Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 28, 2005, by and among NutraCea and the investors named therein

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This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of October 3, 2005, among NutraCea, a California corporation (the “Company”), and the purchasers signatory hereto (each such purchaser is a “Purchaser” and all such purchasers are, collectively, the “Purchasers”).

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchasers (the “Purchase Agreement”).

The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:

1.

Definitions

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Advice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c).

“Effectiveness Date” means, with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the date which is the 135^th calendar day following the Closing Date and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 135th calendar day following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder; provided, however, in the event the Company is notified by the Commission that one of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates required above.

“Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

“Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

“Event Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

“Filing Date” means, with respect to the initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the 45^th calendar day following the Closing Date, and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 30^th day following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known that such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder.

“Holder” or “Holders” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c) hereof.

“Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c) hereof.

“Legal Counsel” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.

“Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened in writing.

“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

“Registrable Securities” means, as of the date in question, (i) all of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the shares of Preferred Stock, (ii) all Warrant Shares and (iii) any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing. The foregoing Company securities, or any of them, shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which such securities have been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which such securities have been sold pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) the date on which such securities (together with all other such securities held by the Investor) may be sold or transferred by a Person who is not an Affiliate of the Company pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or any other similar provision then in force).

 

“Registration Statement” means the registration statements required to be filed hereunder and any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 3(c), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

“Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or

 

 

regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

2.

Shelf Registration

(a)   On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a “Shelf” Registration Statement covering the resale of the Registrable Securities on such Filing Date for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form SB-2 (or on such other form appropriate for such purpose) and shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to comments received from the Commission upon a review of such Registration Statement) substantially the “Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which is the earlier of (i) three years after the Closing Date, (ii) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been publicly sold, or (iii) such time as all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent and the affected Holders (the “Effectiveness Period”). The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via facsimile or e-mail of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement within two trading days of the day that the Company receives notification of the effectiveness from the Commission.

(b)   If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date, or (ii) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act, within five Trading Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that a Registration Statement will not be “reviewed,” or not subject to further review, or (iii) prior to its Effectiveness Date, the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment and otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of such Registration Statement within 10 calendar days after the receipt of comments by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in order for a Registration Statement to be declared effective, unless such delay is caused by the unavailability of required financial statements, or (iv) a Registration Statement filed or required to be filed hereunder is not declared effective by the Commission by its Effectiveness Date, or (v) after the Effectiveness Date, a Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities for which it is required to be effective, or the Holders are not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell

such Registrable Securities for 15 consecutive Trading Days but no more than an aggregate of 30 Trading Days during any 12-month period (which need not be consecutive Trading Days) or (vi) the Company is in material breach of the provisions of Section 4.13 of the Purchase Agreement (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “Event”, and for purposes of clause (i) or (iv) the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (ii) the date on which such five Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (iii) the date which such 10 calendar day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v) the date on which such 15 or 30 Trading Day period or for the purposes of clause (vi), the date on which such material breach occurred, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as “Event Date”), then in addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under the Purchase Agreement in the case of clause (vi), or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 2% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. The foregoing liquidated damages may be paid, at the option of the Holders, in cash or in shares of the Company’s common stock. For purposes of this Section 2, the per share value of the Company’s common stock shall equal the average of the last reported sales price of the Company’s common stock on the Trading Market for each of the ten (10) trading days up to and including the first trading day preceding the date that the payment is due. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event. If the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven calendar days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at the rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus ten percent (10%) (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event.

3.

Registration Procedures

In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:

(a)   Not less than five Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Company shall furnish to each Holder copies of the “Selling Stockholders” and “Plan of Distribution” sections of such document, as proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such Holders. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably object in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection, including the substance of such objection, in writing no later than two Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of such documents. However, the Company shall not be required to pay any liquidated damages under Section 2(b) for any period of time in which the filing of Registration Statement, or any Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto is delayed because of such objection. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a

completed Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a “Selling Holder Questionnaire”) not less than two Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the third Trading Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in accordance with this Section. The Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a Holder in the Registration Statement and shall not be required to pay any liquidated or other damages under Section 2(b) to any Holder who fails to furnish to the Company a true and fully completed Selling Holder Questionnaire in accordance with this Section.

 

(b)   (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and to the extent any Registrable Securities are not included in such Registration Statement for reasons other than the failure of the Holder to comply with Sections 3(a) and 7(o) hereof, and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements or post-effective amendments in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.

 

(c)   If during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement other than for failure by the Holders to comply with Sections 3(a) and 7(o), then the Company shall file as soon as reasonably practicable but in any case prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Holders of such additional Registrable Securities.

(d)   Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five Trading Days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person in writing) confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to the each Holder that pertain to such Holder as a Selling Stockholder or to the Plan of Distribution, but not information which the Company believes would constitute material and non public information); and (C) with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective

amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any 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; and (vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued availability of the Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided that any and all of such information shall remain confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public, unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided, further, notwithstanding each Holder’s agreement to keep such information confidential, the Holders make no acknowledgement that any such information is material, non-public information.

 

(e)   Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.

(f)   Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.

(g)   Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in connection with resales by the Holder of Registrable Securities. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, except after the giving on any notice pursuant to Section 3(d).

(h)   Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in

connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the Registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

(i)   If requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.

(j)   Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(d)(v), as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company’s good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an 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 under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (ii) through (v) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(j) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed 60 days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12 month period.

 

(k)   Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.

(l)   The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a separate certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and the person thereof that has voting and dispositive control over the Shares, and the status of Holder as, or the affiliation of Holder with, a broker-dealer. In addition, the Company will require that each of the Holders provide complete and accurate information as requested in the Selling Holder Questionnaire. During any periods that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails to furnish such information within two Trading Days of the Company’s

request, any liquidated damages that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall be tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be suspended as to such Holder only, until such information is delivered to the Company.

4.     Legal Counsel. The Buyers holding securities representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities shall have the right to select one legal counsel to review, on behalf of the Buyers, any registration pursuant to Section 2 (“Legal Counsel”), which shall be Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, or such other counsel as thereafter designated in writing to the Company by the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel in performing the Company’s obligations under this Agreement.

5.     Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (vii) fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel to Buyers, not to exceed $25,000 in the aggregate. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions or, except to the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders.

6.

Indemnification

(a)   Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, investment advisors and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the

fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to: (1) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (2) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, or any other law, including any state, provincial or foreign securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (3) any material violation of this Agreement by the Company, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (i) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 7(c); provided, however, that in connection with any Proceeding in the same jurisdiction, the Company will not be liable for the reasonable legal fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all Holder Indemnified Parties. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution or written threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware pursuant to which indemnification could be required under this Section 6(a).

(b)   Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, to the extent arising out of or based solely upon: (x) such Holder’s failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (y) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (i) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and

was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 7(c). In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

(c)   Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe that a material conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and the reasonable fees and expenses of one separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection

with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party, which notice shall be delivered no more frequently than on a monthly basis; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder, determined based upon the relative faults of the parties.

(d)   Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 6(a) or 6(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, except in the case of fraud by such Holder.

The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

7.

Miscellaneous

(a)   Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide

adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b)   Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

(c)   Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as it practicable. The Company agrees and acknowledges that any periods during which the Holder is required to discontinue the disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2(b).

(d)   No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as set forth on Schedule 7(d) attached hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in the initial Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities. The Company shall not file any other registration statements other than on Form S-8 until the initial Registration Statement required hereunder is declared effective by the Commission, provided that this Section 7(d) shall not prohibit the Company from filing amendments to registration statements already filed.

(e)   Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with the stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder a written notice of such determination and, if within five days after the date of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such holder requests to be registered, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks applicable to all holders of registration rights if such registration statement relates to an underwritten offering; provided, that, the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(e) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act or that are the subject of a then effective Registration Statement.

(f)   Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.

(g)   Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

(h)   Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder to any surviving, acquiring or successor corporation in connection with a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation, or a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another corporation, or similar transaction, without the prior written consent of the Holders, after notice duly given by the Company to the Holders.. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.

(i)    Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.

(j)    Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

(k)   Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

(l)    Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full

force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

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

(n)   Independent Nature of Holders’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

(o)   Holder Cooperation. The Holders shall cooperate with the Company, as reasonably requested by the Company, in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder. The Company may require a Holder to promptly furnish in writing to the Company such information as may be required in connection with such registration including, without limitation, all such information as may be requested by the Commission or the NASD or any state securities commission and all such information regarding the Holder, the Registrable Securities held by the Holder and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities. Each Holder agrees to provide such information requested in connection with such registration within a reasonable time after receiving such written request. The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time prior to the filing of each Registration Statement, supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement.

Each Holder shall be responsible for the delivery of the Prospectus to the Persons to whom the Holder sells the Registrable Securities to the extent required by applicable law, and each Holder agrees to dispose of Registrable Securities in compliance with the plan of distribution described in the Registration Statement and otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

********************

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

	NUTRACEA
	By:
		Name: Bradley Edson
		Title: President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]

[PURCHASER’S SIGNATURE PAGE TO NUTRACEA REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

Name of Investing Entity: __________________________

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: __________________________

Name of Authorized Signatory: _________________________

Title of Authorized Signatory: __________________________

Name of Investing Individual: __________________________

Signature of Investing Individual: __________________________

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]

 

Each Selling Stockholder (the “Selling Stockholders”) of the common stock (“Common Stock”) of NutraCea, a California corporation (the “Company”) and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of Common Stock on the Trading Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:

 

·

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

·

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

·

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

·

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

·

privately negotiated transactions;

 

·

settlement of short sales entered into after the date of this prospectus;

 

·

broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

·

a combination of any such methods of sale;

 

·

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; or

 

·

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. Each Selling Stockholder does not expect these commissions and discounts relating to its sales of shares to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.

In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Discounts, concessions, commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, that can be attributed to the sale of securities will be paid by the Selling Stockholders and/or the purchasers. Each Selling Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock.

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. Each Selling Stockholder has advised us that they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriter or broker-dealer regarding the sale of the resale shares. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling Stockholders.

We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) three years after the initial sale of the resale shares, (ii) the date on which the shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without registration and without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule 144(e) under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (iii) all of the shares have been sold pursuant to the prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to our common stock for a period of two business days prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of our common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale.

 

 

 

The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of NutraCea, a California corporation (the “Company”), (the “Registrable Securities”) understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form SB-2 (the “Registration Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2005 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company and the Purchasers named therein. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement. BENEFICIAL OWNERS THAT DO NOT COMPLETE THIS NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE AND TIMELY DELIVER IT TO NUTRACEA SHALL NOT BE NAMED AS SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS IN THE PROSPECTUS INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THEREFORE SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SELL ANY REGISTRABLE SHARES PURSUANT TO THE RESALE REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

 

The undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling Securityholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under such Item 3) in the Registration Statement. The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, understands that it will be bound by the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration Rights Agreement. Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, the undersigned will be required to deliver to the Company the Notice of Transfer (completed and signed) set forth in Exhibit 1 attached hereto and hereby undertakes to do so.

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate:

 

 

 

2.	Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:

 

Telephone:
Fax:
Contact Person:

 

 

4.	Broker-Dealer Status:

 

(a)

Are you a broker-dealer?

 

Yes o

No o

 

Note:

If yes, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

(b)

Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?

 

Yes o

No o

 

(c)

If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities?

 

Yes o

No o

 

Note:

If no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

5.	Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling Securityholder.

 

 

(a)	Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the Selling Securityholder:

 

 

6.	Relationships with the Company:

 

 

State any exceptions here:

 

By signing below, the undersigned acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Rules thereunder relating to stock manipulation, particularly Regulation M thereunder (or any successor Rules or regulations), in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement. The undersigned agrees that neither it nor any person acting on its behalf will engage in any transaction in violation of such provisions. The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective. All notices hereunder shall be made in writing at the address set forth below.

By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

Dated:

Beneficial Owner:

	By:
		Name:
		Title:

NutraCea, Inc.

1261 Hawk’s Flight Court

El Dorado Hills, CA 95762

Attention: CFO

Fax No. (916) 933-7001

 

EXHIBIT 1

NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Weintraub Genshlea Chediak law corporation

400 Capitol Mall, Suite 1100

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone No.: (916) 558-6110

Facsimile No.:    (916) 446-1611

Attention: Christopher Chediak, Esq.

RE: NUTRACEA (THE "COMPANY") COMMON STOCK TRANSFER

Dear Sirs:

Please be advised that __________ has transferred ___________ shares of the Company's Common Stock pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No.___-______) filed by the Company. We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied with respect to the transfer described above and that the above-named beneficial owner of the Common Stock is named as a selling securityholder in the Prospectus dated __________, 200_ or in amendments or supplements thereto, and that the number of shares of Common Stock transferred are all/a portion (please circle as appropriate) of the Common Stock listed for resale in such Prospectus as amended or supplemented opposite such owner's name.

	Very truly yours,
	(Name)

	By:
		(Authorized Signature)

 

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