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December 31, 2004 

Mr. Jeffrey
A. Brandes

3 Davis Road

Lexington, MA 02421 

Dear
Jeff: 

        In
connection with the termination of your employment with Network Engines, Inc. (the "Company") on January 14, 2004, you are eligible to receive the severance benefits
described in the "Description of Severance Benefits" attached to this letter as Attachment A if you sign and return this letter agreement to Carol Walsh in the enclosed envelope by January 21,
2005. By signing and returning this letter, you will be entering into a binding agreement with the Company and will be agreeing to the terms and conditions set forth in the numbered paragraphs below,
including the release of claims set forth in paragraph 3. Therefore, you are advised to consult with your attorney before signing this letter and you may take up to seven (7) days to do
so. If you sign this letter, you may change your mind and revoke your agreement during the seven (7) day period after you have signed it. If you do not so revoke, this letter will become a
binding agreement between you and the Company upon the expiration of the seven (7) day revocation period. 

        If
you choose not to sign and return this letter agreement by January 21, 2005, you shall not receive any severance benefits from the Company. You will, however, receive payment
on your termination for any unused vacation time accrued through the termination date, which will be paid with your final paycheck. Also, regardless of signing this letter, you may elect to continue
receiving group medical insurance pursuant to the federal "COBRA" law, 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et seq. All premium costs shall be paid by you on a
monthly basis for as long as, and to the extent that, you remain eligible for COBRA continuation. You should consult the COBRA materials to be provided by the Company for details regarding these
benefits. All other benefits, including life insurance and long term disability, will cease upon your termination date. 

        If,
after reviewing this letter agreement with your attorney, you find the terms and conditions are satisfactory to you, you should sign and return this letter to Carol Walsh in the
enclosed envelope by January 21, 2005. 

        The
following numbered paragraphs set forth the terms and conditions which will apply if you timely sign and return this letter agreement and do not revoke it within the seven
(7) day period: 

	1.
	Termination Date-Your effective date of termination from the Company is January 14, 2005. (the
"Termination Date").

	2.
	Description of Severance Benefits-The severance benefits paid to you if you timely sign and return this letter
are described in the "Description of Severance Benefits" attached as Attachment A (the "severance benefits").

	3.
	Release-In consideration of the payment of the severance benefits, which you acknowledge you would not
otherwise be entitled to receive, you hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally release, remise and discharge the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates,
subsidiaries, parent companies, agents and employees (each in their individual and corporate capacities) (hereinafter, the "Released Parties") from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands,
actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations,
liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which you ever had or now have against the Released Parties arising out of your employment with and/or
separation from the Company, including, but not limited to, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000e et seq., the Age 

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Discrimination
in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq., the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C., §12101  et seq., and the Family and Medical
Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., all as amended; all
claims arising out of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), 29 U.S.C. §1001 et seq., and the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., all as amended; the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices
Act., M.G.L. c.151B, §1 et seq., the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, M.G.L. c.12 §§11H and 11I, the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act, M.G.L. c.93, §102
and M.G.L. c.214, §1C, the Massachusetts Labor and Industries Act, M.G.L. c.149, §1 et seq., and the Massachusetts Privacy Act, M.G.L. c. 214, §1B, all as amended;
all claims to any non-vested ownership interest in the Company, contractual or otherwise, including but not limited to claims to stock or stock options; all common law claims including, but not
limited to, actions in tort, defamation and breach of contract; and any claim or damage arising out of your employment with or separation from the Company (including a claim for retaliation) under any
common law theory or any federal, state or local statute or ordinance not expressly referenced above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you will remain entitled to enforce your rights with respect to
equity ownership in the Company in accordance with the terms of any stock, stock-option or similar agreements that you have previously entered into with the Company. 

Nothing
in the foregoing release shall affect your right or that of the Company to enforce your or its rights under either this letter agreement or the Executive Retention Agreement entered into
between the Company and you as of November 11, 2002. 

	4.
	Invention, Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation-You acknowledge and reaffirm your obligation
to keep confidential all non-public information concerning the Company which you acquired during the course of your employment with the Company, as stated more fully in the Invention, Non-Disclosure,
Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement you executed at the inception of your employment which remains in full force and effect. You further acknowledge and reaffirm your obligations under the
Invention, Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement with regard to inventions, non-competition and non-solicitation which also remains in full force and effect.

	5.
	Return of Company Property-You confirm that you have returned to the Company all keys, files, records (and
copies thereof), equipment (including, but not limited to, computer hardware, software and printers, wireless handheld devices, cellular phones, pagers, etc.), Company identification, Company vehicles
and any other Company-owned property in your possession or control and have left intact all electronic Company documents, including but not limited to those which you developed or help develop during
your employment. You further confirm that you have cancelled all accounts for your benefit, if any, in the Company's name, including but not limited to, credit cards, telephone charge cards, cellular
phone and/or pager accounts and computer accounts.

	6.
	Non-Disparagement-You understand and agree that as a condition for payment to you of the consideration herein
described, you shall not make any false, disparaging or derogatory statements to any media outlet, industry group, financial institution or current or former employee, consultant, client or customer
of the Company regarding the Company or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives or about the Company's business affairs and financial condition. The Company agrees not to
make any false, disparaging or derogatory statements concerning you to any media outlet, industry group, financial institution or current or former employee, consultant, client or customer of the
Company.

	7.
	Amendment-This letter agreement shall be binding upon the parties and may not be modified in any manner,
except by an instrument in writing of concurrent or subsequent date signed by duly authorized representatives of the parties hereto. This letter agreement is binding upon and shall 

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inure
to the benefit of the parties and their respective agents, assigns, heirs, executors, successors and administrators. 

	8.
	Waiver of Rights-No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this letter agreement shall
operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of
any right on any other occasion.

	9.
	Validity-Should any provision of this letter agreement be declared or be determined by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms or provisions shall not be affected thereby and said illegal or invalid part, term or provision shall be deemed not to
be a part of this letter agreement.

	10.
	Confidentiality-You understand and agree that as a condition for payment to you of the severance benefits
herein described, the terms and contents of this letter agreement, and the contents of the negotiations and discussions resulting in this letter agreement, shall be maintained as confidential by you
and your agents and representatives and shall not be disclosed except to the extent required by federal or state law or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
you may disclose the terms of this letter agreement to your immediate family members and to your attorneys, accountants and/or financial advisers who are subject to an obligation to preserve the
confidentiality of information you provide, provided that you inform such persons or entities of this confidentiality obligation and direct them not to disclose such information further.

	11.
	Nature of Agreement-You understand and agree that this letter agreement is a severance agreement and does not
constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing on the part of the Company.

	12.
	Acknowledgments-You acknowledge that you have been given at least seven (7)days to consider this letter agreement,
including Attachment A, and that the Company advised you to consult with an attorney of your own choosing prior to signing this letter agreement. You understand that you may revoke this letter
agreement for a period of seven (7) days after you sign this letter agreement, and the letter agreement shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day
revocation period.

	13.
	Voluntary Assent-You affirm that no other promises or agreements of any kind have been made to or with you by
any person or entity whatsoever to cause you to sign this letter agreement, and that you fully understand the meaning and intent of this letter agreement. You state and represent that you have had an
opportunity to fully discuss and review the terms of this letter agreement with an attorney. You further state and represent that you have carefully read this letter agreement, including Attachments A
and B, understand the contents herein, freely and voluntarily assent to all of the terms and conditions hereof, and sign your name of your own free act.

	14.
	Applicable Law-This letter agreement shall be interpreted and construed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, without regard to conflict of laws provisions. You hereby irrevocably submit to and acknowledge and recognize the jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or if
appropriate, a federal court located in Massachusetts (which courts, for purposes of this letter agreement, are the only courts of competent jurisdiction), over any suit, action or other proceeding
arising out of, under or in connection with this letter agreement or the subject matter hereof.

	15.
	Entire Agreement-This letter agreement, including Attachment A, contains and constitutes the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with respect to your severance benefits and the settlement of claims against the Company and cancels all previous oral and written negotiations,
agreements, commitments, writings in connection therewith. Nothing in this paragraph, however, shall modify, cancel or supersede your obligations set forth in paragraph 4 herein. 

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        If
you have any questions about the matters covered in this letter, please contact Carol Walsh at 781-332-1157. 

	 	 	Very truly yours,
	

 	
 	

/s/  DOUGLAS G. BRYANT      
 Douglas G. Bryant

Chief Financial Officer

        I hereby agree to the terms and conditions set forth above and in the attached Description of Severance Benefits. I have been given at least seven (7)days to
consider this agreement and I have chosen to execute this on the date below. I intend that this letter agreement become a binding agreement between me and the Company if I do not revoke my acceptance
in seven (7) days. 

	/s/  JEFFREY A. BRANDES      
 Jeffrey A. Brandes	 	Date: January 11, 2005

To be returned in the enclosed envelope by January 21, 2005. 

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ATTACHMENT A
  DESCRIPTION OF SEVERANCE BENEFITS    
    

 
  Jeffrey A. Brandes    
    

        Compensation.    The Company will pay you a lump sum payment equal to twenty six (26) weeks of severance pay (equivalent
to $100,000.16), less all applicable state and federal taxes. This severance pay will be paid no earlier than the eighth (8th) day after your execution of this letter agreement. 

        Benefits.    The Company will reimburse you, provided that you elect COBRA continuation coverage, for six (6) months of
COBRA medical, dental and vision continuation costs. Thereafter, you may continue receiving group medical insurance pursuant to the federal "COBRA" law, 29 U.S.C. § 1161  et seq. and all premium
costs shall be paid by you on a monthly basis for as long as, and to the extent that, you remain eligible for COBRA
continuation. You should consult the COBRA materials to be provided by the Company for details regarding these benefits. 

        Stock Acceleration.    Effective upon the Termination Date, the vesting of each outstanding option to purchase shares of the
Company held by you shall be determined as though you had remained employed by the Company until six months after the Termination Date. Further, each outstanding option to purchase shares of the
Company held by you shall remain exercisable (to the extent vested) for a period of six months after the Termination Date. Please note that the favorable tax treatment of Incentive Stock Options will
expire on the 90th day following your termination date. 

        Further,
outplacement services will be arranged for you by the Company, with King and bishop for up to three months. The use of the outplacement services must occur within the three
month period following the Termination Date. The cost of these outplacement services will be paid by the Company. 

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ATTACHMENT A DESCRIPTION OF SEVERANCE BENEFITS

Jeffrey A. BrandesQuickLinks
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Exhibit 4.2    
    

K&F Industries, Inc.

91/4% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007

(CUSIP No. 482240AG3)  

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of November 8, 2004  

U.S. Bank National Association

Trustee  

       

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE  

        THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (the "Supplemental Indenture"), dated as of November 8, 2004, by and
between K&F Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to State Street Bank and
Trust Company), as Trustee (the "Trustee"). 

        WHEREAS,
the Company and the Trustee executed an indenture, dated as of October 15, 1997 (the "Indenture"), relating to the
Company's 91/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Notes"); 

        WHEREAS,
Section 9.02 of the Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may execute and deliver one or more supplemental indentures, with the consent of the Holders (as
defined in the Indenture) of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes to, among other things, amend or supplement certain provisions of the Indenture; 

        WHEREAS,
the Company and the Trustee desire to amend the Indenture for the purpose of changing and eliminating certain of such provisions; 

        WHEREAS,
the Company has entered into a definitive agreement whereby all of the outstanding common stock of the Company shall be acquired by K&F Acquisition, Inc. (the
"Acquisition"); 

        WHEREAS,
in connection with the Acquisition, the Company has offered to purchase for cash any and all outstanding Notes (the "Tender
Offer") pursuant to an Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated October 20, 2004; 

        WHEREAS,
in connection with the Tender Offer, the Company has requested that Holders of the Notes deliver their consents with respect to certain amendment to the Indenture; 

        WHEREAS,
the Company has received consents to such modifications from the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes; and 

        WHEREAS,
all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to this Supplemental Indenture have been complied with. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Trustee for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes agree as follows: 

ARTICLE I.

EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFECT  

SECTION 1.1. Effectiveness and Effect.  

        This Supplemental Indenture shall take effect on the date hereof, provided, however, that the amendments provided for in Article Two hereof shall become operative
only at such time as the Company accepts for payment, pursuant to the offer to purchase Notes set forth in the Company's Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated October 20,
2004, at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, and notifies the Trustee of such acceptance. Subject to the foregoing, the provisions set forth in this Supplemental
Indenture shall be deemed to be, and shall be construed as part of, the Indenture. All references to the Indenture in the Indenture or in any other agreement, document or instrument delivered in
connection therewith or pursuant thereto shall be deemed to refer to the Indenture as amended by this Supplemental Indenture. Except as amended hereby, the terms and provisions of the Indenture shall
remain in full force and effect. 

 

ARTICLE II.

AMENDMENT OF THE INDENTURE  

SECTION 2.1. Deletion of Certain Provisions.  

        Subject to Section 1.1 hereof, each of the following provisions of the Indenture (and any corresponding provision of any Note) is hereby deleted and
eliminated in its entirety, without any redesignation of any other provision of the Indenture (or any Note): Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14 and 4.15;
subsections (iii) and (iv) of Section 5.01; subsections (c) through (g), inclusive, of Section 6.01; and subsections (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) of
Section 8.04. 

        All
references in the Indenture and any Note, as amended by this Section 2.1, to any of the provisions deleted and eliminated as provided above, or to terms defined in such
provisions, shall also be deemed deleted and eliminated. Effective as of the date hereof, none of the Company, the Trustee or other parties to or beneficiaries of the Indenture shall have any rights,
obligations or liabilities under such Sections or subsections and such deleted Sections or subsections shall not be considered in determining whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred or
whether the Company has observed, performed or complied with the provisions of the Indenture or any Note. 

SECTION 2.2. Amendment of Definitions.  

        Subject to Section 1.1 hereof, the Indenture is hereby amended by deleting any definitions from the Indenture with respect to which references would be
eliminated as a result of amendments of the Indenture pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof. 

ARTICLE III.

MISCELLANEOUS  

SECTION 3.1. Counterparts.  

        This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute one and the same instrument. 

SECTION 3.2. Severability.  

        In the event that any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. 

SECTION 3.3. Headings.  

        The article and section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. 

SECTION 3.4. Successors and Assigns.  

        Any covenants and agreements in this Supplemental Indenture by the Company and the Trustee shall bind their successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. 

SECTION 3.5. GOVERNING LAW.  

        THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL
BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE.

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SECTION 3.6. Trustee.  

        The Trustee accepts the modifications of the Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture, but only upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture.
Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the recitals herein contained, which shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee shall not be responsible
or accountable in any way whatsoever for or with respect to the validity or execution or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect thereto. 

SECTION 3.7. Definitions.  

        Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture. 

SECTION 3.8. Trust Indenture Act.  

        Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall cause the Indenture to fail to qualify under the Trust Indenture Act and in the event of any conflict between the
terms of this Supplemental Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act, the terms of this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed modified to comply with the Trust Indenture Act. 

[The
remaining portion of this page is intentionally left blank] 

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        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be executed by their duly authorized representative as of the date hereof. 

	 	 	K&F INDUSTRIES, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  KENNETH M. SCHWARTZ      
 Name: Kenneth M. Schwartz

Title: President	
 	

 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	

 	
 	

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  MICHAEL M. HOPKINS      
 Name: Michael M. Hopkins

Title: Vice President	
 	

 
	 	 	 	 	 	 

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Exhibit 4.2

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