Document:

EXHIBIT (10)(xxix)

                              ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT

E.MERGENT, INC. (TOGETHER WITH ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES THE "COMPANY")

         The parties to this Engagement Agreement (the "Agreement") include
Goldsmith, Agio, Helms Securities, Inc. ("GAHS") on the one hand, and the
COMPANY, on the other hand. This is to confirm the COMPANY's retention of GAHS
for a minimum period of six months from the date hereof (the "Minimum Term"), as
its exclusive agent to assist it with a merger, sale, or any similar transaction
related to the COMPANY. After six months, GAHS will proceed on a month-to-month
basis until the COMPANY provides GAHS with written 30-day notice of termination
of this Agreement.

1.       GAHS'S PERFORMANCE. Throughout the course of its engagement, GAHS will
follow all Process Guidelines set forth in Exhibit A.

2.       TYPES OF TRANSACTIONS COVERED. Transactions covered under this
Agreement (individually, a "Transaction" and collectively, "Transactions")
include any sale, exchange or other disposition of all or a material (more than
20 percent) portion of the COMPANY, whether accomplished by a sale of assets or
stock by or through the COMPANY and/or its shareholders (whether effected in one
Transaction or a series of Transactions), and shall include without limitation
any merger, tender or exchange offer, joint venture, equity investment,
recapitalization, or any other Transaction, the effect of which is to change the
control or ownership of the COMPANY. Transactions shall not include acquisitions
by the COMPANY, unless more than 20 percent of the COMPANY'S stock is issued in
connection with such Transaction with a GAHS Prospect. If a Transaction is
completed during the term of this Agreement, GAHS shall be entitled to its
Accomplishment Fee provided herein.

3.       EQUITABLE AGENCY PROTECTION PERIOD. If within a period of 9 months
following termination of this Agreement, the COMPANY or its shareholders enter
into an agreement in principle to consummate a Transaction with a GAHS Prospect,
GAHS's Accomplishment Fee shall be due and payable in full upon closing of such
Transaction pursuant to Paragraph 6 below. For purposes of record keeping and
monitoring only, within approximately 30 days of the expiration of this
Agreement, GAHS will provide the COMPANY with a protective list of GAHS
Prospects.

4.       GAHS PROSPECT DEFINED. For purposes of this Agreement, "GAHS Prospect"
includes any party or parties that are mutually agreeable to both parties and
may include: (i) whom GAHS reasonably contact on the COMPANY's behalf and with
COMPANY'S consent hereunder; or (ii) who participate in a Transaction wherein
the services of GAHS are utilized by the COMPANY or its shareholders. GAHS
Prospects also include companies and individuals affiliated with any party
described in (i) or (ii) above.

5.       ACCOMPLISHMENT FEE AND TOTAL CONSIDERATION. The amount payable by
COMPANY to GAHS at closing of a Transaction with a GAHS Prospect (the
"Accomplishment Fee") shall be calculated as provided below:

o        $500,000 (the "Minimum Fee") plus the incentive fee (the "Incentive
         Fee") of:
o        0 percent of Total Consideration up to $16.8 million; plus
o        5.0 percent of Total Consideration from $16.8 to $22.4 million; and
o        7.5 percent of Total Consideration over $22.4 million.

         In addition, if Total Consideration is at or above $22.4 million, GAHS
shall receive an additional $50,000 bonus. In any Transaction event with a GAHS
Prospect, GAHS shall be paid the Minimum Fee.

         GAHS's Accomplishment Fee shall be based upon the total consideration
("Total Consideration") paid or payable to the COMPANY, its shareholders,
employees or other security holders in connection with, or in anticipation of,
the Transaction, including amounts placed in escrow, and shall include without
limitation:

<PAGE>

    (a) Cash paid and securities transferred to the COMPANY and/or holders of
        its securities at closing, including the cash value of any outstanding
        stock options or warrants, whether vested or not, that are "rolled over"
        or "cashed out" as part of this Transaction;
    (b) In the case of a sale of stock by the COMPANY's shareholders, all
        liabilities of the COMPANY, other than trade payables and operating
        expenses accrued in the ordinary course of business. In the case of a
        sale of assets, all liabilities of the COMPANY, other than trade
        payables and accrued operating expenses, which are assumed by the buyer;
    (c) The net present value (applying a discount rate equal to the then
        prevailing prime rate as quoted in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL) of scheduled
        payments provided for in any leases by the purchaser of assets owned and
        retained by the COMPANY, its shareholders, or any affiliates thereof;
    (d) The principal amount of deferred installments of the purchase price
        including promissory notes;
    (e) Amounts payable under above-market consulting agreements, employment
        contracts, above non-compete agreements or similar arrangements;
    (f) Future payments that are contingent on the future earnings or operations
        of the COMPANY (or in the case of an asset sale, the underlying assets),
        with the value of such payments included in Total Consideration based on
        the present value of the reasonably expected amount of such contingent
        payments based on COMPANY projections or in the absence of projections,
        as determined in good faith by the COMPANY and GAHS, utilizing a 15
        percent per annum discount rate;
    (g) The fair market value of COMPANY assets retained after closing
        (including accounts receivable and real property) or transferred to its
        shareholders or any affiliates thereof after the date of this Agreement
        (including extraordinary bonuses, dividends, or other distributions of
        property or capital); provided, however, that if the COMPANY retains
        more than 50 percent of its assets after closing then this paragraph (h)
        shall not apply;
    (h) The value of any retained or acquired interest in the COMPANY or its
        successor, or the right to acquire such interest.

6.       PAYMENT OF ACCOMPLISHMENT FEE. Except as otherwise provided below, the
Accomplishment Fee shall be paid to GAHS or its assigns in cash via wire
transfer at the time of closing a Transaction. In the event that all or a
portion of the Total Consideration includes securities or other property (other
than installment notes), the portion of GAHS's Accomplishment Fee attributable
thereto, shall be payable at closing in cash, based on the fair market value of
such non-cash items as determined by mutual agreement of the parties. In the
event the parties are unable to agree on the fair market value, GAHS shall have
the option to receive payment in like kind, or to cause an independent appraiser
acceptable to the COMPANY to determine fair market value, the expense of which
appraisal shall be shared equally by the parties.

7.       CONSULTING FEES AND EXPENSES. The COMPANY shall pay to GAHS a one-time
upfront consulting fee of $50,000, payable at the signing of this Agreement, for
services conducted by GAHS during the term of this Agreement. The COMPANY shall
also reimburse GAHS monthly in arrears for all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses. GAHS shall not exceed $10,000 in aggregate out-of-pocket expenses
(excluding the Confidential Memorandum and pre-approval travel) without written
permission of the COMPANY incurred on behalf of the COMPANY. GAHS shall provide
detailed monthly itemized summaries of expenses for which reimbursement is
requested by GAHS. The COMPANY agrees that any unpaid payment (or portion
thereof) of any fee, expense, consulting fee, or other amount payable to GAHS
shall bear interest payable at the highest rate of interest permissible by law,
but not to exceed 12 percent per annum, from the date that such payment is due
hereunder to the date that said payment is paid in full.

8.       INDEMNIFICATION. The COMPANY agrees to indemnify and hold GAHS harmless
against and from all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, and all actions,
claims, proceedings and investigations in respect thereof (collectively,
"Losses"), arising out of or in connection with this engagement or the
performance by GAHS of services hereunder, and to timely reimburse GAHS for all
reasonable legal and other out-of-pocket expenses as incurred by GAHS in
connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any such Losses,
whether or not GAHS is named as a party thereto; provided, however that the
COMPANY shall not be liable to the extent such Losses are finally determined by
arbitration as herein provided to have resulted from GAHS's gross negligence or
willful misconduct. If such indemnification and reimbursement is insufficient or
unavailable pursuant to the foregoing sentence or otherwise, the

<PAGE>

COMPANY and GAHS agree to make contributions to any Losses paid or payable in
such proportion as appropriately reflects the relative economic benefits
received by, and fault of, the COMPANY and its shareholders, on the one hand,
and GAHS, on the other hand, as well as other equitable considerations;
provided, however that the COMPANY agrees to make contributions to any Losses
paid or payable such that GAHS will not be liable for more than the
Accomplishment Fee and consulting fee received by GAHS pursuant to this
Agreement. The foregoing rights to indemnification shall not limit any other
rights that GAHS may have at law or otherwise.

9.       RELIANCE. The COMPANY will furnish GAHS with such information regarding
the business and financial condition of the COMPANY as is reasonably requested,
all of which will be, to the COMPANY's best knowledge, accurate and complete in
all material respects at the time furnished. The COMPANY will promptly notify
GAHS if it learns of any material misstatement in, or material omission from,
any information previously delivered to GAHS. On an ongoing basis, the COMPANY
will inform GAHS of any material developments or matters that occur or come to
the attention of the COMPANY, its directors, officers, employees or affiliates.
In performing its services hereunder, GAHS shall be entitled to rely without
investigation upon all information that is available from public sources as well
as all other information supplied to it by or on behalf of the COMPANY or its
advisors and shall not in any respect be responsible for the accuracy or
completeness of, or have any obligation to verify, the same or to conduct any
appraisal of assets. Except in connection with potential Transaction, all
information provided by COMPANY to GAHS shall be held in confidence and shall
not be disclosed or provided to any one other than the Prospects or used for any
purpose other than the Transaction without the COMPANY'S prior written consent.

10.      ARBITRATION. The COMPANY and GAHS both agree that any dispute between
them in any way relating to this Agreement shall be determined and settled by
arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration
Association. All costs associated with any such disputes (including both
parties' legal fees) shall be allocated between the parties by the arbitrators.
All decisions and awards of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on both
parties, and may be enforced by any court with jurisdiction.

11.      TERMINATION FEES. A Termination Fee of $100,000 shall be payable if
during the term of the Agreement a Qualified Proposal (defined below) is
received and the COMPANY and/or its shareholders elect not to consummate a
Transaction for any reason. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Qualified
Proposal" is defined as a binding non-contingent cash offer for the COMPANY
providing for Total Consideration of at least $16.8 million and which (i) has
been received from a party with the financial wherewithal to consummate the
contemplated Transaction, and (ii) contains terms and conditions that are
customary for the contemplated Transaction. All Termination Fees shall be paid
to GAHS upon termination of this Agreement, and shall be credited against any
Accomplishment Fees payable thereafter. However, nothing in this Agreement shall
require COMPANY to accept any Transaction.

12.      FAIRNESS OPINION. At the request of the COMPANY, GAHS will undertake a
study to enable it to render its opinion with respect to the fairness from a
financial point of view of the consideration proposed to be paid to the COMPANY
or its shareholders in connection with a Transaction, subject to the execution
of a separate engagement agreement. The engagement agreement for the fairness
opinion will provide for an opinion fee of $100,000 payable at such time as GAHS
initially delivers its opinion to the Board of Directors of the COMPANY.

13.      MISCELLANEOUS. All questions arising hereunder shall be determined
according to Minnesota Law. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is
invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or
the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other
situation or in any other jurisdiction. This Agreement incorporates the entire
understanding of the parties regarding the subject matter hereof, and supersedes
all previous agreements or understandings regarding the same, whether written or
oral. The provisions of this paragraph and Paragraphs 3, 6, 8, 10, and 11 will
survive the termination of this Agreement. GAHS agrees for the term of this
Agreement and during the Equitable Agency Protection Period, not to trade in
COMPANY stock or permit any employees or advisors of GAHS that are aware of the
existence of this Agreement to trade in COMPANY stock.

<PAGE>

Read and agreed to this 28th day of September, 2001 by:

E.MERGENT, INC:                         GOLDSMITH, AGIO, HELMS SECURITIES, INC.:

     /s/ James Hansen                         /s/ Gerald M. Caruso, Jr.
---------------------------             -----------------------------------
By:  James W. Hansen                    By:   Gerald M. Caruso, Jr.
Its: CEO                                      President

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                                       TO
                              ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT

                     GOLDSMITH, AGIO, HELMS SECURITIES, INC.
                                       AND
                                 E.MERGENT, INC.

PROCESS GUIDELINES

In the course of GAHS's engagement hereunder, GAHS will exercise its best
efforts to:

    (a) Maintain strict confidentiality of all financial and other proprietary
        information, data, and materials relating to the COMPANY except as
        provided below.

    (b) Familiarize itself with the business, operations, physical assets,
        financial condition and prospects of the COMPANY.

    (c) Develop a list of potential buyers of the COMPANY whom GAHS believes in
        good faith to be financially qualified and potentially interested in
        participating in a Transaction.

    (d) Not share with any GAHS Prospect the identity of the COMPANY or any
        confidential information relating to the COMPANY unless the GAHS
        Prospect has executed a CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT in a form pre-approved
        by the COMPANY.

    (e) Contact GAHS Prospects on the COMPANY's behalf and, as appropriate,
        arrange for and orchestrate meetings between GAHS Prospects and the
        COMPANY.

    (f) Assist in preparation of a CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM describing the
        COMPANY, and other analyses and data as may be reasonably requested by
        GAHS Prospects, the final drafts of which will be presented to the
        COMPANY for its approval (which approval will take the form of a letter,
        from the COMPANY to GAHS, representing that the material in the
        CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM is "true and not false or misleading and there
        are no omissions of material fact"); provided, however, that the
        CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM is the sole property of GAHS and may not be
        reproduced or distributed to parties other than the COMPANY's
        shareholders, officers, directors, employees and representatives without
        GAHS's prior written consent.

    (g) Work in the capacity outlined above with the COMPANY's legal counsel,
        accountants, and other advisors as reasonably requested and directed by
        the COMPANY.

    (h) Present to the COMPANY all proposals from GAHS Prospects and make
        recommendations as to the COMPANY's appropriate negotiating strategy and
        course of conduct.

    (i) Assist in all negotiations and in all document review as reasonably
        requested and directed by the COMPANY.

    (j) If the COMPANY requests GAHS to provide additional services not
        otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the COMPANY and GAHS will enter
        into an additional agreement which will set forth the nature and scope
        of the services, appropriate compensation and other customary matters.EXHIBIT (10)(xxx)

28 December 2001

Personal and Confidential

The Board of Directors
E.mergent Corporation
5960 Golden Hills Drive
Minneapolis, MN  55416-1040

Members of the Board of Directors:

Pursuant to this Engagement Agreement between E.mergent Corporation (the
"Company") and Goldsmith, Agio, Helms Securities, Inc. ("GAHS"), GAHS shall
undertake a study to enable it to advise the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") and render its opinion to the Board with respect to the fairness,
from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of the Company of the
consideration to be received by such shareholders for their common stock
pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement") by and among
ClearOne Communications Corporation ("ClearOne") and the Company.

In connection with GAHS rendering its services hereunder, the Company agrees to
provide GAHS with all financial and other information concerning the Company, as
GAHS may reasonably request, and to use its best efforts to make available
officers, directors, employees, auditors, and advisors of the Company to discuss
with GAHS such information, and the business and prospects of the Company, as
GAHS may reasonably deem necessary and appropriate.

All information furnished to GAHS shall be deemed "Confidential Information" for
purposes of this Agreement, except as indicated below. Confidential Information
received from the Company or its representatives by GAHS shall be kept
confidential and shall not be disclosed to any third parties other than
representatives of GAHS who need to know such information for purposes of
evaluating the Transaction. It is understood that the term "Confidential
Information" does not include information which (a) prior to disclosure by the
Company or their representatives hereunder is properly within the possession of
GAHS or its representatives; (b) is disclosed in published literature; (c) is
generally known to the public or in the public domain through no fault of GAHS
or its representatives; (d) is independently developed by GAHS or through
persons who have not had, directly or indirectly, access to any Confidential
Information; or (e) is required to be disclosed by law, regulation, or order of
any court or governmental agency having jurisdiction over GAHS.

GAHS may rely, without independent verification, on the accuracy and
completeness of all information provided by or through the Company as referenced
in the foregoing paragraphs. For purposes of the Opinion, GAHS will not make an
independent appraisal of assets of the Company. The Company hereby represents to
GAHS that all information provided to GAHS pursuant to the foregoing will not
contain any untrue or misleading information or omit to state any material
information necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading,
and will be accurate and complete in all material respects. The Company shall be
responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the disclosures provided to the
parties to any Transaction or their respective shareholders, and for the
disclosures' conformance to and compliance with applicable securities laws.

The Company recognizes that GAHS has been retained only by the Board, and that
their engagement of GAHS is not deemed to be on behalf of and is not intended to
confer rights upon any shareholder of the Company or any other person not a
party hereto as against GAHS or any of GAHS' affiliates, the respective
directors, partners, officers, agents, and employees of GAHS or its affiliates,
or each other person, if any, controlling GAHS or any of its affiliates. Unless
otherwise expressly stated in the Opinion or otherwise

<PAGE>

expressly agreed in writing, no one other than the Board is authorized to rely
upon this engagement of GAHS or any statements or conduct by GAHS and no one
other than the Board of the Company is intended to be a beneficiary of this
contract. The Company acknowledges that the Opinion and any related advice given
by GAHS to the Board in connection with GAHS' engagement hereunder are intended
solely for the benefit and use of the Board in considering the Transaction and
the Company agrees that the Opinion shall not be used for any other purpose or
reproduced, disseminated, quoted, or referred to at any time, in any manner, or
for any purpose, nor shall any public or other references to GAHS or the Opinion
be made by the Company without the prior written consent of GAHS, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, GAHS
acknowledges and agrees that the Company may include the Opinion in any
disclosure documents prepared and distributed to the Company's shareholders to
the extent reasonably requested by the Company's legal counsel, provided that
GAHS shall have the right to review and approve (which approval will not be
unreasonably withheld) the form and content of any reference to GAHS and/or its
Opinion as set forth in any such disclosure materials or other written materials
disseminated by the Company or filed by the Company with any governmental agency
including the Securities and Exchange Commission or the National Association of
Securities Dealers.

In consideration of GAHS' services provided to the Board pursuant to this
Agreement, and the issuance of the Opinion, the Company will pay GAHS $100,000
(the "Fairness Opinion Fee"), payable in cash following the rendering of the
Opinion to the Board. The Fairness Opinion Fee will be credited towards any
Accomplishment Fee paid to GAHS pursuant to its agreement dated September 28,
2001 between the Company and GAHS.

In the event that GAHS personnel shall be required to prepare for, attend, or
participate in judicial or other proceedings relating to the subject matter of
this engagement, GAHS shall be entitled to receive an additional per diem
payment, per person, together with reimbursement of all out-of-pocket expenses
and disbursements, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by GAHS in
respect of its preparation for, or attendance or participation at, such
proceedings. The per diem payment shall, at such time, be in the amount then
customarily charged for similar services.

The COMPANY agrees to indemnify and hold GAHS harmless against and from all
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, and all actions, claims, proceedings and
investigations in respect thereof (collectively, "Losses"), arising out of or in
connection with this engagement or the performance by GAHS of services
hereunder, and to timely reimburse GAHS for all reasonable legal and other
out-of-pocket expenses as incurred by GAHS in connection with investigating,
preparing to defend or defending any such Losses, whether or not GAHS is named
as a party thereto; provided, however that the COMPANY shall not be liable to
the extent such Losses are finally determined by arbitration as herein provided
to have resulted from GAHS's gross negligence or willful misconduct. If such
indemnification and reimbursement is insufficient or unavailable pursuant to the
foregoing sentence or otherwise, the COMPANY and GAHS agree to make
contributions to any Losses paid or payable in such proportion as appropriately
reflects the relative economic benefits received by, and fault of, the COMPANY
and its shareholders, on the one hand, and GAHS, on the other hand, as well as
other equitable considerations; provided, however that the COMPANY agrees to
make contributions to any Losses paid or payable such that GAHS will not be
liable for more than the Fairness Opinion Fee received by GAHS pursuant to this
Agreement. The foregoing rights to indemnification shall not limit any other
rights that GAHS may have at law or otherwise.

The reimbursement, indemnity, and contribution obligations of the Company under
this Agreement shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have, shall survive any termination of this Agreement, and shall be
binding upon and extend to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs, and
personal representatives of the Company and GAHS.

The Company and GAHS both agree that any dispute between them in any way
relating to this Agreement shall be determined and settled by arbitration in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. All costs
associated with any such disputes (including both parties' legal fees) shall be
allocated between the parties by the arbitrators. All decisions and awards of
the arbitrators shall be final and binding on both parties and may be enforced
by any court with jurisdiction.

<PAGE>

Our Agreement represented by this letter shall be governed by the laws of
Minnesota. The parties acknowledge and agree that their respective rights and
obligations are contractual in nature, and each party disclaims any intention to
impose fiduciary or other non-contractual obligations on the other by virtue of
the engagement contemplated by this Engagement Agreement.

Nothing herein shall supersede or modify the terms of our advisory Engagement
Agreement dated September 28, 2001, relating to financial advisory services
(other than rendering the Opinion), except for offsetting the Fairness Opinion
Fee against any Accomplishment Fees paid to GAHS.

If this letter correctly sets forth the understanding between us, please so
indicate by signing below and returning a signed copy to us. THIS AGREEMENT
CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION THAT MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE COMPANY AND
GAHS.

Sincerely,

GOLDSMITH, AGIO, HELMS SECURITIES, INC.

     /s/ Gerald M. Caruso, Jr.
------------------------------------
By:  Gerald M. Caruso, Jr.
     President

Agreed to this 7th day of January, 2002.

E.MERGENT CORPORATION

      /s/ James Hansen
-----------------------------
By:   James Hansen
Its:  CEO

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00035-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00035-of-00352.parquet"}]]