Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.40

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 19, 1999 (this
"Agreement"), is made by and among XYBERNAUT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and Balmore Funds, S.A., a corporation organized under the laws
of the British Virgin Islands, and Austost Anstalt Schaan, a corporation
organized under the laws of Liechtenstein (the "Investors").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of November 19, 1999, by and among the Investors and the
Company (the "Purchase Agreement"), the Company has agreed to issue and sell to
the Investors 1,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of the Company, for an aggregate principal amount not exceeding
$3,000,000 (the "Shares"); and

     WHEREAS, to induce the Investors to execute and deliver the Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "Securities
Act"), with respect to the Shares;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Investors
hereby agree as follows:

     1.   DEFINITIONS.

     (a)  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

          (i)   "Investors" means the Investors and any permitted transferee or
assignee who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with Section 9 hereof.

          (ii)  "Potential Material Event" means any of the following: (a) the
possession by the Company of material information not ripe for disclosure in a
registration statement, which shall be evidenced by determinations in good faith
by the Board of Directors of the Company that disclosure of such information in
the registration statement would be detrimental to the business and affairs of
the Company; or (b) any material engagement or activity by the Company which
would, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Company,
be adversely affected by disclosure in a registration statement at such time,
which determination shall be accompanied by a good faith determination by the
Board of Directors of the Company that the registration statement would be
materially misleading absent the inclusion of such information.

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          (iii) "Register," "Registered," and "Registration" refer to
registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a
continuous basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness
of such Registration Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").

          (iv)  "Registrable Securities" means the Shares.

          (v)   "Registration Statement" means a registration statement of the
Company under the Securities Act.

     (b)  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

     2.   REGISTRATION.

     (a)  MANDATORY REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare and file with the
SEC on or before November 30, 1999 (the "Filing Date") a Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (or such other applicable form), registering for resale by the
Investors all of the Shares, or an amendment to any pending Company Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (or such other applicable form) and such Registration
Statement or amended Registration Statement shall state that, in accordance with
Rule 457 under the Securities Act, it also covers such indeterminate number of
additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable to prevent dilution
resulting from stock splits, or stock dividends, and the Company shall use its
best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective by
December 15, 1999 but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the Filing
Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if 500,000 freely tradable shares of Common
Stock have been delivered to the Investors prior to the filing of a Registration
Statement, then the Filing Date shall be within ten (10) days after the 1999
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which is scheduled to occur on
December 21, 1999, but in no event later than December 31, 1999. If the Company
is notified orally or in writing by the SEC that the SEC has no comments with
respect to the Registration Statement (the "SEC Notice"), the Company shall use
its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective no
later than five (5) business days after receipt of the SEC Notice.

     (b)  Payments by the Company.

          (i)   If the Registration Statement covering the Registrable
Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof
has not been filed by the Filing Date (the "Required Filing Date") and/or has
not been declared effective by the earlier of (i) five (5) business days after
the Company receives the SEC Notice and (ii) ninety (90) days after the Filing
Date (the "Required Effective Date") (except as provided by the last sentence of
Section 2(a) with respect to the registration of additional shares of Common
Stock), then the Company will make payments to the Investors in such amounts and
at such times as shall be determined pursuant to this Section 2(b).

          (ii)  The amount to be paid by the Company to the Investors as

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liquidated damages for such failure and not as a penalty shall be equal to one
percent (1%) of the purchase price paid by the Investors for all shares of
Common Stock purchased and then outstanding pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
for the initial thirty (30) day period until the Registration Statement has been
filed and/or declared effective, which shall be pro rated for such periods less
than thirty (30) days and two percent (2%) of the purchase price paid by the
Investors for each thirty (30) day period thereafter until the Registration
Statement has been filed and/or declared effective (which shall be also pro
rated, as aforesaid) (the "Periodic Amount"). The liquidated damages shall be
paid by the Company in cash upon demand.

          (iii) The parties acknowledge that the damages which may be incurred
by the Investors if the Registration Statement is not filed by the Required
Filing Date or if the Registration Statement has not been declared effective by
the Required Effective Date may be difficult to ascertain. The parties agree
that the Periodic Amount represents a reasonable estimate on the part of the
parties, as of the date of this Agreement, of the amount of such damages.

          (iv)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amounts payable by the
Company pursuant to this provision shall not be payable to the extent any delay
in the effectiveness of the Registration Statement occurs because of an act of,
or a failure to act or to act timely by the Investors or its counsel, or as a
result of force majeure, or in the event all of the Registrable Securities may
be sold pursuant to Rule 144 (without volume limitation) or another available
exemption under the Act. The payment of such liquidated damages shall not
relieve the Company from its obligations to register the Registrable Securities.
If the Company does not pay the liquidated damages in a timely fashion set forth
herein, it will pay to the Investors the reasonable costs of collection,
including attorneys fees, in addition to the liquidated damages.

     3.   OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. In connection with the registration of the
Registrable Securities, the Company shall do each of the following.

     (a)  Prepare promptly and file with the SEC not later than the Filing Date,
a Registration Statement with respect to not less than the number of Registrable
Securities provided in Section 2(a), above, and thereafter use its best efforts
to cause each Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities to
become effective the earlier of (i) five (5) business days after receipt of the
SEC Notice and (ii) ninety (90) days after the Filing Date and keep the
Registration Statement effective at all times until the earliest (the
"Registration Period") of (i) the date that is two years after the Filing Date,
(ii) the date when the Investors may sell all Registrable Securities pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act (without volume limitation) or (iii) the date
the Investors no longer owns any of the Registrable Securities, which
Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and
prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which
they were made, not misleading;

     (b)  Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration Statement and the
prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration

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effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during the
Registration Period, comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered
by the Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable
Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in the Registration
Statement;

     (c)  The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated by the
Investors to review the Registration Statement and all amendments and
supplements thereto a reasonable period of time (but not less than three (3)
business days) prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document in
a form to which such counsel reasonably objects.

     (d)  Furnish to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in
the Registration Statement and its legal counsel identified to the Company, (i)
promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the
SEC, or received by the Company, one (1) copy of the Registration Statement,
each preliminary prospectus and prospectus, and each amendment or supplement
thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of a prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto and such other documents, as the Investors may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned by such Investors;

     (e)  As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, but in
no event later than one (1) business day thereafter, the Company shall notify
the Investors in writing of (x) the issuance by the SEC of a stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (y) the happening of
any event of which the Company has knowledge as a result of which the prospectus
included in the Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (z) the occurrence
or existence of any pending corporate development that, in the reasonable
discretion of the Company, makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of
the Registration Statement, and promptly to prepare and file a supplement or
amendment to the Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or
omission, and deliver two (2) copies of such supplement or amendment to the
Investors or such additional copies as the Investors may reasonably request;
provided that, for not more than twenty (20) days (or a total of not more than
forty-five (45) days in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may delay the
disclosure of material non-public information concerning the Company (as well as
prospectus or Registration Statement updating) the disclosure of which at the
time is not, in the good faith opinion of the Company, the best interests of the
Company and in the opinion of counsel to the Company (an "Allowed Delay");
provided, further, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Investors in
writing of the existence of material non-public information giving rise to an
Allowed Delay and (ii) advise the Investors in writing to cease all sales under
the Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay. Upon expiration
of the Allowed Delay, the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of
this Section 3(e) with respect to the information giving rise thereto, and shall
be obligated to pay to the Investors any amounts provided for in Section 2(b).

     (f)  As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, but in
no

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event later than one (1) business day thereafter, notify the Investors who holds
Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of an underwritten offering,
the managing underwriters) of the issuance by the SEC of a Notice of
Effectiveness or any notice of effectiveness or any stop order or other
suspension of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement at the earliest
possible time;

     (g)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time or from time to time
after the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company
notifies the Investors in writing of the existence of a Potential Material
Event, the Investors shall not offer or sell any Registrable Securities, or
engage in any other transaction involving or relating to the Registrable
Securities, from the time of the giving of notice with respect to a Potential
Material Event until the Investors receives written notice from the Company that
such Potential Material Event either has been disclosed to the public or no
longer constitutes a Potential Material Event; provided, however, that the
Company may not so suspend the right to such holders of Registrable Securities
for more than two twenty (20) day periods in the aggregate during any 12-month
period (the "Suspension Period") with at least a ten (10) business day interval
between such periods, during the periods the Registration Statement is required
to be in effect;

     (h)  Provide a transfer agent and registrar, which may be a single entity,
for the Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of the
Registration Statement;

     (i)  Cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities being
offered to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates for
the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement
and enable such certificates for the Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations or amounts as the case may be, as the Investors may reasonably
request, and, within three (3) business days after a Registration Statement
which includes Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the
Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel selected by the Company to
deliver, to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with copies to
the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement) an appropriate instruction and opinion of such counsel;

     (j)  Take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate
disposition by the Investors of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement;

     (k)  The Company shall register and qualify the securities covered by the
Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the Investors shall reasonably request, and do any and all
other acts and things which may be necessary or advisable to enable each
Investor to consummate the public sale or other disposition in such jurisdiction
of the securities owned by such Investor;

     4.   OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS. In connection with the registration of
the Registrable Securities, the Investors shall have the following obligations:

     (a)  It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to
complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the
Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish
to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities
held by it, and the intended method of disposition of the

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Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably requested by the
Company in writing to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and
shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company
may reasonably request. At least two (2) business days prior to the first
anticipated filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify
each Investor of the information the Company requires from such Investor (the
"Requested Information"). If at least one (1) business day prior to the filing
date of the Registration Statement the Company has not received the Requested
Information from an Investor (a "Non-Responsive Investor"), then the Company may
file the Registration Statement without including Registrable Securities of such
Non-Responsive Investor;

     (b)  Each Investor by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable
Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of
such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from the Registration Statement; and

     (c)  Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e), 3(f) or
3(k), above, such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such
Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(e), 3(f) or 3(k)
and, if so directed by the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company
(at the expense of the Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a
certificate of destruction) all copies in such Investor's possession, of the
prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt
of such notice.

     5.   EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. All reasonable expenses, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions incurred in connection with
registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Section 3, but including,
without limitation, all registration, listing, and qualifications fees, printers
and accounting fees, the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company,
shall be borne by the Company.

     6.   INDEMNIFICATION. In the event any Registrable Securities are included
in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:

     (a)  To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold
harmless each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities, the directors, if
any, of such Investor, the officers and agents, if any, of such Investor, each
person, if any, who controls any Investor within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act (each, an "Indemnified Person" or "Indemnified Party"),
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (joint or several)
incurred (collectively, "Claims") to which any of them may become subject under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claims (or
actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or
violations in the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment
thereof, or any prospectus included therein: (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or
any

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post-effective amendment thereof or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the final prospectus (as amended or
supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto
with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material
fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading or
(iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law (the matters in the
foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, "Violations"). Subject
to clause (b) of this Section 6, the Company shall reimburse the Investors,
promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal
fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 6(a) shall not (I) apply to a Claim arising out of or based upon a
Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person
expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration
Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such
prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c)
hereof; (II) be available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the
Investors to deliver or cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by
the Company; or (III) apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such
settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Each Investor will indemnify the
Company and its officers, directors and agents against any claims arising out of
or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to the Company, by or on behalf of such
Investor, expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement, subject to such limitations and conditions as are
applicable to the Indemnification provided by the Company to this Section 6.
Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive
the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section
9.

     (b)  Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental action), such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a
Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this
Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the
commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to
participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the
defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and
the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be. In case any
such action is brought against any Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party, and
it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish,
jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, assume the defense
thereof, subject to the provisions herein stated and after notice from the
indemnifying party to such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be
liable to such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6 for
any legal

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or other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses subsequently incurred by such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation, unless the indemnifying party
shall not pursue the action of its final conclusion. The Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of such counsel shall not be at the expense of the
indemnifying party if the indemnifying party has assumed the defense of the
action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying
party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not
relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the
indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action. The
indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of
the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as such
expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred and is due and payable.

     7.   CONTRIBUTION. To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying
party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the
maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be
liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided,
however, that (a) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the
maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards
set forth in Section 6; (b) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable
Securities who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation; and (c)
contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount
to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such
Registrable Securities.

     8.   REPORTS UNDER EXCHANGE ACT. With a view to making available to the
Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any
other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the
Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration
("Rule 144"), the Company agrees to:

     (a)  make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144;

     (b)  file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and

     (c)  furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable
Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that
it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report
of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company and
(iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the
Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.

     9.   ASSIGNMENT OF THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights to have the Company
register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be
automatically assigned by the

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Investors to any transferee of the Registrable Securities only if: (a) the
Investors agree in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such
rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a
reasonable time after such assignment, (b) the Company is, within a reasonable
time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (i) the
name and address of such transferee or assignee and (ii) the securities with
respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (c)
immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of
such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Securities
Act and applicable state securities laws, and (d) at or before the time the
Company received the written notice contemplated by clause (b) of this sentence
the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all
of the provisions contained herein. In the event of any delay in filing or
effectiveness of the Registration Statement as a result of such assignment, the
Company shall not be liable for any damages arising from such delay, or the
payments set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

     10.  AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Any provision of this Agreement may
be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a
particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the
written consent of the Company and the Investors. Any amendment or waiver
effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon the Investor
and the Company.

     11.  MISCELLANEOUS. (a) A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of
Registrable Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such
Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions,
notices or elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the
same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of
instructions, notice or election received from the registered owner of such
Registrable Securities.

     (b)  Notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed effectively given, (i) on the date delivered, (a) by
personal delivery, or (b) if advance copy is given by fax, (ii) seven business
days after deposit in the United States Postal Service by regular or certified
mail, (iii) three business days mailing by international express courier, with
postage and fees prepaid, addressed to each of the other parties thereunto
entitled at the following addresses, or at such other addresses as a party may
designate by ten days advance written notice to each of the other parties
hereto, (iv) if to the Company, XYBERNAUT CORPORATION, 12701 Fair Lakes Circle,
Suite 550, Fairfax, Virginia 22033, Facsimile no.: (703) 631-7660, ATTN: Dr.
Steven A. Newman, Vice Chairman, with a copy to the Company's Chief Financial
Officer and a copy to Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl, LLP, 1211 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York 10036, Facsimile no.: (212) 704-6288, ATTN: Martin
Eric Weisberg, Esq.; (v) if to the Investors, BALMORE FUNDS, S.A., c/o Trident
Trust Company (BVI) Limited, Trident Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, British
Virgin Islands, Facsimile no.: 011-411-201-4800, ATTN: Francois Morax and
AUSTOST ANSTALT SCHAAN, Ladstrasse 163, 9494 Furstentums, Vaduz, Liechtenstein,
Facsimile no.: 011-431-534-532-895, ATTN: Thomas Hackl and (vi) if to any other
Investor, at such address as such Investor shall have provided in writing to the
Company, or at such other address as each such party furnishes by notice given
in accordance with this Section 11(b), and shall be effective, when personally

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delivered, upon receipt and, when so sent by certified mail, four (4) calendar
days after deposit with the United States Postal Service.

     (c)  Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this
Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy,
shall not operate as a waiver thereof.

     (d)  This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the principles
thereof regarding the conflict of laws. Each of the parties consents to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts whose districts encompass any part
of the City of New York in connection with any dispute arising under this
Agreement and hereby waives, to the maximum extent permitted by law, any
objection, including any objection based on forum non conveniens, to the
bringing of any such proceeding in such jurisdictions. Each party waives its
right to a trial by jury. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to
the service of process in any such proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof
by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to such party at its address
set forth herein or its agent. Each Investor appoints Parker Chapin Flattau &
Klimpl, LLP as such Investor's agent for service of process in any such
proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law.

     (e)  This Agreement and the Purchase Agreement constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than
those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof.

     (f)  Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each
of the parties hereto.

     (g)  All pronouns and any variations thereof refer to the masculine,
feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the context may require.

     (h)  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning thereof.

     (i)  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the
same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to
the other party hereto by telephone line facsimile transmission of a copy of
this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.

     (j)  If any provision of this Agreement for any reason be held invalid or
unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provision hereof and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

                                       10

<PAGE>   11

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

                                            XYBERNAUT CORPORATION

                                            By:______________________________
                                               Name: Steven A. Newman
                                               Title: Vice Chairman

                                            BALMORE FUNDS, S.A.

                                            By:______________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:

                                            AUSTOST ANSTALT SCHAAN

                                            By:______________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:

                                       11<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.41

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

        ESCROW AGREEMENT (the "Escrow Agreement") made as of the 19th day of
November, 1999, by and among XYBERNAUT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation with
offices at 12701 Fair Lakes Circle, Suite 550, Fairfax, Virginia 22033 (the
"Company"), BALMORE FUNDS, S.A., a corporation organized under the laws of the
British Virgin Islands, with offices at c/o Trident Trust Company (BVI) Limited,
Trident Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands and AUSTOST ANSTALT
SCHAAN, a corporation organized under the laws of Liechtenstein corporation,
with offices at Ladstrasse 163, 9494 Furstentums, Vaduz, Liechtenstein
(together, the "Purchasers"), and PARKER CHAPIN FLATTAU & KLIMPL, LLP, a New
York limited liability partnership with offices at 1211 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, New York 10027, as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to raise capital for general working capital
purposes and acquisitions;

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers have agreed that, in order to raise
capital, the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchasers an aggregate of
1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the
"Common Stock"), for an aggregate purchase price of $3,000,000.00 (the "Sale");

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the Sale, the Company will enter into a Purchase
Agreement dated as of November 19, 1999 (the "Purchase Agreement") with the
Purchasers; and

     WHEREAS, the Purchase Agreement contemplates that all funds shall be paid
into escrow and the original certificates representing the Common Stock (the
"Certificates") shall be held in escrow prior to the Closing Date (as defined in
the Purchase Agreement) and the Escrow Agent has agreed to receive, hold and pay
such funds and to receive such Certificates upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Escrow Agreement hereby agree
as follows:

          1.    Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Purchase
Agreement.

          2.    Escrow of Funds. At or prior to the Closing Date, the following
shall occur: (a) the Purchasers shall remit by wire transfer the Purchase Price
to the Escrow Agent pursuant to this Escrow Agreement as payment in full for the
Common Stock (the "Escrow Amount"); (b) the Company shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to Escrow Agent the

<PAGE>   2

Certificates registered in the name of the Purchasers (or any nominee designated
by the Purchasers within three days before the Closing Date), free and clear of
all liens, claims, charges and encumbrances. The Escrow Agent shall hold the
Escrow Amount and the Certificates and shall deliver them or redeliver them to
the Company or to the Purchasers, as applicable, only in accordance with the
terms and conditions of this Escrow Agreement.

          3.    Investment of Funds. The Escrow Agent shall invest the monies in
the Escrow Amount in an interest bearing bank account with, or certificates of
deposit or time deposits with maturities of no more than thirty (30) days issued
by, a domestic commercial bank or such other bank or other financial institution
as it normally holds such funds.

          4.    Release of Funds. (a) The Escrow Agent shall release the Escrow
Amount and the Certificates upon receipt, at any time, of instructions from the
Company and the Purchasers directing the manner in which the return or other
distribution of the funds in the Escrow Amount and the Certificates are to be
made.

          (b)   Immediately following notification to the Escrow Agent by the
Company and the Purchasers that each of the conditions precedent to the Closing
has been satisfied or waived, the Company shall be paid the Escrow Amount and
the Purchasers shall receive the Certificates.

          (c)   If no Closing occurs and the Escrow Agent does not receive joint
instructions of the Company and the Purchasers regarding an extension of the
Closing Date, the Escrow Agent shall promptly thereafter return the Escrow
Amount to the Purchasers and the Certificates to the Company.

          (d)   Any interest earned on the Escrow Amount shall be paid to the
party receiving the Escrow Amount.

          5.    Further Assurances. The Company and the Purchasers agree to do
such further acts and to execute and deliver such statements, assignments,
agreements, instruments and other documents as the Escrow Agent from time to
time reasonably may request in connection with the administration, maintenance,
enforcement or adjudication of this Escrow Agreement in order (a) to give the
Escrow Agent confirmation and assurance of the Escrow Agent's rights, powers,
privileges, remedies and interests under this Escrow Agreement and applicable
law, (b) to better enable the Escrow Agent to exercise any such right, power,
privilege, remedy or interest, or (c) to otherwise effectuate the purpose and
the terms and provisions of this Escrow Agreement, each in such form and
substance as may be reasonably acceptable to the Escrow Agent.

          6.    Conflicting Demands. If conflicting or adverse claims or demands
are made or notices served upon the Escrow Agent with respect to the escrow
provided for herein, the Company and the Purchasers agree that the Escrow Agent
shall refuse to comply with any such claim or demand and withhold and stop all
further performance of this escrow so long as such disagreement shall continue.
In so doing, the Escrow Agent shall not be or become liable for damages, losses,
costs, expenses or interest to any or any other person for its failure to

                                       -2-

<PAGE>   3

comply with such conflicting or adverse demands. The Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to continue to so refrain and refuse to so act until such conflicting
claims or demands shall have been finally determined by a court or arbitrator of
competent jurisdiction or shall have been settled by agreement of the parties to
such controversy, in which case the Escrow Agent shall be notified thereof in a
notice signed by such parties. The Escrow Agent may also elect to commence an
interpleader or other action for declaratory judgment for the purpose of having
the respective rights of the claimants adjudicated, and may deposit with the
court all funds held hereunder pursuant to this Escrow Agreement; and if it so
commences and deposits, the Escrow Agent shall be relieved and discharged from
any further duties and obligations under this Escrow Agreement.

          7.    Disputes. Each of the parties hereto hereby covenants and agrees
that the Federal or state courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, State of
New York shall have jurisdiction over any dispute with the Escrow Agent or
relating to this Escrow Agreement.

          8.    Expenses of the Escrow Agent. The Company agrees to pay any and
all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Escrow Agent in connection
with all waivers, releases, discharges, satisfactions, modifications and
amendments of this Escrow Agreement, the administration and holding of the
Escrow Amount and the investment of such funds, and the enforcement, protection
and adjudication of the parties' rights hereunder by the Escrow Agent,
including, without limitation, the out-of-pocket disbursements and expenses of
the Escrow Agent itself and those of other attorneys it may retain, if any. The
Company shall be liable to the Escrow Agent for any expenses payable by the
Escrow Agent.

          9.    Reliance on Documents and Experts. The Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to rely upon any notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, statement,
paper, document, writing or communication (which to the extent permitted
hereunder may be by telegram, cable, telex, telecopier, or telephone) reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper
person or persons, and upon opinions and advice of legal counsel (including
itself or counsel for any party hereto), independent public accountants and
other experts selected by the Escrow Agent and mutually acceptable to each of
the Company and the Purchasers. The Escrow Agent shall not be responsible to
review the Certificates other than to confirm that it has been signed or to
determine the clearance of checks received for the Escrow Amount.

          10.   Status of the Escrow Agent, Etc. The Escrow Agent is acting
under this Escrow Agreement as a stakeholder only. No term or provision of this
Escrow Agreement is intended to create, nor shall any such term or provision be
deemed to have created, any joint venture, partnership or attorney-client
relationship between or among the Escrow Agent and the Company or the
Purchasers. This Escrow Agreement shall not be deemed to prohibit or in any way
restrict the Escrow Agent's representation of the Company, who may be advised by
the Escrow Agent on any and all matters pertaining to this Escrow Agreement. To
the extent the Company has been represented by the Escrow Agent, the Company
hereby waives any conflict of interest and irrevocably authorizes and directs
the Escrow Agent to carry out the terms and provisions of this Escrow Agreement
fairly as to all parties, without regard to any such representation and
irrespective of the impact upon the Company. The Escrow Agent's only duties are
those expressly set forth in this Escrow Agreement, and each of the Company and
the

                                       -3-

<PAGE>   4

Purchasers authorize the Escrow Agent to perform those duties in accordance with
its usual practices in holding funds of its own or those of other escrows. The
Escrow Agent may exercise or otherwise enforce any of its rights, powers,
privileges, remedies and interests under this Escrow Agreement and applicable
law or perform any of its duties under this Escrow Agreement by or through its
partners, employees, attorneys, agents or designees.

          11.   Exculpation. The Escrow Agent and its designees, and their
respective partners, employees, attorneys and agents, shall not incur any
liability whatsoever for the investment or disposition of funds or the taking of
any other action in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Escrow
Agreement, for any mistake or error in judgment, for compliance with any
applicable law or any attachment, order or other directive of any court or other
authority (irrespective of any conflicting term or provision of this Escrow
Agreement), or for any act or omission of any other person selected with
reasonable care and engaged by the Escrow Agent in connection with this Escrow
Agreement (other than for such Escrow Agent's or such person's own acts or
omissions breaching a duty owed to the claimant under this Escrow Agreement and
amounting to gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined
pursuant to applicable law by a governmental authority having jurisdiction); and
each of the Company and the Purchasers hereby waives any and all claims and
actions whatsoever against the Escrow Agent and its designees, and their
respective partners, employees, attorneys and agents, arising out of or related
directly or indirectly to any and all of the foregoing acts, omissions and
circumstances. Furthermore, the Escrow Agent and its designees, and their
respective partners, employees, attorneys and agents, shall not incur any
liability (other than for a person's own acts or omissions breaching a duty owed
to the claimant under this Escrow Agreement and amounting to willful misconduct
as finally determined pursuant to applicable law by a governmental authority
having jurisdiction) for other acts and omissions arising out of or related
directly or indirectly to this Escrow Agreement or the Escrow Amount; and each
of the Company and the Purchasers hereby expressly waives any and all claims and
actions (other than those attributable to a person's own acts or omissions
breaching a duty owed to the claimant and amounting to gross negligence or
willful misconduct as finally determined pursuant to applicable law by a
governmental authority having jurisdiction) against the Escrow Agent and its
designees, and their respective partners, employees, attorneys and agents,
arising out of or related directly or indirectly to any and all of the foregoing
acts, omissions and circumstances.

          12.   Indemnification. The Escrow Agent and its designees, and their
respective partners, employees, attorneys and agents, shall be indemnified,
reimbursed, held harmless and, at the request of the Escrow Agent, defended, by
the Company from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses and
expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable disbursements, expenses
and fees of their respective attorneys) that may be imposed upon, incurred by,
or asserted against any of them, arising out of or related directly or
indirectly to this Escrow Agreement or the Escrow Amount, except such as are
occasioned by the indemnified person's own acts and omissions breaching a duty
owed to the claimant under this Escrow Agreement and amounting to willful
misconduct as finally determined pursuant to applicable law by a governmental
authority having jurisdiction.

          13.   Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be
given in writing (unless otherwise specified herein) and shall be deemed
effectively given, (i) on the date

                                       -4-

<PAGE>   5

delivered, (a) by personal delivery, or (b) if advance copy is given by fax,
(ii) seven business days after deposit in the United States Postal Service by
regular or certified mail, or (iii) three business days mailing by international
express courier, with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to each of the other
parties thereunto entitled at the following addresses, or at such other
addresses as a party may designate by ten days advance written notice to each of
the other parties hereto, (iv) if to the Company, XYBERNAUT CORPORATION, 12701
Fair Lakes Circle, Suite 550, Fairfax, Virginia 22033, Facsimile no.: (703)
631-6925, ATTN: Dr. Steven A. Newman, Vice Chairman, with a copy to the
Company's Chief Financial Officer, and a copy to Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl,
LLP, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, Facsimile no.: (212)
704-6288, ATTN: Martin Eric Weisberg, Esq.; (v) if to the Purchasers, at such
Purchaser's address set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

          14.   Section and Other Headings. The section and other headings
contained in this Escrow Agreement are for convenience only, shall not be deemed
a part of this Escrow Agreement and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Escrow Agreement.

          15.   Governing Law. This Escrow Agreement shall be governed by and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving
effect to the principles thereof regarding the conflict of laws. Each of the
parties consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts whose
districts encompass any part of the City of New York in connection with any
dispute arising under this Agreement and hereby waives, to the maximum extent
permitted by law, any objection, including any objection based on forum non
conveniens, to the bringing of any such proceeding in such jurisdictions. Each
party waives its right to a trial by jury. Each party to this Escrow Agreement
irrevocable consents to the service of process in any such proceeding by the
mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to
such party at its address set forth herein or its agent. Each of the Purchasers
appoints the Escrow Agent as the Purchaser's agent for service of process in any
such proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.

          16.   Counterparts. This Escrow Agreement may be executed by the
parties 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 agreement.

          17.   Resignation of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent may, at any time,
at its option, elect to resign its duties as Escrow Agent under this Escrow
Agreement by providing notice thereof to each of the Company and the Purchasers.
In such event, the Escrow Agent shall deposit the Escrow Amount with a successor
escrow agent to be appointed by (a) the Company and the Purchasers within 30
days following the receipt by the parties of such notice of resignation from the
Escrow Agent, or (b) the Escrow Agent if the Company and the Purchasers shall
have not agreed on a successor escrow agent within the aforesaid 30 day period,
upon which appointment and delivery of the Escrow Amount the Escrow Agent shall
be released of and from all liability under this Escrow Agreement.

          18.   Successors and Assigns; Assignment. Whenever in this Escrow
Agreement reference is made to any party, such reference shall be deemed to
include the

                                       -5-

<PAGE>   6

successors, assigns and legal representatives of such party, and, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, all representations, warranties,
covenants and other agreements made by or on behalf of each of the Company and
the Purchasers in this Escrow Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any
successor escrow agent hereunder; provided, however, that nothing herein shall
be deemed to authorize or permit the Company or the Purchasers to assign any of
its rights or obligations hereunder to any other person (whether or not an
affiliate of the Company or the Purchasers) without the written consent of each
of the other parties nor to authorize or permit the Escrow Agent to assign any
of its duties or obligations hereunder except as provided in Section 17 hereof.

          19.   No Third Party Rights. The representations, warranties and other
terms and provisions of this Escrow Agreement are for the exclusive benefit of
the parties hereto, and no other person, including the creditors of the Company
or the Purchasers, shall have any right or claim against any party by reason of
any of those terms and provisions or be entitled to enforce any of those terms
and provisions against any party.

          20.   No Waiver by Action, Etc. Any waiver or consent respecting any
representation, warranty, covenant or other term or provision of this Escrow
Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given and shall not be deemed, regardless of frequency given,
to be a further or continuing waiver or consent. The failure or delay of a party
at any time or times to require performance of, or to exercise its rights with
respect to, any representation, warranty, covenant or other term or provision of
this Escrow Agreement in no manner (except as otherwise expressly provided
herein) shall affect its right at a later time to enforce any such term or
provision. No notice to or demand on either the Company or the Purchasers in any
case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in the
same, similar or other circumstances. All rights, powers, privileges, remedies
and interests of the parties under this Escrow Agreement are cumulative and not
alternatives, and they are in addition to and shall not limit (except as
otherwise expressly provided herein) any other right, power, privilege, remedy
or interest of the parties under this Escrow Agreement or applicable law.

          21.   Modification, Amendment, Etc. Each and every modification and
amendment of this Escrow Agreement shall be in writing and signed by all of the
parties hereto, and each and every waiver of, or consent to any departure from,
any covenant, representation, warranty or other provision of this Escrow
Agreement shall be in writing and signed by the party granting such waiver or
consent.

          22.   Entire Agreement. This Escrow Agreement and the Purchase
Agreement contain the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
matters contained herein and therein and supersedes all prior representations,
agreements and understandings, oral or otherwise, among the parties with respect
to the matters contained herein.

                                       -6-

<PAGE>   7

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Escrow Agreement
on the date first written above.

                                      XYBERNAUT CORPORATION

                                      By:
                                         -----------------------------
                                         Name: Steven A. Newman
                                         Title: Vice Chairman

                                      BALMORE FUNDS, S.A.

                                      By:
                                         -----------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                      AUSTOST ANSTALT SCHAAN

                                      By:
                                         -----------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                      PARKER CHAPIN FLATTAU & KLIMPL, LLP,
                                         as escrow agent

                                      --------------------------------
                                      Name: Martin E. Weisberg
                                      Title: Partner

                                       -7-

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