**EXHIBIT 4.1**

SOP05006

 

**THIS OPTION HAS BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT TO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), AND THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS (THE "LAWS").  IT IS UNLAWFUL TO EXERCISE, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF THIS OPTION, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, OR RECEIVE ANY CONSIDERATION THEREFOR, IN THE ABSENCE OF (I) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND QUALIFICATION UNDER THE LAWS, UNLESS EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION AND QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ARE AVAILABLE; AND (II) COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF.**

 

**THIS OPTION MAY BE EXERCISED****ONLY****IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT.**

 

THE RICEX COMPANY

 

BOARD MEMBER - NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

The RiceX Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby grants to Kirit Kamdar (the "Optionee"), an option (the "Option") to purchase a total of 50,000 shares of common stock, par value $.001, of the Company (the "Common Stock") at an exercise price (the "Exercise Price") equal to thirty cents ($0.30) per share, in all respects subject to the terms, definitions and provisions of this Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement (the "Agreement").

 

1.          Nature of the Option.  The Option is intended to be a nonstatutory option and not an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

2.          Payment of Exercise Price.

(a)       Method of Payment.  Payment of the Exercise Price for shares purchased upon exercise of the Option shall be made (i) by delivery to the Company of cash or a check to the order of the Company in an amount equal to the purchase price of such shares; (ii) subject to the consent of the Company, by delivery to the Company of shares of Common Stock of the Company then owned by the Optionee having a fair market value equal in amount to the purchase price of such shares in accordance with Section 2(b); (iii) subject to the consent of the Company, through any "cashless exercise" program which may be implemented by the Company; (iv) by any other means approved by the Board of Directors of the Company ("Board") and which is consistent with applicable laws and regulations (including, withoutlimitation, the provisions of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Regulation T promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board); or (iv) by any combination of such methods of payment.

 

 

 

 

 (b)       Method of Payment – Public Market.  In the event there exists a public market for the Company's Common Stock on the date of exercise, payment of the exercise price may be made by surrender of shares of the Company's Common Stock.  In this case payment shall be made as follows:

(i)         Optionee shall deliver to the Secretary of the Company a written notice which shall set forth the portion of the purchase price the Optionee wishes to pay with Common Stock, and the number of shares of such Common Stock the Optionee intends to surrender pursuant to the exercise of this Option, which shall be determined by dividing the aforementioned portion of the purchase price by the average of the last reported bid and asked prices per share of Common Stock of the Company, as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or, if not so reported, as otherwise reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) System or, in the event the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, or on the NASDAQ Small-Cap Market of any successor nationalmarket system, the closing price of Common Stock of the Company on such exchange as reported in The Wall Street Journal) for the day on which the notice of exercise is sent or delivered;

(ii)         Fractional shares shall be disregarded and the Optionee shall pay in cash an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the price determined under subparagraph (i);

(iii)        The written notice shall be accompanied by a duly endorsed blank stock power with respect to the number of Shares set forth in the notice, and the certificate(s) representing said Shares shall be delivered to the Company at its principal offices within three (3) working days from the date of the notice of exercise;

(iv)        The Optionee hereby authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Company to transfer so many of the Shares represented by such certificate(s) as are necessary to pay the purchase price in accordance with the provisions herein;

(v)        If any such transfer of Shares requires the consent of the California Commissioner of Corporations or of some other agency under the securities laws of any other state, or an opinion of counsel for the Company or Optionee that such transfer may be effected under applicable federal and state securities laws, the time periods specified herein shall be extended for such periods as the necessary request for consent to transfer is pending before said commissioner or other agency, or until counsel renders such an opinion, as the case may be.  All parties agree to cooperate in making such request for transfer, or in obtaining such opinion of counsel, and no transfer shall be effected without such consent or opinion if required by law; and

(vi)        Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, the Optionee shall only be permitted to pay the purchase price with shares of the Company's Common Stock owned by him as of the exercise date in the manner and within the time periods allowed under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as such regulation is presently constituted, as it is amended from time to time, and as it is interpreted now or hereafter 

 

 

by the Securities and Exchange Commission and any such shares have been held by the Optionee for not less than six (6) months.

3.          Exercise of Option.  The Option shall vest and become exercisable during its term, subject to the provisions of Section 5 below, as follows:

| (a) | Vesting and Right to Exercise. |
|-----|--------------------------------|

(i)         The Option hereby granted shall vest and become exercisable on a prorated basis over a twelve-month period beginning March 31, 2005.  The option will be fully vested on March 31, 2006.

Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (ii) and (iii) below, the Optionee can exercise any portion of the Option, which has vested until the expiration of the Option term.

 

If a "change of control" of the Company should occur, as defined below, then the Option shall immediately vest and become exercisable in full.  For purposes of the foregoing provision, a "change in control" means the occurrence of any of the following (except that the consummation of the pending merger transaction with NutraCea, a California corporation, and Red Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NutraCea, shall not constitute a "change of control"):

 

 (A)      any "person," as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as emended (the "Exchange Act") (other than the Company or its existing shareholders) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (or a successor to the Company) representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company or such successor;

 

 (B)       the dissolution of the Company or liquidation of more than 50% or more in value of the assets of the Company, (ii) or any merger or reorganization of the Company whether or not another entity is the survivor, (iii) a transaction (other than the initial public offering of the Company's shares) pursuant to which holders, as a group, of all of the shares of the Company outstanding before the transaction, hold, as a group, less than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company or any successor company outstanding after the transaction, or (iv) any other event or series of events which the Optionee determines, in his discretion, would materially alter the structure of the Company or its ownership.

 

(ii)         In the event of the Optionee's death, disability, other termination of employment or ceases to be a member of the Board prior to exercise, the exercisability of the Option shall be governed by Section 5 below.

(iii)        The Option may be exercised in whole or in part but may not be exercised as to fractional shares.

 

 

 

 

 (b)       Method of Exercise.  In order to exercise any portion of the Option, the Optionee shall execute and deliver to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company the Notice of Exercise of Stock Option in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A," together with the Consent of Spouse.  The Notice of Exercise must be accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate purchase price for the Shares to be purchased in the type of consideration set forth in Section 2.  The Notice of Exercise may be delivered to the Company at any time.  The certificate(s) for the Shares as to which the Option has been exercised shall be registered in the name of Optionee or his designee.

 (c)       Restrictions on Exercise.  This Option may not be exercised if the issuance of the shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such shares would constitute a violation of any applicable federal or state securities law or any other law or regulation.  As a condition to the exercise of the Option, the Company may require the Optionee to make any representation or warranty to the Company at the time of exercise of the Option as in the opinion of legal counsel for the Company may be required by any applicable law or regulation, including the execution and delivery of an appropriate representation statement.  The stock certificate(s) for the Shares issued upon exercise of the Option may bear appropriate legends restricting transfer.

 (d)       Delivery of Certificates.  The Company shall deliver the certificate(s) for the Shares issued upon exercise of the Option to the Optionee as soon as is practicable; provided, however, that if any law or regulation requires the Company to take action with respect to such shares before the issuance thereof, including, without limitation, actions taken pursuant to Section 6 below, then the date of delivery of such Shares shall be extended for a period necessary to take such action.

4.          Non-Transferability of Option.  This Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee and may not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  The terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the Optionee.

5.         Term of the Option.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, to the extent not previously exercised, the right to exercise the Option shall terminate on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Optionee ceases to be a director of the Company he/she will be treated in the following manner relative to their option exercise period:

 (a)       If the Optionee retires or chooses not to be renominated, their option exercise period will be extended for three years from the date of event,

 (b)       If the Optionee dies or becomes disabled, their option period will be extended for three years from the date of such death or disability.  In the event of death of Optionee, the surviving heirs will have the same extended exercise right as that of the Optionee.

 (c)       In all other cases in which the director  ceases to be a member of the Board, the option exercise period will be 90 days from the date of such termination; provided, however, that in no event may the Option be exercised after its ten (10) year term has 

 

 

expired.  To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of such termination, or if he or she does not exercise such Option (which he or she was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

 

6.          Adjustments Upon /Changes in Capitalization; Other Adjustments.  Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of Shares and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, combination, reclassification, the payment of a stock dividend on the Common Stock or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration."  Such adjustment shallbe made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.  Except as expressly provided herein, no issue by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares subject to, or the Exercise Price of, this Option.

The Board may, if it so determines in the exercise of its sole discretion, also make provision for adjusting the number of shares, as well as the Exercise Price, in the event that the Company effects one or more reorganizations, recapitalizations, rights offerings, or other increases or reductions of shares of its outstanding common stock, and in the event of the Company being consolidated with or merged into any other corporation; provided, however, that in no event shall the Optionee be adversely affected by such adjustment.

The Board may, if it so determines in the exercise of its sole discretion, also make provision for changing, modifying, amending or adjusting any of the terms of this Option solely in order for the Company to perfect a significant financing; provided, however, that in no event shall the Optionee be adversely affected by such adjustment.

7.          Rights of Shareholder.  Optionee shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the shares until the date of the issuance or the transfer to the Optionee of the certificate(s) for such shares and only after the Exercise Price for such shares has been paid in full.

8.          Amendment.  Except as set forth in Section 6, this Agreement may not be amended without the written consent of the Optionee.

9.          Income Tax Withholding.  The Optionee authorizes the Company to withhold, in accordance with applicable law from any compensation payable to him or her, any taxes required to be withheld by federal, state or local laws as a result of the exercise of this Option.  Furthermore, in the event of any determination that the Company has failed to withhold a sum sufficient to pay all withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of this Option, the Optionee agrees to pay the Company the amount of such deficiency in cash within five (5) days after receiving a written demand from the Company to do so, whether or not Optionee is an employee or director of the Company at that time.

 

 

 

 

 

| 10. | Investment Representations; Legends. |
|-----|--------------------------------------|

(a)       Representations.  The Optionee represents, warrants and covenants that:

(i)         Any shares purchased upon exercise of this Option shall be acquired for the Optionee's account for investment only, and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution of the shares in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), or any rule or regulation under the Securities Act.

(ii)         The Optionee has had such opportunity as he or she has deemed adequate to obtain from representatives of the Company such information as is necessary to permit the Optionee to evaluate the merits and risks of his or her investment in the Company.

(iii)        The Optionee is able to bear the economic risk of the holding of such shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of this Option for an indefinite period.

(iv)        The Optionee understands that the Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of this Option may not be registered under the Securities Act and are "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and may not be transferred, sold or otherwise disposed of in the absence of an effective registration statement with respect to the Shares filed and made effective under the Securities Act of 1933, or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company to the effect that registration under such Act is not required.

 (b)       Legends of Stock Certificate.  All stock certificates representing share of Common Stock issued to the Optionee upon exercise of this Option may have affixed thereto legend(s) substantially in the following forms, in addition to any other legends required by applicable state law:

 

"THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE, FILED AND MADE EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY TO THE EFFECT THAT REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT IS NOT REQUIRED."

 

 

 

 

 

 

By making payment upon exercise of this Option, the Optionee shall be deemed to have reaffirmed, as of the date of such payment, the representations made in this Section 10.

 

DATE OF GRANT:  March 31, 2005

The RiceX Company

 

| By:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | _______________________________________ |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|  
Ike E. Lynch, Chief Executive Officer

 
 

By:

_______________________________________

 
Todd C. Crow, Chief Financial Officer

 
 

 

The Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof.  The Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board of Directors of The RiceX Company upon any questions arising under such Agreement.

 

Dated:

________________________

 

 

 

Kirit Kamdar

 

 

 

 

CONSENT OF SPOUSE

 

I, ________________________, spouse of the Optionee who executed the foregoing Agreement attached hereto, hereby agree that my spouse's interest in the shares of Common Stock of The RiceX Company subject to said Agreement shall be irrevocably bound by the Agreement's terms.  I agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board of Directors of The RiceX Company upon any questions arising under such Agreement.  I further agree that my community property interest in such Shares, if any, shall similarly be bound by said Agreement and that such consent is binding upon my executors, administrators, heirs and assigns.  I agree to execute and deliver such documents as may be necessary to carry out the intent of said Agreement and this consent.

 

Dated:

________________________

 

 

 

Signature

 

____________________________________

Print Name

 
 

 

 

**EXHIBIT A**

 

TO:

The RiceX Company

 
 
1241 Hawks Flight Court, Suite 103

 
El Dorado Hills, CA  95762

 
 

SUBJECT:

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS

 

 

With respect to the stock option granted to the undersigned by The RiceX Company, (the “Company”) on (grant date) _______________________, to purchase an aggregate of ________________________ shares of the Company’s Common Stock, this is official notice that the undersigned hereby elects to exercise such option to purchase shares as follows:

 

Number of Shares

________________________

 

Date of Purchase:

________________________

 

Mode of Payment:

________________________

 

 

The shares should be issued as follows:

 

Name:

_____________________________________________

 

Address:

_____________________________________________

 

 

_____________________________________________

 

 

Signed by (print name):

_____________________________________________

 

Signature:

_____________________________________________

 

Dated:

_____________________________________________

 

 

Please send this notice of exercise to:

 

The RiceX Company

 
1241 Hawks Flight Court, Suite 103

El Dorado Hills, CA  95762

 
 

Phone:  916-933-3000

 

 

 

 

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