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                                                                   Exhibit 10.4

                              ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

          THIS ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of April 22,
2002 (the "Effective Date"), by and among Pioglobal Forest, L.L.C., a Delaware,
USA limited liability company (the "Company") and FM, LLC, a Delaware , USA
limited liability company ("FM LLC"). The Company and FM LLC are collectively
referred to herein as the "Parties" and each individually as a "Party".

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, pursuant to a certain Assignment Agreement, dated as of April
22, 2002, by and among the Company, FM LLC and Closed Joint-Stock Company
"Forest-Starma" ("Forest-Starma"), FM LLC has assigned to the Company all of FM
LLC's right title and interest in and to a certain Secondment Agreement, dated
as of April 1, 1996, as amended, between FM LLC and Forest-Starma (the
"Secondment Agreement");

         WHEREAS, pursuant to a certain Assignment Agreement, dated as of
November 16, 2001, PIOGlobal Corporation assigned to FM LLC all of its right and
title and interest in and to certain consulting and loan agreements with foreign
specialists who are seconded to Forest-Starma under the Secondment Agreement;

          WHEREAS, in connection with the assignment of its rights and
obligations under the Secondment Agreement to the Company, FM LLC desires to
assign to the Company, as of the Effective Date, all of FM LLC's right, title
and interest in and to the consulting agreements with foreign specialists listed
in Schedule A hereto and the loan agreements with foreign specialists listed in
Schedule B hereoto (the foregoing referred to hereafter collectively as the
"Foreign Specialist Agreements"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to accept the foregoing assignment and to
assume, as of the Effective Date, all liabilities, obligations, claims, costs
and expenses of FM LLC arising under the Foreign Specialist Agreements.

         NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto covenant and
agree as follows:

1.       FM LLC hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers, conveys and surrenders to
         the Company all of FM LLC's right, title and interest in and to the
         Consulting Agreements and all benefits and rights relating thereto, as
         well as all of FM LLC's liabilities and obligations arising under the
         Foreign Specialist Agreements to the extent arising in respect of
         periods from and after the Effective Date.

2.       The Company hereby accepts the foregoing assignment and assumes, as of
         the Effective Date, all liabilities, obligations, claims, costs and
         expenses of FM LLC

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         arising under the Foreign Specialist Agreements in respect of
         the period from and after the Effective Date, and hereby agrees to
         perform, pay and discharge all liabilities and obligations and observe
         all of the covenants therein contained to be performed, paid,
         discharged or observed by FM LLC to the extent arising in respect of
         periods from and after the Effective Date.

3.       This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the
         Parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

4.       Each of the Parties agrees to promptly execute and deliver such other
         instruments as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of
         this Agreement or reasonably required by any Party to perfect or
         evidence its rights hereunder.

5.       This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
         substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving
         effect to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.

6.       The Parties shall use their best efforts to resolve all disputes and
         controversies arising under this Agreement through negotiations. If the
         Parties cannot resolve a dispute through negotiations within 30
         (thirty) calendar days from commencement of efforts to resolve the
         dispute, the Parties shall refer the dispute to an arbitrator in
         Boston, Massachusetts, USA in accordance with the Rules of the American
         Arbitration Association. An award of the arbitrator shall be
         enforceable at any court of competent jurisdiction and shall be final
         and binding on all Parties.

7.       This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
         deemed an original and all of which, when taken together, shall
         constitute one and same instrument, binding on all Parties, and the
         signature of any Party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature
         to, and may be appended to, any other counterpart.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers or agents,
effective as of the date first above written.

                                            PIOGLOBAL FOREST, L.L.C.

                                            By:  /s/ Stephen G. Kasnet
                                                ------------------------
                                            Its:  President
                                                ------------------------

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                                            FM, LLC

                                            By: /s/  Donald H. Hunter
                                                ---------------------
                                            Its: Vice President and Treasurer

                                      3

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                             Schedule A

                       Consulting Agreements

Consulting Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal
Corporation and David Gibson

Consulting Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal
Corporation and Philip Gunnion

Consulting Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal
Corporation and Derek Maughan

Consulting Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2001, between PIOGlobal Corporation
and Raymond Dwyer

Consulting Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2001, between PIOGlobal
Corporation and Michael Parkin

Consulting Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal
Corporation and Alvin Yates

Consulting Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal
Corporation and David Daggett

Consulting Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2001, between FM, LLC and Colin
Johnson

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                                   Schedule B

                                 Loan Agreements

Loan Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal Corporation and
David Gibson

Loan Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal Corporation and
Philip Gunnion

Loan Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal Corporation and
Derek Maughan

Loan Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2001, between PIOGlobal Corporation and
Raymond Dwyer

Loan Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2001, between PIOGlobal Corporation and
Michael Parkin

Loan Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal Corporation and
Alvin Yates

Loan Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2001, between PIOGlobal Corporation and
David Daggett

Loan Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2001, between FM, LLC and Colin Johnson

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