Exhibit 10.5


 





Exhibit L


FORM OF INTEREST SHARE ISSUANCE
AGREEMENT


[Date]


Cadiz Inc.

550 South Hope Street, Suite 2850

Los Angeles, California 90071


Ladies and Gentlemen:


Cadiz Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), agrees, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue to [Name of Lender] (the
“Investor”), [●] shares (the “Interest Shares”) of the Company’s common stock,
$0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”).


1.                 
In consideration of the respective covenants, agreements and representations and warranties contained herein and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Investor
intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:


(a)               
This Interest Share Issuance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of the date set forth above between
the Company and the Investor.


(b)              
The Company and Investor are parties to that certain Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Fifth
Amendment”), dated as of [●], 2016 (the “Fifth Amendment Effective Date”), by and among the
Company, as a borrower, Cadiz Real Estate LLC, as a borrower, Investor, as a lender, the other lenders party thereto, and Wells
Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent (the “Agent”), which amended that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(as further amended prior to the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, and as subsequently amended from time to time, the “Credit
Agreement”) attached to that certain Amendment Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2013, by and among the Company, Cadiz
Real Estate LLC, LC Capital Master Fund, Ltd., the lenders party thereto, and the Agent.


 



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(c)               
Pursuant to the Fifth Amendment, the Company agreed to issue the Interest Shares in connection with the Investor’s
entry into the Fifth Amendment.


(d)              
The Company has authorized the issuance of, and agrees to issue, the Interest Shares to the Investor on the date of this
Agreement (the “Closing Date”), upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.


(e)               
Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has delivered to Investor a written opinion, addressed to the Investor
and dated as of the Closing Date, from Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, counsel to the Company, to the effect set forth in
Exhibit A hereto.


(f)               
The offering and issuance of the Interest Shares (collectively, the “Issuance”) is being made pursuant
to (i) an effective Registration Statement on Form S-3, No. 214318, including all amendments thereto, the exhibits and any schedules
thereto, the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein or any immediately succeeding registration statement
that is filed under the Securities Act (as defined in the Credit Agreement) on Form S-3 and immediately becomes effective (the
“Fifth Amendment Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Commission (as defined in the Credit
Agreement) in conformity with the Securities Act under the Rules and Regulations (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Commission,
including the prospectus contained therein (the “Fifth Amendment Base Prospectus”) and (ii) a final prospectus supplement
filed with the Commission and delivered to the Investor (a “Fifth Amendment Prospectus Supplement” and, together
with the Fifth Amendment Base Prospectus, a “Fifth Amendment Prospectus”) containing amended and/or certain
supplemental information regarding the Interest Shares and terms of the Issuance. If the Company has filed one or more abbreviated
registration statements to register additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Rules and Regulations (each
a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Fifth Amendment Registration
Statement” shall also be deemed to include any such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.


(g)              
The Company agrees to make any filings required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”)
with respect to the Issuance.


(h)              
On the Closing Date, the Company shall cause its Transfer Agent to deliver the Interest Shares to the Investor and register
the Interest Shares as instructed by the Investor. The Interest Shares will be delivered by crediting the account of the Investor’s
prime broker (as specified by the Investor to the Company) with the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through
its Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian (“DWAC”) system, whereby Investor’s prime broker shall initiate a
DWAC transaction no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the Closing Date using its DTC participant identification number,
and released by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”),
at the Company’s direction. The Investor shall direct the broker-dealer at which the account or accounts to be credited with
the Interest Shares are maintained, which broker/dealer shall be a DTC participant, to initiate a transaction through the DWAC
system, instructing the Transfer Agent to credit such account or accounts with the Interest Shares. Such DWAC instruction shall
indicate the settlement date for the deposit of the Interest Shares, which shall be the Closing Date. The Company shall direct
the Transfer Agent to credit the Investor’s account or accounts with the Interest Shares pursuant to the information contained
in the DWAC instruction.


2.                 
The Investor represents and warrants to the Company as of the Closing Date as follows:


(a)               
The Investor has received the Fifth Amendment Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein prior to or
in connection with the receipt of this Agreement.


(b)              
The Investor (i) is not a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or an
Associated Person (as such term is defined under the FINRA Membership and Registration Rules) and (ii) after giving effect to the
issuance of the Interest Shares pursuant to this Agreement, neither the Investor nor any Holder Group (as defined in the Credit
Agreement) in respect of the Investor acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, 20% or more of the Common Stock (or securities
convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock) or the voting power of the Company.






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(c)               
The Investor is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under
the Securities Act.


3.                 
The Company represents and warrants to the Investor as of the Closing Date as follows:


(a)               
All representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Fifth Amendment are true and correct in all material
respects (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty already qualified as to materiality, in all respects) as of the
date hereof as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate
to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct on and as of such earlier
date).


(b)              
No order preventing or suspending the use of the Fifth Amendment Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Fifth Amendment Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been
issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, are threatened by the Commission.
The Fifth Amendment Registration Statement complied when it became effective, complied on the Fifth Amendment Effective Date and
complies as of the Closing Date, in all material respects, with the requirements of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The conditions
to the use of Form S-3 in connection with the offering and issuance of the Interest Shares as contemplated hereby have been satisfied.
The Fifth Amendment Registration Statement did not, as of the Closing Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Fifth Amendment Prospectus,
as of the Closing Date, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Any required filing of
the Fifth Amendment Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations has been or will
be made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b).


(c)               
The Fifth Amendment Registration Statement and all documents incorporated by reference in the Fifth Amendment Registration
Statement and the Fifth Amendment Prospectus as of the Closing Date, at the time they became effective or were filed with the Commission,
as the case may be, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (as defined
in the Credit Agreement), as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and at the time they became
effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, neither the Fifth Amendment Registration Statement nor any of
such other documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.


(d)              
The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware, with the corporate power and authority necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business
as described in the Fifth Amendment Registration Statement and the Fifth Amendment Prospectus.






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(e)               
The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) [●] shares of Common Stock and (ii) [●] shares of
preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”). As of the Closing Date, [●] shares of Common Stock are issued
and outstanding and [●] shares of Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding.


(f)               
The Interest Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and the Interest Shares, when issued and delivered
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will have been duly and validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable.


(g)              
The Interest Shares have been duly authorized for listing and quotation on the Nasdaq Global Market, subject in each case
to official notice of issuance.


(h)              
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of
whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.


(i)                
The Company is not in breach or violation of or in default under (i) the provisions of its charter or by-laws, (ii) any
material agreement filed as an exhibit to its SEC Reports, or (iii) any federal or state statute or law, any rule or regulation
issued pursuant to any federal or state statute or law, or any order issued pursuant to any federal or state statute or law by
any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) above,
to the extent any such violation or default would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on (x)
the business, properties, prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the Company or (y) the ability of the Company
to enter into and perform its obligations under, or consummate the transactions contemplated in, this Agreement (a “Material
Adverse Effect”).


(j)                
The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, including the issuance by the Company of the Interest
Shares, will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under (i) the provisions of the Company’s
charter or by-laws, (ii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party
or by which the Company or any of its properties or businesses is bound, or (iii) any federal or state statute or law, any rule
or regulation issued pursuant to any federal or state statute or law, or any order issued pursuant to any federal or state statute
or law by any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, except, with respect to clause (ii) and
(iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.


(k)              
No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent or order of, any court or governmental agency or body is required for
the issuance of the Interest Shares, except such as have already been obtained or are contemplated hereby.


(l)                
 Subsequent to the dates as of which information is given in the Fifth Amendment Prospectus and other than as contemplated
therein, there has not been (i) any material adverse change in the business, properties, prospects, financial condition or results
of operations of the Company, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company, (iii) any material change in the capital stock,
or any material change in the outstanding indebtedness, of the Company, or (v) any dividend or distribution declared, paid or made
on the capital stock of the Company.


(m)            
The Company represents and warrants that the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations permit the Company to offer and
issue [●] shares of Common Stock.


4.                 
The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Investor, its directors and officers, and each person,
if any, who controls the Investor and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any loss, damage,
claim or liability, to which, jointly or severally, the Investor or any such person may become subject, insofar as such loss, damage,
claim or liability arises out of or is based upon: (i) this Agreement, (ii) the breach of any covenant, agreement or representation
or warranty of the Company under this Agreement, (iii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Fifth Amendment
Registration Statement, or any amendments thereto or the omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading; or (iv) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Fifth Amendment
Prospectus or the omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.






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5.                 
Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement, all covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by the Company and the Investor herein will survive the Closing Date.


6.                 
All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder will be in writing, will be mailed by nationally
recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid, or delivered by facsimile, and will be deemed given (i) if delivered by
nationally recognized overnight carrier, one business day after so mailed and (ii) if delivered by facsimile, upon electric confirmation
of receipt and will be delivered and addressed as follows:


(a)               
if to the Company, to:


Cadiz Inc.

550 South Hope Street, Suite 2850

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile No.: 213-271-1614


(b)              
with copies to:


Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP


11377 West Olympic Boulevard


Los Angeles, California 90064


Attention: Kevin Friedmann


Facsimile No.: 310 312-3798


(c)               
if to the Investor, to:


[LENDER NAME]

[ADDRESS]

[ADDRESS]

Attention: [●]

Facsimile No.: [●]


(d)              
with copies to:


[NAME]

[ADDRESS]

[ADDRESS]

Attention: [●]

Facsimile No.: [●]


7.                 
This Agreement may not be modified or amended except pursuant to an instrument in writing signed by the Company and
the Investor.






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8.                 
The headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and will
not be deemed to be part of this Agreement.


9.                 
In case any provision contained in this Agreement should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.


10.             
This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.


11.             
Each of the Company and the Investor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District
Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of
or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the Company and the Investor hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined
in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the Company and the Investor agrees that
a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law.


12.             
EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTOR WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY ON ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION (A)
ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (B) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED
HERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTOR AGREES AND CONSENTS
THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS
AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS CLAUSE WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES
HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL REGARDING THIS CLAUSE, THAT IT FULLY UNDERSTANDS ITS TERMS, CONTENT AND EFFECT, AND THAT IT VOLUNTARILY
AND KNOWINGLY AGREES TO THE TERMS OF THIS CLAUSE. 


13.             
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will constitute an original, but all of which,
when taken together, will constitute but one instrument, and will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed
by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties.






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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly
sets forth the agreement between us by signing in the space provided below for that purpose.


[LENDER NAME]


By:________________________________

Title:_______________________________






 






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Agreed and Accepted by:


CADIZ INC.


By:____________________________

Title: __________________________


 



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EXHIBIT A


Form of Opinion of Counsel to Company





	1.		The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in good standing under
the laws of the State of Delaware.



	2.		The Company has the corporate power and corporate authority to execute and deliver
the Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.



	3.		The Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and
are each a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.



	4.		The execution and delivery by the Company of the Agreement and the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance of the Interest Shares, will not (i) conflict with
the Company’s charter or by-laws, (ii) constitute a violation of, or a breach or default under, the terms of any contract
listed on a schedule to this opinion[1] or
(iii) violate or conflict with, or result in any contravention of, any applicable law or any order listed on a schedule to this
opinion.[2]



	5.		No governmental approval, which has not been obtained or taken and is not in full
force and effect, is required to authorize, or is required for, the execution or delivery of the Agreement by the Company or the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby.



	6.		The Interest Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when delivered to
the Investor, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of any preemptive rights or any similar
rights arising under the laws of the State of Delaware or the Company’s charter or by-laws.



	7.		The Company is not and, solely after giving effect to the issuance of the Interest
Shares to the Investor, will not be an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act
of 1940.



_________________




[1]
Schedule to list:






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		•	The 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of March 5, 2013, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as successor to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (“U.S. Bank”) as Trustee, as amended by
that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 30, 2013, and that certain Second Supplemental Indenture, dated
as of November 23, 2015



		•	The 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of December 10, 2015, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank, as Trustee,
as amended by that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 28, 2016



		•	Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cadiz Real Estate LLC dated December 11, 2003



		•	Amendment No. 1, dated October 29, 2004, to Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cadiz Real Estate LLC



		•	Amendment No. 2 dated March 5, 2013, to Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cadiz Real Estate LLC



		•	Amendment No. 2 dated October 1, 2007 to Reorganization Plan and Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Assets dated as of February
18, 1998 among Cadiz Inc. and Mark A. Liggett in his capacity as successor in interest to Exploration Research Associates, Incorporated.,
a California corporation (“ERA”) and in his individual capacity as former sole shareholder of ERA and as the successor
in interest to ERA



		•	Lease Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015, by and among Cadiz Real Estate LLC, Cadiz Inc. and Water Asset Management LLC



		•	Private Placement Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2016, by and among Cadiz Inc. and the purchasers party thereto



		•	Placement Agent Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2016, by and between Cadiz Inc. and B. Riley & Co. LLC



		•	Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 28, 2016, by and among Cadiz Inc. and the holders party thereto



		•	Any other material agreements filed as exhibits 1, 2 or 4 under Rule 601 of Regulation S-K as promulgated under the Securities
Act as filed as of the Closing Date



The foregoing list is to be updated
in respect of any such agreements that, as of an applicable Interest Payment Date, would no longer be listed by the Company as
exhibits under such Rule 601 in an SEC Report.


 


_____________


	[2]		Schedule to list (i) the laws of the State of New York, (ii) the federal laws of the
United States of America and (iii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Limited Liability Company
Act. Orders to be confirmed by the Company at the Closing Date, as applicable to the relevant transactions.








 



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