Exhibit 10.42


SEPARATION
AND RELEASE agreement


 


This SEPARATION
AND RELEASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of December 31, 2013 (the “Execution
Date”), by and between Cyalume Specialty Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
James G. Schleck, an individual residing in the State of New Jersey (the “Employee”), each a “Party,”
and collectively, the “Parties.”


 


RECITALS


 


WHEREAS, the
Company and the Employee were parties to that certain Employment Agreement effective September 1, 2011, as amended by that certain
First Amendment dated December 27, 2012 (as amended, the “Employment Agreement”) pursuant to which Employee
was employed by the Company as President;


 


WHEREAS, pursuant
to Section 8(b) of the Employment Agreement, the Employment Agreement was terminated by mutual agreement of the Company and the
Employee effective December 31, 2013, provided however, that Sections 4 (Noncompetition by Employee), 5 (Confidentiality), 6 (Non-Solicitation),
Section 7 (Violation of the Agreement) and 12 (Inventions, Etc.) (collectively, the “Restrictive Covenants”)
survived the termination of the Employment Agreement and remain in full force and effect as clarified and amended in the Consulting
Agreement between Employee and Company dated December __, 2013 (the “Consulting Agreement”);


 


WHEREAS, the
Company and the Employee, in order to settle, compromise and fully and finally release any and all claims and potential claims
between the Parties (and the Released Parties, as defined below in Section 4) arising out of Employee’s employment
and the cessation thereof, have agreed to resolve these matters on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and


 


WHEREAS, the
Employee acknowledges he is waiving rights and claims described herein in exchange for consideration in addition to anything of
value to which he is already entitled.


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the parties agree as follows:


 


AGREEMENT


 


1.                 
Recitals. The foregoing recitals are true and correct, and are material
to and incorporated into this Agreement. The portion of this Agreement pertaining to the Employee’s general release of all
claims (Section 4 herein) shall become effective on the eighth calendar day after the Execution Date (hereinafter referred to as
the “Effective Release Date”), so long as the Employee has not revoked the provisions of Section 4 herein in accordance
with the provisions set forth in Section 11 of this Agreement. 


 


2.                 
End of Employment. The Employee’s employment with the Company shall
end effective as of the end of business on December 31, 2013 (the “End Date”). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Employee shall continue to be available by telephone for consultation with management of the Company during normal business
hours to aid in the transition of management of the Company.


 


3.                 
Severance Payments. In accordance with Section 3(b) of the Employment Agreement
and in full satisfaction of the Company’s obligations to the Employee under such Employment Agreement and for his services
to the Company, and in consideration for the agreements of the Employee set forth herein (including, without limitation, the full
and final release given by the Employee under Section 4 of this Agreement, the Covenant Not to Sue given by the Employee
under Section 7 of this Agreement and the Restrictive Covenants), the Company shall provide the Employee with continued
payment of the Employee’s base salary and 401k match for six (6) months following the End Date until June 30, 2014, such
payments to be made monthly in arrears in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices, and subject to payroll
deductions and tax withholdings in accordance with the Company’s usual practices and as required by law, provided, that the
Employee continues to abide by this Agreement. 


 






    	 



    	 



    

 


4.                 
General Release of All Claims By Employee. In consideration of, and as a
condition to the Company’s agreement to pay the severance payments set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement, the Employee,
for himself, his spouse (if any), their marital community (if any), and their respective heirs, estates, representatives, executors,
successors and assigns, hereby fully, forever, irrevocably, and unconditionally release and discharge the Company, its subsidiaries,
parent companies, employee benefit plans, any co-employers or joint employers, their officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys,
administrators, representatives, successors, heirs, assigns, and all persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with them
(collectively referred to hereinafter as the “Released Parties”), from any and all claims which he or they may
have against them, or any of them, which could have arisen out of any act or omission occurring from the beginning of time to the
Effective Release Date of this Agreement, whether now known or unknown, asserted or unasserted relating solely to the Employee’s
employment with the Company, subsidiaries and parent companies. This release includes, but is not limited to, any and all claims
brought or that could be brought under any agreement between the Company and the Employee (except for this Agreement, the Amended
and Restated Promissory Note dated November 19, 2013 (the “Promissory Note”), the Stock Option Agreement dated
December 27, 2012 (the “Option Agreement”) and the Consulting Agreement by and between the Company and the Employee
dated the date hereof (the “Consulting Agreement”)), as well as any and all claims brought or that could be
brought to pursuant to or under the Americans with Disabilities Act; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination
in Employment Act (ADEA); the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Family and Medical Leave
Act (FMLA); the National Labor Relations Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); the Employee Retirement and Income Security
Act (ERISA); the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA); the Rehabilitation Act, the Labor Management Relations
Act, the Equal Pay Act; the United States Constitution; any and all statutes, rules ordinances, rules or regulations under New
Jersey law, each and all as amended, and any other statute set forth in the statutes or codes of any state, including but not limited
to New Jersey, that pertain or relate to, or otherwise touches upon, the employment relationship between the Company and the Employee
and the Released Parties; including (but not limited to) any and all actions for breach of contract, express or implied, breach
of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, express or implied, promissory estoppel, wrongful termination in violation of public
policy, all other claims for wrongful termination and constructive discharge, and all other tort claims, including, but not limited
to, assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional interference with contractual relations, intentional or negligent infliction
of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, negligence, negligent investigation, negligent hiring, supervision, or retention, defamation,
intentional or negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and any and all other laws and regulations relating to employment, employment
termination, employment discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, wages, hours, employee benefits, compensation, sexual harassment,
and any and all claims for attorneys’ fees and costs, whether arising out of, under, or pursuant to any federal, state, or
local statute, law, regulation, ordinance, or order. This release of claims expressly includes, but is not limited to, any and
all claims arising out of and/or in any way related to the Employee’s employment with the Company or the circumstances of
the termination of that employment, whether known by him at the time of execution of this Agreement or not, including any such
claims that could be brought for breach of or otherwise relating to any agreements between the Company and the Employee, other
than this Agreement, whether oral or written, including, but not limited to, the Employment Agreement. This release of claims further
expressly includes, without limitation, any claim(s) for any unpaid wages, bonus amounts, or any other compensation from the Company.
By signing this Agreement, however, the Employee does not waive any rights or claims that may arise under this Agreement, the Promissory
Note, the Option Agreement or the Consulting Agreement, nor does he waive any vested rights he may have under the terms of any
profit-sharing, retirement, or similar employee welfare benefit plan administered or sponsored by the Company or any rights to
indemnification or insurance coverage available to the Employee from or through the Company.


 






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5.                 
Adequate Consideration. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s
agreement to make the severance payments set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement, provides substantial consideration to
the Employee in addition to anything of value to which he is, as a matter of law, otherwise entitled as an Employee. 


 


6.                 
No Pending Claims. The Employee represents and warrants that there are no claims, charges, lawsuits, or any
similar matters of any kind filed by him or on his behalf or for his benefit presently pending against the Company or the Released
Parties, or any of them, in any forum whatsoever, including, without limitation, in any state or federal court, or before any federal,
state, or local administrative agency, board, or governing body. The Employee further represents and warrants that the Employee
has not heretofore assigned or transferred, or purported to assign or transfer, to any person, firm, corporation or entity any
claim, charge, lawsuit, or any similar matter of any kind herein released.


 


7.                 
Covenant Not to Sue. The Employee represents and warrants that he has not assigned or transferred or purported
to assign or transfer any claim against the Released Parties, and is fully entitled to release the same, and he has not currently
filed any lawsuits or actions with any federal, state, or local court or any federal, state, or local administrative agency, board,
or governing body, against the Company or the Released Parties, or any of them. The Employee specifically covenants not to file
any lawsuits, complaints, claims, or charges, either on his own behalf or in any representative capacity, in any federal, state
or local court or before any federal, state, or local administrative agency, board, or governing body against the Company or the
Released Parties, or any of them, on and/or for any and all of the claims released by this Agreement.


 


8.                 
Acknowledgment of Restrictive Covenants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Parties
acknowledge and agree that the Restrictive Covenants shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective
terms as amended and modified in the Consulting Agreement. Employee acknowledges that
the Restrictive Covenants are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Company.


 


9.                 
Preclusive Effect of Agreement. The Employee acknowledges, understands, and agrees that this Agreement may
be pled as a complete bar to any action or suit for any and all claims released by this Agreement before any court or administrative
body with respect to any lawsuit, complaint, charge, or claim under federal, state, local, or other law relating to any possible
claim that existed or may have existed against the Company or the Released Parties, or any of them, arising out of any event occurring
from the beginning of time through the Effective Release Date of this Agreement.


 


10.             
Review. A copy of this Agreement was delivered to Employee on December 26, 2013. The Employee is advised that
he has twenty-one (21) days from the date he is presented with this Agreement to consider the general release of all claims set
forth in Section 4 of this Agreement. If the Employee executes this Agreement below with respect to the general release
of all claims set forth herein before the expiration of twenty-one (21) days, he acknowledges that he has done so for the purpose
of expediting the payment of the consideration provided for herein, and that he has expressly waived his right to take twenty-one
(21) days to consider this Agreement.


 






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11.             
Revocation. Employee may revoke his agreement to the general release of all claims set forth in Section
4 of this Agreement for a period of seven (7) days after he signs it. The Employee agrees that if he elects to revoke Section
4 of this Agreement, he will notify the Company, in writing via certified mail, on or before the expiration of the revocation
period. Receipt by the Company of proper and timely notice of revocation cancels and voids Section 4 of this Agreement.


 


12.             
Knowing and Voluntary; ADEA Waiver. The Employee represents and warrants that he was advised by the Company
to consult with an attorney of his own choosing concerning the provisions set forth herein, and that he has thoroughly discussed
all aspects of this Agreement with counsel of his choosing, or that he had the opportunity to do so. The Employee further represents
and warrants that he has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement, including the fact that
he is releasing all claims and potential claims against the Company and the Released Parties, and that he is entering into this
Agreement, without coercion, and with full knowledge of its significance and the legal consequences thereof. The Employee represents
and warrants that as part of this Agreement, he is knowingly and voluntarily releasing and waiving any claims he believes he may
have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.


 


13.             
Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of the parties hereto, their heirs, personal representatives, successors or assigns.


 


14.             
Non-Admission. Execution of this Agreement and compliance with its terms shall not be considered or deemed
an admission by the Company of any liability whatsoever, or as an admission by the Company of any violation of the Employee’s
rights or the rights of any other person, a violation of any order, law, statute or duty, or breach of any duty owed to the Employee,
or any other person. The Company specifically disclaims any and all such liability.


 


15.             
Cooperation. The Employee agrees, until December 31, 2014, to provide reasonable assistance to the Company
(including assistance with litigation and arbitration matters, if any), upon the Company’s reasonable request, concerning
the Employee’s previous employment-related responsibilities. Such assistance may include, but is not limited to, communicating
and/or meeting with the Company’s attorneys, giving deposition testimony, attending depositions, reviewing pleadings, including
discovery pleadings, executing documents, and attending and giving testimony in court and arbitration proceedings. The Employee
will also perform all acts and execute and deliver any documents that may be reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of
this paragraph. If requested, the Employee agrees to provide the Company with reasonable assistance, including, without limitation,
providing information, in connection with the transition of his employment duties and responsibilities to others and matters with
which he was involved during his employment with the Company. The Company agrees to pay or promptly reimburse the Employee for
all reasonable costs and expenses of the Employee incurred in connection with the provision of service or assistance by the Employee
under this Section 15, which the Employee agrees to submit in writing to the Company in advance, to the extent possible,
for pre-approval by the Company.


 


16.             
Non-Disparagement. The Employee agrees that neither he nor anyone acting on his behalf will make, directly,
indirectly, or anonymously, any derogatory or disparaging statement about the Company or the Released Parties, or any of them,
to any individual or entity, including, but not limited to, the Company or the Released Parties actual or potential clients, customers,
vendors, business partners, suppliers, employees, financial or credit institutions, or the media or general public, nor directly
or indirectly take any action which is intended to embarrass the other Party. For purposes of this Section 16, a derogatory
or disparaging statement is any communication, oral or written, which would cause or to tend to cause the recipient of the communication
to question the business condition, integrity, competence, fairness, or good character of the person to whom or entity to which
the communication relates.


 






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17.             
Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire understanding of
the parties with respect to the matters set forth in this Agreement and supersedes any previous agreements entered into between
the parties and may only be amended or altered by a writing executed by all parties hereto.


 


18.             
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of the Parties submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court
sitting in Delaware, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and irrevocably waives any objection
to proceeding before such courts based upon lack of personal jurisdiction or inconvenient forum. Each Party irrevocably consents
to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, to such Party at the address set forth in Section 19 below, such service to become effective three days
after such mailing.


 


19.             
Notices. All notices and payments required or permitted hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) five (5) days
after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (c) one (1) day after deposit
with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications
shall be sent to the party to be notified at the following address:


 


    If to the Company to:


 


Cyalume Specialty Products,
Inc.


c/o Cyalume Technologies,
Inc.


96 Windsor Street


West Springfield, MA
01089


Attention: President


 


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


 


Greenberg Traurig,
P.A.


401 East Last Olas
Blvd., Suite 2000


Fort Lauderdale, Florida
33301


Attention: Bruce I. March, Esq.


 


    If to the Employee to:


 


James G. Schleck


15 Washington Place


Metuchen, NJ 08840


 


or to such other address as the person
to whom notice is to be given may have specified in a notice duly given to the sender as provided herein.


 


20.             
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid
or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then all remaining provisions shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest
extent of the law, and the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed not to be a part of this Agreement.


 






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21.             
Waiver. The failure of a Party to insist upon strict adherence to any obligation of this Agreement shall not
be considered a waiver or deprive that Party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other
term of this Agreement. Any waiver of any provision of this Agreement must be in a written instrument signed and delivered by the
Party waiving the provision.


 


22.             
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original,
but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 


 


23.             
Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Employee without the
prior written consent of the Company. The rights and obligations of this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing expressed or implied herein shall be construed to give any other person
any legal or equitable rights hereunder. 


 


24.             
Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, supplemented, canceled
or discharged, except by written instrument executed by all parties hereto. No failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising,
any right, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right,
power or privilege hereunder preclude the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver of any breach of any provision
shall be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision, nor shall any waiver be
implied from any course of dealing between the parties hereto. No extension of time for performance of any obligations or other
acts hereunder or under any other agreement shall be deemed to be an extension of the time for performance of any other obligations
or any other acts. The rights and remedies of the parties under this Agreement are in addition to all other rights and remedies,
at law or equity, that they may have against each other.


 


25.             
Confidentiality. The Employee agrees that he will not disclose, either
directly or indirectly, this Agreement, the transactions to be performed in connection with this Agreement, or the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated
organization, or other entity, including but not limited to current or former employees of the Company or the Released Parties,
members of the press and media, and other members of the general public. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee may permissibly
disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement to his spouse, however, his spouse shall be bound to the confidentiality provisions
set forth in this section. This section shall not prohibit the Employee and his attorney(s) from disclosing the terms of this
Agreement to his tax advisor(s) to the extent necessary to prepare his income tax returns and to represent him in connection with
any proceedings relating thereto, or from advising a governmental taxing authority of the consideration being paid to him, or
of the existence of this Agreement in response to a question or questions posed by such taxing authority. The Parties agree that
it shall not be a breach of this Agreement if the Employee’s disclosure of such information has been compelled through the
issuance of compulsory legal process, provided, however, that in such case, Employee agrees to give Employer reasonable notice
(care of Matthew W. Miller, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 401 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33301) of the
order or subpoena in question and an opportunity to challenge the disclosure of any such information before the appropriate court
or agency. It shall not be a breach of this section for the Employee to disclose the terms of this Agreement in a suit to enforce
the terms of this Agreement or defend a claim that this Agreement has been breached. The Employee understands and agrees that
this confidentiality provision is a material term of this Agreement, and that his agreement to this provision concerning confidentiality
is a material inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement.


 






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26.             
Further Assurances. The Parties shall execute and deliver any other instruments
or documents and take any further actions after the execution of this Agreement, which may be reasonably required for the implementation
of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.


 


27.             
Paragraph Titles. The paragraph titles in this Agreement are for convenience only; they form no part of this
Agreement and shall not affect its interpretation.


 


28.             
Construction. The Parties hereto acknowledge and agree that each Party has participated in the drafting of
this Agreement and has had the opportunity to have this document reviewed by the respective legal counsel for the Parties hereto
and that the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall
not be applied to the interpretation of this Agreement. No inference in favor of, or against, any Party shall be drawn from the
fact that one Party has drafted any portion hereof.


 


29.             
Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. The Parties agree that each Party will bear its own costs and attorneys’
fees in connection with all matters related to the subject matter of this Agreement and the resolution and settlement of those
matters encompassed by this Agreement. Should any legal action be commenced arising out of or related to this Agreement, the prevailing
Party in any such action shall be entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred therein.


 


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Execution Date set forth above.


 





	 	COMPANY:
	 	 	 
	 	CYALUME SPECIALTY PRODUCTS, INC.
	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Zivi Nedivi
	 	Name:  	Zivi Nedivi
	 	Title:	Chief Executive Officer
	 	 	 
	 	EMPLOYEE:
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ James G. Schleck
	 	 	James G. Schleck, individually