligations.  Upon payment by the Guarantor of any sums to the Collateral
Agent or any  Secured  Party as  provided  above,  all  rights of the  Guarantor
against the Borrower arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation,
contribution,  reimbursement,  indemnity or  otherwise  shall in all respects be
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible  payment in
full in cash  of all the  Obligations.  In  addition,  any  indebtedness  of the
Borrower now or hereafter held by the Guarantor is hereby  subordinated in right
of payment to the prior payment in full of the Obligations.  If any amount shall
erroneously  be  paid to the  Guarantor  on  account  of (i)  such  subrogation,
contribution,  reimbursement,  indemnity  or  similar  right  or (ii)  any  such
indebtedness of the Borrower, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit
of the Secured Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Collateral Agent to be
credited against the payment of the  Obligations,  whether matured or unmatured,
in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents.

                  SECTION   8.   Information.    The   Guarantor   assumes   all
responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower's financial
condition and assets,  and of all other  circumstances  bearing upon the risk of
nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that
the  Guarantor  assumes  and  incurs  hereunder,  and  agrees  that  none of the
Collateral  Agent or the other Secured  Parties will have any duty to advise the
Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances
or risks.

                  SECTION 9. Termination. The Guarantee made hereunder (a) shall
terminate when all the Obligations have been  indefeasibly  paid in full and the
Lenders have no further  commitment to lend under the Credit Agreement,  the L/C
Exposure  has  been  reduced  to zero and the  Fronting  Banks  have no  further
obligation to issue  Letters of Credit under the Credit  Agreement and (b) shall
continue to be  effective or be  reinstated,  as the case may be, if at any time
payment,  or any part thereof,  of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise
be  restored  by any  Secured  Party or the  Guarantor  upon the  bankruptcy  or
reorganization of the Borrower, the Guarantor or otherwise.


                                       3


                  SECTION 10. Binding Agreement;  Assignments.  Whenever in this
Agreement  any of the parties  hereto is referred  to, such  reference  shall be
deemed to include the successors  and assigns of such party;  and all covenants,
promises and  agreements by or on behalf of the Guarantor  that are contained in
this  Agreement  shall bind and inure to the  benefit  of each party  hereto and
their respective  successors and assigns.  This Agreement shall become effective
when a counterpart  hereof  executed on behalf of the Guarantor  shall have been
delivered  to the  Collateral  Agent and a  counterpart  hereof  shall have been
executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon
the Guarantor  and the  Collateral  Agent and their  respective  successors  and
assigns,  and shall inure to the benefit of the Guarantor,  the Collateral Agent
and the other Secured  Parties,  and their  respective  successors  and assigns,
except  that the  Guarantor  shall not have the right to  assign  its  rights or
obligations  hereunder or any interest herein (and any such attempted assignment
shall be void).

                  SECTION 11. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the
Collateral  Agent in exercising any power or right  hereunder shall operate as a
waiver  thereof,  nor shall any single or partial  exercise of any such right or
power, or any abandonment or  discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or
power,  preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the exercise of any
other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder
and of the other Secured  Parties under the other Loan  Documents are cumulative
and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would  otherwise have.
No waiver of any provision of this  Agreement or consent to any departure by the
Guarantor  therefrom  shall in any event be  effective  unless the same shall be
permitted  by  paragraph  (b) below,  and then such  waiver or consent  shall be
effective only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which given. No
notice or demand on the Guarantor in any case shall entitle the Guarantor to any
other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

         (b) Neither  this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be waived,
amended or modified except pursuant to a written  agreement entered into between
the Guarantor and the Collateral  Agent,  with the prior written  consent of the
Required Lenders (except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement).

                  SECTION 12.  Governing Law. THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 13. Notices.  All communications and notices hereunder
shall be in  writing  and  given  as  provided  in  Section  9.01 of the  Credit
Agreement.  All  communications  and notices hereunder to the Guarantor shall be
given to it at 100 Great Meadow Road Wethersfield,  CT 06109, Attention of Chief
Executive Officer.

                  SECTION 14. Survival of Agreement. All covenants,  agreements,
representations  and  warranties  made  by  the  Guarantors  herein  and  in the
certificates  or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in connection with or
pursuant to this  Agreement or any other Loan  Document  shall be  considered to
have been relied upon by the Collateral  Agent and the other Secured Parties and
shall  survive  the making by the  Lenders of the Loans and the  issuance of the
Letters of Credit by the Fronting Banks regardless of any investigation  made by
the Secured  Parties or on their  behalf,  and shall  continue in full force and
effect as long as the  principal  of or any accrued  interest on any Loan or any
other fee or amount  payable under this  Agreement or any other Loan Document is
outstanding  and unpaid or the L/C  Exposure  does not equal zero and as long as
the Commitments and the L/C Commitment have not been terminated.

                  SECTION 15.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in
counterparts,  each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when
taken together shall constitute a single contract,


                                       4


and shall become  effective  as provided in Section 10.  Delivery of an executed
signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

                  SECTION   16.   Rules   of   Interpretation.   The   rules  of
interpretation  specified  in  Section  1.02 of the  Credit  Agreement  shall be
applicable to this Agreement.



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




                                             SHARED TECHNOLOGIES INC., as
                                              Guarantor,

                                                by

                                                 ____________________________

                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:




                                             CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,

                                                by

                                                 ____________________________

                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:


                                                by
                                                 ____________________________
     
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:





                                                                       EXHIBIT F



                                    PLEDGE AGREEMENT dated as of March 13, 1996,
                           among SHARED  TECHNOLOGIES  FAIRCHILD  COMMUNICATIONS
                           CORP.,  a  Delaware   corporation  (the  "Borrower"),
                           SHARED   TECHNOLOGIES   FAIRCHILD  INC.,  a  Delaware
                           corporation  ("STFI",  which  term  shall,  after the
                           Merger referred to in the Credit  Agreement  referred
                           to below,  include the surviving  corporation in such
                           Merger),  each  Subsidiary of the Borrower  listed on
                           Schedule I hereto (each such Subsidiary  individually
                           a   "Subsidiary   Pledgor"  and   collectively,   the
                           "Subsidiary  Pledgors";  the  Borrower,  STFI and the
                           Subsidiary  Pledgors  are  referred  to  collectively
                           herein as the "Pledgors")  and CREDIT SUISSE,  a bank
                           organized  under  the  laws  of  Switzerland,  acting
                           through its New York  branch  ("Credit  Suisse"),  as
                           collateral  agent (in such capacity,  the "Collateral
                           Agent")  for the  Secured  Parties (as defined in the
                           Credit Agreement referred to below).

                  Reference  is made to (a) the  Credit  Agreement  dated  as of
March 12, 1996 (as  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI, the lenders from time
to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as  administrative  agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule  2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank, N.A., as documentation agent (individually and collectively in such
capacity,  the "Documentation  Agent"), (b) the Parent Guarantee Agreement dated
as of March 12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time
to time,  the "Parent  Guarantee  Agreement"),  between STFI and the  Collateral
Agent and (c) the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement dated as of March 12, 1996 (as
amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to time, the "Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement"; and, collectively with the Parent Guarantee Agreement, the
"Guarantee Agreements") among the Subsidiary Pledgors and the Collateral Agent.

                  The Lenders  have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower and the
Fronting  Banks have  agreed to issue  Letters of Credit for the  account of the
Borrower,  pursuant  to,  and upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions
specified in, the Credit  Agreement.  STFI and the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  have
agreed to guarantee,  among other things,  all the  obligations  of the Borrower
under the Credit Agreement.  The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of
the Fronting Banks to issue Letters of Credit are conditioned  upon, among other
things,  the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of a Pledge Agreement in the
form hereof to secure (a) the due and  punctual  payment by the  Borrower of (i)
the principal of and premium,  if any, and interest (including interest accruing
during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding,  regardless of whether  allowed or allowable in such  proceeding) on
the Loans,  when and as due, whether at maturity,  by acceleration,  upon one or
more dates set for  prepayment  or otherwise,  (ii) each payment  required to be
made by the  Borrower  under the  Credit  Agreement  in respect of any Letter of
Credit,  when and as due,  including  payments  in respect of  reimbursement  of
disbursements,  interest  thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and
(iii) all other  monetary  obligations,  including  fees,  costs,  expenses  and
indemnities,  whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary  obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy,
insolvency,  receivership  or other  similar  proceeding,  regardless of whether
allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Borrower to the Secured Parties
under  the  Credit  Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents,  (b) the due and
punctual performance of all covenants,  agreements,  obligations and liabilities
of the  Borrower  under or pursuant to the Credit  Agreement  and the other Loan
Documents,  (c)  the  due  and  punctual  payment  and  performance  of all  the
covenants, agreements,  obligations and liabilities of STFI under or pursuant to
the Parent  Guarantee  Agreement  or the other Loan  Documents,  (d) the due and
punctual payment and performance of all the covenants,  agreements,  obligations
and liabilities of each





Subsidiary  Pledgor under or pursuant to the Subsidiary  Guarantee  Agreement or
the other Loan Documents and (e) the due and punctual payment and performance of
all  obligations of the Borrower under each Interest Rate  Protection  Agreement
entered into with any  counterparty  that was a Lender at the time such Interest
Rate  Protection  Agreement  was  entered  into  (all  the  monetary  and  other
obligations  referred to in the preceding clauses (a) through (e) being referred
to collectively  as the  "Obligations").  Capitalized  terms used herein and not
defined  herein  shall  have  meanings  assigned  to such  terms  in the  Credit
Agreement.

                  Accordingly,  the Pledgors and the Collateral Agent, on behalf
of itself and each Secured  Party (and each of their  respective  successors  or
assigns), hereby agree as follows:

                  SECTION  1.   Pledge.   As   security   for  the  payment  and
performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby
transfers,  grants, bargains, sells, conveys,  hypothecates,  pledges, sets over
and delivers unto the Collateral  Agent, its successors and assigns,  and hereby
grants to the Collateral  Agent,  its  successors  and assigns,  for the ratable
benefit of the Secured  Parties,  a security  interest  in all of the  Pledgor's
right, title and interest in, to and under (a) the shares of capital stock owned
by it and listed on Schedule II hereto and any shares of capital stock  obtained
in the future by the Pledgor and the  certificates  representing all such shares
(the "Pledged Stock"); provided that the Pledged Stock shall not include, to the
extent that  applicable  law  requires  that a subsidiary  of the Pledgor  issue
directors' qualifying shares, such qualifying shares; (b)(i) the debt securities
listed  opposite  the name of the Pledgor on  Schedule II hereto,  (ii) any debt
securities  in the future issued to the Pledgor and (iii) the  promissory  notes
and any other  instruments  evidencing  such debt  securities (the "Pledged Debt
Securities");  (c) all other  property  that may be delivered to and held by the
Collateral  Agent  pursuant to the terms  hereof;  (d) subject to Section 5, all
payments of  principal  or  interest,  dividends,  cash,  instruments  and other
property from time to time  received,  receivable or otherwise  distributed,  in
respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of the securities referred to
in  clauses  (a) and (b)  above;  (e)  subject  to  Section  5, all  rights  and
privileges  of the Pledgor with  respect to the  securities  and other  property
referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above;  and (f) all proceeds of any
of the foregoing  (the items  referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above being
collectively  referred to as the "Collateral").  Upon delivery to the Collateral
Agent,  (a) any stock  certificates,  notes or other securities now or hereafter
included in the Collateral  (the "Pledged  Securities")  shall be accompanied by
undated  stock powers duly  executed in blank or other  instruments  of transfer
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and by such other instruments and documents
as the  Collateral  Agent may  reasonably  request  and (b) all  other  property
comprising part of the Collateral shall be accompanied by proper  instruments of
assignment duly executed by the applicable Pledgor and such other instruments or
documents as the  Collateral  Agent may  reasonably  request.  Each  delivery of
Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule  describing the securities
theretofore and then being pledged  hereunder,  which schedule shall be attached
hereto as Schedule II and made a part hereof.  Each schedule so delivered  shall
supersede any prior schedules so delivered.

                  TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the  Collateral,  together with all right,
title,  interest,  powers,  privileges and preferences  pertaining or incidental
thereto,  unto the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable
benefit  of the  Secured  Parties,  forever;  subject,  however,  to the  terms,
covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

                  SECTION 2. Delivery of the Collateral. (a) Each Pledgor agrees
promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent any and all
Pledged  Securities,  and any and  all  certificates  or  other  instruments  or
documents representing the Collateral.

                  (b) Each  Pledgor  will cause any  Indebtedness  for  borrowed
money owed to the Pledgor by


                                       2


any person to be evidenced by a duly  executed  promissory  note that is pledged
and delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms thereof.

                  SECTION 3.  Representations,  Warranties and  Covenants.  Each
Pledgor  hereby  represents,  warrants  and  covenants,  as to  itself  and  the
Collateral pledged by it hereunder, to and with the Collateral Agent that:

                  (a) the Pledged Stock  represents that percentage as set forth
         on  Schedule II of the issued and  outstanding  shares of each class of
         the capital stock of the issuer with respect thereto;

                  (b) except for the security  interest granted  hereunder,  the
         Pledgor (i) is and will at all times  continue to be the direct  owner,
         beneficially  and of record,  of the Pledged  Securities  indicated  on
         Schedule  II,  (ii) holds the same free and clear of all  Liens,  (iii)
         will make no  assignment,  pledge,  hypothecation  or  transfer  of, or
         create or permit to exist any  security  interest  in or other Lien on,
         the Collateral, other than pursuant hereto, and (iv) subject to Section
         5, will  cause any and all  Collateral,  whether  for value paid by the
         Pledgor or otherwise,  to be forthwith  deposited  with the  Collateral
         Agent and pledged or assigned hereunder;

                  (c) the Pledgor (i) has the power and  authority to pledge the
         Collateral  in the manner  hereby  done or  contemplated  and (ii) will
         defend its title or  interest  thereto or therein  against  any and all
         Liens (other than the Lien created by this Agreement), however arising,
         of all persons whomsoever;

                  (d) no consent of any other person (including  stockholders or
         creditors   of  any   Pledgor)  and  no  consent  or  approval  of  any
         Governmental  Authority or any securities  exchange was or is necessary
         to the validity of the pledge effected hereby;

                  (e) by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of
         this  Agreement,  when the Pledged  Securities,  certificates  or other
         documents  representing  or evidencing  the Collateral are delivered to
         the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement,  the Collateral
         Agent will obtain a valid and  perfected  first lien upon and  security
         interest in such  Pledged  Securities  as security  for the payment and
         performance of the Obligations;

                  (f) the pledge  effected  hereby is  effective  to vest in the
         Collateral  Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties,  the rights of the
         Collateral Agent in the Collateral as set forth herein;

                  (g) all of the  Pledged  Stock  has been duly  authorized  and
         validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable;

                  (h) all  information  set forth herein relating to the Pledged
         Stock is accurate and complete in all material  respects as of the date
         hereof; and

                  (i) the pledge of the Pledged Stock pursuant to this Agreement
         does not violate  Regulation G, T, U or X of the Federal  Reserve Board
         or any successor thereto as of the date hereof.


                                       3



                  SECTION 4.  Registration in Nominee Name;  Denominations.  The
Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its
sole and absolute  discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in its own name as
pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the
Pledgors,  endorsed or assigned  in blank or in favor of the  Collateral  Agent.
Each Pledgor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any notices or
other  communications   received  by  it  with  respect  to  Pledged  Securities
registered in the name of such Pledgor.  The Collateral Agent shall at all times
have the right to exchange the certificates  representing Pledged Securities for
certificates of smaller or larger  denominations for any purpose consistent with
this Agreement.

                  SECTION 5. Voting  Rights;  Dividends and  Interest,  etc. (a)
Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

                  (i) Each  Pledgor  shall be entitled  to exercise  any and all
         voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of
         Pledged  Securities or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with
         the terms of this  Agreement,  the Credit  Agreement and the other Loan
         Documents; provided, however, that such Pledgor will not be entitled to
         exercise  any such right if the result  thereof  could  materially  and
         adversely  affect  the  rights  inuring  to a  holder  of  the  Pledged
         Securities  or the rights and  remedies of any of the  Secured  Parties
         under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document
         or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

                (ii) The  Collateral  Agent  shall  execute  and deliver to each
         Pledgor,  or cause to be executed and  delivered to each  Pledgor,  all
         such proxies,  powers of attorney and other instruments as such Pledgor
         may  reasonably  request for the purpose of  enabling  such  Pledgor to
         exercise the voting and/or  consensual rights and powers it is entitled
         to exercise  pursuant to subparagraph (i) above and to receive the cash
         dividends  it is entitled to receive  pursuant  to  subparagraph  (iii)
         below.

              (iii) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and
         all  cash  dividends,  interest  and  principal  paid  on  the  Pledged
         Securities  to the  extent  and  only  to the  extent  that  such  cash
         dividends,  interest and principal are permitted by, and otherwise paid
         in accordance  with, the terms and conditions of the Credit  Agreement,
         the other Loan  Documents and applicable  laws. All noncash  dividends,
         interest and principal, and all dividends,  interest and principal paid
         or payable in cash or otherwise in  connection  with a partial or total
         liquidation  or  dissolution,  return of  capital,  capital  surplus or
         paid-in surplus,  and all other distributions (other than distributions
         referred  to in the  preceding  sentence)  made on or in respect of the
         Pledged  Securities,  whether  paid or  payable  in cash or  otherwise,
         whether resulting from a subdivision,  combination or  reclassification
         of  the  outstanding  capital  stock  of  the  issuer  of  any  Pledged
         Securities  or received in exchange for Pledged  Securities or any part
         thereof,  or in  redemption  thereof,  or as a  result  of any  merger,
         consolidation,  acquisition  or other  exchange of assets to which such
         issuer may be a party or  otherwise,  shall be and  become  part of the
         Collateral, and, if received by any Pledgor, shall not be commingled by
         such  Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held
         separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of
         the Collateral Agent and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral
         Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).

                  (b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default,  all rights of any Pledgor to dividends,  interest or principal that
such Pledgor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) above shall
cease,  and all such rights  shall  thereupon  become  vested in the  Collateral
Agent,  which shall have the sole and  exclusive  right and authority to receive
and retain such dividends,


                                       4


interest or  principal.  All  dividends,  interest or principal  received by the
Pledgor  contrary to the provisions of this Section 5 shall be held in trust for
the benefit of the Collateral Agent,  shall be segregated from other property or
funds of such Pledgor and shall be forthwith  delivered to the Collateral  Agent
upon demand in the same form as so received  (with any  necessary  endorsement).
Any and all money and other  property paid over to or received by the Collateral
Agent  pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall be retained by the
Collateral  Agent in an account to be established  by the Collateral  Agent upon
receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance  with
the  provisions  of Section  7.  After all Events of Default  have been cured or
waived,  the  Collateral  Agent shall,  within five Business Days after all such
Events of  Default  have been cured or waived,  repay to each  Pledgor  all cash
dividends,  interest or principal  (without  interest),  that such Pledgor would
otherwise  be permitted  to retain  pursuant to the terms of paragraph  (a)(iii)
above and which remain in such account.

                  (c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of  Default,  all rights of any Pledgor to  exercise  the voting and  consensual
rights and powers it is  entitled to exercise  pursuant to  paragraph  (a)(i) of
this Section 5, and the  obligations  of the  Collateral  Agent under  paragraph
(a)(ii) of this  Section 5, shall  cease,  and all such rights  shall  thereupon
become vested in the Collateral  Agent,  which shall have the sole and exclusive
right and  authority to exercise such voting and  consensual  rights and powers;
provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Collateral
Agent  shall  have  the  right  from  time  to time  following  and  during  the
continuance  of an Event of Default  to permit the  Pledgors  to  exercise  such
rights;  provided further that,  notwithstanding  the foregoing,  all voting and
consensual  rights and powers shall remain with the Pledgor  pending  receipt of
any necessary approval of the Federal  Communications  Commission ("FCC") of any
assignment  of transfer of control of the FCC  licenses  held by the Borrower or
any  Subsidiary.  After all  Events of Default  have been cured or waived,  such
Pledgor  will have the right to exercise  the voting and  consensual  rights and
powers that it would otherwise be entitled to exercise  pursuant to the terms of
paragraph (a)(i) above.

                  SECTION 6.  Remedies  upon Default.  Upon the  occurrence  and
during the continuance of an Event of Default,  subject to applicable regulatory
and legal  requirements,  the Collateral  Agent may sell the Collateral,  or any
part  thereof,  at public or  private  sale or at any  broker's  board or on any
securities  exchange,  for cash,  upon  credit  or for  future  delivery  as the
Collateral  Agent  shall  deem  appropriate.   The  Collateral  Agent  shall  be
authorized  at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the
prospective  bidders or purchasers to persons who will  represent and agree that
they are  purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not
with a view to the  distribution or sale thereof,  and upon  consummation of any
such sale the  Collateral  Agent  shall have the right to assign,  transfer  and
deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such
purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any
claim or right on the part of any  Pledgor,  and,  to the  extent  permitted  by
applicable  law,  the  Pledgors  hereby  waive all rights of  redemption,  stay,
valuation  and  appraisal  any  Pledgor now has or may at any time in the future
have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.

                  The  Collateral  Agent  shall  give a Pledgor  10 days'  prior
written  notice  (which each  Pledgor  agrees is  reasonable  notice  within the
meaning of Section  9-504(3) of the Uniform  Commercial Code as in effect in the
State of New York or its  equivalent in other  jurisdictions)  of the Collateral
Agent's intention to make any sale of such Pledgor's Collateral. Such notice, in
the case of a public sale,  shall state the time and place for such sale and, in
the case of a sale at a broker's board or on a securities exchange,  shall state
the board or  exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the
Collateral,  or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or
exchange.  Any  such  public  sale  shall be held at such  time or times  within
ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent


                                       5


may fix and state in the notice of such sale. At any such sale, the  Collateral,
or  portion  thereof,  to be sold  may be sold in one lot as an  entirety  or in
separate  parcels,  as the  Collateral  Agent  may (in  its  sole  and  absolute
discretion)  determine.  The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any
sale of any  Collateral if it shall  determine  not to do so,  regardless of the
fact  that  notice  of  sale of such  Collateral  shall  have  been  given.  The
Collateral  Agent may,  without  notice or  publication,  adjourn  any public or
private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement
at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice,
be made at the time and  place to which the same was so  adjourned.  In case any
sale of all or any  part of the  Collateral  is made  on  credit  or for  future
delivery,  the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Collateral  Agent until
the sale price is paid in full by the purchaser or purchasers  thereof,  but the
Collateral  Agent shall not incur any  liability  in case any such  purchaser or
purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case
of any such failure,  such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice. At any
public  (or, to the extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,  private)  sale made
pursuant to this Section 6, any Secured Party may bid for or purchase, free from
any right of redemption,  stay or appraisal on the part of any Pledgor (all said
rights  being also  hereby  waived and  released),  the  Collateral  or any part
thereof  offered for sale and may make  payment on account  thereof by using any
claim then due and  payable  to it from such  Pledgor  as a credit  against  the
purchase price, and it may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain
and dispose of such  property  without  further  accountability  to such Pledgor
therefor.  For  purposes  hereof,  (a)  a  written  agreement  to  purchase  the
Collateral or any portion  thereof  shall be treated as a sale thereof,  (b) the
Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement
and (c) such Pledgor  shall not be entitled to the return of the  Collateral  or
any portion thereof  subject  thereto,  notwithstanding  the fact that after the
Collateral Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default
shall have been remedied and the Obligations  paid in full. As an alternative to
exercising the power of sale herein  conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may
proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose  upon the Collateral
and to sell the  Collateral  or any  portion  thereof  pursuant to a judgment or
decree of a court or courts  having  competent  jurisdiction  or  pursuant  to a
proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of
this  Section  6 shall be  deemed  to  conform  to the  commercially  reasonable
standards as provided in Section  9-504(3) of the Uniform  Commercial Code as in
effect in the State of New York or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

                  SECTION 7.  Application  of Proceeds of Sale.  The proceeds of
any  sale of  Collateral  pursuant  to  Section  6,  as  well as any  Collateral
consisting of cash, shall be applied by the Collateral Agent as follows:

                  FIRST,  to the payment of all costs and  expenses  incurred by
         the  Collateral  Agent in  connection  with such sale or  otherwise  in
         connection with this  Agreement,  any other Loan Document or any of the
         Obligations,  including  all court  costs and the  reasonable  fees and
         expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances
         made by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document
         on behalf of any Pledgor  and any other  costs or expenses  incurred in
         connection with the exercise of any right or remedy  hereunder or under
         any other Loan Document;

                  SECOND, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts
         so applied to be  distributed  among the  Secured  Parties  pro rata in
         accordance with the amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date
         of any such distribution); and

                  THIRD, to the Pledgors,  their successors or assigns,  or as a
         court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.


                                       6


                  The Collateral Agent shall have absolute  discretion as to the
time of application of any such proceeds,  moneys or balances in accordance with
this  Agreement.  Upon  any  sale  of the  Collateral  by the  Collateral  Agent
(including  pursuant  to a power of sale  granted by statute or under a judicial
proceeding), the receipt of the purchase money by the Collateral Agent or of the
officer  making the sale shall be a  sufficient  discharge  to the  purchaser or
purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers  shall not
be obligated to see to the  application  of any part of the purchase  money paid
over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the
misapplication thereof.

                  SECTION 8. Reimbursement of Collateral Agent. (a) Each Pledgor
agrees to pay upon  demand  to the  Collateral  Agent the  amount of any and all
reasonable   expenses,   including  the  reasonable   fees,  other  charges  and
disbursements  of its counsel and of any experts or agents,  that the Collateral
Agent may incur in connection  with (i) the  administration  of this  Agreement,
(ii) the custody or preservation  of, or the sale of,  collection from, or other
realization  upon, any of the  Collateral,  (iii) the exercise or enforcement of
any of the rights of the Collateral  Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure by such
Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.

                  (b)  Without  limitation  of its  indemnification  obligations
under the other Loan Documents,  each Pledgor agrees to indemnify the Collateral
Agent and the Indemnitees  (as defined in Section 9.05 of the Credit  Agreement)
against,  and hold each  Indemnitee  harmless from, any and all losses,  claims,
damages,  liabilities and related expenses,  including  reasonable counsel fees,
other charges and disbursements,  incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee
arising out of, in any way  connected  with, or as a result of (i) the execution
or delivery of this  Agreement  or any other Loan  Document or any  agreement or
instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto
of  their  respective   obligations   thereunder  or  the  consummation  of  the
Transactions and the other transactions  contemplated thereby or (ii) any claim,
litigation,  investigation  or  proceeding  relating  to any  of the  foregoing,
whether or not any Indemnitee is a party  thereto,  provided that such indemnity
shall not, as to any  Indemnitee,  be  available to the extent that such losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities or related  expenses are determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from
the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

                  (c)  Any  amounts  payable  as  provided  hereunder  shall  be
additional  Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents.  The
provisions of this Section 8 shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless  of the  termination  of  this  Agreement,  the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations,  the
invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document or any investigation  made by or on behalf of the Collateral
Agent or any other Secured Party.  All amounts due under this Section 8 shall be
payable on written demand therefor and shall bear interest at the rate specified
in Section 2.06 of the Credit Agreement.

                  SECTION 9. Collateral Agent Appointed  Attorney-in-Fact.  Each
Pledgor  hereby  appoints  the  Collateral  Agent the  attorney-in-fact  of such
Pledgor for the purpose of carrying out the  provisions  of this  Agreement  and
taking any action and executing any  instrument  that the  Collateral  Agent may
deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment
is irrevocable and coupled with an interest.  Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing,  the Collateral  Agent shall have the right,  upon the occurrence
and  during  the  continuance  of an  Event  of  Default,  with  full  power  of
substitution  either  in the  Collateral  Agent's  name  or in the  name of such
Pledgor, to ask for, demand, sue for, collect,  receive and give acquittance for
any and all moneys  due or to become due under and by virtue of any  Collateral,
to endorse checks, drafts, orders and other instruments for the payment of money
payable


                                       7


to the Pledgor  representing  any  interest  or  dividend or other  distribution
payable in respect of the  Collateral or any part thereof or on account  thereof
and to give full  discharge  for the same, to settle,  compromise,  prosecute or
defend any  action,  claim or  proceeding  with  respect  thereto,  and to sell,
assign,  endorse,  pledge,  transfer and to make any  agreement  respecting,  or
otherwise deal with, the same; provided,  however, that nothing herein contained
shall be construed as requiring or obligating the  Collateral  Agent to make any
commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment
received by the Collateral  Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or
to take any action with  respect to the  Collateral  or any part  thereof or the
moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property  covered thereby.
The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for
amounts  actually  received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to
them herein, and neither they nor their officers, directors, employees or agents
shall be  responsible  to any Pledgor  for any act or failure to act  hereunder,
except for their own gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

                  SECTION 10. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the
Collateral  Agent in exercising any power or right  hereunder shall operate as a
waiver  thereof,  nor shall any single or partial  exercise of any such right or
power, or any abandonment or  discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or
power,  preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the exercise of any
other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder
and of the other Secured  Parties under the other Loan  Documents are cumulative
and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would  otherwise have.
No waiver of any provisions of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any
Pledgor  therefrom  shall in any event be  effective  unless  the same  shall be
permitted  by  paragraph  (b) below,  and then such  waiver or consent  shall be
effective only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which given. No
notice or demand on any Pledgor in any case shall  entitle  such  Pledgor to any
other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

                  (b) Neither this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be
waived,  amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into
between the  Collateral  Agent and the Pledgor or Pledgors with respect to which
such  waiver,  amendment  or  modification  is to apply,  subject to any consent
required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.

                  SECTION 11.  Securities  Act,  etc. In view of the position of
the Pledgors in relation to the Pledged Securities,  or because of other current
or future circumstances,  a question may arise under the Securities Act of 1933,
as now  or  hereafter  in  effect,  or any  similar  statute  hereafter  enacted
analogous in purpose or effect  (such Act and any such  similar  statute as from
time to time in effect being called the "Federal  Securities Laws") with respect
to any disposition of the Pledged Securities permitted  hereunder.  Each Pledgor
understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly
limit the course of conduct of the Collateral Agent if the Collateral Agent were
to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the  Pledged  Securities,  and might
also limit the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent  transferee
of any Pledged  Securities  could dispose of the same.  Similarly,  there may be
other legal  restrictions or limitations  affecting the Collateral  Agent in any
attempt to dispose of all or part of the  Pledged  Securities  under  applicable
Blue Sky or other state  securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or
effect.  Each  Pledgor  recognizes  that  in  light  of  such  restrictions  and
limitations  the  Collateral  Agent may, with respect to any sale of the Pledged
Securities, limit the purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to
acquire such Pledged Securities for their own account,  for investment,  and not
with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Pledgor acknowledges and
agrees that in light of such restrictions and limitations, the Collateral Agent,
in its sole and absolute discretion, (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether
or not a  registration  statement  for the purpose of  registering  such Pledged
Securities  or part thereof  shall have been filed under the Federal  Securities
Laws and (b) may approach and


                                       8


negotiate with a single  potential  purchaser to effect such sale.  Each Pledgor
acknowledges  and  agrees  that any such sale  might  result in prices and other
terms less  favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale without
such  restrictions.  In the event of any such sale, the  Collateral  Agent shall
incur no  responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of the Pledged
Securities  at a price  that the  Collateral  Agent,  in its  sole and  absolute
discretion,   may  in  good  faith  deem  reasonable  under  the  circumstances,
notwithstanding  the possibility  that a  substantially  higher price might have
been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as aforesaid or
if more than a single purchaser were approached.  The provisions of this Section
11 will apply  notwithstanding  the existence of a public or private market upon
which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the price at which
the Collateral Agent sells.

                  SECTION 12. Registration,  etc. Each Pledgor agrees that, upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default  hereunder,  if
for  any  reason  the  Collateral  Agent  desires  to  sell  any of the  Pledged
Securities  of the Borrower at a public sale, it will, at any time and from time
to time, upon the written request of the Collateral  Agent, use its best efforts
to take or to cause the issuer of such  Pledged  Securities  to take such action
and prepare, distribute and/or file such documents, as are required or advisable
in the  reasonable  opinion of counsel  for the  Collateral  Agent to permit the
public  sale  of  such  Pledged  Securities.  Each  Pledgor  further  agrees  to
indemnify,  defend and hold harmless the  Collateral  Agent,  each other Secured
Party, any underwriter and their respective officers, directors,  affiliates and
controlling  persons from and against all loss,  liability,  expenses,  costs of
counsel  (including,  without  limitation,  reasonable  fees and expenses to the
Collateral  Agent  of  legal  counsel),  and  claims  (including  the  costs  of
investigation) that they may incur insofar as such loss,  liability,  expense or
claim arises out of or is based upon any alleged untrue  statement of a material
fact contained in any prospectus (or any amendment or supplement  thereto) or in
any  notification  or offering  circular,  or arises out of or is based upon any
alleged  omission  to state a material  fact  required  to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements in any thereof not  misleading,  except insofar
as the same may have been caused by any untrue  statement or omission based upon
information  furnished  in writing to such Pledgor or the issuer of such Pledged
Securities by the Collateral  Agent or any other Secured Party expressly for use
therein.  Each Pledgor  further agrees,  upon such written  request  referred to
above, to use its best efforts to qualify, file or register, or cause the issuer
of such Pledged  Securities  to qualify,  file or  register,  any of the Pledged
Securities  under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of such states as may be
requested  by the  Collateral  Agent  and  keep  effective,  or cause to be kept
effective, all such qualifications,  filings or registrations. Each Pledgor will
bear all costs and expenses of carrying out its  obligations  under this Section
12.  Each  Pledgor  acknowledges  that  there is no  adequate  remedy at law for
failure by it to comply  with the  provisions  of this  Section 12 and that such
failure would not be adequately  compensable  in damages,  and therefore  agrees
that its agreements contained in this Section 12 may be specifically enforced.

                  SECTION 13. Regulatory Approval.  Notwithstanding  anything to
the contrary  contained  herein,  the Collateral  Agent will not take any action
pursuant  to this  Pledge  Agreement  that  would  constitute  or  result in any
assignment  of an FCC  license or any change of  control  of the  Borrower,  any
Subsidiary,  any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary or any STFI  Unrestricted  Subsidiary
subject to regulation by the FCC if such  assignment of FCC license or change of
control would require under then existing law  (including  the written rules and
regulations  promulgated  by the FCC),  the prior  approval of the FCC,  without
first  obtaining  such  approval  of the FCC.  Each  Pledgor  agrees  after  the
occurrence of any Event of Default to take any action that the Collateral  Agent
may reasonably request in order to obtain and enjoy the full rights and benefits
granted  to the  Collateral  Agent  by this  Pledge  Agreement  and  each  other
agreement,  instrument  and  document  delivered  to  the  Collateral  Agent  in
connection herewith or in any document evidencing or securing the collateral for
any of the Obligations,  including  specifically,  at the Pledgor's own cost and
expense,  the use of Pledgor's  best efforts to assist in obtaining  approval of
the FCC or any


                                       9


applicable state regulatory authority for any action or transaction contemplated
by this Pledge Agreement that is then required by law, and specifically, without
limitation,  upon request, to prepare,  sign and file with the FCC or such state
regulatory  authority the assignor's or transferor's  portion of any application
or applications  for consent to the assignment of license or transfer of control
necessary or appropriate  under the FCC's or such state  regulatory  authority's
rules and regulations for approval of any Obligations secured hereby.

                  SECTION  14.  Security  Interest  Absolute.  All rights of the
Collateral Agent hereunder,  the grant of a security  interest in the Collateral
and  all  obligations  of  each  Pledgor   hereunder,   shall  be  absolute  and
unconditional  irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the
Credit Agreement,  any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of
the  Obligations  or any other  agreement or  instrument  relating to any of the
foregoing,  (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any
other term of, all or any of the  Obligations,  or any other amendment or waiver
of or any consent to any  departure  from the Credit  Agreement,  any other Loan
Document or any other agreement or instrument  relating to any of the foregoing,
(c) any  exchange,  release or  nonperfection  of any other  collateral,  or any
release or amendment or waiver of or consent to or departure  from any guaranty,
for all or any of the  Obligations  or (d) any  other  circumstance  that  might
otherwise  constitute a defense  available to, or a discharge of, any Pledgor in
respect  of the  Obligations  or in respect of this  Agreement  (other  than the
indefeasible payment in full of all the Obligations).

                  SECTION 15. Termination or Release. (a) This Agreement and the
security  interests granted hereby shall terminate when all the Obligations have
been  indefeasibly  paid in full and the Lenders have no further  commitment  to
lend under the Credit  Agreement,  the L/C Exposure has been reduced to zero and
the Fronting  Banks have no further  obligation to issue Letters of Credit under
the Credit Agreement.

                  (b)  Upon any sale or other  transfer  by any  Pledgor  of any
Collateral  that is permitted  under the Credit  Agreement to any person that is
not a Pledgor,  or, upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release
of the security  interest  granted hereby in any Collateral  pursuant to Section
9.08(b) of the Credit Agreement,  the security interest in such Collateral shall
be automatically released.

                  (c) In connection with any termination or release  pursuant to
paragraph  (a) or (b),  the  Collateral  Agent shall  execute and deliver to any
Pledgor,  at such  Pledgor's  expense,  all  documents  that such Pledgor  shall
reasonably  request to evidence such  termination or release.  Any execution and
delivery of documents  pursuant to this Section 14 shall be without  recourse to
or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

                  SECTION 16. Notices.  All communications and notices hereunder
shall be in  writing  and  given  as  provided  in  Section  9.01 of the  Credit
Agreement.  All  communications  and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Pledgor
shall be given to it at the  address for notices set forth on Schedule I, with a
copy to the Borrower.

                  SECTION 17. Further Assurances. Each Pledgor agrees to do such
further acts and things, and to execute and deliver such additional conveyances,
assignments, agreements and instruments, as the Collateral Agent may at any time
reasonably request in connection with the administration and enforcement of this
Agreement  or with  respect to the  Collateral  or any part  thereof or in order
better to assure and confirm unto the  Collateral  Agent its rights and remedies
hereunder.

                  SECTION 18. Binding Effect;  Several  Agreement;  Assignments.
Whenever in this

                                       10


Agreement  any of the parties  hereto is referred  to, such  reference  shall be
deemed to include the successors  and assigns of such party;  and all covenants,
promises and  agreements  by or on behalf of any Pledgor  that are  contained in
this  Agreement  shall  bind and  inure to the  benefit  of its  successors  and
assigns.  This  Agreement  shall  become  effective  as to  any  Pledgor  when a
counterpart  hereof executed on behalf of such Pledgor shall have been delivered
to the  Collateral  Agent and a  counterpart  hereof shall have been executed on
behalf of the  Collateral  Agent,  and  thereafter  shall be  binding  upon such
Pledgor and the Collateral  Agent and their  respective  successors and assigns,
and shall inure to the benefit of such  Pledgor,  the  Collateral  Agent and the
other Secured Parties, and their respective successors and assigns,  except that
no Pledgor  shall have the right to assign its rights  hereunder or any interest
herein or in the Collateral (and any such attempted  assignment  shall be void),
except as expressly  contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.
If all of the  capital  stock of a Pledgor  is sold,  transferred  or  otherwise
disposed of to a person that is not an Affiliate  of the Borrower  pursuant to a
transaction  permitted  by Section  6.05 of the Credit  Agreement,  such Pledgor
shall be released from its  obligations  under this  Agreement  without  further
action.  This Agreement shall be construed as a separate  agreement with respect
to each Pledgor and may be amended, modified,  supplemented,  waived or released
with  respect to any  Pledgor  without  the  approval  of any other  Pledgor and
without affecting the obligations of any other Pledgor hereunder

                  SECTION  19.  Survival  of  Agreement;  Severability.  (a) All
covenants,  agreements,  representations  and  warranties  made by each  Pledgor
herein and in the  certificates  or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in
connection  with or pursuant to this  Agreement or any other Loan Document shall
be  considered  to have been relied upon by the  Collateral  Agent and the other
Secured Parties and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the
issuance  of the  Letters of Credit by the  Fronting  Banks,  regardless  of any
investigation made by the Secured Parties or on their behalf, and shall continue
in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued  interest on
any Loan or any other fee or amount  payable  under this  Agreement or any other
Loan Document is outstanding  and unpaid or the L/C Exposure does not equal zero
and as long as the Commitments and the L/C Commitments have not been terminated.

                  (b) In the event any one or more of the  provisions  contained
in this  Agreement  should be held  invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable  in any
respect,  the validity,  legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained  herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being
understood  that  the  invalidity  of a  particular  provision  in a  particular
jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in
any other jurisdiction).  The parties shall endeavor in good-faith  negotiations
to  replace  the  invalid,   illegal  or  unenforceable  provisions  with  valid
provisions  the  economic  effect of which comes as close as possible to that of
the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 20.  Governing Law. THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 21.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of
which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract, and shall become
effective as provided in Section 18.  Delivery of an executed  counterpart  of a
signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

                  SECTION   22.   Rules   of   Interpretation.   The   rules  of
interpretation  specified  in  Section  1.02 of the  Credit  Agreement  shall be
applicable to this Agreement.  Section  headings used herein are for convenience
of  reference  only,  are not part of this  Agreement  and are not to affect the
construction


                                       11


of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting this Agreement.

                  SECTION 23.  Jurisdiction;  Consent to Service of Process. (a)
Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  submits, for itself and its
property,  to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction  of any New  York  State  court or
Federal court of the United States of America  sitting in New York City, and any
appellate court from any thereof,  in any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the other Loan  Documents,  or for  recognition or
enforcement of any judgment,  and each of the parties hereto hereby  irrevocably
and unconditionally  agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all
claims in respect of any such action or proceeding  may be heard and  determined
in such New York  State or, to the  extent  permitted  by law,  in such  Federal
court.  Each of the  parties  hereto  agrees  that a final  judgment in any such
action  or  proceeding  shall  be  conclusive  and  may  be  enforced  in  other
jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment or in any other  manner  provided by law.
Nothing in this Agreement  shall affect any right that the  Collateral  Agent or
any other  Secured  Party may  otherwise  have to bring any action or proceeding
relating to this  Agreement or the other Loan  Documents  against any Pledgor or
its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

                  (b)  Each  Pledgor  hereby  irrevocably  and   unconditionally
waives,  to the  fullest  extent  it may  legally  and  effectively  do so,  any
objection  that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit,
action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement or the other
Loan  Documents  in any New York State or  Federal  court.  Each of the  parties
hereto hereby  irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such court.

                  (c)  Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to
service of process in the manner  provided for notices in Section 15. Nothing in
this  Agreement  will affect the right of any party to this  Agreement  to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.

                  SECTION 24.  Waiver Of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY  HERETO  HEREBY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY  ARISING
OUT OF,  UNDER OR IN  CONNECTION  WITH THIS  AGREEMENT.  EACH  PARTY  HERETO (A)
CERTIFIES  THAT NO  REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR  ATTORNEY  OF ANY OTHER  PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY  OR  OTHERWISE,  THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING  WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO  HAVE  BEEN  INDUCED  TO ENTER  INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,  THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION.

                  SECTION 25. Additional  Pledgors.  Pursuant to Section 5.11 of
the Credit  Agreement,  each  Subsidiary of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
that  was  not in  existence  or not a  Subsidiary  on the  date  of the  Credit
Agreement is required to enter in this  Agreement  as a Subsidiary  Pledgor upon
becoming a Subsidiary if such  Subsidiary  owns or possesses  property of a type
that would be considered  Collateral  hereunder.  Upon execution and delivery by
the  Collateral  Agent and a Subsidiary of an instrument in the form of Annex 1,
such Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary  Pledgor hereunder with the same force
and effect as if originally named as a Subsidiary  Pledgor herein. The execution
and  delivery  of such  instrument  shall not require the consent of any Pledgor
hereunder.  The rights and obligations of each Pledgor hereunder shall remain in
full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Subsidiary


                                       12


Pledgor as a party to this Agreement.


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


                                            SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.,

                                             by
                                               -----------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


                                            SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD
                                            COMMUNICATIONS CORP.,

                                             by
                                               -----------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:  Authorized Officer


                                            THE SUBSIDIARY PLEDGORS LISTED ON
                                            SCHEDULE I HERETO,

                                             by
                                               -----------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:  Authorized Officer


                                            CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,

                                             by
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


                                             by
                                               ------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


                                       13




                                                               Schedule I to the
                                                               Pledge Agreement


                               SUBSIDIARY PLEDGORS


Name                                  Address











                                                              Schedule II to the
                                                              Pledge Agreement


                                  CAPITAL STOCK



            Number of        Registered     Number and Class    Percentage  
Issuer      Certificate      Owner          of Shares           of Shares   
                                                                   






                                 DEBT SECURITIES


                  Principal              Date of               Maturity 
Issuer              Amount                 Note                  Date     
                                    







                                                                  Annex 1 to the
                                                                Pledge Agreement



                                    SUPPLEMENT  NO.  dated as of , to the PLEDGE
                           AGREEMENT  dated as of March 13,  1996,  among SHARED
                           TECHNOLOGIES   FAIRCHILD   COMMUNICATIONS   CORP.,  a
                           Delaware   corporation   (the   "Borrower"),   SHARED
                           TECHNOLOGIES  FAIRCHILD INC., a Delaware  corporation
                           ("STFI",  which term shall, after the Merger referred
                           to in the Credit Agreement referred to below, include
                           the  surviving  corporation  in  such  Merger),  each
                           Subsidiary  of the  Borrower  listed  on  Schedule  I
                           hereto   (each   such   Subsidiary   individually   a
                           "Subsidiary    Pledgor"   and    collectively,    the
                           "Subsidiary  Pledgors";  the  Borrower,  STFI and the
                           Subsidiary  Pledgors  are  referred  to  collectively
                           herein as the "Pledgors")  and CREDIT SUISSE,  a bank
                           organized  under  the  laws  of  Switzerland,  acting
                           through its New York  branch  ("Credit  Suisse"),  as
                           collateral  agent (in such capacity,  the "Collateral
                           Agent")  for the  Secured  Parties (as defined in the
                           Credit Agreement referred to below).

                  A. Reference is made to (a) the Credit  Agreement  dated as of
March 12, 1996 (as  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI, the lenders from time
to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as  administrative  agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule  2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank, N.A., as documentation agent (individually and collectively in such
capacity,  the "Documentation  Agent"), (b) the Parent Guarantee Agreement dated
as of March 12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time
to time,  the "Parent  Guarantee  Agreement"),  between STFI and the  Collateral
Agent and (c) the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement dated as of March 12, 1996 (as
amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to time, the "Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement"; and, collectively with the Parent Guarantee Agreement, the
"Guarantee Agreements") among the Subsidiary Pledgors and the Collateral Agent.

                  B.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not  otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

                  C. The  Pledgors  have  entered  into the Pledge  Agreement in
order to  induce  the  Lenders  to make  Loans and the  Fronting  Banks to issue
Letters  of Credit.  Pursuant  to Section  5.11 of the  Credit  Agreement,  each
Subsidiary of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary  that was not in existence or
not a Subsidiary  on the date of the Credit  Agreement is required to enter into
the Pledge Agreement as a Subsidiary  Pledgor upon becoming a Subsidiary if such
Subsidiary  owns or  possesses  property  of a type  that  would  be  considered
Collateral  under the  Pledge  Agreement.  Section  25 of the  Pledge  Agreement
provides that such Subsidiaries may become Subsidiary  Pledgors under the Pledge
Agreement  by  execution  and  delivery  of an  instrument  in the  form of this
Supplement.  The  undersigned  Subsidiary  (the "New Pledgor") is executing this
Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become
a Subsidiary  Pledgor under the Pledge  Agreement in order to induce the Lenders
to make additional Loans and the Fronting Banks to issue  additional  Letters of
Credit and as  consideration  for Loans  previously  made and  Letters of Credit
previously issued.

                  Accordingly, the Collateral Agent and the New Pledgor agree as
follows:

                  SECTION  1.  In  accordance  with  Section  25 of  the  Pledge
Agreement,  the New Pledgor by its  signature  below becomes a Pledgor under the
Pledge Agreement with the same force and






effect as if originally  named  therein as a Pledgor and the New Pledgor  hereby
agrees (a) to all the terms and provisions of the Pledge Agreement applicable to
it  as  a  Pledgor   thereunder   and  (b)  represents  and  warrants  that  the
representations  and warranties made by it as a Pledgor  thereunder are true and
correct on and as of the date hereof.  In furtherance of the foregoing,  the New
Pledgor,  as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations
(as  defined  in the  Pledge  Agreement),  does  hereby  create and grant to the
Collateral  Agent,  its successors  and assigns,  for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and lien on all of
the New Pledgor's right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined
in the Pledge  Agreement)  of the New Pledgor.  Each  reference to a "Subsidiary
Pledgor" or a "Pledgor" in the Pledge  Agreement  shall be deemed to include the
New Pledgor. The Pledge Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

                  SECTION 2. The New  Pledgor  represents  and  warrants  to the
Collateral  Agent and the other Secured  Parties that this  Supplement  has been
duly authorized,  executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal,  valid
and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

                  SECTION 3. This  Supplement  may be executed in  counterparts,
each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together
shall constitute a single contract.  This Supplement shall become effective when
the Collateral  Agent shall have received  counterparts of this Supplement that,
when taken  together,  bear the signatures of the New Pledgor and the Collateral
Agent.  Delivery of an executed  signature page to this  Supplement by facsimile
transmission  shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Supplement.

                  SECTION 4. The New Pledgor hereby represents and warrants that
set forth on Schedule I attached  hereto is a true and  correct  schedule of all
its Pledged Securities.

                  SECTION 5. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Pledge
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

                  SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 7. In case any one or more of the provisions contained
in this  Supplement  should be held  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  in any
respect,  neither  party hereto shall be required to comply with such  provision
for so long as such provision is held to be invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable,
but the  validity,  legality  and  enforceability  of the  remaining  provisions
contained herein and in the Pledge Agreement shall not in any way be affected or
impaired.  The parties  hereto  shall  endeavor in  good-faith  negotiations  to
replace the invalid,  illegal or unenforceable  provisions with valid provisions
the economic  effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions.

                  SECTION 8. All  communications  and notices hereunder shall be
in writing  and given as  provided  in Section 15 of the Pledge  Agreement.  All
communications  and notices hereunder to the New Pledgor shall be given to it at
the address set forth under its signature hereto, with a copy to the Borrower.


                                       2




                  SECTION 9. The New Pledgor  agrees to reimburse the Collateral
Agent  for  its  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  in  connection  with  this
Supplement,  including the reasonable fees,  other charges and  disbursements of
counsel for the Collateral Agent.


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the New Pledgor and the Collateral Agent
have duly  executed this  Supplement  to the Pledge  Agreement as of the day and
year first above written.




                                           [Name of New Pledgor],

                                             by
                                               ____________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:
                                               Address:





                                            CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,

                                             by
                                               ____________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


                                             by
                                               ____________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:


                                       3




                                                                  Schedule I to
                                                                 Supplement No.
                                                        to the Pledge Agreement




                      Pledged Securities of the New Pledgor


                                  CAPITAL STOCK


           Number of       Registered     Number and Class     Percentage
Issuer     Certificate     Owner          of Shares            of Shares 
                                                               








                                 DEBT SECURITIES

 
                  Principal             Date of             Maturity
Issuer            Amount                Note                Date    
                                                









                                                                       EXHIBIT G



                                    SECURITY  AGREEMENT  dated as of  March  13,
                           1996,    among    SHARED    TECHNOLOGIES    FAIRCHILD
                           COMMUNICATIONS  CORP.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
                           "Borrower"),  SHARED  TECHNOLOGIES  FAIRCHILD INC., a
                           Delaware corporation ("STFI", which term shall, after
                           the  Merger  referred  to  in  the  Credit  Agreement
                           referred to below, include the surviving  corporation
                           in such  Merger),  each  subsidiary  of the  Borrower
                           listed on  Schedule I hereto  (each  such  subsidiary
                           individually    a    "Subsidiary    Guarantor"    and
                           collectively,   the  "Subsidiary   Guarantors";   the
                           Subsidiary  Guarantors,  STFI  and the  Borrower  are
                           referred to  collectively  herein as the  "Grantors")
                           and CREDIT SUISSE, a bank organized under the laws of
                           Switzerland,  acting  through  its  New  York  branch
                           ("Credit  Suisse"),  as  collateral  agent  (in  such
                           capacity,  the  "Collateral  Agent")  for the Secured
                           Parties (as defined herein).

                  Reference  is made to (a) the  Credit  Agreement  dated  as of
March 12, 1996 (as  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI, the lenders from time
to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as  administrative  agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule  2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank, N.A., as documentation agent (individually and collectively in such
capacity,  the  "Documentation  Agent") and (b) the Parent  Guarantee  Agreement
dated as of March 12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the "Parent Guarantee Agreement"), between STFI and the Collateral
Agent and (c) the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement dated as of March 12, 1996 (as
amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to time, the "Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement"), among the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Collateral Agent.

                  The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower, and the
Fronting  Banks have  agreed to issue  Letters of Credit for the  account of the
Borrower,  pursuant  to,  and upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions
specified in, the Credit Agreement.  Each of STFI and the Subsidiary  Guarantors
has agreed to guarantee, among other things, all the obligations of the Borrower
under the Credit Agreement.  The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of
the Fronting Banks to issue Letters of Credit are conditioned  upon, among other
things,  the  execution and delivery by the Grantors of an agreement in the form
hereof to secure (a) the due and  punctual  payment by the  Borrower  of (i) the
principal of and premium,  if any, and  interest  (including  interest  accruing
during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding,  regardless of whether  allowed or allowable in such  proceeding) on
the Loans,  when and as due, whether at maturity,  by acceleration,  upon one or
more dates set for  prepayment  or otherwise,  (ii) each payment  required to be
made by the  Borrower  under the  Credit  Agreement  in respect of any Letter of
Credit,  when and as due,  including  payments  in respect of  reimbursement  of
disbursements,  interest  thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and
(iii) all other  monetary  obligations,  including  fees,  costs,  expenses  and
indemnities,  whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary  obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy,
insolvency,  receivership  or other  similar  proceeding,  regardless of whether
allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Borrower to the Secured Parties
under  the  Credit  Agreement  and the  other  Loan  Documents,  (b) the due and
punctual performance of all covenants,  agreements,  obligations and liabilities
of the  Borrower  under or pursuant to the Credit  Agreement  and the other Loan
Documents,  (c)  the  due  and  punctual  payment  and  performance  of all  the
covenants,  agreements,  obligations and liabilities of each Loan Party under or
pursuant to this





Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (d) the due and punctual  payment and
performance  of all  obligations  of  the  Borrower  under  each  Interest  Rate
Protection Agreement entered into with any counterparty that was a Lender at the
time such Interest Rate Protection  Agreement was entered into (all the monetary
and other  obligations  described in the preceding clauses (a) through (d) being
collectively called the "Obligations").

                  Accordingly,  the Grantors and the Collateral Agent, on behalf
of itself and each Secured  Party (and each of their  respective  successors  or
assigns), hereby agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   Definitions

                  SECTION  1.01.  Definition  of Terms Used  Herein.  Unless the
context  otherwise  requires,  all capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

                  SECTION 1.02. Definition of Certain Terms Used Herein. As used
herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

                  "Account  Debtor"  shall  mean  any  person  who is or who may
become  obligated  to any  Grantor  under,  with  respect to or on account of an
Account.

                  "Accounts" shall mean any and all right, title and interest of
any Grantor to payment for goods and services sold or leased, including any such
right evidenced by chattel paper,  whether due or to become due,  whether or not
it has been earned by  performance,  and whether  now or  hereafter  acquired or
arising in the future,  including  accounts  receivable  from  Affiliates of the
Grantors.

                  "Accounts  Receivable"  shall mean all Accounts and all right,
title and  interest in any returned  goods,  together  with all rights,  titles,
securities and guarantees with respect thereto, including any rights to stoppage
in  transit,  replevin,  reclamation  and  resales,  and  all  related  security
interests,  liens and pledges,  whether  voluntary or involuntary,  in each case
whether now existing or owned or hereafter arising or acquired.

                  "Collateral"  shall  mean  all (a)  Accounts  Receivable,  (b)
Documents, (c) Equipment,  (d) General Intangibles,  (e) Inventory, (f) cash and
cash accounts and (g) Proceeds.

                  "Copyright  License" shall mean any written agreement,  now or
hereafter in effect,  granting any right to any third party under any  Copyright
now or hereafter  owned by any Grantor or which such Grantor  otherwise  has the
right to license,  or granting any right to such Grantor under any Copyright now
or hereafter owned by any third party,  and all rights of such Grantor under any
such agreement.

                  "Copyrights"  shall  mean all of the  following  now  owned or
hereafter acquired by any Grantor:  (a) all copyright rights in any work subject
to the  copyright  laws of the United  States or any other  country,  whether as
author,  assignee,  transferee  or  otherwise,  and  (b) all  registrations  and
applications  for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any
other country, including


                                       2


registrations,  recordings,  supplemental registrations and pending applications
for registration in the United States Copyright  Office,  including those listed
on Schedule II.

                  "Credit  Agreement"  shall have the  meaning  assigned to such
term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

                  "Documents" shall mean all instruments, files, records, ledger
sheets and documents covering or relating to any of the Collateral.

                  "Equipment"   shall   mean  all   equipment,   furniture   and
furnishings, and all tangible personal property similar to any of the foregoing,
including  tools,  parts and  supplies  of every kind and  description,  and all
improvements,  accessions or  appurtenances  thereto,  that are now or hereafter
owned by any Grantor. The term Equipment shall include Fixtures.

                  "Fixtures"  shall  mean all items of  Equipment,  whether  now
owned or hereafter acquired, of any Grantor that become so related to particular
real estate that an interest in them arises under any real estate law applicable
thereto.

                  "General  Intangibles"  shall  mean all  choses in action  and
causes of action and all other assignable  intangible  personal  property of any
Grantor of every kind and nature (other than Accounts  Receivable)  now owned or
hereafter  acquired  by any  Grantor,  including  corporate  or  other  business
records, indemnification claims, contract rights (including rights under leases,
whether entered into as lessor or lessee,  Interest Rate  Protection  Agreements
and  other  agreements),   Intellectual   Property,   goodwill,   registrations,
franchises,  tax  refund  claims and any  letter of  credit,  guarantee,  claim,
security  interest or other security held by or granted to any Grantor to secure
payment by an Account Debtor of any of the Accounts Receivable.

                  "Intellectual   Property"  shall  mean  all  intellectual  and
similar  property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter
acquired by any Grantor,  including inventions,  designs,  Patents,  Copyrights,
Licenses,  Trademarks, trade secrets,  confidential or proprietary technical and
business information,  know-how, show-how or other data or information, software
and   databases   and  all   embodiments   or  fixations   thereof  and  related
documentation, registrations and franchises, and all additions, improvements and
accessions to, and books and records  describing or used in connection with, any
of the foregoing.

                  "Inventory"  shall mean all goods of any Grantor,  whether now
owned or  hereafter  acquired,  held for sale or lease,  or  furnished  or to be
furnished  by any  Grantor  under  contracts  of  service,  or  consumed  in any
Grantor's  business,  including raw materials,  intermediates,  work in process,
packaging materials,  finished goods,  semi-finished inventory, scrap inventory,
manufacturing  supplies  and  spare  parts,  and all such  goods  that have been
returned to or repossessed by or on behalf of any Grantor.

                  "License"  shall mean any Patent License,  Trademark  License,
Copyright  License or other  license  or  sublicense  to which any  Grantor is a
party,  including  those  listed on  Schedule  III  (other  than  those  license
agreements  in existence on the date hereof and listed on Schedule III and those
license  agreements  entered  into after the date  hereof,  which by their terms
prohibit  assignment  or a grant  of a  security  interest  by such  Grantor  as
licensee thereunder).  The Secured Parties shall have a security interest in all
authorizations  issued by the Federal  Communications  Commission ("FCC") or any
state or


                                       3


local  regulatory  agency to the maximum  extent  permitted  by law,  including,
without  limitation,  the  right to  receive  all  proceeds  derived  from or in
connection with the sale, assignment or transfer of such authorizations.

                  "Obligations"  shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

                  "Patent  License"  shall mean any  written  agreement,  now or
hereafter in effect,  granting to any third party any right to make, use or sell
any invention on which a Patent,  now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or which
any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, is in existence,  or granting to
any Grantor any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent,  now
or hereafter  owned by any third party,  is in existence,  and all rights of any
Grantor under any such agreement.

                  "Patents"  shall  mean  all  of the  following  now  owned  or
hereafter  acquired by any Grantor:  (a) all letters patent of the United States
or any  other  country,  all  registrations  and  recordings  thereof,  and  all
applications  for  letters  patent of the  United  States or any other  country,
including  registrations,  recordings  and  pending  applications  in the United
States Patent and Trademark  Office or any similar offices in any other country,
including  those  listed on Schedule  IV, and (b) all  reissues,  continuations,
divisions,  continuations-in-part,  renewals  or  extensions  thereof,  and  the
inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or
sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

                  "Perfection    Certificate"    shall   mean   a    certificate
substantially in the form of Annex 1 hereto, completed and supplemented with the
schedules and attachments contemplated thereby, and duly executed by a Financial
Officer and the chief legal officer of the Borrower.

                  "Proceeds"  shall  mean any  consideration  received  from the
sale,  exchange,  license,  lease or other  disposition of any asset or property
that  constitutes  Collateral,  any  value  received  as a  consequence  of  the
possession of any Collateral and any payment  received from any insurer or other
person or entity as a result of the destruction,  loss,  theft,  damage or other
involuntary  conversion  of  whatever  nature  of any  asset or  property  which
constitutes Collateral,  and shall include, (a) any claim of any Grantor against
any  third  party for (and the right to sue and  recover  for and the  rights to
damages or profits  due or accrued  arising  out of or in  connection  with) (i)
past, present or future infringement of any Patent now or hereafter owned by any
Grantor,  or  licensed  under a Patent  License,  (ii)  past,  present or future
infringement  or dilution of any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor
or licensed under a Trademark License or injury to the goodwill  associated with
or  symbolized by any  Trademark  now or hereafter  owned by any Grantor,  (iii)
past,  present or future breach of any License and (iv) past,  present or future
infringement  of any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or licensed
under a Copyright  License and (b) any and all other  amounts  from time to time
paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral.

                  "Secured  Parties"  shall  mean  (a)  the  Lenders,   (b)  the
Administrative Agent, (c) the Collateral Agent, (d) the Fronting Banks, (e) each
counterparty  to an Interest  Rate  Protection  Agreement  entered into with the
Borrower  if such  counterparty  was a  Lender  at the time  the  Interest  Rate
Protection   Agreement  was  entered  into,  (f)  the   beneficiaries   of  each
indemnification obligation undertaken by any Grantor under any Loan Document and
(g) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

                  "Security  Interest"  shall have the meaning  assigned to such
term in Section 2.01.


                                        4



                  "Trademark  License" shall mean any written agreement,  now or
hereafter in effect,  granting to any third party any right to use any Trademark
now or  hereafter  owned by any Grantor or which any Grantor  otherwise  has the
right to license,  or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Trademark now
or hereafter  owned by any third party,  and all rights of any Grantor under any
such agreement.

                  "Trademarks"  shall  mean all of the  following  now  owned or
hereafter  acquired by any Grantor:  (a) all  trademarks,  service marks,  trade
names,  corporate  names,  company names,  business names,  fictitious  business
names, trade styles,  trade dress, logos, other source or business  identifiers,
designs  and general  intangibles  of like  nature,  now  existing or  hereafter
adopted  or  acquired,   all  registrations  and  recordings  thereof,  and  all
registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including
registrations  and  registration  applications  in the United  States Patent and
Trademark  Office,  any State of the United States or any similar offices in any
other  country or any  political  subdivision  thereof,  and all  extensions  or
renewals  thereof,  including  those  listed  on  Schedule  V, (b) all  goodwill
associated therewith or symbolized thereby and (c) all other assets,  rights and
interests that uniquely reflect or embody such goodwill.

                  SECTION   1.03.   Rules  of   Interpretation.   The  rules  of
interpretation  specified  in  Section  1.02 of the  Credit  Agreement  shall be
applicable to this Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE II

                                Security Interest

                  SECTION 2.01.  Security Interest.  As security for the payment
or  performance,  as the case may be, in full of the  Obligations,  each Grantor
hereby  bargains,  sells,  conveys,  assigns,  sets  over,  mortgages,  pledges,
hypothecates and transfers to the Collateral  Agent, its successors and assigns,
for the  ratable  benefit  of the  Secured  Parties,  and  hereby  grants to the
Collateral  Agent,  its successors and assigns,  for the ratable  benefit of the
Secured Parties,  a security interest in, all of such Grantor's right, title and
interest  in,  to and  under  the  Collateral,  whether  now  owned  or any time
hereafter  acquired by such  Grantor or in which such  Grantor now has or at any
time in the future may  acquire  any right,  title or  interest  (the  "Security
Interest").  Without  limiting the  foregoing,  the  Collateral  Agent is hereby
authorized to file one or more financing statements (including fixture filings),
continuation  statements,  filings with the United  States  Patent and Trademark
Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar
office in any other  country) or other  documents for the purpose of perfecting,
confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by
each Grantor,  without the  signature of any Grantor,  and naming any Grantor or
the Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party.

                  SECTION  2.02.  No  Assumption  of  Liability.   The  Security
Interest is granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral  Agent
or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify,  any obligation or
liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Collateral.


                                       5


                                   ARTICLE III

                         Representations and Warranties

                  The Grantors  jointly and  severally  represent and warrant to
the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties that:

                  SECTION 3.01.  Title and Authority.  Each Grantor has good and
valid  rights  in and  title  to the  Collateral  with  respect  to which it has
purported  to  grant a  Security  Interest  hereunder  and has  full  power  and
authority  to  grant to the  Collateral  Agent  the  Security  Interest  in such
Collateral  pursuant hereto and to execute,  deliver and perform its obligations
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,  without the consent or approval
of any other person other than any consent or approval which has been obtained.

                  SECTION 3.02. Filings. (a) The Perfection Certificate has been
duly prepared,  completed and executed and the  information set forth therein is
correct  and  complete.   Fully  executed  Uniform   Commercial  Code  financing
statements  (including  fixture  filings,  as applicable)  or other  appropriate
filings,  recordings or registrations containing a description of the Collateral
have been  delivered to the  Collateral  Agent for filing in each  governmental,
municipal or other office specified in Schedule 6 to the Perfection Certificate,
which are all the  filings,  recordings  and  registrations  (other than filings
required to be made in the United  States  Patent and  Trademark  Office and the
United  States  Copyright  Office in order to perfect the  Security  Interest in
Collateral consisting of United States Patents,  Trademarks and Copyrights) that
are necessary to publish  notice of and protect the validity of and to establish
a legal,  valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent
(for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Collateral in
which  the  Security   Interest  may  be  perfected  by  filing,   recording  or
registration in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its
territories  and  possessions,  and no further or subsequent  filing,  refiling,
recording, rerecording,  registration or reregistration is necessary in any such
jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing
of continuation statements.

                  (b) Each Grantor shall ensure and represents and warrants that
fully  executed  security  agreements  in  the  form  hereof  and  containing  a
description of all  Collateral  consisting of  Intellectual  Property shall have
been  received  and recorded  within  three  months after the  execution of this
Agreement  with respect to United States  Patents and United  States  registered
Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States registration applications are
pending) and within one month after the execution of this Agreement with respect
to United States registered Copyrights for recording by the United States Patent
and  Trademark  Office and the United  States  Copyright  Office  pursuant to 35
U.S.C.  ss. 261, 15 U.S.C.  ss.  1060 or 17 U.S.C.  ss. 205 and the  regulations
thereunder, as applicable, and otherwise as may be required pursuant to the laws
of any other necessary jurisdiction, to protect the validity of and to establish
a legal,  valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent
(for the ratable  benefit of the Secured  Parties) in respect of all  Collateral
consisting of Patents,  Trademarks and  Copyrights in which a security  interest
may be perfected by filing,  recording or  registration in the United States (or
any political  subdivision  thereof) and its territories and possessions,  or in
any other necessary jurisdiction, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling,
recording, rerecording,  registration or reregistration is necessary (other than
such actions as are  necessary to perfect the Security  Interest with respect to
any Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (or registration
or application for  registration  thereof)  acquired or developed after the date
hereof).


                                       6


                  SECTION  3.03.  Validity of Security  Interest.  The  Security
Interest  constitutes  (a) a  legal  and  valid  security  interest  in all  the
Collateral securing the payment and performance of the Obligations,  (b) subject
to the filings described in Section 3.02 above, a perfected security interest in
all  Collateral  in  which a  security  interest  may be  perfected  by  filing,
recording or  registering  a financing  statement  or analogous  document in the
United States (or any political  subdivision  thereof) and its  territories  and
possessions  pursuant to the Uniform  Commercial Code or other applicable law in
such  jurisdictions  and (c) a security  interest that shall be perfected in all
Collateral  in which a security  interest may be perfected  upon the receipt and
recording of this Agreement  with the United States Patent and Trademark  Office
and the United States Copyright  Office,  as applicable,  within the three month
period  (commencing as of the date hereof)  pursuant to 35 U.S.C.  ss. 261 or 15
U.S.C.  ss.  1060 or the one month  period  (commencing  as of the date  hereof)
pursuant to 17 U.S.C.  ss. 205 and otherwise as may be required  pursuant to the
laws of any other necessary jurisdiction.  The Security Interest is and shall be
prior to any other Lien on any of the  Collateral,  other  than Liens  expressly
permitted to be prior to the Security  Interest  pursuant to Section 6.02 of the
Credit Agreement.

                  SECTION 3.04.  Absence of Other Liens. The Collateral is owned
by the Grantors free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens expressly permitted
pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit  Agreement.  The Grantor has not filed or
consented to the filing of (a) any  financing  statement  or analogous  document
under the Uniform  Commercial  Code or any other  applicable  laws  covering any
Collateral,  (b) any  assignment in which any Grantor  assigns any Collateral or
any security  agreement or similar  instrument  covering any Collateral with the
United States Patent and Trademark  Office or the United States Copyright Office
or (c) any  assignment  in which  any  Grantor  assigns  any  Collateral  or any
security  agreement  or similar  instrument  covering  any  Collateral  with any
foreign  governmental,  municipal or other office,  which financing statement or
analogous  document,  assignment,  security  agreement or similar  instrument is
still in effect, except, in each case, for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to
Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    Covenants

                  SECTION 4.01. Change of Name; Location of Collateral; Records;
Place of Business.  (a) Each Grantor  agrees  promptly to notify the  Collateral
Agent in writing of any  change (i) in its  corporate  name or in any trade name
used to identify it in the conduct of its  business or in the  ownership  of its
properties,  (ii) in the location of its chief executive  office,  its principal
place of business, any office in which it maintains books or records relating to
Collateral owned by it or any office or facility at which Collateral owned by it
is located  (including  the  establishment  of any such new office or facility),
(iii) in its  identity or corporate  structure  or (iv) in its Federal  Taxpayer
Identification  Number.  Each Grantor  agrees not to effect or permit any change
referred to in the  preceding  sentence  unless all filings have been made under
the Uniform  Commercial  Code or  otherwise  that are  required in order for the
Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid,
legal and perfected first priority  security  interest in all the Collateral for
which perfection or priority, as the case may be, may be established by any such
filings.  Each Grantor  agrees  promptly to notify the  Collateral  Agent if any
material  portion of the Collateral  owned or held by such Grantor is damaged or
destroyed.


                  (b)  Each  Grantor  agrees  to  maintain,  at its own cost and
expense, such complete and accurate records with respect to the Collateral owned
by it as is consistent with its current practices and


                                       7


in accordance  with such prudent and standard  practices used in industries that
are the same as or similar to those in which such Grantor is engaged, but in any
event to  include  complete  accounting  records  indicating  all  payments  and
proceeds received with respect to any part of the Collateral,  and, at such time
or times as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, promptly to prepare and
deliver to the Collateral  Agent a duly certified  schedule or schedules in form
and detail satisfactory to the Collateral Agent showing the identity, amount and
location of any and all Collateral.

                  SECTION 4.02. Periodic  Certification.  Each year, at the time
of delivery of annual financial  statements with respect to the preceding fiscal
year  pursuant  to Section  5.04 of the Credit  Agreement,  the  Borrower  shall
deliver to the Collateral  Agent a certificate  executed by a Financial  Officer
and the chief legal  officer of the Borrower (a) setting  forth the  information
required pursuant to Section 2 of the Perfection  Certificate or confirming that
there has been no change in such information  since the date of such certificate
or the date of the most recent  certificate  delivered  pursuant to Section 4.02
and (b)  certifying  that  all  Uniform  Commercial  Code  financing  statements
(including  fixture  filings,  as  applicable)  or  other  appropriate  filings,
recordings  or   registrations,   including  all  refilings,   rerecordings  and
reregistrations,  containing a description of the Collateral  have been filed of
record  in each  governmental,  municipal  or other  appropriate  office in each
jurisdiction  identified pursuant to clause (a) above to the extent necessary to
protect  and  perfect  the  Security  Interest  for a period of not less than 18
months after the date of such certificate  (except as noted therein with respect
to any continuation statements to be filed within such period). Each certificate
delivered pursuant to this Section 4.02 shall identify in the format of Schedule
II, III, IV or V, as  applicable,  all  Intellectual  Property of any Grantor in
existence  on the  date  thereof  and  not  then  listed  on such  Schedules  or
previously so identified to the Collateral Agent.

                  SECTION 4.03.  Protection of Security.  Each Grantor shall, at
its own cost and expense,  take any and all actions necessary to defend title to
the  Collateral  against all persons and to defend the Security  Interest of the
Collateral Agent in the Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not
expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

                  SECTION 4.04. Further Assurances.  Each Grantor agrees, at its
own  expense,  to execute,  acknowledge,  deliver and cause to be duly filed all
such  further  instruments  and  documents  and  take all  such  actions  as the
Collateral  Agent may from time to time  request  to  better  assure,  preserve,
protect and perfect the Security  Interest  and the rights and remedies  created
hereby,  including the payment of any fees and taxes required in connection with
the  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement,  the  granting of the Security
Interest and the filing of any financing statements  (including fixture filings)
or other  documents in connection  herewith or therewith.  If any amount payable
under or in connection with any of the Collateral  shall be or become  evidenced
by any promissory  note or other  instrument,  such note or instrument  shall be
immediately  pledged and delivered to the Collateral  Agent,  duly endorsed in a
manner satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

                  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor
hereby  authorizes  the  Collateral  Agent,  with prompt  notice  thereof to the
Grantors, to supplement this Agreement by supplementing  Schedule II, III, IV or
V hereto or adding  additional  schedules  hereto to  specifically  identify any
asset or item that may constitute Copyrights,  Licenses,  Patents or Trademarks;
provided,  however, that any Grantor shall have the right, exercisable within 10
days  after  it has  been  notified  by the  Collateral  Agent  of the  specific
identification of such Collateral,  to advise the Collateral Agent in writing of
any  inaccuracy  of the  representations  and  warranties  made by such  Grantor
hereunder with respect to such Collateral.  Each Grantor agrees that it will use
its best efforts to take such action as


                                       8


shall be necessary in order that all  representations  and warranties  hereunder
shall be true and correct with respect to such  Collateral  within 30 days after
the  date  it  has  been  notified  by the  Collateral  Agent  of  the  specific
identification of such Collateral.

                  Each Grantor further agrees that if any  authorization of such
Grantor  excluded  from the  Collateral  pursuant  to the final  sentence of the
definition  of  "License"  could be  included  therein  with the  receipt of any
approval of, or the taking of any action by, any  Governmental  Authority,  such
Grantor  shall  use its best  efforts  to  obtain  such  approval  or  action as
expeditiously as possible.

                  SECTION 4.05.  Inspection  and  Verification.  The  Collateral
Agent and such persons as the Collateral  Agent may reasonably  designate  shall
have  the  right,  at the  Grantors'  own  cost  and  expense,  to  inspect  the
Collateral,  all records  related  thereto (and to make extracts and copies from
such records) and the premises upon which any of the  Collateral is located,  to
discuss  the  Grantors'  affairs  with the  officers of the  Grantors  and their
independent  accountants and to verify under reasonable procedures the validity,
amount, quality,  quantity,  value, condition and status of, or any other matter
relating to, the Collateral, including, in the case of Accounts or Collateral in
the possession of any third person,  by contacting  Account Debtors or the third
person possessing such Collateral for the purpose of making such a verification.
The Collateral  Agent shall have the absolute right to share any  information it
gains from such  inspection  or  verification  with any Secured  Party (it being
understood that any such information shall be deemed to be "Information" subject
to the provisions of Section 9.16 of the Credit Agreement).

                  SECTION  4.06.  Taxes;   Encumbrances.   At  its  option,  the
Collateral  Agent may  discharge  past due taxes,  assessments,  charges,  fees,
Liens,  security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on
the  Collateral  and not  permitted  pursuant  to  Section  6.02  of the  Credit
Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of the Collateral to
the extent any Grantor  fails to do so as required  by the Credit  Agreement  or
this Agreement,  and each Grantor jointly and severally  agrees to reimburse the
Collateral  Agent on demand for any payment made or any expense  incurred by the
Collateral  Agent pursuant to the foregoing  authorization;  provided,  however,
that nothing in this Section 4.06 shall be  interpreted  as excusing any Grantor
from the performance  of, or imposing any obligation on the Collateral  Agent or
any Secured  Party to cure or perform,  any  covenants or other  promises of any
Grantor with  respect to taxes,  assessments,  charges,  fees,  liens,  security
interests or other  encumbrances  and  maintenance as set forth herein or in the
other Loan Documents.

                  SECTION 4.07.  Assignment of Security Interest. If at any time
any Grantor shall take a security  interest in any property of an Account Debtor
or any other  person to secure  payment  and  performance  of an  Account,  such
Grantor shall promptly  assign such security  interest to the Collateral  Agent.
Such assignment need not be filed of public record unless  necessary to continue
the  perfected  status  of  the  security  interest  against  creditors  of  and
transferees  from the  Account  Debtor or other  person  granting  the  security
interest.

                  SECTION 4.08.  Continuing  Obligations  of the Grantors.  Each
Grantor  shall  remain  liable to observe  and perform  all the  conditions  and
obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or
instrument  relating to the  Collateral,  all in  accordance  with the terms and
conditions  thereof,  and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Collateral  Agent and the Secured Parties from and against
any and all liability for such performance.

                  SECTION 4.09. Use and  Disposition of Collateral.  None of the
Grantors shall make


                                       9


or permit to be made an assignment, pledge or hypothecation of the Collateral or
shall  grant any other Lien in respect of the  Collateral,  except as  expressly
permitted by Section 6.02 of the Credit  Agreement.  None of the Grantors  shall
make or permit to be made any transfer of the  Collateral and each Grantor shall
remain at all times in possession of the Collateral owned by it, except that (a)
Inventory  may be sold in the  ordinary  course of  business  and (b) unless and
until the  Collateral  Agent shall notify the Grantors  that an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing  and that during the  continuance  thereof
the  Grantors  shall not sell,  convey,  lease,  assign,  transfer or  otherwise
dispose of any  Collateral  (which  notice may be given by telephone if promptly
confirmed in writing), the Grantors may use and dispose of the Collateral in any
lawful manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan  Document.  Without  limiting the  generality of the
foregoing,  each Grantor  agrees that it shall not permit any Inventory to be in
the possession or control of any warehouseman, bailee, agent or processor at any
time  unless  such  warehouseman,  bailee,  agent or  processor  shall have been
notified of the  Security  Interest and shall have agreed in writing to hold the
Inventory  subject  to  the  Security  Interest  and  the  instructions  of  the
Collateral  Agent and to waive and release  any Lien held by it with  respect to
such Inventory, whether arising by operation of law or otherwise.

                  SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Modification of Accounts.  None of
the Grantors will, without the Collateral  Agent's prior written consent,  grant
any  extension  of the  time  of  payment  of any  of the  Accounts  Receivable,
compromise,  compound or settle the same for less than the full amount  thereof,
release,  wholly or partly,  any person liable for the payment  thereof or allow
any credit or  discount  whatsoever  thereon,  other than  extensions,  credits,
discounts,  compromises or settlements granted or made in the ordinary course of
business and consistent  with its current  practices and in accordance with such
prudent  and  standard  practices  used in  industries  that  are the same as or
similar to those in which such Grantor is engaged.

                  SECTION 4.11.  Insurance.  The Grantors, at their own expense,
shall  maintain or cause to be maintained  insurance  covering  physical loss or
damage to the Inventory  and  Equipment in  accordance  with Section 5.02 of the
Credit Agreement.  Each Grantor irrevocably makes,  constitutes and appoints the
Collateral  Agent  (and all  officers,  employees  or agents  designated  by the
Collateral Agent) as such Grantor's true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact)
for the  purpose,  during the  continuance  of an Event of  Default,  of making,
settling  and  adjusting  claims in  respect of  Collateral  under  policies  of
insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or
other item of payment for the  proceeds of such  policies of  insurance  and for
making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto.  In the event that
any  Grantor at any time or times  shall fail to obtain or  maintain  any of the
policies  of  insurance  required  hereby or to pay any premium in whole or part
relating  thereto,  the Collateral  Agent may,  without waiving or releasing any
obligation  or liability of the Grantors  hereunder or any Event of Default,  in
its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such
premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Collateral  Agent
deems  advisable.  All sums disbursed by the Collateral Agent in connection with
this Section 4.11, including reasonable  attorneys' fees, court costs,  expenses
and other  charges  relating  thereto,  shall be payable,  upon  demand,  by the
Grantors to the  Collateral  Agent and shall be additional  Obligations  secured
hereby.

                  SECTION 4.12.  Legend.  Each Grantor shall legend, in form and
manner  satisfactory to the Collateral  Agent,  its Accounts  Receivable and its
books,   records  and  documents   evidencing  or  pertaining  thereto  with  an
appropriate  reference  to the fact  that  such  Accounts  Receivable  have been
assigned to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that
the Collateral Agent has a security interest therein.


                                       10


                  SECTION  4.13.  Covenants  Regarding  Patent,   Trademark  and
Copyright  Collateral.  (a) Each  Grantor  agrees that it will not,  nor will it
permit any of its licensees  to, do any act, or omit to do any act,  whereby any
Patent  which is material to the conduct of such  Grantor's  business may become
invalidated  or  dedicated to the public,  and agrees that it shall  continue to
mark any  products  covered  by a Patent  with the  relevant  patent  number  as
necessary  and  sufficient  to establish  and preserve its maximum  rights under
applicable patent laws.

                  (b) Each Grantor  (either  itself or through its  licensees or
its  sublicensees)  will,  for each  Trademark  material  to the conduct of such
Grantor's  business,  (i)  maintain  such  Trademark in full force free from any
claim of  abandonment  or invalidity  for non-use,  (ii) maintain the quality of
products and services offered under such Trademark, (iii) display such Trademark
with  notice of Federal  or foreign  registration  to the extent  necessary  and
sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable law and
(iv)  not  knowingly  use or  knowingly  permit  the  use of such  Trademark  in
violation of any third party rights.

                  (c) Each Grantor  (either itself or through  licensees)  will,
for each work covered by a material Copyright,  continue to publish,  reproduce,
display,  adopt and distribute  the work with  appropriate  copyright  notice as
necessary  and  sufficient  to establish  and preserve its maximum  rights under
applicable copyright laws.

                  (d) Each Grantor shall notify the Collateral Agent immediately
if it knows or has  reason  to know  that any  Patent,  Trademark  or  Copyright
material to the conduct of its business may become abandoned,  lost or dedicated
to the public,  or of any adverse  determination  or development  (including the
institution of, or any such  determination  or development in, any proceeding in
the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or
any court or similar office of any country)  regarding such Grantor's  ownership
of any Patent,  Trademark or  Copyright,  its right to register the same,  or to
keep and maintain the same.

                  (e) In no event shall any  Grantor,  either  itself or through
any agent, employee,  licensee or designee,  file an application for any Patent,
Trademark or Copyright (or for the  registration  of any Trademark or Copyright)
with the United  States  Patent and Trademark  Office,  United States  Copyright
Office or any office or agency in any political subdivision of the United States
or in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, unless it promptly
informs  the  Collateral  Agent,  and,  upon  request of the  Collateral  Agent,
executes and delivers any and all agreements,  instruments, documents and papers
as the Collateral Agent may request to evidence the Collateral  Agent's security
interest  in such  Patent,  Trademark  or  Copyright,  and each  Grantor  hereby
appoints the Collateral Agent as its  attorney-in-fact  to execute and file such
writings for the  foregoing  purposes,  all acts of such  attorney  being hereby
ratified  and  confirmed;  such  power,  being  coupled  with  an  interest,  is
irrevocable.

                  (f) Each  Grantor  will  take  all  necessary  steps  that are
consistent  with the practice in any proceeding  before the United States Patent
and Trademark Office,  United States Copyright Office or any office or agency in
any  political  subdivision  of the United States or in any other country or any
political  subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each material application
relating  to the  Patents,  Trademarks  and/or  Copyrights  (and to  obtain  the
relevant  grant or  registration)  and to maintain  each issued  Patent and each
registration of the Trademarks and Copyrights that is material to the conduct of
any Grantor's  business,  including  timely filings of applications for renewal,
affidavits of use,  affidavits of  incontestability  and payment of  maintenance
fees, and, if consistent with good business  judgment,  to initiate  opposition,
interference and cancellation proceedings against third parties.


                                       11


                  (g) In the event that any Grantor  has reason to believe  that
any Collateral  consisting of a Patent,  Trademark or Copyright  material to the
conduct  of any  Grantor's  business  has  been  or is  about  to be  infringed,
misappropriated  or diluted by a third party, such Grantor promptly shall notify
the  Collateral  Agent and shall,  if consistent  with good  business  judgment,
promptly sue for infringement,  misappropriation  or dilution and to recover any
and all damages for such infringement,  misappropriation  or dilution,  and take
such other actions as are appropriate  under the  circumstances  to protect such
Collateral.

                  (h) Upon and during the  continuance  of an Event of  Default,
each  Grantor  shall use its best  efforts to obtain all  requisite  consents or
approvals by the licensor of each Copyright License, Patent License or Trademark
License to effect  the  assignment  of all of such  Grantor's  right,  title and
interest thereunder to the Collateral Agent or its designee.


                                    ARTICLE V

                                Power of Attorney



                  Each Grantor  irrevocably makes,  constitutes and appoints the
Collateral  Agent  (and all  officers,  employees  or agents  designated  by the
Collateral Agent) as such Grantor's true and lawful agent and  attorney-in-fact,
and in such capacity the  Collateral  Agent shall have the right,  with power of
substitution  for each Grantor and in each Grantor's name or otherwise,  for the
use and  benefit  of the  Collateral  Agent and the  Secured  Parties,  upon the
occurrence  and during the  continuance  of an Event of Default  (a) to receive,
endorse, assign and/or deliver any and all notes,  acceptances,  checks, drafts,
money orders or other  evidences of payment  relating to the  Collateral  or any
part thereof; (b) to demand,  collect,  receive payment of, give receipt for and
give  discharges and releases of all or any of the  Collateral;  (c) to sign the
name of any  Grantor  on any  invoice or bill of lading  relating  to any of the
Collateral;  (d) to send  verifications  of Accounts  Receivable  to any Account
Debtor; (e) to commence and prosecute any and all suits,  actions or proceedings
at law or in  equity  in any  court of  competent  jurisdiction  to  collect  or
otherwise  realize on all or any of the  Collateral  or to enforce any rights in
respect of any Collateral; (f) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend
any actions, suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral;  (g)
to notify, or to require any Grantor to notify,  Account Debtors to make payment
directly to the Collateral Agent; and (h) subject to the mandatory  requirements
of applicable law, to use, sell, assign,  transfer,  pledge,  make any agreement
with respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the  Collateral,  and to do
all other acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement,
as fully and completely as though the  Collateral  Agent were the absolute owner
of the  Collateral  for all  purposes,  including  assigning any contract to any
Subsidiary or any other person at any time during the  continuance  of any Event
of Default; provided,  however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed
as requiring or obligating the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to make any
commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment
received by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party, or to present or file any
claim or notice,  or to take any action with  respect to the  Collateral  or any
part  thereof  or the  moneys  due or to become  due in  respect  thereof or any
property  covered  thereby,  and no action  taken or  omitted to be taken by the
Collateral Agent or any Secured Party with respect to the Collateral or any part
thereof shall give rise to any defense,  counterclaim  or offset in favor of any
Grantor or to any claim or action  against the  Collateral  Agent or any Secured
Party. It is understood and agreed that the appointment of


                                       12


the Collateral Agent as the agent and  attorney-in-fact  of the Grantors for the
purposes  set forth above is coupled with an interest  and is  irrevocable.  The
provisions of this Article V shall in no event relieve any Grantor of any of its
obligations  hereunder  or under any other  Loan  Document  with  respect to the
Collateral or any part thereof or impose any obligation on the Collateral  Agent
or any Secured  Party to proceed in any  particular  manner with  respect to the
Collateral  or any  part  thereof,  or in any  way  limit  the  exercise  by the
Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any other or further right which it may
have on the date of this Agreement or hereafter,  whether  hereunder,  under any
other Loan Document, by law or otherwise.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    Remedies

                  SECTION 6.01.  Remedies upon Default.  Upon the occurrence and
during the  continuance  of an Event of Default,  each Grantor agrees to deliver
each item of Collateral to the Collateral Agent on demand, and it is agreed that
the  Collateral  Agent shall have the right to take any of or all the  following
actions at the same or  different  times:  (a) with  respect  to any  Collateral
consisting of Intellectual  Property,  on demand, to cause the Security Interest
to  become  an  assignment,  transfer  and  conveyance  of any  of or  all  such
Collateral by the applicable  Grantors to the Collateral Agent, or to license or
sublicense,  whether general,  special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive
or  non-exclusive  basis,  any such  Collateral  throughout the universe on such
terms and conditions and in such manner as the Collateral  Agent shall determine
(other than in  violation of any  then-existing  licensing  arrangements  to the
extent that waivers  cannot be obtained),  and (b) with or without legal process
and with or without prior notice or demand for  performance,  to take possession
of the Collateral and without liability for trespass to enter any premises where
the  Collateral  may be  located  for the  purpose  of taking  possession  of or
removing the Collateral and, generally,  to exercise any and all rights afforded
to a secured party under the Uniform  Commercial  Code or other  applicable law.
Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  each Grantor agrees that the
Collateral Agent shall have the right, subject to the mandatory  requirements of
applicable  law,  to  sell  or  otherwise  dispose  of all or  any  part  of the
Collateral,  at  public  or  private  sale or at any  broker's  board  or on any
securities  exchange,  for cash,  upon  credit  or for  future  delivery  as the
Collateral  Agent  shall  deem  appropriate.   The  Collateral  Agent  shall  be
authorized  at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the
prospective  bidders or purchasers to persons who will  represent and agree that
they are  purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not
with a view to the  distribution or sale thereof,  and upon  consummation of any
such sale the  Collateral  Agent  shall have the right to assign,  transfer  and
deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such
purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property  sold  absolutely,  free from
any claim or right on the part of any Grantor,  and each Grantor  hereby  waives
(to the extent  permitted by law) all rights of  redemption,  stay and appraisal
which such  Grantor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule
of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.

                  The Collateral  Agent shall give the Grantors 10 days' written
notice  (which each Grantor  agrees is  reasonable  notice within the meaning of
Section 9-504(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New
York  or its  equivalent  in  other  jurisdictions)  of the  Collateral  Agent's
intention to make any sale of Collateral.  Such notice,  in the case of a public
sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at
a broker's board or on a securities exchange,  shall state the board or exchange
at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral,


                                       13


or portion  thereof,  will first be offered for sale at such board or  exchange.
Any such  public  sale  shall  be held at such  time or  times  within  ordinary
business hours and at such place or places as the  Collateral  Agent may fix and
state in the notice (if any) of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral,  or
portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate
parcels,  as the  Collateral  Agent  may (in its sole and  absolute  discretion)
determine.  The Collateral  Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any
Collateral  if it shall  determine  not to do so,  regardless  of the fact  that
notice of sale of such Collateral  shall have been given.  The Collateral  Agent
may, without notice or publication,  adjourn any public or private sale or cause
the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place
fixed for sale, and such sale may,  without further notice,  be made at the time
and  place to which  the same was so  adjourned.  In case any sale of all or any
part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery,  the Collateral
so sold may be retained by the Collateral  Agent until the sale price is paid by
the purchaser or purchasers  thereof,  but the Collateral  Agent shall not incur
any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and
pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral
may be sold again upon like notice.  At any public (or, to the extent  permitted
by law,  private) sale made pursuant to this Section,  any Secured Party may bid
for or  purchase,  free (to the  extent  permitted  by law)  from  any  right of
redemption,  stay,  valuation  or appraisal on the part of any Grantor (all said
rights being also hereby  waived and  released to the extent  permitted by law),
the  Collateral  or any part  thereof  offered for sale and may make  payment on
account  thereof by using any claim then due and payable to such  Secured  Party
from any Grantor as a credit against the purchase price,  and such Secured Party
may, upon  compliance with the terms of sale,  hold,  retain and dispose of such
property without further  accountability to any Grantor  therefor.  For purposes
hereof,  a written  agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion  thereof
shall be treated as a sale thereof;  the Collateral Agent shall be free to carry
out such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Grantor shall be entitled to the
return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding
the fact  that  after the  Collateral  Agent  shall  have  entered  into such an
agreement  all Events of Default  shall have been  remedied and the  Obligations
paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred
upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity
to foreclose this  Agreement and to sell the  Collateral or any portion  thereof
pursuant  to a  judgment  or  decree  of a  court  or  courts  having  competent
jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver.

                  SECTION 6.02.  Application of Proceeds.  The Collateral  Agent
shall apply the proceeds of any collection or sale of the Collateral, as well as
any Collateral consisting of cash, as follows:

                  FIRST,  to the payment of all costs and  expenses  incurred by
         the  Administrative  Agent or the Collateral  Agent (in its capacity as
         such  hereunder or under any other Loan  Document) in  connection  with
         such  collection or sale or otherwise in connection with this Agreement
         or any of the  Obligations,  including all court costs and the fees and
         expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances
         made by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document
         on behalf of any Grantor  and any other  costs or expenses  incurred in
         connection with the exercise of any right or remedy  hereunder or under
         any other Loan Document;

                  SECOND, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts
         so applied to be  distributed  among the  Secured  Parties  pro rata in
         accordance with the amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date
         of any such distribution); and

                  THIRD, to the Grantors, their successors or assigns, or as a 
         court of competent


                                       14


         jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

The  Collateral  Agent  shall  have  absolute  discretion  as  to  the  time  of
application  of any such  proceeds,  moneys or balances in accordance  with this
Agreement.  Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Collateral  Agent  (including
pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial  proceeding),
the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a
sufficient  discharge to the purchaser or  purchasers of the  Collateral so sold
and  such  purchaser  or  purchasers  shall  not  be  obligated  to  see  to the
application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral  Agent
or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

                  SECTION 6.03. Grant of License to Use  Intellectual  Property.
For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies
under  this  Article  at such time as the  Collateral  Agent  shall be  lawfully
entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the
Collateral  Agent an irrevocable,  non-exclusive  license  (exercisable  without
payment of royalty or other  compensation  to the  Grantors) to use,  license or
sub-license any of the Collateral  consisting of Intellectual Property now owned
or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and
including  in such  license  reasonable  access to all media in which any of the
licensed  items may be  recorded  or stored  and to all  computer  software  and
programs used for the compilation or printout  thereof.  The use of such license
by the  Collateral  Agent shall be  exercised,  at the option of the  Collateral
Agent,  upon the occurrence and during the  continuation of an Event of Default;
provided that any license,  sub-license or other transaction entered into by the
Collateral  Agent in  accordance  herewith  shall be binding  upon the  Grantors
notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                                  Miscellaneous

                  SECTION  7.01.   Notices.   All   communications  and  notices
hereunder shall (except as otherwise  expressly  permitted herein) be in writing
and  given  as  provided  in  Section   9.01  of  the  Credit   Agreement.   All
communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary  Guarantor shall be given
to it at its address or telecopy  number set forth on Schedule I, with a copy to
the Borrower.

                  SECTION 7.02.  Security Interest  Absolute.  All rights of the
Collateral  Agent  hereunder,  the Security  Interest and all obligations of the
Grantors  hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional  irrespective of (a) any
lack of  validity  or  enforceability  of the Credit  Agreement,  any other Loan
Document,  any  agreement  with respect to any of the  Obligations  or any other
agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing,  (b) any change in the
time,  manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the
Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure
from the Credit  Agreement,  any other Loan  Document or any other  agreement or
instrument,  (c) any exchange,  release or  non-perfection  of any Lien on other
collateral,  or any  release  or  amendment  or  waiver of or  consent  under or
departure  from  any  guarantee,  securing  or  guaranteeing  all  or any of the
Obligations,  or (d) any other  circumstance  that might otherwise  constitute a
defense  available  to,  or a  discharge  of,  any  Grantor  in  respect  of the
Obligations or this Agreement.

                  SECTION   7.03.   Survival  of   Agreement.   All   covenants,
agreements, representations and warranties made by any Grantor herein and in the
certificates or other instruments prepared or


                                       15


delivered in connection  with or pursuant to this Agreement  shall be considered
to have been relied upon by the Secured  Parties and shall survive the making by
the Lenders of the Loans,  and the  execution and delivery to the Lenders of any
notes evidencing such Loans, regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders
or on their  behalf,  and shall  continue  in full force and  effect  until this
Agreement shall terminate.

                  SECTION  7.04.  Binding  Effect;   Several   Agreement.   This
Agreement  shall become  effective as to any Grantor when a  counterpart  hereof
executed on behalf of such Grantor shall have been  delivered to the  Collateral
Agent  and a  counterpart  hereof  shall  have  been  executed  on behalf of the
Collateral  Agent,  and  thereafter  shall be binding  upon such Grantor and the
Collateral Agent and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to
the benefit of such Grantor,  the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties
and their respective  successors and assigns,  except that no Grantor shall have
the right to assign or  transfer  its  rights or  obligations  hereunder  or any
interest  herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall
be void)  except as  expressly  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or the  Credit
Agreement.  This  Agreement  shall be  construed  as a separate  agreement  with
respect to each Grantor and may be amended,  modified,  supplemented,  waived or
released  with respect to any Grantor  without the approval of any other Grantor
and without affecting the obligations of any other Grantor hereunder.

                  SECTION  7.05.  Successors  and  Assigns.   Whenever  in  this
Agreement  any of the parties  hereto is referred  to, such  reference  shall be
deemed to include the successors  and assigns of such party;  and all covenants,
promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Grantor or the  Collateral  Agent
that are  contained  in this  Agreement  shall bind and inure to the  benefit of
their respective successors and assigns.

                  SECTION   7.06.   Collateral   Agent's   Fees  and   Expenses;
Indemnification.  (a) Each  Grantor  jointly  and  severally  agrees to pay upon
demand to the Collateral  Agent the amount of any and all  reasonable  expenses,
including the reasonable  fees,  disbursements  and other charges of its counsel
and of any experts or agents, which the Collateral Agent may incur in connection
with (i) the administration of this Agreement,  (ii) the custody or preservation
of,  or the  sale  of,  collection  from or  other  realization  upon any of the
Collateral,  (iii) the exercise,  enforcement or protection of any of the rights
of the Collateral  Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure of any Grantor to perform
or observe any of the provisions hereof.

                  (b)  Without  limitation  of its  indemnification  obligations
under the other Loan  Documents,  each Grantor  jointly and severally  agrees to
indemnify the Collateral Agent and the other Indemnitees  against, and hold each
of them harmless  from, any and all losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  and
related expenses,  including reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of
counsel,  incurred by or asserted against any of them arising out of, in any way
connected  with, or as a result of, the  execution,  delivery or  performance of
this Agreement or any claim,  litigation,  investigation or proceeding  relating
hereto or to the  Collateral,  whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto;
provided that such indemnity  shall not, as to any  Indemnitee,  be available to
the extent that such losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities or related expenses
are determined by a court of competent  jurisdiction by final and  nonappealable
judgment to have  resulted from the gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct of
such Indemnitee.

                  (c) Any such amounts  payable as provided  hereunder  shall be
additional  Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents.  The
provisions of this Section 7.06 shall remain


                                       16


operative  and in full force and effect  regardless of the  termination  of this
Agreement  or any other Loan  Document,  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  the  repayment  of any of the Loans,  the  invalidity  or
unenforceability  of any term or provision  of this  Agreement or any other Loan
Document,  or any investigation  made by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent or
any Lender.  All amounts due under this Section 7.06 shall be payable on written
demand therefor.

                  SECTION 7.07.  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 7.08. Waivers;  Amendment.  (a) No failure or delay of
the Collateral Agent in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as
a waiver thereof,  nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or
power, or any abandonment or  discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or
power,  preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the exercise of any
other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder
and of the Collateral  Agent, the Fronting Banks, the  Administrative  Agent and
the Lenders under the other Loan  Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive
of any rights or  remedies  that they  would  otherwise  have.  No waiver of any
provisions  of this  Agreement  or any other  Loan  Document  or  consent to any
departure by any Grantor  therefrom  shall in any event be effective  unless the
same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) below,  and then such waiver or consent
shall be effective  only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which
given.  No notice to or demand on any  Grantor  in any case shall  entitle  such
Grantor or any other Grantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar
or other circumstances.

                  (b) Neither this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be
waived,  amended or modified  except  pursuant to an agreement or  agreements in
writing  entered into by the  Collateral  Agent and the Grantor or Grantors with
respect to which such waiver,  amendment or modification is to apply, subject to
any consent required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.

                  SECTION 7.09.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY  ARISING
OUT OF,  UNDER OR IN  CONNECTION  WITH THIS  AGREEMENT  OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS.  EACH PARTY HERETO (A)  CERTIFIES  THAT NO  REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR
ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,  THAT SUCH
OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING
WAIVER  AND (B)  ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO  HAVE BEEN
INDUCED  TO  ENTER  INTO  THIS  AGREEMENT  AND  THE  OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS,  AS
APPLICABLE,  BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,  THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND  CERTIFICATIONS  IN
THIS SECTION 7.09.

                  SECTION  7.10.  Severability.  In the event any one or more of
the provisions  contained in this Agreement  should be held invalid,  illegal or
unenforceable in any respect,  the validity,  legality and enforceability of the
remaining  provisions  contained  herein  shall  not in any way be  affected  or
impaired  thereby  (it being  understood  that the  invalidity  of a  particular
provision in a  particular  jurisdiction  shall not in and of itself  affect the
validity  of such  provision  in any  other  jurisdiction).  The  parties  shall
endeavor  in  good-faith  negotiations  to  replace  the  invalid,   illegal  or
unenforceable  provisions  with valid  provisions  the economic  effect of which
comes as close as  possible  to that of the  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable
provisions.


                                       17


                  SECTION 7.11  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts,  each of which shall constitute an original but all of
which when taken together shall constitute but one contract  (subject to Section
7.04),  and shall become  effective as provided in Section 7.04.  Delivery of an
executed  signature  page to this Agreement by facsimile  transmission  shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

                  SECTION  7.12.  Headings.  Article and Section  headings  used
herein are for the purpose of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and
are not to affect  the  construction  of, or to be taken into  consideration  in
interpreting, this Agreement.

                  SECTION 7.13. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a)
Each Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally  submits, for itself and its
property,  to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction  of any New  York  State  court or
Federal court of the United States of America  sitting in New York City, and any
appellate court from any thereof,  in any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the other Loan  Documents,  or for  recognition or
enforcement of any judgment,  and each of the parties hereto hereby  irrevocably
and  unconditionally  agrees  that all claims in  respect of any such  action or
proceeding  may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that
a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be
enforced in other  jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided  by law.  Nothing  in this  Agreement  shall  affect any right that the
Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks or any Lender may
otherwise  have to bring any action or proceeding  relating to this Agreement or
the other Loan Documents  against any Grantor or its properties in the courts of
any jurisdiction.

                  (b)  Each  Grantor  hereby  irrevocably  and   unconditionally
waives,  to the  fullest  extent  it may  legally  and  effectively  do so,  any
objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit,
action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement or the other
Loan  Documents  in any New York State or  Federal  court.  Each of the  parties
hereto hereby  irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such court.

                  (c)  Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to
service of process in the manner  provided for notices in Section 7.01.  Nothing
in this  Agreement  will  affected  the right of any party to this  Agreement to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

                  SECTION  7.14.  Termination.  This  Agreement and the Security
Interest shall terminate when all the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full, the Lenders have no further  commitment to lend, the L/C Exposure has been
reduced  to zero and the  Fronting  Banks have no  further  commitment  to issue
Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement, at which time the Collateral Agent
shall execute and deliver to the Grantors, at the Grantors' expense, all Uniform
Commercial Code termination  statements and similar documents which the Grantors
shall  reasonably  request to  evidence  such  termination.  Any  execution  and
delivery of  termination  statements or documents  pursuant to this Section 7.14
shall be without  recourse to or warranty by the Collateral  Agent. A Subsidiary
Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the
Security  Interest  in the  Collateral  of such  Subsidiary  Guarantor  shall be
automatically  released  in the  event  that  all  the  capital  stock  of  such
Subsidiary  Guarantor shall be sold,  transferred or otherwise  disposed of to a
person that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower in accordance  with the terms of
the Credit Agreement; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to
such sale, transfer or other disposition (to the extent required


                                       18


by the  Credit  Agreement)  and the  terms  of  such  consent  did  not  provide
otherwise.

                  SECTION 7.15. Additional Grantors. Upon execution and delivery
by the Collateral Agent and a Subsidiary of an instrument in the form of Annex 2
hereto, such Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and
effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of
any such instrument shall not require the consent of any Grantor hereunder.  The
rights and obligations of each Grantor  hereunder shall remain in full force and
effect  notwithstanding  the  addition  of any new  Grantor  as a party  to this
Agreement.


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




                                            SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.,
                                            
                                               by
                                                  --------------------------
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:
                                            
                                            
                                            SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD
                                            COMMUNICATIONS CORP.,
                                            
                                               by
                                                 --------------------------
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title: Authorized Officer
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                            EACH OF THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
                                            LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO,
                                            
                                               by
                                                 --------------------------
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:  Authorized Officer


                                       19



                                            CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,
                                            
                                               by
                                                 --------------------------
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:
                                            
                                            
                                               by
                                                 --------------------------
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:
                                            
                                            
                                            
                                       20


                                                                      SCHEDULE I


                              SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS







                                                                     SCHEDULE II


                                   COPYRIGHTS






                                       22



                                                                    SCHEDULE III


                                    LICENSES





                                       23



                                                                     SCHEDULE IV


                                     PATENTS





                                       24




                                                                      SCHEDULE V


                                   TRADEMARKS





                                       25


                                                                  Annex 1 to the
                                                              Security Agreement


                                    [Form Of]
                             PERFECTION CERTIFICATE


                  Reference  is made to (a) the  Credit  Agreement  dated  as of
March 12, 1996 (as  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI, the lenders from time
to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as  administrative  agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule  2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank,  as  documentation  agent  (individually  and  collectively in such
capacity,  the "Documentation  Agent"), (b) the Parent Guarantee Agreement dated
as of March 12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time
to time,  the "Parent  Guarantee  Agreement"),  between STFI and the  Collateral
Agent and (c) the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement dated as of March 12, 1996 (as
amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to time, the "Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement"), among the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Collateral Agent.

                  The  undersigned,  a Financial  Officer  and a Legal  Officer,
respectively,  of STFI,  hereby certify to the  Collateral  Agent and each other
Secured Party as follows:

                  1. Names.  (a) The exact  corporate  name of each Grantor,  as
such name appears in its respective certificate of incorporation, is as follows:

                  (b) Set forth below is each other  corporate name each Grantor
has had in the past five years, together with the date of the relevant change:

                  (c) Except as set forth in  Schedule 1 hereto,  no Grantor has
changed its  identity  or  corporate  structure  in any way within the past five
years.  Changes in  identity  or  corporate  structure  would  include  mergers,
consolidations  and  acquisitions,  as well as any change in the form, nature or
jurisdiction of corporate organization. If any such change has occurred, include
in Schedule 1 the information  required by Sections 1 and 2 of this  certificate
as to each acquiree or constituent party to a merger or consolidation.

                  (d) The  following  is a list of all  other  names  (including
trade  names  or  similar  appellations)  used  by  each  Grantor  or any of its
divisions or other business units in connection with the conduct of its business
or the ownership of its properties at any time during the past five years:

                  (e) Set forth  below is the  Federal  Taxpayer  Identification
Number of each Grantor:

         2.  Current Locations. (a) The chief executive office of each Grantor 
is located at the address set forth opposite its name below:

Grantor           Mailing Address           County            State







        (b) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are all locations
where such  Grantor  maintains  any books or records  relating  to any  Accounts
Receivable  (with each  location at which chattel  paper,  if any, is kept being
indicated by an "*"):

Grantor           Mailing Address           County            State



         (c) Set  forth  below  opposite  the name of each  Grantor  are all the
places of business of such Grantor not identified in paragraph (a) or (b) above:

Grantor           Mailing Address           County            State



         (d) Set  forth  below  opposite  the name of each  Grantor  are all the
locations where such Grantor maintains any Collateral not identified above:

Grantor           Mailing Address           County            State



         (e) Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are the names and
addresses of all persons other than such Grantor that have  possession of any of
the Collateral of such Grantor:

Grantor           Mailing Address           County            State



         3. Unusual  Transactions.  All Accounts Receivable have been originated
by the  Grantors  and all  Inventory  has been  acquired by the  Grantors in the
ordinary course of business.

         4. File  Search  Reports.  Attached  hereto as  Schedule  4(A) are true
copies of file search  reports from the Uniform  Commercial  Code filing offices
where filings  described in Section 3.19 of the Credit Agreement are to be made.
Attached  hereto as Schedule 4(B) is a true copy of each financing  statement or
other filing identified in such file search reports.

         5. UCC  Filings.  Duly  signed  financing  statements  on Form UCC-1 in
substantially the form of Schedule 5 hereto have been prepared for filing in the
Uniform  Commercial Code filing office in each jurisdiction  where a Grantor has
Collateral as identified in Section 2 hereof.

         6.  Schedule  of Filings.  Attached  hereto as Schedule 6 is a schedule
setting forth,  with respect to the filings  described in Section 5 above,  each
filing and the filing office in which such filing is to be made.

         7. Filing Fees.  All filing fees and taxes payable in  connection  with
the filings described in Section 5 above have been paid.


                                       3


         8. Stock Ownership. Attached hereto as Schedule 8 is a true and correct
list of all the duly authorized, issued and outstanding stock of each Subsidiary
and the record and beneficial owners of such stock. Also set forth on Schedule 8
is each equity  Investment of STFI and each  Subsidiary  that  represents 50% or
less of the equity of the entity in which such investment was made.

         9. Notes.  Attached  hereto as Schedule 9 is a true and correct list of
all notes held by STFI and each  Subsidiary and all  intercompany  notes between
STFI and each  Subsidiary  of STFI and between each  Subsidiary of STFI and each
other such Subsidiary.

         10. Advances.  Attached hereto as Schedule 10 is (a) a true and correct
list of all  advances  made by  STFI  to any  Subsidiary  of STFI or made by any
Subsidiary of STFI to STFI or any other  Subsidiary of STFI, which advances will
be on and after the date  hereof  evidenced  by one or more  intercompany  notes
pledged to the Collateral Agent under the Pledge  Agreement,  and (b) a true and
correct list of all unpaid intercompany transfers of goods sold and delivered by
or to STFI or any Subsidiary of STFI.

         11.  Mortgage  Filings.  Attached  hereto as  Schedule 11 is a schedule
setting forth, with respect to each Mortgaged Property,  (i) the exact corporate
name of the  corporation  that owns such  property  as such name  appears in its
certificate  of  incorporation,  (ii) if  different  from  the  name  identified
pursuant  to clause  (i),  the exact name of the  current  record  owner of such
property  reflected  in the  records  of the  filing  office  for such  property
identified pursuant to the following clause and (iii) the filing office in which
a Mortgage  with respect to such property must be filed or recorded in order for
the Collateral Agent to obtain a perfected security interest therein.


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned  have duly executed this
certificate on this [ ] day of [ ].


                                            SHARED TECHNOLOGIES INC.,



                                             by
                                               --------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:[Financial Officer]


                                             by
                                               --------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title: [Legal Officer]




                                       4




                                                                  Annex 2 to the
                                                              Security Agreement




                           SUPPLEMENT  NO.  __  dated  as of , to  the  Security
                  Agreement   dated  as  of  March  12,   1996,   among   SHARED
                  TECHNOLOGIES   FAIRCHILD   COMMUNICATIONS  CORP.,  a  Delaware
                  corporation  (the  "Borrower"),  SHARED  TECHNOLOGIES  INC., a
                  Delaware corporation ("STFI"), each subsidiary of the Borrower
                  listed  on   Schedule   I  thereto   (each   such   subsidiary
                  individually a "Subsidiary  Guarantor" and  collectively,  the
                  "Subsidiary Guarantors";  the Subsidiary Guarantors,  STFI and
                  the  Borrower  are  referred  to  collectively  herein  as the
                  "Grantors") and CREDIT SUISSE, a bank organized under the laws
                  of  Switzerland,  acting through its New York branch  ("Credit
                  Suisse"),   as  collateral   agent  (in  such  capacity,   the
                  "Collateral  Agent")  for  the  Secured  Parties  (as  defined
                  herein).

                  A. Reference is made to (a) the Credit  Agreement  dated as of
March 12, 1996 (as  amended,  supplemented  or otherwise  modified  from time to
time, the "Credit Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI, the lenders from time
to time party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as  administrative  agent
(in such capacity, the "Administrative  Agent") and as collateral agent (in such
capacity,  the "Collateral Agent") for the Lenders, the fronting banks listed on
Schedule  2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of  Citicorp  USA,  Inc.  and
NationsBank, N.A., as documentation agent (individually and collectively in such
capacity,  the  "Documentation  Agent") and (b) the Parent  Guarantee  Agreement
dated as of March 12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the "Parent Guarantee Agreement"), between STFI and the Collateral
Agent and (c) the Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement dated as of March 12, 1996 (as
amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from time to time, the "Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement"), among the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Collateral Agent.

                  B.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not  otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Security  Agreement
and the Credit Agreement.

                  C. The Grantors  have  entered into the Security  Agreement in
order to  induce  the  Lenders  to make  Loans and the  Fronting  Banks to issue
Letters of Credit.  Section 7.15 of Security  Agreement provides that additional
Subsidiaries  of STFI,  the Borrower and the  Subsidiaries  may become  Grantors
under the Security  Agreement by execution  and delivery of an instrument in the
form of this  Supplement.  The  undersigned  Subsidiary  (the "New  Grantor") is
executing  this  Supplement in accordance  with the  requirements  of the Credit
Agreement to become a Grantor  under the  Security  Agreement in order to induce
the Lenders to make additional  Loans and the Fronting Banks to issue additional
Letters of Credit and as consideration  for Loans previously made and Letters of
Credit previously issued.

                  Accordingly, the Collateral Agent and the New Grantor agree as
follows:

                  SECTION 1. In  accordance  with  Section  7.15 of the Security
Agreement,  the New Grantor by its  signature  below becomes a Grantor under the
Security Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein
as a  Grantor  and the New  Grantor  hereby  (a)  agrees  to all the  terms  and
provisions of the Security  Agreement  applicable to it as a Grantor  thereunder
and (b) represents and warrants that the  representations and warranties made by
it as a Grantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. In
furtherance of the foregoing,  the New Grantor,  as security for the payment and
performance in full of the Obligations  (as defined in the Security  Agreement),
does  hereby  create  and grant to the  Collateral  Agent,  its  successors  and
assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a
security interest in and lien on all of the





New Grantor's right,  title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in
the Security Agreement) of the New Grantor. Each reference to a "Grantor" in the
Security  Agreement  shall be deemed to include the New  Grantor.  The  Security
Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

                  SECTION 2. The New  Grantor  represents  and  warrants  to the
Collateral  Agent and the other Secured  Parties that this  Supplement  has been
duly authorized,  executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal,  valid
and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

                  SECTION 3. This  Supplement  may be executed  in  counterparts
(and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall
constitute an original,  but all of which when taken together shall constitute a
single  contract.  This  Supplement  shall become  effective when the Collateral
Agent shall have  received  counterparts  of this  Supplement  that,  when taken
together,  bear the  signatures  of the New  Grantor and the  Collateral  Agent.
Delivery  of  an  executed  signature  page  to  this  Supplement  by  facsimile
transmission  shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Supplement.

                  SECTION 4. The New Grantor hereby represents and warrants that
(a) set forth on Schedule I attached  hereto is a true and  correct  schedule of
the  location  of any and all  Collateral  of the New  Grantor and (b) set forth
under  its  signature  hereto,  is the true and  correct  location  of the chief
executive office of the New Grantor.

                  SECTION  5.  Except  as  expressly  supplemented  hereby,  the
Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

                  SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 7. In case any one or more of the provisions contained
in this  Supplement  should be held  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  in any
respect,  the validity,  legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained herein and in the Security  Agreement shall not in any way be affected
or impaired  thereby (it being  understood  that the  invalidity of a particular
provision in a  particular  jurisdiction  shall not in and of itself  affect the
validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction).  The parties hereto shall
endeavor  in  good-faith  negotiations  to  replace  the  invalid,   illegal  or
unenforceable  provisions  with valid  provisions  the economic  effect of which
comes as close as  possible  to that of the  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable
provisions.

                  SECTION 8. All  communications  and notices hereunder shall be
in writing and given as provided in Section 7.01 of the Security Agreement.  All
communications  and notices hereunder to the New Grantor shall be given to it at
the address set forth under its signature below.



                                       2


                  SECTION 9. The New Grantor  agrees to reimburse the Collateral
Agent  for  its  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  in  connection  with  this
Supplement,  including the reasonable fees,  other charges and  disbursements of
counsel for the Collateral Agent.


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the New Grantor and the Collateral Agent
have duly executed this  Supplement to the Security  Agreement as of the day and
year first above written.



                                         [Name Of New Grantor],

                                           by
                                             --------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:
                                             Address:




                                          CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,

                                           by
                                             --------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                           by
                                             --------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:



                                       3


                                                                      SCHEDULE I
                                                     to Supplement No.___ to the
                                                              Security Agreement




                             LOCATION OF COLLATERAL



Description                                                   Location









                                                                       EXHIBIT H




                                            SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT dated
                           as of March 13, 1996,  among each of the subsidiaries
                           listed on  Schedule I hereto  (each  such  subsidiary
                           individually,  a "Guarantor"  and  collectively,  the
                           "Guarantors")   of  SHARED   TECHNOLOGIES   FAIRCHILD
                           COMMUNICATIONS  CORP.,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
                           "Borrower"), or SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC., a
                           Delaware corporation  ("STFI"),  and CREDIT SUISSE, a
                           bank organized under the laws of Switzerland,  acting
                           through its New York branch, as collateral agent (the
                           "Collateral  Agent")  for  the  Secured  Parties  (as
                           defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

                  Reference  is made to the Credit  Agreement  dated as of March
12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Credit  Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI,  the lenders from time to time
party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as administrative  agent (in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent") and as collateral agent (in such capacity,
the "Collateral  Agent") for the Lenders,  the fronting banks listed on Schedule
2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of Citicorp USA, Inc. and  NationsBank,
N.A., as documentation  agent  (individually  and collectively in such capacity,
the "Documentation Agent"). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

                  The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower, and the
Fronting  Banks have  agreed to issue  Letters of Credit for the  account of the
Borrower,  pursuant  to,  and upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions
specified  in, the Credit  Agreement.  Each of the  Guarantors is a wholly owned
Subsidiary  of the Borrower  and  acknowledges  that it will derive  substantial
benefit  from the making of the Loans by the  Lenders,  and the  issuance of the
Letters of Credit by the Fronting Banks.  The obligations of the Lenders to make
Loans and of the Fronting Banks to issue Letters of Credit are  conditioned  on,
among other things,  the execution and delivery by the Guarantors of a Guarantee
Agreement in the form hereof.  As consideration  therefor and in order to induce
the Lenders to make Loans and the Fronting Banks to issue Letters of Credit, the
Guarantors are willing to execute this Agreement.

                  Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                  SECTION   1.   Guarantee.   Each   Guarantor   unconditionally
guarantees,  jointly  with the  other  Guarantors  and  severally,  as a primary
obligor and not merely as a surety,  (a) the due and punctual payment of (i) the
principal of and premium,  if any, and  interest  (including  interest  accruing
during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding,  regardless of whether  allowed or allowable in such  proceeding) on
the Loans,  when and as due, whether at maturity,  by acceleration,  upon one or
more dates set for  prepayment  or otherwise,  (ii) each payment  required to be
made by the  Borrower  under the  Credit  Agreement  in respect of any Letter of
Credit,  when and as due,  including  payments  in respect of  reimbursement  of
disbursements,  interest  thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and
(iii) all other  monetary  obligations,  including  fees,  costs,  expenses  and
indemnities,  whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary  obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy,
insolvency,  receivership  or other  similar  proceeding,  regardless of whether
allowed or  allowable  in such  proceeding),  of the Loan Parties to the Secured
Parties under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) the due and
punctual performance of all covenants,  agreements,  obligations and liabilities
of the Loan Parties under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and (c) unless otherwise agreed





upon in writing by the applicable  Lender party thereto,  all obligations of the
Borrower,  monetary or otherwise,  under each Interest Rate Protection Agreement
entered  into with a  counterparty  that was a Lender at the time such  Interest
Rate  Protection  Agreement  was  entered  into  (all  the  monetary  and  other
obligations  referred  to  in  the  preceding  clauses  (a)  through  (c)  being
collectively called the  "Obligations").  Each Guarantor further agrees that the
Obligations may be extended or renewed,  in whole or in part,  without notice to
or further  assent  from it, and that it will  remain  bound upon its  guarantee
notwithstanding  any  extension  or renewal of any  Obligation.  Each  Guarantor
further agrees that (a) the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be
accelerated as provided in Article VII of the Credit  Agreement for the purposes
of such Guarantor's  guarantee herein,  notwithstanding any stay,  injunction or
other  prohibition  preventing  such  acceleration in respect of the Obligations
guaranteed  hereby,  and (y) in the event of any  declaration of acceleration of
such obligations as provided in such Article VII, such  Obligations  (whether or
not due and payable)  shall  forthwith  become due and payable by such Guarantor
for the purposes of this Section.

                  Anything   contained   in  this   Agreement  to  the  contrary
notwithstanding, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to
a maximum  aggregate  amount equal to the greatest  amount that would not render
such  Guarantor's  obligations  hereunder  subject to  avoidance as a fraudulent
transfer or  conveyance  under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code
or any  provisions  of  applicable  state  law  (collectively,  the  "Fraudulent
Transfer  Laws"),  in each case after giving effect to all other  liabilities of
such Guarantor,  contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under the Fraudulent
Transfer  Laws  (specifically  excluding,   however,  any  liabilities  of  such
Guarantor  (a) in  respect  of  intercompany  indebtedness  to the  Borrower  or
Affiliates  of the  Borrower  to the  extent  that  such  indebtedness  would be
discharged in an amount equal to or offset by the amount paid by such  Guarantor
hereunder  and (b)  under any  Guarantee  of senior  unsecured  indebtedness  or
Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations which Guarantee
contains a  limitation  as to maximum  amount  similar to that set forth in this
paragraph,  pursuant  to which the  liability  of such  Guarantor  hereunder  is
included in the  liabilities  taken into  account in  determining  such  maximum
amount) and after giving effect as assets to the value (as determined  under the
applicable  provisions  of  the  Fraudulent  Transfer  Laws)  of any  rights  to
subrogation,  contribution,  reimbursement,  indemnity or similar rights of such
Guarantor pursuant to (i) applicable law or (ii) any agreement  providing for an
equitable  allocation  among such Guarantor and other Affiliates of the Borrower
of  obligations   arising  under  Guarantees  by  such  parties  (including  the
Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement).

                  SECTION 2.  Obligations  Not  Waived.  To the  fullest  extent
permitted by applicable  law, each Guarantor  waives  presentment  to, demand of
payment  from and protest to the  Borrower of any of the  Obligations,  and also
waives  notice  of  acceptance  of its  guarantee  and  notice  of  protest  for
nonpayment.  To the fullest extent  permitted by applicable law, the obligations
of each  Guarantor  hereunder  shall not be  affected  by (a) the failure of the
Collateral  Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to
enforce  or  exercise  any right or remedy  against  the  Borrower  or any other
Guarantor under the provisions of the Credit Agreement,  any other Loan Document
or otherwise,  (b) any rescission,  waiver, amendment or modification of, or any
release from any of the terms or  provisions of this  Agreement,  any other Loan
Document,  any Guarantee or any other  agreement,  including with respect to any
other  Guarantor under this Agreement or (c) the failure to perfect any security
interest in, or the release of, any of the security  held by or on behalf of the
Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party.

                  SECTION 3.  Security.  Each of the  Guarantors  authorizes the
Collateral  Agent and each of the other  Secured  Parties,  to (a) take and hold
security for the payment of this Guarantee and the


                                       2


Obligations  and exchange,  enforce,  waive and release any such  security,  (b)
apply such  security  and direct the order or manner of sale  thereof as they in
their sole  discretion  may determine  and (c) release or substitute  any one or
more endorsees, other guarantors of other obligors.

                  SECTION 4. Guarantee of Payment. Each Guarantor further agrees
that its  guarantee  constitutes  a  guarantee  of  payment  when due and not of
collection,  and  waives  any  right to  require  that any  resort be had by the
Collateral  Agent or any other  Secured  Party to any of the  security  held for
payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on
the books of the  Collateral  Agent or any other  Secured  Party in favor of the
Borrower or any other person.

                  SECTION 5. No  Discharge or  Diminishment  of  Guarantee.  The
obligations of each Guarantor  hereunder  shall not be subject to any reduction,
limitation,   impairment  or   termination   for  any  reason  (other  than  the
indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations), including any claim of
waiver, release, surrender,  alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations,
and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff,  counterclaim,  recoupment or
termination   whatsoever   by   reason   of  the   invalidity,   illegality   or
unenforceability   of  the  Obligations  or  otherwise.   Without  limiting  the
generality of the foregoing,  the obligations of each Guarantor  hereunder shall
not be  discharged  or  impaired  or  otherwise  affected  by the failure of the
Collateral  Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to
enforce any remedy under the Credit  Agreement,  any other Loan  Document or any
other agreement,  by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof,
by any default, failure or delay, wilful or otherwise, in the performance of the
Obligations,  or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or
to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or that would otherwise  operate as
a  discharge  of each  Guarantor  as a matter of law or equity  (other  than the
indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations).

                  SECTION 6. Defenses of Borrower Waived.  To the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, each of the Guarantors  waives any defense based on
or arising out of any defense of the  Borrower  or the  unenforceability  of the
Obligations or any part thereof from any cause,  or the cessation from any cause
of the liability of the Borrower,  other than the final and indefeasible payment
in full in cash of the  Obligations.  The Collateral Agent and the other Secured
Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of
them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial  sales,  accept an assignment of any
such  security  in lieu of  foreclosure,  compromise  or adjust  any part of the
Obligations,  make any  other  accommodation  with  the  Borrower  or any  other
guarantor  or exercise  any other right or remedy  available to them against the
Borrower or any other guarantor,  without  affecting or impairing in any way the
liability of any Guarantor  hereunder  except to the extent the Obligations have
been fully,  finally and indefeasibly paid in cash.  Pursuant to applicable law,
each of the Guarantors  waives any defense arising out of any such election even
though  such  election  operates,  pursuant to  applicable  law, to impair or to
extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of
such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or guarantor,  as the
case may be, or any security.

                  SECTION 7. Agreement to Pay; Subordination.  In furtherance of
the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Collateral Agent
or any other  Secured  Party has at law or in equity  against any  Guarantor  by
virtue  hereof,  upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay
any Obligation  when and as the same shall become due,  whether at maturity,  by
acceleration,  after notice of prepayment or otherwise,  each  Guarantor  hereby
promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Collateral Agent
or such other  Secured  Party as  designated  thereby in cash the amount of such
unpaid Obligations. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Collateral



                                       3


Agent or any  Secured  Party as  provided  above,  all rights of such  Guarantor
against the Borrower arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation,
contribution,  reimbursement,  indemnity or  otherwise  shall in all respects be
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible  payment in
full in cash  of all the  Obligations.  In  addition,  any  indebtedness  of the
Borrower now or hereafter held by any Guarantor is hereby  subordinated in right
of payment to the prior payment in full of the Obligations.  If any amount shall
erroneously  be  paid to any  Guarantor  on  account  of (i)  such  subrogation,
contribution,  reimbursement,  indemnity  or  similar  right  or (ii)  any  such
indebtedness of the Borrower, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit
of the Secured Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Collateral Agent to be
credited against the payment of the  Obligations,  whether matured or unmatured,
in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents.

                  SECTION 8.  Information.  Each of the  Guarantors  assumes all
responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower's financial
condition and assets,  and of all other  circumstances  bearing upon the risk of
nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that
such  Guarantor  assumes  and  incurs  hereunder,  and  agrees  that none of the
Collateral  Agent or the other Secured  Parties will have any duty to advise any
of the  Guarantors  of  information  known to it or any of them  regarding  such
circumstances or risks.

                  SECTION  9.  Representations  and  Warranties.   Each  of  the
Guarantors  represents  and warrants as to itself that all  representations  and
warranties  relating  to it  contained  in the  Credit  Agreement  are  true and
correct.

                  SECTION 10.  Termination.  The  Guarantees  made hereunder (a)
shall terminate when all the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and
the Lenders have no further  commitment to lend under the Credit Agreement,  the
L/C Exposure  has been  reduced to zero and the  Fronting  Banks have no further
obligation to issue  Letters of Credit under the Credit  Agreement and (b) shall
continue to be  effective or be  reinstated,  as the case may be, if at any time
payment,  or any part thereof,  of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise
be  restored  by any  Secured  Party or any  Guarantor  upon the  bankruptcy  or
reorganization of the Borrower, any Guarantor or otherwise.

                  SECTION 11. Binding Effect;  Several  Agreement;  Assignments.
Whenever  in this  Agreement  any of the  parties  hereto is  referred  to, such
reference  shall be deemed to include the  successors and assigns of such party;
and all  covenants,  promises and  agreements by or on behalf of the  Guarantors
that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of each
party hereto and their respective  successors and assigns.  This Agreement shall
become  effective as to any  Guarantor  when a  counterpart  hereof  executed on
behalf of such Guarantor shall have been delivered to the Collateral  Agent, and
a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent,
and thereafter shall be binding upon such Guarantor and the Collateral Agent and
their respective  successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such
Guarantor,  the  Collateral  Agent  and the  other  Secured  Parties,  and their
respective successors and assigns, except that no Guarantor shall have the right
to assign its rights or  obligations  hereunder or any interest  herein (and any
such  attempted  assignment  shall be void).  If all of the  capital  stock of a
Guarantor  is  sold,   transferred  or  otherwise  disposed  of  pursuant  to  a
transaction  permitted by Section 6.05 of the Credit  Agreement,  such Guarantor
shall be released from its  obligations  under this  Agreement  without  further
action.  This Agreement shall be construed as a separate  agreement with respect
to each Guarantor and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released
with respect to any  Guarantor  without the approval of any other  Guarantor and
without affecting the obligations of any other Guarantor hereunder.


                                       4


                  SECTION 12. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the
Collateral  Agent in exercising any power or right  hereunder shall operate as a
waiver  thereof,  nor shall any single or partial  exercise of any such right or
power, or any abandonment or  discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or
power,  preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or the exercise of any
other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder
and of the other Secured  Parties under the other Loan  Documents are cumulative
and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would  otherwise have.
No waiver of any provision of this  Agreement or consent to any departure by any
Guarantor  therefrom  shall in any event be  effective  unless the same shall be
permitted  by  paragraph  (b) below,  and then such  waiver or consent  shall be
effective only in the specific  instance and for the purpose for which given. No
notice or demand on any  Guarantor in any case shall  entitle such  Guarantor to
any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

                  (b) Neither this  Agreement  nor any  provision  hereof may be
waived,  amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into
between  the  Guarantors  with  respect  to  which  such  waiver,  amendment  or
modification relates and the Collateral Agent, with the prior written consent of
the Required Lenders (except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement).

                  SECTION 13.  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.

                  SECTION 14. Notices.  All communications and notices hereunder
shall be in  writing  and  given  as  provided  in  Section  9.01 of the  Credit
Agreement.  All  communications and notices hereunder to each Guarantor shall be
given to it at its address set forth in Schedule I with a copy to the Borrower.

                  SECTION  15.  Survival  of  Agreement;  Severability.  (a) All
covenants,  agreements,  representations  and warranties  made by the Guarantors
herein and in the  certificates  or other  instruments  prepared or delivered in
connection  with or pursuant to this  Agreement or any other Loan Document shall
be  considered  to have been relied upon by the  Collateral  Agent and the other
Secured Parties and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the
issuance  of the  Letters  of Credit by the  Fronting  Banks  regardless  of any
investigation made by the Secured Parties or on their behalf, and shall continue
in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued  interest on
any Loan or any other fee or amount  payable  under this  Agreement or any other
Loan Document is outstanding  and unpaid or the L/C Exposure does not equal zero
and as long as the Commitments and the L/C Commitment have not been terminated.

                  (b) In the event any one or more of the  provisions  contained
in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid,  illegal
or unenforceable in any respect,  the validity,  legality and  enforceability of
the remaining  provisions  contained  herein and therein shall not in any way be
affected  or impaired  thereby (it being  understood  that the  invalidity  of a
particular  provision  in a particular  jurisdiction  shall not in and of itself
affect the validity of such  provision in any other  jurisdiction).  The parties
shall  endeavor in good-faith  negotiations  to replace the invalid,  illegal or
unenforceable  provisions  with valid  provisions  the economic  effect of which
comes as close as  possible  to that of the  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable
provisions.

                  SECTION 16.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in
counterparts,  each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when
taken together shall constitute a single


                                       5


contract,  and shall become  effective as provided in Section 11. Delivery of an
executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile  transmission shall be as
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

                  SECTION   17.   Rules   of   Interpretation.   The   rules  of
interpretation  specified  in  Section  1.02 of the  Credit  Agreement  shall be
applicable to this Agreement.

                  SECTION 18.  Jurisdiction;  Consent to Service of Process. (a)
Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and  unconditionally  submits,  for itself and
its property,  to the  nonexclusive  jurisdiction of any New York State court or
Federal court of the United States of America  sitting in New York City, and any
appellate court from any thereof,  in any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the other Loan  Documents,  or for  recognition or
enforcement of any judgment,  and each of the parties hereto hereby  irrevocably
and  unconditionally  agrees  that all claims in  respect of any such  action or
proceeding  may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that
a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be
enforced in other  jurisdictions  by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided  by law.  Nothing  in this  Agreement  shall  affect any right that the
Collateral  Agent or any other  Secured  Party may  otherwise  have to bring any
action or  proceeding  relating to this  Agreement  or the other Loan  Documents
against any Guarantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

                  (b) Each  Guarantor  hereby  irrevocably  and  unconditionally
waives,  to the  fullest  extent  it may  legally  and  effectively  do so,  any
objection  that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit,
action or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement or the other
Loan  Documents  in any New York State or  Federal  court.  Each of the  parties
hereto hereby  irrevocably  waives,  to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such court.

                  (c)  Each  party to this  Agreement  irrevocably  consents  to
service of process in the manner  provided for notices in Section 14. Nothing in
this  Agreement  will affect the right of any party to this  Agreement  to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.

                  SECTION 19.  Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY  HERETO  HEREBY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY  ARISING
OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION  WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.
EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY
OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD
NOT, IN THE EVENT OF  LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING  WAIVER AND (B)
ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT IT AND THE OTHER  PARTIES  HERETO HAVE BEEN  INDUCED TO ENTER
INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 19.

                  SECTION 20. Additional Guarantors. Pursuant to Section 5.11 of
the Credit  Agreement,  each  Subsidiary of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
that was not in  existence  on the date of the Credit  Agreement  is required to
enter into this Agreement as a Guarantor upon becoming a


                                       6


Subsidiary.  Upon execution and delivery after the date hereof by the Collateral
Agent  and such a  Subsidiary  of an  instrument  in the  form of Annex 1,  such
Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor  hereunder with the same force and effect as
if  originally  named as a Guarantor  herein.  The execution and delivery of any
instrument adding an additional Guarantor as a party to this Agreement shall not
require the consent of any other Guarantor hereunder. The rights and obligations
of  each   Guarantor   hereunder   shall   remain  in  full   force  and  effect
notwithstanding the addition of any new Guarantor as a party to this Agreement.

                  SECTION 21. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing,  each Secured Party is hereby authorized at any time
and from time to time,  to the fullest  extent  permitted by law, to set off and
apply any and all deposits (general or special,  time or demand,  provisional or
final) at any time held and other Indebtedness at any time owing by such Secured
Party to or for the credit or the  account of any  Guarantor  against any or all
the obligations of such Guarantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents held by such Secured Party, irrespective of whether
or not such Secured Party shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document and although such  obligations may be unmatured.  The rights
of each Secured  Party under this Section 21 are in addition to other rights and
remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Secured Party may have.


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

                                             EACH OF THE SUBSIDIARIES
                                             LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO,

                                             by
                                                 -----------------------        
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:
                                             
                                             
                                             CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,
                                             
                                               by
                                                 -----------------------
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:
                                             
                                               by
                                                 -----------------------
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:
                                             
                                             
                                       7


                                                               SCHEDULE I TO THE
                                                             GUARANTEE AGREEMENT



       Guarantor                                            Address











                                                                  Annex 1 to the
                                                  Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement









                                            SUPPLEMENT  NO. dated as of , to the
                           Subsidiary  Guarantee Agreement dated as of March 12,
                           1996,  among  each  of  the  subsidiaries  listed  on
                           Schedule   I   thereto    (each    such    subsidiary
                           individually,  a "Guarantor"  and  collectively,  the
                           "Guarantors")   of  SHARED   TECHNOLOGIES   FAIRCHILD
                           COMMUNICATIONS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the 
                           "Borrower"), or SHARED TECHNOLOGIES FAIRCHILD INC.,
                           a Delaware corporation ("STFI"), and CREDIT SUISSE, a
                           bank organized under the laws of Switzerland, acting
                           through its New York branch, as collateral agent
                           (the "Collateral Agent") for the Secured Parties (as
                           defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

                  A. Referance is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of March
12, 1996 (as amended,  supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Credit  Agreement"),  among the Borrower,  STFI,  the lenders from time to time
party thereto (the "Lenders"),  Credit Suisse, as administrative  agent (in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent") and as collateral agent (in such capacity,
the "Collateral  Agent") for the Lenders,  the fronting banks listed on Schedule
2.20 (the  "Fronting  Banks"),  and each of Citicorp USA, Inc. and  NationsBank,
N.A., as documentation  agent  (individually  and collectively in such capacity,
the "Documentation Agent"). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

                  B.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not  otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Guarantee Agreement
and the Credit Agreement.

                  C. The Guarantors have entered into the Guarantee Agreement in
order to  induce  the  Lenders  to make  Loans and the  Fronting  Banks to issue
Letters  of Credit.  Pursuant  to Section  5.11 of the  Credit  Agreement,  each
Subsidiary of STFI, the Borrower or any Subsidiary  that was not in existence or
not a Subsidiary  on the date of the Credit  Agreement is required to enter into
the Guarantee Agreement as a Guarantor upon becoming a Subsidiary. Section 20 of
the Guarantee  Agreement  provides that additional  Subsidiaries of the Borrower
may become Guarantors under the Guarantee Agreement by execution and delivery of
an instrument in the form of this Supplement.  The undersigned Subsidiary of the
Borrower (the "New  Guarantor") is executing this  Supplement in accordance with
the  requirements  of the  Credit  Agreement  to  become a  Guarantor  under the
Guarantee  Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and
the Fronting Banks to issue  additional  Letters of Credit and as  consideration
for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.

                  Accordingly,  the Collateral Agent and the New Guarantor agree
as follows:

                  SECTION 1. In  accordance  with  Section  20 of the  Guarantee
Agreement,  the New Guarantor by its signature  below becomes a Guarantor  under
the Guarantee  Agreement  with the same force and effect as if originally  named
therein as a Guarantor and the New Guarantor  hereby (a) agrees to all the terms
and  provisions  of the  Guarantee  Agreement  applicable  to it as a  Guarantor
thereunder  and  (b)  represents  and  warrants  that  the  representations  and
warranties  made by it as a Guarantor  thereunder are true and correct on and as
of the date hereof.  Each reference to a "Guarantor" in the Guarantee  Agreement
shall be deemed to include the New Guarantor.  The Guarantee Agreement is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.

                  SECTION 2. The New  Guarantor  represents  and warrants to the
Collateral Agent




and the other Secured  Parties that this  Supplement  has been duly  authorized,
executed  and  delivered  by it and  constitutes  its legal,  valid and  binding
obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

                  SECTION 3. This  Supplement  may be executed in  counterparts,
each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together
shall constitute a single contract.  This Supplement shall become effective when
the Collateral  Agent shall have received  counterparts of this Supplement that,
when taken together, bear the signatures of the New Guarantor and the Collateral
Agent.  Delivery of an executed  signature page to this  Supplement by facsimile
transmission   shall  be  as  effective  as  delivery  of  a  manually  executed
counterpart of this Supplement.

                  SECTION  4.  Except  as  expressly  supplemented  hereby,  the
Guarantee Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

                  SECTION 5. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  SECTION 6. In case any one or more of the provisions contained
in this  Supplement  should be held  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  in any
respect,  the validity,  legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained herein and in the Guarantee Agreement shall not in any way be affected
or impaired  thereby (it being  understood  that the  invalidity of a particular
provision hereof in a particular  jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect
the validity of such  provision in any other  jurisdiction).  The parties hereto
shall  endeavor in good-faith  negotiations  to replace the invalid,  illegal or
unenforceable  provisions  with valid  provisions  the economic  effect of which
comes as close as  possible  to that of the  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable
provisions.

                  SECTION 7. All  communications  and notices hereunder shall be
in writing and given as provided in Section 14 of the Guarantee  Agreement.  All
communications  and notices  hereunder to the New Guarantor shall be given to it
at the address set forth under its signature below, with a copy to the Borrower.



                                       2


                  SECTION  8.  The  New   Guarantor   agrees  to  reimburse  the
Collateral  Agent  for  its  out-of-pocket  expenses  in  connection  with  this
Supplement,  including the reasonable fees,  disbursements  and other charges of
counsel for the Collateral Agent.


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Guarantor and the Collateral Agent
have duly executed this Supplement to the Guarantee  Agreement as of the day and
year first above written.



                                           [Name Of New Guarantor],            
                                           
                                              by
                                                --------------------------
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:
                                                 Address:
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           CREDIT SUISSE, as Collateral Agent,
                                           
                                              by
                                                --------------------------
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:
                                           
                                              by
                                                --------------------------
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:
                                           
                                           
                                           

                                       3




                                                                   SCHEDULE 2.01





                                      Revolving                                                                Lenders'
                                       Credit              Tranche A Term           Tranche B Term            Aggregate
          Lenders                    Commitments          Loan Commitments         Loan Commitments          Commitments

                                                                                                            
Credit Suisse                        $5,555,555.56           $11,111,111.11          $30,000,000.00          $46,666,666.67

Citicorp USA, Inc.                    5,555,555.56            11,111,111.11                    0.00           16,666,666.67

NationsBank, N.A.                     5,555,555.55            11,111,111.11                    0.00           16,666,666.66

First Source
    Financial, LLP                    5,000,000.00            10,000,000.00                    0.00           15,000,000.00

Caisse Nationale
    de Credit
    Agricole                          3,333,333.33             6,666,666.67                    0.00           10,000,000.00

CHL High Yield
    Loan Portfolio                            0.00                     0.00           10,000,000.00           10,000,000.00

Pilgrim Prime Rate
    Trust                                     0.00                     0.00           10,000,000.00           10,000,000.00

VanKampen American
    Capital, Prime
    Rate Income
    Trust                                     0.00                     0.00           10,000,000.00           10,000,000.00

Merrill Lynch
    Senior High
    Income
    Portfolio                                 0.00                     0.00            5,000.000.00            5,000,000.00


Senior Floating
    Rate Fund, Inc.                           0.00                     0.00            5,000,000.00            5,000,000.00
                            ---------------------- ------------------------ ----------------------- -----------------------

                            ........$25,000,000.00           $50,000,000.00          $70,000,000.00         $145,000,000.00
                            ====================== ======================== ======================= =======================









                                                                   Schedule 2.20










                                 Fronting Banks


Credit Suisse








                                                                Schedule 4.02(a)




1.       Opinion of Cahill, Gordon & Reindel, counsel for The
         Fairchild Corporation and RHI

2.       Opinion of Swidler & Berlin, special regulatory counsel
         for STFI and the Borrower

3.       Opinion of Finn Dixon & Herling, Connecticut counsel

4.       Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, counsel for STFI

5.       Opinion of Stuart Meister, Vice President Law and
         Administration of Fairchild Communications Services
         Company






                                                                   SCHEDULE 6.11





                                              Minimum EBITDA

Period From April 1, 1996 Ending                                           EBITDA
- --------------------------------                                           ------

                                                                           
June 30, 1996                                                              8,000,000
September 30, 1996                                                        20,000,000
December 31, 1996                                                         30,000,000

4 Quarter Period Ending

March 31, 1997                                                            40,000,000
June 30, 1997                                                             42,000,000
September 30, 1997                                                        43,000,000
December 31, 1997                                                         43,000,000
March 31, 1998                                                            46,000,000
June 30, 1998                                                             46,000,000
September 30, 1998                                                        49,000,000
December 31, 1998                                                         49,000,000
March 31, 1999                                                            53,000,000
June 30, 1999                                                             53,000,000
September 30, 1999                                                        55,000,000
December 31, 1999                                                         55,000,000
March 31, 2000                                                            58,000,000
June 30, 2000                                                             58,000,000
September 30, 2000                                                        60,000,000
December 31, 2000                                                         60,000,000
March 31, 2001                                                            63,000,000
June 30, 2001                                                             63,000,000
September 30, 2001                                                        66,000,000
December 31, 2001                                                         66,000,000
March 31, 2002                                                            69,000,000
June 30, 2002                                                             69,000,000
September 30, 2002                                                        72,000,000
December 31, 2002                                                         72,000,000
March 31, 2003                                                            76,000,000








                                                                   SCHEDULE 6.13





                                              Leverage Ratio

Period From April 1, 1996 Ending                                          Ratio
- --------------------------------                                          -----

                                                                      
September 30, 1996                                                        6.10
December 31, 1996                                                         6.00

4 Quarter Period Ending

March 31, 1997                                                            6.00
June 30, 1997                                                             5.70
September 30, 1997                                                        5.50
December 31, 1997                                                         5.50
March 31, 1998                                                            5.00
June 30, 1998                                                             5.00
September 30, 1998                                                        4.65
December 31, 1998                                                         4.65
March 31, 1999                                                            4.25
June 30, 1999                                                             4.25
September 30, 1999                                                        4.25
December 31, 1999                                                         4.25
March 31, 2000                                                            3.75
June 30, 2000                                                             3.75
September 30, 2000                                                        3.75
December 31, 2000                                                         3.75
March 31, 2001                                                            3.25
June 30, 2001                                                             3.25
September 30, 2001                                                        3.25
December 31, 2001                                                         3.25
March 31, 2002                                                            3.00
June 30, 2002                                                             3.00
September 30, 2002                                                        3.00
December 31, 2002                                                         3.00
March 31, 2003                                                            3.00








                                                                   SCHEDULE 6.14





                                      Interest Expense Coverage Ratio

Period From April 1, 1996 Ending                                          Ratio
- --------------------------------                                          -----

                                                                     
June 30, 1996                                                             2.50
September 30, 1996                                                        3.00
December 31, 1996                                                         3.00

4 Quarter Period Ending

March 31, 1997                                                            3.00
June 30, 1997                                                             3.25
September 30, 1997                                                        3.50
December 31, 1997                                                         3.50
March 31, 1998                                                            4.00
June 30, 1998                                                             4.00
September 30, 1998                                                        4.00
December 31, 1998                                                         4.00
March 31, 1999                                                            4.00
June 30, 1999                                                             2.00
September 30, 1999                                                        2.00
December 31, 1999                                                         2.00
March 31, 2000                                                            2.00
June 30, 2000                                                             2.25
September 30, 2000                                                        2.25
December 31, 2000                                                         2.25
March 31, 2001                                                            2.50
June 30, 2001                                                             2.50
September 30, 2001                                                        2.50
December 31, 2001                                                         2.50
March 31, 2002                                                            2.80
June 30, 2002                                                             2.80
September 30, 2002                                                        2.80
December 31, 2002                                                         2.80
March 31, 2003                                                            3.00