LIQUIDATION AGREEMENT
This Liquidation
Agreement (hereinafter, this “ Agreement ”) is
made as of this 4th day of December, 2008 by and among:
YA GLOBAL
INVESTMENTS, L.P., f/k/a Cornell Capital Partners, L.P., a
Cayman Island exempt limited partnership as collateral agent
(hereinafter, the “ Collateral Agent ”);
YA GLOBAL
INVESTMENTS, L.P., f/k/a Cornell Capital Partners, L.P., a
Cayman Island exempt limited partnership (“ YA Global
”), XENTENIAL HOLDINGS LIMITED (“
Xentenial ”), a corporation incorporated under the
laws of the Republic of Cyprus, and STARAIM ENTERPRISES
LIMITED (“ Staraim ”), a corporation
incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus, each having
an office at 101 Hudson Street, Suite 3700, Jersey City, New Jersey
07303, and STAROME INVESTMENTS LIMITED (“
Starome ”), a corporation incorporated under the laws
of the Republic of Cyprus, having an office at Athalassas, 47, 2
nd Floor, Flat
Office 202, Strovolos, P.C. 2012, Nicosia, Cyprus (hereinafter,
collectively, the “ Lenders ”);
SMARTIRE SYSTEMS
INC. (hereinafter the “ Company ”), a
corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of British
Columbia with its principal place of business located at Suite #150
- 13151 Vanier Place, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada V6V 2J1;
and
SMARTIRE
TECHNOLOGIES INC. , a corporation incorporated under the laws
of the Province of British Columbia and SMARTIRE USA, INC .,
a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware
(hereinafter, collectively, the “ Subsidiaries
”), each with its principal place of business located at
Suite #150 - 13151 Vanier Place, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
V6V 2J1.
Background
Reference is made to
certain financing arrangements entered into by and between the
Lenders and the Company evidenced by, among other things, the
documents, instruments, and agreements set forth on Exhibit
“A” attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference (collectively, together with all other documents,
instruments, and/or agreements executed in connection therewith or
related thereto, the “ Financing Documents
”).
One or more defaults
have occurred under the Financing Documents prior to the date
hereof, and certain of the obligations under the Financing
Documents have matured and remain unpaid by the Company
(hereinafter, the “ Existing Defaults
”). The Company has informed the Lender that the
Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, jointly, and severally,
the “ Vendors ”) have located a purchaser for
the Vendors’ assets and have requested that the Lenders
consent to the proposed sale (the “ Sale ”) upon
the terms and conditions set forth in the asset purchase agreement
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “B” (the “
APA ”), and agree to allow the Company to use its
existing cash and proceeds of the Lenders’ collateral, and/or
certain proceeds of the Sale to pay certain costs and expenses of
the Sale and certain costs and expenses of the Vendors’
wind-down after consummation of the Sale, and the Lenders have
agreed to do so, but only on the express terms and conditions set
forth herein.
Accordingly, for good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed by and between the
Lenders and the Vendors, as follows:
Acknowledgment of Indebtedness
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The Vendors hereby acknowledge and agree that
the Company is liable to the Lenders for all obligations under the
Financing Documents, including, without limitation, the following
(collectively, the “ Obligations
”): (a) the amounts set forth on Exhibit
“C” attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference, and (b) all fees, costs, expenses, and costs of
collection (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
expenses) heretofore or hereafter accruing and/or incurred by the
Lenders in connection with the Financing Documents, including,
without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation and
preparation of this Agreement and all documents, instruments, and
agreements incidental hereto.
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Waiver of Claims
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The Vendors hereby acknowledge and agree that
they have no offsets, defenses, claims, or counterclaims against
the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and/or their respective officers,
directors, employees, attorneys, representatives, predecessors,
affiliates, parents, successors, and assigns (the “
Released Parties ”) with respect to the Financing
Documents, the Obligations, or otherwise, and that if the Vendors
now have, or ever did have, any offsets, defenses, claims, or
counterclaims against the Released Parties whether known or
unknown, at law or in equity, from the beginning of the world
through this date and through the time of execution of this
Agreement, all of them are hereby expressly WAIVED , and the
Vendors each hereby RELEASE the Released Parties from any
liability therefor.
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Ratification of Financing Documents; Further
Assurances
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Hereby ratify, confirm, and reaffirm all of
the terms and conditions of the Financing Documents. The
Vendors further acknowledge and agree that, except as specifically
modified in this Agreement, all terms and conditions of the
Financing Documents shall remain in full force and effect;
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Hereby ratify, confirm, and reaffirm that (i)
the obligations secured by the Financing Documents include, without
limitation, the Obligations, and any future modifications,
amendments, substitutions or renewals thereof, (ii) the Financing
Documents, this Agreement, and the documents executed in connection
herewith or related hereto (collectively, the “
Transaction Documents ”), grant security interests in
favor of the Lenders in the undertaking of the Vendors and all
present and after-acquired personal property and real property of
the Vendors, and that such security interests remain in full force
and effect, and (iii) all collateral, whether now existing or
hereafter acquired, granted to the Collateral Agent and/or the
Lenders pursuant to the Transaction Documents shall continue to
secure all of the Obligations until payment in full of the
Obligations; and
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Shall, from and after the execution of this
Agreement, execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent whatever
additional documents, instruments, and agreements that the Lenders
may reasonably require in order to vest or perfect the Transaction
Documents and the collateral granted to the Lenders therein more
securely in the Collateral Agent and Lenders and to otherwise give
effect to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
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Budget; Payment of Budgeted Expenses
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The Vendors have presented the Lenders with a
proposed wind-down plan (hereinafter, the “ Wind-Down
Plan ”), together with a projected budget (hereinafter,
the “ Budget ”) covering the period from the
date of this Agreement through the anticipated wind-down of the
Vendors’ operations on or about December 31, 2009
(hereinafter, the “ Termination Date ”), a copy
of which is annexed hereto marked Exhibit
“D”. The Budget sets forth the anticipated
expenses and costs of the Vendors’ operations through the
date of closing on the Sale, and the subsequent wind down of the
Vendors’ operations (hereinafter, the “ Budgeted
Expenses ”). In connection therewith:
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The Vendors warrant and represent to the
Lenders that the Budget contains the Vendors’ best estimate
of all foreseeable, reasonable, and necessary expenses which may be
incurred or otherwise are required to be paid in connection with
the Sale and the subsequent wind-down of the Vendors’
operations.
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Certain of the Budgeted Expenses identified on
the Budget as “Funds req’d at closing” in the
amount of $762,532.00 (the “ Specified Expenses
”), need to be paid on or before the closing on the Sale, and
the Vendors do not have sufficient funds on hand to pay for the
same. Accordingly, the Vendors have requested that YA
Global make a loan in the amount of $762,532.00 (the “
Bridge Loan ”) to fund such Specified Expenses, and YA
Global has agreed to do so, subject to the following:
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The Bridge Loan shall be made upon, and
subject to, the terms and conditions set forth in a Bridge Note in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit “E” (the “
Bridge Note ”);
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All amounts advanced under the Bridge Loan,
and all interest accrued thereon and/or fees, costs, expenses, and
costs of collection incurred in connection therewith and all other
amounts due under the Bridge Loan Documents shall constitute
Obligations, shall be secured by all collateral which secures the
Obligations, and shall be repaid as part of the Obligations from
the proceeds of the Sale and/or the Excluded Assets (as defined
below) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, subject
to certain agreements among the Lenders regarding the application
of such proceeds; and
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At the option of YA Global, with the consent
of the other Lenders, the proceeds of the Bridge Loan may be
disbursed directly to the party to which the Specified Expense is
due, or deposited into the Pledged Account, as defined below, to be
used by the Vendors solely to pay the Specified
Expenses. The Vendors shall cooperate fully with YA
Global in making such disbursements directly to the parties to
which the Specified Expenses are owed, and shall execute and
deliver to YA Global such notices, documents, instruments and/or
agreements as YA Global may require in connection with the
same.
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Provided that no Termination Event, as defined
below, has occurred, the Lenders (i) will permit the Vendors to use
their cash on hand, or other cash or funds received by the Vendors
from assets excluded from the Sale, as set forth on Schedule 2.01
to the APA (hereinafter, the “ Excluded Assets
”) to pay Budgeted Expenses and the proceeds of the Bridge
Loan to pay Specified Expenses (if not disbursed directly as set
forth above), but only to the extent that such Budgeted
Expenses/Specified Expenses are actually incurred and are then due
and payable, and, to the extent that the funds available pursuant
to sub-section (i) are not sufficient to pay all such Budgeted
Expenses, then (ii) will deposit in the Pledged Account (as defined
below) from funds received under the APA, if and when such amounts
are actually received by the Collateral Agent in good and collected
funds, prior to such funds being distributed to the Lenders,
sufficient amounts to pay such Budgeted Expenses that are actually
incurred and then due and payable. The Vendors covenant and agree
that they shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Collateral Agent and the Lenders, pay any Budgeted Expense (x)
prior to the week that such Budgeted Expense is scheduled to be
paid as shown in the Budget, or (y) in excess of the Budgeted
Expenses set forth in the Budget, whether by line item or in the
aggregate.
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Cash Management
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On or before December ___, 2008, the Company
shall open an account (the “ Pledged Account ”)
with a U.S. branch of Wachovia Bank, N.A., or another U.S. bank
acceptable to the Collateral Agent and the Lenders and will deposit
into the Pledged Account all cash, collections, and other funds as
and when received by the Vendors, including, without limitation,
all proceeds from the Excluded Assets and all proceeds of the
Bridge Loan which are not directly disbursed per the provisions of
Paragraph 4, above. The Company shall execute and
deliver all such documents (including a pledge agreement and
control agreement) as such bank and the Lenders may require in
order to grant the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders
a perfected security interest in the Pledged Account to secure the
Obligations. The Vendors shall not open or maintain any
deposit accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, or any
other account or investment, with any other bank, lending
institution, or financial company, with the sole exceptions of the
Pledged Account and the Company’s existing deposit account
#’s _______, and _________ maintained with _______________
(the “ Existing Accounts ”) which the Vendors
are required to keep open pursuant to the Transition Services
Agreement entered into with Bendix (as defined below) in connection
with the APA (the “ Transition Services Agreement
”) for 120 days for the sole purpose of collecting payments
on accounts receivable which are to be sold to Bendix per the
APA. The Vendors covenant and agree that (a) any funds
currently in such accounts which are not proceeds of accounts
receivable sold to Bendix will be immediately transferred to the
Pledged Account, (b) no funds of any nature shall be deposited in
such accounts other than funds received from accounts receivable
which have been sold to Bendix, and (c) the Vendors will close such
accounts no later than 120 days from the date of the Transition
Services Agreement. Unless and until the occurrence of a
Termination Event, the Company shall have access to the funds
contained in the Pledged Account solely for the payment of Budgeted
Expenses/Specified Expenses in accordance with Paragraph 4, above,
provided, however, that the Company covenants and agrees that it
will not pay any Budgeted Expenses/Specified Expenses without first
providing at least three (3) days written notice to the Lenders of
the same. If and when the funds contained in the Pledged
Account equal or exceed the amounts necessary to pay any remaining
Budgeted Expenses, such excess funds shall be remitted to the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with
the instructions set forth on Exhibit “F” attached
hereto. Further, upon the earlier of (a) the completion
of the wind-down of the Vendors’ businesses, or (b) the time
at which all Budgeted Expenses that have been incurred or which are
reasonably expected to be incurred, have been paid, all remaining
funds contained in the Pledged Account shall be remitted to the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with
the instructions set forth on Exhibit “F” attached
hereto.
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Sale
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The Vendors have informed the Lenders that
they have entered into the APA with Bendix CVS Canada Inc.
(“Bendix”), as purchaser, and Bendix Commercial Vehicle
Systems LLC, as guarantor of Bendix’s obligations under the
APA, and have requested that the Lenders consent to the
same. The Lenders hereby consent to the Vendors entering
into the APA. In consideration of the Lenders providing
their consent to the Vendors entering into the APA, the Vendors
agree as follows:
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Capitalized terms used in this Section and not
otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning therefore set
forth in the APA.
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The Vendors hereby acknowledge and agree that
the Lenders hold a perfected, first priority security interest in
the APA and the Escrow Agreement, and all of the Vendors rights
thereunder, including, without limitation, all rights to payment
thereunder and the right under the Escrow Agreement to the return
of the undertaking and all assets of the Purchased Business if the
transaction is unwound (which constitute rights in such undertaking
and property and a continuing interest in such undertaking and
property). In that regard, the Vendors acknowledge and
agree that all payments under the APA have been directed to the
Collateral Agent in accordance with the instructions set forth on
Exhibit “F” attached hereto, and upon receipt by the
Collateral Agent, will be applied in reduction of the Obligations
in a manner determined by the Lenders in their sole and exclusive
discretion. In the event that notwithstanding the
foregoing, a Vendor receives, or otherwise obtains or comes into
the possession of, any payments due under the APA, or any other
proceeds of the Sale, then such Vendor shall hold such payments or
proceeds in trust for the Lenders, and shall immediately remit the
same to the Collateral Agent in accordance with the instructions
set forth on Exhibit “F” attached hereto in the same
form received, with any necessary endorsements thereon.
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The Vendors covenant and agree that the
Vendors will not, and will not cause or encourage any other party
to, cancel, revoke, terminate, rescind, or abandon the APA, or to
amend, modify, waive, or otherwise change any of the terms and
conditions of the APA, or consent to any of the foregoing, in any
manner, without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent
and the Lenders.
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The Vendors shall provide the Lenders with
notice immediately upon it becoming reasonably apparent to the
Vendors that (i) either the Vendors or Bendix will not be able to
consummate the Sale on or before December 5, 2008, or (ii) the
required shareholder approvals will not be obtained on or before
March 13, 2009.
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The Vendors shall use their commercially
reasonable best efforts to close on the Sale upon the terms
contemplated by the APA on or before December 5, 2008.
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Upon the closing of the Sale, the Vendors
shall, as soon as is practicable thereafter, subject to applicable
law, convene and hold a special meeting of the shareholders of the
Company for the purpose of passing special resolutions to approve
the Sale and any other transactions contemplated by the APA, but in
any event on or before March 13, 2009, or if the Company is unable
to obtain, after using its best efforts to do so, such shareholder
approval of the Sale and the other transactions contemplated by the
APA, the Company will use all reasonable commercial efforts to
obtain an order of the British Columbia Supreme Court declaring
that the Sale is for valuable consideration to Bendix who is
dealing with the Company in good faith pursuant to Section
301(3)(a) of the Business Corporations Act (British
Columbia) or is otherwise valid.
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The Company covenants and agrees to cooperate
fully with the Lenders who are entering into a voting agreement as
contemplated by the APA, and to provide such Lenders with all such
documents, instruments, agreements, and waivers as such Lenders may
reasonably request, in connection with any such Lender’s
conversion of a portion of the Obligations into shares of the
Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Convertible
Debentures set forth on Exhibit “A” attached hereto, to
promptly issue the required shares to such Lenders, and to
otherwise fully comply with all of the Company’s obligations
under the Convertible Debentures and the other Financing Documents
in connection with the same.
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The Company covenants and agrees to cooperate
fully with the Lenders, and to provide the Lenders with all such
documents, instruments, agreements, and waivers as the Lenders may
reasonably request, in connection with the Lenders’
performance pursuant to that certain Voting Arrangement Agreement
of even date herewith entered into by and among Bendix, the
Company, and the Lenders.
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The Vendors will provide the Lenders with
copies of all correspondence, notices, documents, agreements and
other written information and/or materials relating to the Sale,
the APA, the shareholder meeting, shareholder approval, the
wind-down of the Vendors operations, and all related matters, as
and when such materials are sent, or received by, the Vendors, and
shall at all times keep the Lenders fully apprized of the status of
the Sale, the Vendors efforts to obtain shareholder, or court,
approval of the same, and, after the closing on the Sale, all
transactions between the Vendors and Bendix thereafter, including,
without limitation, the calculation of Closing Net Book Value and
Final Net Book Value, and calculation of Earnout
Payments. In that regard, the Vendors covenant and agree
(i) to provide the Lenders with copies of the Closing Net Book
Value Statement and each Earn Out Statement promptly upon receiving
the same, (ii) to provide the Lenders with prior notice before
inspecting, examining or auditing any information or other
materials provided by Bendix pursuant to Section 2.03 of the APA,
or observing any physical inventory under Section 2.04 of the APA,
and allow the Lenders and/or their auditor or representatives to
participate in the same, (iii) not to dispute any Earn Out
Statement or deliver a Notice of Objection to Bendix, or take any
other material action under the APA, without first providing the
Lenders with a detailed summary of the Vendors objection to the
Earn Out Statement and/or Closing Net Book Value Statement, or
proposed action, and obtaining the Lenders consent to the same,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or
delayed, and (v) to provide the Lenders with prior notice of any
other meeting or conference call with Bendix, and, at the Lenders
request, allow the Lenders to participate in the same.
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Weekly, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday
of each week, the Vendors shall provide the Lenders with a report
of the status of the Sale, the Vendors’ efforts to obtain
s
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