SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND MUTUAL RELEASE
WHEREAS, Bristol Investment Fund, Ltd. ("Plaintiff") entered into a
Securities Purchase Agreement with SmarTire Systems, Inc. ("SMTR") on or about
December 24, 2003; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, Plaintiff
purchased a convertible debenture from SMTR (the "Debenture"), which Debenture
was in the original principal amount of $350,000; and
WHEREAS, as of April 1, 2005, the outstanding balance on the Debenture was
approximately $92,000, subject to conversion at $0.028 per share (the
"Conversion Price").
WHEREAS, Plaintiff commenced an action in the Supreme Court of New York,
New York, against SMTR, Index No. 601442/05 (the "Action") and SMTR asserted
counterclaims in the Action; and
WHEREAS, the parties to the Action are now desirous of resolving their
differences without further litigation;
IT IS HEREBY AGREED, by and between the parties hereto, for good and
valuable consideration, as of the 5th day of January 2006, as follows:
1. Consideration. The parties agree as follows:
A. SMTR shall deliver to Plaintiff's counsel upon the signing of
this Agreement: (i) 2,000,000 shares of common stock of SMTR (the
"Shares") in certificates of 1,000,000 shares each, representing a partial
exercise of the Debenture at the Conversion Price; (ii) a bank check in
the amount of $228,000 payable to "Bristol Investment Fund, Ltd."
(representing $250,000, less $22,000 in Canadian withholding tax) as
payment of the balance of the Debenture and for other good and valuable
consideration set forth herein; and (iv) an executed Stipulation of
Discontinuance with prejudice in the form attached as Exhibit A. No later
than January 31, 2006, SMTR shall transmit to Plaintiff, a receipt for the
withholding tax in the amount of $22,000 in form suitable for filing with
the IRS, sent to plaintiff at Bristol Capital Advisors, LLC, ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. SMTR
represents and warrants that the Shares are fully paid and validly issued,
are free and clear of all liens, claims or encumbrances, and are freely
tradeable in the public markets.
B. In exchange for the consideration set forth in 1(A),
Plaintiff hereby agrees to deliver to SMTR an executed Stipulation of
Discontinuance in the form attached as Exhibit A. Plaintiff further
agrees that: (i) no sale of the Shares shall be made before January 16,
2006; and (ii) no more than 1,000,000 of the Shares may be sold before
February 16, 2006. Plaintiff further acknowledges that the Debenture
has been paid in full and no further sums are due thereunder.
2. Mutual General Release. Expressly conditioned upon timely completion of
the delivery requirements set forth under Section 2 above, the Parties, each for
themselves, their respective Boards of Directors, officers, shareholders,
members, managing members, assigns, employees, agents, predecessors, heirs,
executors, and administrators, successors, subsidiary entities, former entities,
attorneys, and any others claiming under or through them, both past and present,
do hereby release and forever discharge each other, and each of the others'
Boards of Directors, officers, shareholders, members, managing members, assigns,
employees, agents, managers, predecessors, successors, heirs, executors, and
administrators, subsidiary entities, affiliates former entities, attorneys, and
all others acting by, through, under, or in concert with the other, and each of
them, from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action,
in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts (express, implied in fact,
or implied by law), agreements, promises, liabilities, claims, set offs, rights
and claims for indemnity and/or contribution, refunds, overpayments, demands,
damages, losses, costs, or expenses, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown,
suspected or unsuspected, fixed or contingent, which each now has or may
hereafter have by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the
beginning of time to the date hereof, including, without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, any matters that or might have been in any way raised, by
complaint, cross-complaint or otherwise. Notwithstanding the above, or any other
provisions of this instrument, this Agreement shall not affect, discharge, or
release any claims, known or unknown, which arise from or relate to the rights
or obligations of the parties hereto, whether presently existing or subsequently
accruing, with respect to the obligations created by or arising out of the
provisions of this Agreement.
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3. Waiver of Rights Under California Civil Code ss.1542. Except as set
forth herein, the Parties hereto further agree, covenant, represent and warrant
that they intend to and do hereby waive and relinquish any and all rights and
benefits conferred on them by any statutory or decisional authorities which
would otherwise preclude release of unknown claims, including without
limitation, those conferred by the provisions of Section 1542 of the California
Civil Code.
EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN ADVISED BY LEGAL COUNSEL WITH
RESPECT TO, AND IS FAMILIAR WITH, THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE
SECTION 1542, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:
A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT
KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE
RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM, MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS
SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.
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EACH PARTY BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY
RIGHT THE PARTY MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR
COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR EFFECT.
In waiving the provisions above, the Parties hereto hereby acknowledge
that they may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those
they now believe to be true with respect to the subject matter of the dispute
and other matters herein released, and may incur damages as a consequence of or
suffer from claims that were unknown or unanticipated at the time this Agreement
was executed but agree that they have taken that possibility into account in
determining the amount of consideration to be given under this Agreement and
that the general releases herein given shall be and remain in effect as full and
complete general releases notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any such
additional or different facts, or incurring of damages or suffering from claims,
of which the Parties expressly assume the risk. Each party acknowledges that he
is assuming the risk of such unknown and unanticipated claims and agrees that
this Agreement applies to unknown claims.
4. Attorney Advice. Each of the Parties warrant and represent that in
executing this Agreement, such Party has relied on legal advice from the
attorney of its choice, that the terms of this Settlement Agreement and Mutual
Release and its consequences have been completely read and explained to such
Party by that attorney, and that such Party fully understands the terms of this
Agreement.
5. No Representations. Each of the Parties acknowledge and represent that,
in executing this Agreement, such Party has not relied on any inducements,
promises, or representations made by any Party or any party representing or
serving such Party, unless expressly set forth in a written agreement.
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6. Disputed Claim. This Agreement pertains to disputed claims and does not
constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing by any Party for any purpose.
7. Covenant Re Assignment. The Parties represent and warrant that it/they
are the sole and lawful owner of all right, title and interest in and to every
claim and other matter which each purports to release herein, and that it has
not heretofore assigned or transferred, or purported to assign or transfer, to
any person, firm, association, corporation or other entity, any right, title or
interest in any such claim or other matter. In the event that such
representation is false, and any such claim or matter is asserted against any
party hereto (and/or the successor of such party) by any party or entity who is
the assignee or transferee of such claim or matter, the Party shall fully
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the party against who such claim or matter
is asserted (and its successors) from and against such claim or matter and from
all actual costs, demands, fees, expenses, liabilities, and damages which that
party (and/or its successors) incurs as a result of the assertion of such claim
or matter. It is the intention of the Parties that this indemnity does not
require payment as a condition precedent to recovery by a party under this
indemnity.
8. Covenant Re Authority to Bind Parties. Each party executing this
Agreement represents and warrants to the other parties that the individual
executing this Agreement on behalf of each party has the power and authority to
execute this Agreement and to bind the party to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement by executing this Agreement.
9. Survival of Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in
this Agreement are deemed to and do survive the execution hereof.
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10. Modifications. This Agreement may not be amended, canceled, revoked or
otherwise modified except by written agreement subscribed by all of the parties
to be charged with such modification.
11. Agreement Binding on Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
partners, employees, agents, servants, heirs, administrators, executors,
successors, representatives and assigns.
12. Attorney's Fees. All parties hereto agree to pay their own costs and
attorneys' fees except as follows:
A. In the event of any action, suit or other proceeding instituted
to remedy, prevent or obtain relief from a breach of this Agreement,
arising out of a breach of this Agreement, involving claims within the
scope of the releases contained in this Agreement, or pertaining to a
declaration of rights under this Agreement, the prevailing party shall
recover all of such party's attorneys' fees and costs incurred in each and
every such action, suit or other proceeding, including any and all appeals
or petitions therefrom.
B. As used herein, attorneys' fees shall be deemed to mean the full
and actual costs of any legal services actually performed in connection
with the matters involved, calculated on the basis of the usual fee
charged by the attorneys performing such services.
13. Forum. All parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts
of New York located in New York County in connection with any dispute relating
to this Agreement; all parties further agree to accept service of process by
overnight courier in any such suit, to waive any defense based upon an
inconvenient forum, and to waive any right to a trial by jury. This Agreement is
governed by New York law.
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14. Counterparts and Facsimile Execution. This Agreement may be executed
in one or more counterparts or by facsimile, each of which when executed and
delivered shall be an original, and all of which when executed shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto, agreeing to be bound hereby,
execute this Agreement upon the date first set forth above.
BRISTOL INVESTMENT FUND, LTD
By: /s/▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Director
SMARTIRE SYSTEMS, INC.
By: /s/▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
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Exhibit A
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NEW YORK
--------------------------------------------------------
BRISTOL INVESTMENT FUND, LTD. Index No. 601442/05
Plaintiffs,
I.A.S. Pt. 56
- against-
Justice ▇▇▇▇
SMARTIRE SYSTEMS, INC. STIPULATION OF
DISCONTINUANCE
--------------
Defendant.
--------------------------------------------------------
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED by the attorneys for the parties hereto
that:
1. All claims, counterclaims and defenses that were or might have been
asserted herein are hereby dismissed with prejudice with each party to its own
costs, expenses and attorneys fees.
2. No party hereto is an infant, incompetent person for whom a committee
or conservatee has been appointed and no person not a party hereto has an
interest herein.
Dated: December __, 2005
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FROME ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRAURIG
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ By: /s/▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------ -------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attorneys for Plaintiff Attorney for Defendant
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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