Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

Neutral Tandem, Inc. d/b/a Inteliquent

550 West Adams Street, 9th Floor

Chicago, IL 60606

May 17, 2013

Mr. Gregory P. Taxin

Clinton Group, Inc.

601 Lexington Avenue, 51st Floor

New York, NY 10022

Gentlemen:

This letter constitutes the agreement (the “Agreement”) between Clinton Group,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, on behalf of itself and its respective affiliated
funds, persons and entities, both current and future (“Clinton”), and Neutral
Tandem, Inc. d/b/a Inteliquent, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

WHEREAS, the Company and Clinton have agreed that it is in their mutual
interests to enter into this Agreement, among other things, to set forth certain
agreements concerning the composition of the board of directors of the Company
(the “Board”) and other corporate governance matters, as hereinafter described;
and

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to use reasonable best efforts to declare
certain dividends as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the representations,
warranties and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:

1. Upon issuance of the press release referred to in Section 7, Clinton
withdraws its notice of intent to nominate individuals (each a “Nominee” and
collectively, the “Nominees”) for election to the Board at the Company’s 2013
annual meeting of the shareholders (the “2013 Annual Meeting”).

2. Following the 2013 Annual Meeting and no later than December 31, 2013, the
Board, pursuant to the powers granted to the Board under Article III of the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the
“Charter”), shall increase the size of the Board by one (if no vacancies on the
Board then exist) and appoint one additional candidate to fill the vacancy so
created on the Board and to serve in such capacity from such date of appointment
through the date of the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2014 Annual
Meeting”), which candidate (i) is qualified to serve on the Board under all
requirements set forth in the Charter and the Bylaws of the Company (the
“Bylaws”), (ii) is not employed by or otherwise affiliated with the Company,
(iii) otherwise qualifies as “independent” in accordance with Rule 5605(a)(2) of
the NASDAQ Listing Rules and (iv) shall not be an Inside Director or an
Affiliated Outside Director as defined in the Institutional Shareholder
Services, Inc. 2013 Categorization of Directors, dated January 31, 2013 (such
candidate, the “New Director”).

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3. Clinton shall (a) in the case of all shares of the Company’s common stock of
the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) owned of record by
it as of the record date for the 2013 Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”), and
(b) in the case of all shares of the Common Stock beneficially owned by Clinton
as of the Record Date (whether held in street name or by some other
arrangement), instruct the record holder to: in each case at the 2013 Annual
Meeting, (i) support and vote for the election of each of the incumbent
directors; (ii) support and vote for ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
the Company’s auditors for the 2013 fiscal year; (iii) support and vote for “say
on pay” resolutions recommended by the Board; (iv) support and vote for the
proposed amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of
incorporation in order to change the name of the Company to “Inteliquent, Inc.”;
and (v) vote to abstain or against any shareholder nominations for director or
shareholder proposals (whether made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 or Rule 14a-4 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) which are
not approved and recommended by the Board.

4. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to declare a special one-time
cash dividend of $1.25 per share within ninety days following the date of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may increase or decrease the
amount of the special one-time cash dividend, or eliminate the special one-time
cash dividend in its entirety, if (i) the Board believes the declaration and/or
payment of such dividend could reasonably be expected to result in (a) a breach
of the Board’s fiduciary duties or (b) a violation of applicable law or (ii) the
Company is required to obtain a waiver in connection with such special one-time
cash dividend pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement dated as of March 5,
2013 by and among the Company, Bank of Montreal and the guarantors and lenders
from time to time party thereto (the “Revolving Loan Agreement”) and is unable
to obtain such waiver on standard terms after the use of reasonable best efforts
to do so.

5. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to declare quarterly cash
dividends (totaling $0.25 per share paid in four quarterly installments);
provided, however, that nothing herein shall obligate the Company to pay cash
dividends pursuant to this Section 5 in an aggregate amount greater than $0.25
per share. The Company will declare the first quarterly dividend within ninety
days following the date of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Board may increase or decrease the amount of any quarterly dividend, or
eliminate the quarterly dividend in its entirety, if (i) the Board believes the
declaration and/or payment of such dividend could reasonably be expected to
result in (a) a breach of the Board’s fiduciary duties or (b) a violation of
applicable law or (ii) the Company is required to obtain a waiver in connection
with the payment of such quarterly dividend pursuant to the terms of the
Revolving Loan Agreement and is unable to obtain such waiver on standard terms
after the use of reasonable best efforts to do so.

6. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, from the date of this
Agreement until the earlier of (i) the Anniversary Date (as defined below) or
(ii) such date that the Company has materially breached any of its commitments
or obligations under this Agreement, except that if such material breach can be
cured, Clinton shall provide written notice to the Company that the Company has
materially breached its commitments or obligations under this Agreement and the
Company shall have an additional 10 days after the date of such written notice
within which to cure its material breach (the “Standstill Period”), Clinton
shall not:

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(a) make, or in any way participate, directly or indirectly, in any
“solicitation” (as such term is used in the proxy rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)) of proxies or consents, conduct or suggest any
binding or nonbinding referendum or resolution or seek to advise, encourage or
influence any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
group, association or entity (collectively, a “Person”) with respect to the
voting of any of the Common Stock;

(b) initiate, propose or otherwise “solicit” (as such term is used in the proxy
rules of the SEC) shareholders of the Company for the approval of shareholder
proposals, or cause or encourage any Person to initiate any such shareholder
proposal;

(c) propose or nominate, or cause or encourage any Person to propose or
nominate, any candidates to stand for election to the Board, or seek the removal
of any member of the Board;

(d) form, join or otherwise participate in any “partnership, limited
partnership, syndicate or other group” (other than any group in existence as of
the date of this Agreement among Clinton and its affiliates and disclosed in
Clinton’s Schedule 13D) within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act with respect to the Common Stock, or deposit any shares of Common Stock in a
voting trust or similar arrangement, or subject any shares of Common Stock to
any voting agreement or pooling arrangement, or grant any proxy with respect to
any shares of Common Stock (other than to a designated representative of the
Company pursuant to a proxy statement of the Company);

(e) seek to call, or to request the call of, or call a special meeting of the
shareholders of the Company, or make a request for a list of the Company’s
shareholders or other Company records;

(f) take any public action to act alone or in concert with others to control or
seek to control, or to influence or seek to influence, the management, the Board
or the policies of the Company; provided, however, that nothing herein shall
prohibit Clinton from complying with legal or regulatory requirements,
including, without limitation, the filing of any report or schedule required to
be filed with the SEC; or

(g) otherwise take, or solicit, cause or encourage others to take, any action
inconsistent with any of the foregoing.

(h) For purposes of this Agreement, “Anniversary Date” shall mean the date that
is 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the 2013 Annual Meeting;
provided, however, that if the Board takes any action to amend the Bylaws in
such a manner as to increase the time period prior to the 2014 Annual Meeting by
which a holder of the Common Stock must provide timely notice to the Company of
(A) its nomination of a person or persons to the Board at the 2014 Annual
Meeting or (B) its proposal to bring business before the 2014 Annual Meeting
(clauses (A) and (B) together, “Stockholder Matters”) then the Anniversary Date
shall be the date ten days prior to the date on which a stockholder must give
notice to the Company with respect to any Stockholder Matters for the 2014
Annual Meeting.

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7. The Company shall issue a press release in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A (the “Press Release”) as soon as practicable on or after the date
hereof, but in no event later than two business days after the date of this
Agreement, and the Company shall file with the SEC a corresponding Form 8-K that
includes both the Press Release and this Agreement.

8. The Company and Clinton each acknowledge and agree that (a) a breach or a
threatened breach by either party may give rise to irreparable injury
inadequately compensable in damages and accordingly each party shall be entitled
to injunctive relief, without proof of actual damages, to prevent a breach or
threatened breach of the provisions hereof and to enforce specifically the terms
and provisions hereof in any state or federal court having jurisdiction,
(b) neither party shall plead in defense for any such relief that there would be
an adequate remedy at law, (c) any applicable right or requirement that a bond
be posted by either party is waived and (d) such remedies shall not be the
exclusive remedies for a breach of this Agreement, but will be in addition to
all other remedies available at law or in equity.

9. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by
delivery in person or by facsimile, or by Federal Express or registered or
certified mail, postage pre-paid, return receipt requested, as follows:

If to the Company:

Inteliquent

550 West Adams Street, 9th Floor

Chicago, IL 60606

Attn: General Counsel

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

300 North LaSalle

Chicago, IL 60654

Attn: Gerald Nowak

         Theodore Peto

If to Clinton:

Clinton Group, Inc.

601 Lexington Avenue, 51st Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Gregory P. Taxin

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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP

919 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Marc Weingarten

         David Rosewater

10. This Agreement may be executed by the signatories hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

11. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws
principles. The parties hereto consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in any
action to enforce this Agreement in any court of competent jurisdiction located
in New York, New York.

12. This Agreement constitutes the only agreement between Clinton and the
Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or
written. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement may not be
assigned by any party without the express written consent of the other party or
parties. No amendment, modification, supplement or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement may in any event be effective unless in writing and signed by the
party or parties affected thereby. Clinton acknowledges that the U.S. securities
laws prohibit any person who has access to material nonpublic information from
trading while in possession of such information or providing that information to
others in certain circumstances.

13. The Company represents and warrants that (a) the Company has the power and
authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) this
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation and agreement of the Company
and is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

14. Clinton represents and warrants that (a) it has the power and authority to
execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) this Agreement has been
duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Clinton, constitutes a
valid and binding obligation and agreement of Clinton and is enforceable against
Clinton in accordance with its terms.

15. Clinton, for the benefit of the Company and each of the Company’s
controlling persons, officers, directors, stockholders, agents, affiliates,
employees, attorneys and assigns, past and present, in their capacity as such
(the Company and each such person being a “Company Released Person”), hereby
forever waives and releases, and covenants not to sue, any of the Company
Released Persons for any and all claims, causes of action, actions, judgments,

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liens, debts, contracts, indebtedness, damages, losses, liabilities, rights,
interests and demands of whatsoever kind or character (other than fraud) in
connection with the proposed contested election of directors at the 2013 Annual
Meeting, including any documents filed with the SEC in connection therewith
(collectively, “Claims”), based on any event, fact, act, omission, or failure to
act by the Company Released Persons, whether known or unknown, occurring or
existing prior to the date hereof; provided, however, this waiver and release
and covenant not to sue shall not include any Claims (i) arising out of or
related to any obligations under, or breach of, this Agreement, or (ii) any acts
which are criminal; provided, further, that this waiver and release shall not
prohibit Clinton’s receipt of proceeds in any class action lawsuit initiated by
a Person unaffiliated with Clinton on the same basis as the Company’s other
non-initiating stockholders within such class. The Company, for the benefit of
Clinton and each of such member’s controlling persons, officers, directors,
stockholders, agents, affiliates, employees, attorneys and assigns, past and
present, in their capacity as such (each such person being a “Clinton Released
Person”), hereby forever waives and releases and covenants not to sue, for any
Claim based on any event, fact, act, omission or failure to act by such Clinton
Released Person, whether known or unknown, occurring or existing prior to the
date hereof in connection with the proposed contested election of directors at
the 2013 Annual Meeting, including any documents filed with the SEC in
connection therewith; provided, however, this waiver and release and covenant
not to sue shall not include any Claims arising out of or related to any
obligations under, or breach of, this Agreement and does not extend to acts
which are criminal.

16. During the Standstill Period, Clinton shall not, and shall not solicit,
cause or encourage others to, make any comments or statements regarding the
Company or its current or former officers, directors or employees, which are
derogatory or detrimental to, or which disparage, any of the Company or its
current or former officers, directors or employees, provided, however, that
nothing in this Agreement to the contrary shall prohibit Clinton from (i) making
public statements (including statements contemplated by
Rule 14a-1(1)(2)(iv) under the Exchange Act), (ii) engaging in discussions with
other stockholders or (iii) soliciting, or encouraging or participating in the
solicitation of, proxies or consents with respect to voting securities of the
Company (so long as such discussions are in compliance with subsection
9(d) hereof) in each case with respect to any transaction that has been publicly
announced by the Company involving (1) the recapitalization of the Company,
(2) an acquisition, disposition or sale of assets or a business by the Company
where the consideration to be received or paid in such transaction requires
approval by the holders of the Common Stock or (3) a change of control of the
Company. During the Standstill Period, neither the Company nor any of its
officers or directors shall, nor shall any of them solicit, cause or encourage
others to, make any comments or statements regarding Clinton or any of its
respective partners, officers, directors or employees, which are derogatory or
detrimental to, or which disparage, any of them. The foregoing shall not apply
to compelled testimony, either by legal process, subpoena or otherwise, or to
communications that are required by an applicable fiduciary or legal obligation
including, without limitation, (i) those communications that are subject to
contractual provisions providing for confidential disclosure and (ii) the filing
of any report or schedule that is required by law to be filed with the SEC.

[signature page follows]

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Very truly yours, NEUTRAL TANDEM, INC. D/B/A INTELIQUENT By:   /s/ G. Edward
Evans Name:   G. Edward Evans Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

Accepted and agreed to:

CLINTON GROUP, INC.

on behalf of itself and its affiliates

By:   /s/ Joseph A. De Perio Name:   Joseph A. De Perio Title:   Senior
Portfolio Manager

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EXHIBIT A

 

LOGO [g541386g96e27.jpg]

 

Investor Contact

   Media Contact:

Inteliquent

   Kelly Stein

Darren Burgener

   kstein@inteliquent.com

(312) 380-4548

   (312) 384-8039

Inteliquent® Announces Plan to Return Cash to Shareholders

Chicago, May 20, 2013 –Neutral Tandem, Inc. d/b/a Inteliquent (NASDAQ: IQNT), a
leading provider of voice interconnection services, today announced its
intention to declare a special dividend of $1.25 per share and to initiate a
quarterly dividend of $0.0625 per share on its common stock. Both dividends are
expected to be declared and paid within the next three months.

Inteliquent also announced today that it has reached an agreement with Clinton
Group, Inc. (“Clinton Group”). Under the agreement, the Company will declare the
dividends and appoint, prior to December 31, 2013, at least one new independent
director. The investors have agreed, among other things, to withdraw their
notice of intent to nominate individuals for election as directors at the 2013
annual meeting and not to take certain actions during a “standstill” period.

“We are delighted to be returning cash to our shareholders promptly after the
successful sale of our global data business,” said Ed Evans, Chief Executive
Officer. “We expect to continue the payment of quarterly dividends and further
enhance the value we provide to our shareholders as our business continues to
perform well.”

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“This announcement is an extremely positive one for all Inteliquent
shareholders,” said Gregory P. Taxin, Managing Director of Clinton Group. “We
appreciate the Board’s actions and believe the sale of the global data business,
the return of approximately $40 million to shareholders, the ongoing dividend
and the commitment to further augment the Board are all well considered steps
that will help create significant shareholder value.”

“Based on our solid balance sheet and the confidence we have in our strong cash
flow profile, we believed that now was the right time in our corporate history
to adopt a regular quarterly dividend policy, as well as to make another special
dividend payment from our excess cash,” said David Zwick, Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that involve
substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of
historical fact, included in this press release are forward-looking statements.
The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “efforts,” “expects,” “estimates,”
“projects,” “proposed,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “would,” and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not
all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results
or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations
disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Factors that might cause
such differences include, but are not limited to: the effects of competition,
including direct connects, and downward pricing pressure resulting from such
competition; risks associated with the sale of our data business, including
issues regarding separating our network, IT and billing systems from the network
and systems sold to the buyer, and that the cost savings and other benefits we
hope to receive may not materialize in part or at all; our ability to maintain
relationships with business providers following the sale of the data business;
risks associated with the changes to our capital structure resulting from the
declaration and payment of any special one-time cash dividend or recurring
dividend; our regular review of strategic alternatives; the impact of current
and future regulation, including intercarrier compensation reform enacted by the
Federal Communications Commission; the risks associated

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with our ability to successfully develop and market new services, many of which
are beyond our control and all of which could delay or negatively affect our
ability to offer or market new services; technological developments; the ability
to obtain and protect intellectual property rights; the impact of current or
future litigation; the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers or
divestitures; natural or man-made disasters; the ability to attract, develop and
retain executives and other qualified employees; changes in general economic or
market conditions; and other important factors included in our reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), particularly in the
“Risk Factors” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended
December 31, 2012, as such Risk Factors may be updated from time to time in
subsequent reports. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of
such statements.

About Inteliquent

Headquartered in Chicago, Inteliquent is a leading provider of wholesale voice
services for carriers and service providers. Inteliquent is used by nearly all
national and regional wireless carriers, cable companies and CLECs in the
markets it serves, and its network carries approximately ten billion minutes of
traffic per month. Please visit Inteliquent’s website at www.inteliquent.com and
follow us on Twitter@Inteliquent.

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