Document:

Exhibit 10.5

 

PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated as of May 12, 2015, is executed and delivered by RiceBran Technologies ("Pledgor") in favor of the Agent (as defined below).RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor is the holder of record of the Equity Interests described in Exhibit A hereto (the "Pledged Securities") issued by Nutra SA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in which Pledgor owns a majority interest, and those wholly owned subsidiaries of Pledgor, all as further described in Exhibit A (each, an "Issuer" and collectively, the "Issuers");

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor and Full Circle Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (herein referred to as "Agent"), are parties to a Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement dated of even date herewith (as may be amended, modified, restated, supplemented, extended or renewed from time to time, the "Loan Agreement") wherein Agent has agreed, subject to the terms and conditions specified therein and in the Loan Documents, on behalf of the Lender thereto, to extend in favor of Pledgor a senior secured credit facility; and

 

WHEREAS, Pledgor holds the Equity Interests of the Issuers described in Exhibit A hereto and will benefit directly from the loans made to Pledgor under the Loan Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, as additional security for all of the Obligations, the Agent requires that the Pledgor execute and deliver this Agreement and grant the security interests contemplated hereby.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants hereinafter contained, and to induce the Lender to enter into the Loan Agreement and make the loans under the Loan Agreement, it is agreed as follows:

 

1.               Definitions.  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement are used herein as therein defined, and the following shall have (unless otherwise provided elsewhere in this Agreement) the following respective meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):

 

 "Agreement" shall mean this Pledge Agreement, including all amendments, modifications and supplements and any exhibits or schedules to any of the foregoing, and shall refer to the Agreement as the same may be in effect at the time such reference becomes operative.

 

"Bankruptcy Code" shall mean Title 11, United States Code, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute thereto.

 

"Equity Interests" means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), including, without limitation, partnership interests and membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing.

 

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"Event of Default" shall mean any of the following events:

 

(a)            there shall occur any "Default" under the Loan Agreement, as such term is defined therein;

 

(b)            any of the Pledged Collateral shall be attached or levied upon or seized in any legal proceedings, or held by virtue of any Lien or distress, which, in each case, shall continue undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) days;

 

(c)            breach of any covenant or failure to perform any agreement or obligation set forth in this Agreement not cured within 15 days following the date of written notice of such breach; or

 

(d)            Pledgor makes any representations or warranties in this Agreement or in any certificate or statement furnished at any time hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith which proves to have been untrue or misleading in any material respect when made or furnished and which continues to be untrue or misleading in any material respect.

 

"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

 

"Pledge Amendment" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.4 hereof.

 

"Pledged Collateral" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2 hereof.

 

"Pledged Securities" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals hereof.

 

"Pledgor" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble hereof.

 

"Securities Laws" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.4 hereof.

 

2.              Pledge.  Pledgor hereby pledges, conveys, hypothecates, mortgages, assigns, sets over, delivers and grants to the Agent, on behalf of the Lender, a security interest in all of the following (collectively, the "Pledged Collateral"):

 

2.1            All of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Issuers owned by Pledgor including, without limitation, (i) the Pledged Securities and the certificates representing such Pledged Securities, and (ii) upon and during the continuation of an Event of Default, all dividends, distributions, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such Equity Interests; and

 

2.2            Any additional Equity Interests of the Issuers or other options or rights with respect to any such Equity Interests from time to time acquired by Pledgor in any manner (which Equity Interests shall be deemed to be part of the Pledged Securities).

 

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3.               Security for Obligations.  This Agreement secures, and the Pledged Collateral is security for, the payment and performance of all of the Obligations.

 

4.              Delivery of Pledged Collateral.  All certificates representing or evidencing the Pledged Securities (if any) shall be delivered to and held by the Agent pursuant hereto and shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.  The Agent shall have the right, in its reasonable discretion and without notice to the Pledgor at any time upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, to transfer to or to register in the name of the Agent, or any of its nominees, subject to the terms of this Agreement, any or all of the Pledged Securities.  In addition, the Agent shall have the right at any time following and during the continuance of an undisputed Event of Default to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Securities (if any) for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations.

 

5.               Representations and Warranties.  Pledgor represents and warrants to the Agent that:

 

5.1            Pledgor is, and at the time of delivery of the Pledged Securities to the Agent pursuant to Section 4 hereof will be, the only holder of record of the Pledged Collateral free and clear of any Lien thereon or affecting the title thereto except for the Lien created by this Agreement, any Lien that is a Permitted Liens under the Loan Agreement, and any liens consented to in writing by Agent (the "Permitted Liens").

 

5.2            As of the date hereof, the Pledged Securities included in the Pledged Collateral constitute the percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Issuers as is set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.  All of the Pledged Securities have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

5.3            Pledgor has the right and requisite authority to pledge, assign, transfer, deliver, deposit and set over the Pledged Collateral to the Agent as provided herein.

 

5.4            None of the Pledged Securities of Pledgor has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject.  Pledgor's execution and delivery of this Agreement and the pledge of the Pledged Collateral hereunder does not, directly or indirectly, violate or result in a violation of any such laws.

 

5.5            None of the Pledged Securities of Pledgor included in the Pledged Collateral is, as of the date of this Agreement, Margin Stock (as such term is defined in 12 C.F.R. Section 207), and Pledgor shall, promptly after learning thereof, notify the Agent of any Pledged Collateral which is or becomes Margin Stock and execute and deliver in favor of the Agent any and all instruments, documents and agreements (including, but not limited to Form U‐1) necessary to cause the pledge of such Margin Stock to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

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5.6            No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any Person and no consent, authorization, approval, or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental departments, commissions, boards, bureaus, agencies or other instrumentalities, domestic or foreign, is required to be made or obtained by Pledgor either (a) for the pledge of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Pledgor or (b) for the exercise by the Agent of the voting or other rights provided for in this Agreement or the remedies in respect of the Pledged Collateral of Pledgor pursuant to this Agreement, except (i) for the filing of Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC") financing statements and other actions, notices or filings as may be necessary to perfect the security interests granted hereby and (ii) as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally.

 

5.7            The pledge, assignment and delivery of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Agreement will create a valid Lien on and, subject to Pledgee's compliance with applicable law, a perfected security interest in the Pledged Collateral pledged by Pledgor, and the proceeds thereof, securing the payment of the Obligations.

 

5.8            This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Pledgor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Pledgor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or by the application of general equity principles.

 

The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 5 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

6.               Covenants.  Pledgor covenants and agrees that until the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of the Lender's commitment to advance funds under the Loan Agreement:

 

6.1            Except as provided herein or as permitted under the Loan Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Agent, Pledgor will not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber any of its rights in or to the Pledged Collateral or any unpaid dividends or other unpaid distributions or payments with respect thereto or grant a Lien therein.

 

6.2            Pledgor will, at its expense, promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver all such instruments and take all such action as the Agent from time to time may reasonably request in order to ensure to the Agent, on behalf of the Lender, the benefits of the Liens in and to the Pledged Collateral intended to be created by this Agreement, including the filing of any necessary or desirable UCC financing statements, which may be filed by the Agent with or without the signature of Pledgor, and will cooperate with the Agent, at Pledgor's expense, in obtaining all necessary approvals and making all necessary filings under federal or state law in connection with such Liens or, if any Event of Default shall exist, any sale or transfer of the Pledged Collateral.

 

6.3            Pledgor has and will defend the title to the Pledged Collateral and the Liens of the Agent thereon against the claim of any Person (other than Permitted Liens) and will maintain and preserve such Liens.

 

6.4            Pledgor will, upon obtaining any additional Equity Interests of the Issuers which are not already Pledged Collateral, promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days) deliver to the Agent a Pledge Amendment, duly executed by Pledgor, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Pledge Amendment"), to confirm the pledge of such additional Pledged Securities pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the failure of Pledgor to execute and deliver any such Pledge Amendment shall not prevent such additional Pledged Securities from being subject to the Lien created by this Agreement.  Pledgor hereby authorizes the Agent to attach each Pledge Amendment to this Agreement and agrees that all Equity Interests on any Pledge Amendment delivered to the Agent shall for all purposes hereunder be considered Pledged Securities hereunder and shall be included in the Pledged Collateral.

 

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6.5            Pledgor will pay all taxes, assessments and charges levied, assessed or imposed upon the Pledged Collateral owned by it before the same become delinquent or become Liens upon any of the Pledged Collateral except where such taxes, assessments and charges may be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and appropriate reserves have been established on Pledgor's books in accordance with GAAP.

 

6.6            Pledgor will not create, grant or suffer to exist any Lien on any of the Pledged Collateral except those in favor of the Agent and Permitted Liens.

 

7.               Distributions; Etc.

 

7.1            Right of Pledgor to Receive Distributions.  For so long as no Event of Default exists and is continuing, Pledgor shall have the right to receive cash distributions declared and paid with respect to the Pledged Collateral, to the extent such distributions are permitted by the Loan Agreement.  Any and all Equity Interests or liquidating distributions, other distributions in property, return of capital or other distributions made on or in respect of the Pledged Collateral, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of each Issuer or received in exchange for the Pledged Collateral or any part thereof or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such Issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral pledged hereunder and, if received by Pledgor, shall be received in trust for benefit of the Agent on behalf of the Lender, be segregated from the other property and funds of Pledgor, and shall forthwith be delivered to the Agent to be held subject to the terms of this Agreement.

 

7.2            Holding Pledged Collateral; Exchanges.  The Agent may hold any of the Pledged Collateral, endorsed or assigned in blank, and during the continuance of an Event of Default, may deliver any of the Pledged Collateral to the Issuer thereof for the purpose of making denominational exchanges or registrations or transfers or for such other reasonable purpose in furtherance of this Agreement as the Agent may deem necessary.  The Agent shall have the right, if necessary to perfect its security interest on behalf of the Lender, to transfer to or register in the name of the Agent or any of its nominees, any or all of the Pledged Collateral; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, until any transfer of beneficial ownership with respect to the Pledged Collateral pursuant to any exercise of remedies under Section 8 hereof, Pledgor shall continue to be the direct or indirect owner of the Pledged Collateral.  In addition, the Agent shall have the right at any time during an Event of Default to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations.

 

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7.3            Termination of Pledgor's Right to Receive Distributions.  Upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, all rights of Pledgor to receive any cash distributions pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Agent, and the Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right to receive and retain the distributions which Pledgor would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof.  In such event, Pledgor shall pay over to the Agent any distributions received by it with respect to the Pledged Collateral and any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Agent pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.3 shall be retained by the Agent as Pledged Collateral hereunder and/or shall be applied to the repayment of the Obligations in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Agreement.

 

8.               Remedies.  Upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, the Agent shall have the following rights and remedies:

 

8.1            Secured Creditor.  All of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC of the State where such rights and remedies are asserted, or under other applicable law, all of which rights and remedies shall be cumulative, and none of which shall be exclusive, to the extent permitted by law, in addition to any other rights and remedies contained in this Agreement.

 

8.2            Right of Sale.  During the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent may, without demand and without advertisement, notice or legal process of any kind (except as is required in Section 8.3 below and as may be required by law), all of which Pledgor waives (except with respect to notice required in Section 8.3 below), at any time or times (a) apply any cash distributions received by the Agent pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof to the Obligations and (b) if following such application there remains outstanding any Obligations, sell the remaining Pledged Collateral, or any part thereof at public or private sale or at any broker's board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Agent shall deem appropriate, subject to Agent's duties owed to Pledgor.  The Agent shall be authorized at any such sale (if, on the advice of counsel, it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Pledged Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Pledged Collateral so sold.  Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of Pledgor, and Pledgor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and/or appraisal which Pledgor now has or may have at any time in the future under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.  The proceeds realized from the sale of any Pledged Collateral shall be applied as set forth in the Loan Agreement.

 

8.3            Notice; Right of Pledgor to Participate in Sale.  In addition thereto, Pledgor further agrees that in the event that notice is necessary under applicable law, written notice mailed in the manner specified in Section 16 hereof twenty (20) days prior to the date of the proposed sale or disposition of the Pledged Collateral subject to the security interest created herein at any such public sale or sale at any broker's board or on any such securities exchange, or prior to the date after which private sale or any other disposition of said Pledged Collateral will be made, shall constitute commercially reasonable and fair notice.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event of the exercise of any remedies by Agent under this Agreement, Pledgor shall be entitled to twenty (20) days written notice prior to any sale or other disposition of any of the Pledged Collateral and Pledgor shall be entitled to participate in such sale or other disposition and to bid on the purchase of any or all of the Pledged Collateral in any such sale or other disposition.

 

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8.4            Securities Act, etc.  If, at any time when the Agent shall determine to exercise its right to sell the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral hereunder, such Pledged Collateral or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for any reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as now or hereafter in effect, or any similar statute now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction (collectively, the "Securities Laws"), the Agent may, in its discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), sell such Pledged Collateral or part thereof by private sale in such manner and under such circumstances as the Agent may deem necessary or advisable, but subject to the other requirements of this Section 8, and shall not be required to effect such registration or to cause the same to be effected.  Without limiting the generality of the forego­ing, in any such event, the Agent, in its discretion (a) may, in accordance with applicable Securities Laws, proceed to make such private sale notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Collateral or part thereof could be or shall have been filed under any applicable Securities Law, (b) may approach and negotiate with a single possible purchaser to effect such sale, and (c) may restrict such sale to a purchaser who will represent and agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale of such Pledged Collateral or part thereof.  In addition to a private sale as provided above in this Section 8, if any of the Pledged Collateral shall not be freely distributable to the public without registration under applicable Securities Laws at the time of any proposed sale pursuant to this Section 8, then the Agent shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected but, in its discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), may require that any sale hereunder (including a sale at auction) be conducted subject to restrictions (i) as to the financial sophistication and ability of any Person permitted to bid or purchase at any such sale, (ii) as to the content of legends to be placed upon any certificates representing the Pledged Collateral sold in such sale, including restrictions on future transfer thereof, (iii) as to the representations required to be made by each Person bidding or purchasing at such sale relating to that Person's access to financial information about Pledgor and such Person's intentions as to the holding of the Pledged Collateral so sold for investment, for its own account, and not with a view to the distribution thereof, and (iv) as to such other matters as the Agent may, in its discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in order that such sale (notwithstanding any failure so to register) may be effected in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and all applicable Securities Laws.

 

8.5            Registration.  Pledgor acknowledges that notwithstanding the legal availability of a private sale or a sale subject to the restrictions described above in Section 8.4, the Agent may, in its discretion, elect to register any or all of the Pledged Collateral under applicable Securities Laws.  Pledgor, however, recognizes that the Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof.  Pledgor also acknowledges that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to Pledgor than if such sale were a public sale and agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner because such price or terms are less favorable than may have been obtained in a public sale.  The Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the registrant to register such securities for public sale under applicable Securities Laws, even if Pledgor would agree to do so.

 

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8.6            Waiver of Certain Rights.  Pledgor agrees that upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, it will not at any time plead, claim or take the benefit of any appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, moratorium or redemption law now or hereafter in force in order to prevent or delay the enforcement of this Agreement, or the absolute sale of the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral or the possession thereof by any purchaser at any sale hereunder, and Pledgor waives the benefit of all such laws to the extent it lawfully may do so.  Pledgor agrees that it will not interfere with any right, power or remedy of the Agent provided for in this Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, or the exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Agent of any one or more of such rights, powers or remedies.  No failure or delay on the part of the Agent to exercise any such right, power or remedy and no notice or demand which may be given to or made upon Pledgor by the Agent with respect to any such remedies shall operate as a waiver thereof, or limit or impair the Agent's right to take any action or to exercise any power or remedy hereunder, without notice or demand, or prejudice its rights as against Pledgor in any respect.

 

8.7            Specific Performance.  Pledgor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Agreement will cause irreparable injury to the Agent, that the Agent has no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach, and, as a consequence, agrees that each and every covenant contained in this Agreement shall be specifically enforceable against Pledgor, and Pledgor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that the Obligations are not then due and payable in accordance with the agreements and instruments governing and evidencing such obligations.

 

9.               Power of Attorney; Proxy.

 

9.1            Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default and following ten (10) days prior written notice from Agent to Pledgor, and further only for so long as such Event of Default exists, Pledgor irrevocably (but subject to the foregoing automatic revocation) designates, makes, constitutes and appoints the Agent (and all Persons designated by the Agent) as its true and lawful attorney (and agent‐in‐fact) and the Agent, or its agent may, without further notice to Pledgor, and at such time or times thereafter as the Agent or said agent, in its discretion, may determine, in the name of the Pledgor or the Agent: (a) transfer the Pledged Collateral on the books of the Issuers thereof, with full power of substitution in the premises; and (b) endorse the name of Pledgor upon any checks, notes, acceptance, money orders, certificates, drafts or other forms of payment of security that come into the Agent's possession to the extent they constitute Pledged Collateral.

 

9.2            Provided that at least ten (10) days prior written notice has been given, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent, or its nominee, shall have the sole and exclusive right to exercise all voting powers pertaining to any and all of the Pledged Collateral (and to give written consents in lieu of voting thereon) and may exercise such power in such manner as the Agent, in its sole discretion, shall determine.  THIS PROXY IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND IS IRREVOCABLE, except it shall automatically revoke upon the curing of the Event of Default.  The exercise by the Agent of any of its rights and remedies under this Section shall not be deemed a disposition of the Pledged Collateral, in whole or in part, under Article 9 of the UCC nor an acceptance by the Agent of any of the Pledged Collateral in satisfaction of any of the Obligations.

 

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10.            Waiver.  No delay on the Agent's part in exercising any power of sale, Lien, option or other right hereunder for the benefit of the Lender, and no notice or demand which may be given to or made upon Pledgor by the Agent with respect to any power of sale, Lien, option or other right hereunder, shall constitute a waiver thereof, or limit or impair the Agent's right to take any action or to exercise any power of sale, Lien, option, or any other right hereunder for the benefit of the Lender, without notice or demand, or prejudice the Agent's rights as against Pledgor in any respect.

 

11.            Assignment.  The Agent may assign, endorse or transfer any instrument evidencing all or any part of the Obligations as provided in, and in accordance with, the Loan Agreement, and the holder of such instrument shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement.

 

12.            Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect at such time as the Obligations shall be paid and performed in full and the Lender's commitment to lend under the Loan Agreement shall have been terminated.  Upon such termination of this Agreement, the Agent shall deliver to Pledgor the Pledged Collateral at the time subject to this Agreement and then in the Agent's possession or control and all instruments of assignment executed in connection therewith, free and clear of the Liens hereof and, except as otherwise provided herein, all of the Pledgor's obligations hereunder shall at such time terminate.  At the request of Pledgor and at Pledgor's sole expense, Agent shall execute and deliver to Pledgor any other documents that Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination.

 

13.            Reinstatement.  This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Issuer for liquidation or reorganization, should any Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of such Issuer's assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Obligations, whether as a "voidable preference", "fraudulent conveyance", or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made.  In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

14.            Miscellaneous.  This Agreement shall be binding upon Pledgor and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Agent and its successors and assigns, and none of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, altered, modified or amended except in writing duly signed by the Agent and Pledgor.

 

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15.            Severability.  If for any reason any provision or provisions hereof are determined to be invalid and contrary to any existing or future law, such invalidity shall not impair the operation of or affect those portions of this Agreement which are valid.

 

16.            Notices.  Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever it is provided herein that any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall or may be given to or served upon any of the parties by any other party, or whenever any of the parties desires to give or serve upon any other a communication with respect to this Agreement, each such notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall be in writing and shall be delivered in accordance with the terms of Section 17(a) of the Loan Agreement.  Notices to Pledgor will be sent to the address as set forth under the signature block to this Agreement.

 

17.            Section Titles.  The Section titles contained in this Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.

 

18.            Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or e-mail shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement.  Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or e-mail also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Agreement, but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of this Agreement.

 

19.            Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Service; Etc.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws (other than conflict of law provisions and principles) of the State of New York.  The parties hereto hereby consent to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any United States Federal Court sitting in or with direct or indirect jurisdiction over the Southern District of New York or any New York state court located in New York County in any action, suit or other proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the parties irrevocably agree that all claims and demands in respect of any such action, suit or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court and irrevocably waives any objection it may now or hereafter have as to the venue of any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court or that such court is an inconvenient forum.  The parties each waive personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by registered mail (return receipt requested) directed to the relevant party at its address for notices pursuant to this Agreement, and service so made shall be deemed to be completed as of the date of delivery as evidenced by the return receipt or by the returned envelope marked "Refused".  Nothing herein shall limit the right of the Agent to bring proceedings against Pledgor or any of its Affiliates in the courts of any other jurisdiction.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or operate to affect the right of the Agent to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law or to preclude the enforcement by the Agent of any judgment or order obtained in such forum or the taking of any action under this Agreement to enforce same in any other appropriate forum or jurisdiction.

 

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20.            Waiver of Jury Trial.  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, PLEDGOR AND AGENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, THE OBLIGATIONS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY OR EITHER PARTY'S ACTIONS IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF.  EACH OF THE PLEDGOR AND AGENT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH WAIVER IS MADE WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF THE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS WAIVED HEREBY, AND WITH THE BENEFIT OF ADVICE OF COUNSEL OF ITS CHOOSING.

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

	 	
PLEDGOR:

	
	 		
	 	
RICEBRAN TECHNOLOGIES

	
	 	 	 	
	 	
By:  

	
/s/ W. John Short

	
	 	 	
W. John Short, CEO and President

	 	 	 	
	 	
Address:

	
	 	
6720 N. Scottsdale Rd.

	
	 	
Suite 390

	
	 	
Scottsdale, AZ 85253

	

 

[Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]

 

Agreed to and accepted this 12th day of May, 2015.

FULL CIRCLE CAPITAL CORPORATION

	
By:  

	
/s/ Gregg Felton

	 
	
Name: Gregg Felton

	
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 [Signature Page to Pledge Agreement]

 

EXHIBIT A

to the Pledge Agreement

 

Attached to and forming a part of that certain Pledge Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 executed and delivered by Pledgor to the Agent.

	
Pledgor

	
Issuer

	
Class of 

Equity

	
Certificate 

Number(s)

	
Number or 

percentage of  

ownership

	
Number of 

Units/Shares 

Issued & 

Outstanding

	
RiceBran Technologies

	
NutraCea, LLC

	
Membership Interests

	
N/A

	
100%

	
N/A

	
RiceBran Technologies

	
Nutra SA, LLC

	
Membership Interests

	
N/A

	
49% of the units owned by Pledgor

	
N/A

	
RiceBran Technologies

	
Healthy Natural, Inc.

	
Common Stock

	
8

	
100%

	
100,000

	
RiceBran Technologies

	
Rice Science, LLC

	
Membership Interests

	
N/A

	
100%

	
N/A

	
RiceBran Technologies

	
Rice Rx, LLC

	
Membership Interests

	
N/A

	
100%

	
N/A

	
RiceBran Technologies

	The RiceX Company	
Common Stock

	1	
100%

	
100

 

EXHIBIT B

to the Pledge Agreement

 

PLEDGE AMENDMENT

 

This Pledge Amendment, dated ________________, is delivered pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Pledge Agreement referred to below.  The undersigned hereby (a) pledges, conveys, hypothecates, mortgages, assigns, sets over, delivers and grants to the Agent on behalf of the Lender a security interest in the Equity Interests set forth below (the "Additional Securities") and all dividends, distributions, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the Additional Securities, all on the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Pledge Agreement, dated as of April [___], 2015 (the "Pledge Agreement"), executed and delivered by the undersigned, as Pledgor, to the Agent, which terms and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference; (b) agrees that this Pledge Amendment may be attached to the Pledge Agreement; and (c) agrees that the Additional Securities listed on this Pledge Amendment shall be deemed to be a part of the Pledged Securities under the Pledge Agreement, shall become a part of the Pledged Collateral referred to in the Pledge Agreement and shall secure all Obligations referred to in the Pledge Agreement.  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Pledge Agreement.

	 	
RICEBRAN TECHNOLOGIES,

	 	
a California corporation

	 	 	 	
	 	
By:

	    	
	 	
Name:

	    	
	 	
Title:

	    	

	
Pledgor

	
Issuer

	
Class of Equity

	
Certificate 

Number(s)

	
Number or 

percentage of  

ownership

	
Number of 

Units/Shares 

Issued & 

OutstandingExhibit 10.6

WARRANT

 

NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.  THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SELECTED BY THE HOLDER, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED TO AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" AS DEFINED IN RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

RICEBRAN TECHNOLOGIES

 

Warrant To Purchase Common Stock

 

Warrant No.: W-1

Number of Shares of Common Stock:  300,000

Date of Issuance:  May 12, 2015 ("Issuance Date")

 

RiceBran Technologies, a California corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Full Circle Capital Corporation, the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the "Holder"), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, but not after 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date, (as defined below), three hundred thousand (300,000) fully paid nonassessable shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein (the "Warrant Shares").  Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this "Warrant"), shall have the meanings set forth in Section 20.  This Warrant is one of the Warrants to purchase Common Stock (collectively, the "Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants") issued pursuant to that certain Loan Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the "Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement"), by and among the Company and Full Circle Capital Corporation, as Agent and a Lender ("Agent" and a "Lender").  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the definitions ascribed to such terms in the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Warrant constitutes a Loan Document.  Receipt of this Warrant by the Holder shall constitute Holder's acceptance of and agreement to all of the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

1.                   EXERCISE OF WARRANT.

 

(a)       Mechanics of Exercise.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the limitations set forth in Section 1(f)), this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, in whole or in part, by (i) delivery of a duly completed written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice"), of the Holder's election to exercise this Warrant and (ii) (A) payment to the Company of an amount equal to the applicable Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised (the "Aggregate Exercise Price") in cash or by wire transfer of immediately available funds or (B) if the provisions of Section 1(d) are applicable, by notifying the Company that this Warrant is being exercised pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)).  The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder.  Execution and delivery of the Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares.  On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received the Exercise Notice, the Company shall transmit by facsimile or electronic mail an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of the Exercise Notice to the Holder and the Company's transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent").  On or before the third (3rd) Trading Day following the latest of (i) the date on which the Company has received the Exercise Notice and (ii)  Holder's delivery of the Aggregate Exercise Price (or notice of a Cashless Exercise) (the "Share Delivery Date"), the Company shall (X) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, the Holder's broker has delivered a DWAC instruction to the Company's transfer agent and either (A) the Warrant Shares are subject to an effective resale registration statement in favor of the Holder or (B) if this Warrant is exercised via Cashless Exercise, at a time when Rule 144 would be available for immediate resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, credit such aggregate number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder's or its designee's balance account with DTC through its Deposit / Withdrawal At Custodian ("DWAC") system, or (Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program or (A) the Warrant Shares are not subject to an effective resale registration statement in favor of the Holder and (B) if this Warrant is exercised via Cashless Exercise, at a time when Rule 144 would not be available for immediate resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, issue and dispatch by overnight courier to the address as specified in the Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the Company's share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise, which certificate shall bear a restrictive legend similar to that set forth on the first page of this Warrant.  The Company shall be responsible for all fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent and all fees and expenses with respect to the issuance of Warrant Shares via DTC, if any.  Upon delivery of the Exercise Notice and payment therefor (including by cashless exercise), the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder's DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares, as the case may be.  If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, and the Holder requests in writing,  the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days after such request and exercise and at its own expense, issue a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares issuable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised.  No fractional Warrant Shares are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.  The Company shall pay any and all taxes which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant.

 

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(b)       Exercise Price.  For purposes of this Warrant, "Exercise Price" means $5.25, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

(c)       Company's Failure to Timely Deliver Securities.  If the Company shall fail for any reason or for no reason to issue to the Holder on or prior to the Share Delivery Date (I) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program or the Warrant Shares are not subject to an effective resale registration statement in favor of the Holder or, if exercised via Cashless Exercise, at a time when Rule 144 would not be available for immediate resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company's share register,  or (II) if the Transfer Agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program and the Warrant Shares are subject to an effective resale registration statement in favor of the Holder or, if exercised via Cashless Exercise, at a time when Rule 144 would be available for immediate resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, to credit the Holder's balance account with DTC, as applicable, for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder's exercise of this Warrant (an event described in either clause (I) or (II), an "Exercise Failure"), then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, (X) the Company shall pay in cash to the Holder on each day after the Share Delivery Date and during such Exercise Failure an amount equal to 1.0% of the product of (A) the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock not issued to the Holder on or prior to the Share Delivery Date and to which the Holder is entitled, and (B) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the last possible date which the Company could have issued such shares of Common Stock to the Holder without violating Section 1(a) (the "Exercise Failure Damages"), and (Y) the Holder, upon written notice to the Company, may void its Exercise Notice with respect to, and retain or have returned, as the case may be, any portion of this Warrant that has been exercised pursuant to such Exercise Notice; provided that the voiding of an Exercise Notice shall not affect the Company's obligations to make any payments which have accrued (pursuant to this Section 1(c) or otherwise) prior to the date of such notice.  In addition to the foregoing, if on or prior to the Share Delivery Date at a time when the Warrant Shares are subject to an effective resale registration statement in favor of the Holder that is available for use by the Holder or, if this Warrant is exercised via Cashless Exercise, at a time when Rule 144 would be available for immediate resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, (1) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, the Company shall fail to issue and deliver a certificate to the Holder without restrictive legend and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company's share register or, (2) if the Transfer Agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit the Holder's balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder's exercise hereunder or pursuant to the Company's obligation pursuant to clause (ii) below, and if on or after such Trading Day the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise that the Holder anticipated receiving from the Company (a "Buy-In"), then the Company shall, within three (3) Trading Days after the Holder's request and in the Holder's discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder's total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the "Buy-In Price"), at which point (i) the Company's obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) or credit such Holder's balance account with DTC, as applicable, for such shares of Common Stock shall terminate and Exercise Failure Damages shall cease to accrue, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit such Holder's balance account with DTC and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock, times (B) the Closing Bid Price on the date of exercise. Nothing shall limit the Holder's right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company's failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock (or to electronically deliver such shares of Common Stock) upon the exercise of this Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

3

(d)       Cashless Exercise.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Holder may, at any time, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the "Net Number" of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a "Cashless Exercise"):

 

Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)

D

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

 

	 	
A=

	
the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.

 

		
B=

	
the arithmetic average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the date immediately preceding the date of the Exercise Notice.

 

		
C=

	
the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.

 

		
D=

	
the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the date of the Exercise Notice.

 

4

For purposes of Rule 144(d) promulgated under the 1933 Act, as in effect on the date hereof, it is intended that the Warrant Shares issued in a Cashless Exercise shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued pursuant to the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement.

 

(e)       Disputes.  In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 12.

 

(f)        Limitation on Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not effect the exercise of any portion of this Warrant, and the Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Warrant and any such exercise shall be null and void and treated as if never made, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, the Holder together with the other Attribution Parties collectively would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (the "Maximum Percentage") of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and the other Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Holder and all other Attribution Parties plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of the other Attribution Parties and (B) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants, including the other Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants) beneficially owned by the Holder or any other Attribution Party subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained in this Section 1(f). For purposes of this Section 1(f), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"). For purposes of this Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock the Holder may acquire upon the exercise of this Warrant without exceeding the Maximum Percentage, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (x) the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as the case may be, (y) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (the "Reported Outstanding Share Number"). If the Company receives an Exercise Notice from the Holder at a time when the actual number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is less than the Reported Outstanding Share Number, the Company shall (i) notify the Holder in writing of the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding and, to the extent that such Exercise Notice would otherwise cause the Holder's beneficial ownership, as determined pursuant to this Section 1(f), to exceed the Maximum Percentage, the Holder must notify the Company of a reduced number of Warrant Shares to be purchased pursuant to such Exercise Notice (the number of shares by which such purchase is reduced, the "Reduction Shares") and (ii) as soon as reasonably practicable, the Company shall return to the Holder any exercise price paid by the Holder for the Reduction Shares. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within two (2) Business Days confirm orally and in writing or by electronic mail to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, other than with respect to the Company's notification to Holder of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder and any other Attribution Party since the date as of which the Reported Outstanding Share Number was reported. In the event that the issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holder upon exercise of this Warrant results in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties being deemed to beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than the Maximum Percentage of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (as determined under Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act), the number of shares so issued by which the Holder's and the other Attribution Parties' aggregate beneficial ownership exceeds the Maximum Percentage (the "Excess Shares") shall be deemed null and void and shall be cancelled ab initio, and the Holder shall not have the power to vote or to transfer the Excess Shares. As soon as reasonably practicable after the issuance of the Excess Shares has been deemed null and void, the Company shall return to the Holder the exercise price paid by the Holder for the Excess Shares. Upon delivery of a written notice to the Company, the Holder may from time to time increase (with such increase not effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after delivery of such notice) or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% as specified in such notice; provided that (i) any such increase in the Maximum Percentage will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to the Holder and the other Attribution Parties and not to any other holder of Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants that is not an Attribution Party of the Holder. For purposes of clarity, the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of this Warrant in excess of the Maximum Percentage shall not be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Holder for any purpose including for purposes of Section 13(d) or Rule 16a-1(a)(1) of the 1934 Act. No prior inability to exercise this Warrant pursuant to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this paragraph with respect to any subsequent determination of exercisability. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 1(f) to the extent necessary to correct this paragraph or any portion of this paragraph which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended beneficial ownership limitation contained in this Section 1(f) or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitation contained in this paragraph may not be waived and shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.

 

5

(g)       Insufficient Authorized Shares.  The Company shall at all times reserve for issuance upon exercise of this Warrant at least such number of shares of Common Stock equal to 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of all of this Warrant then outstanding (the "Required Reserve Amount").   If at any time while this Warrant remains outstanding the Company fails to have such sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its Required Reserve Amount obligation (such failure to have such sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock, an "Authorized Share Failure"), then the Company shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the Company's authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for this Warrant then outstanding.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its shareholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock.  In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each shareholder with a proxy statement and shall use its best efforts to solicit its shareholders' approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the shareholders that they approve such proposal.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any such time of an Authorized Share Failure, the Company is able to obtain the written consent of a majority of the shares of its issued and outstanding Common Stock to approve the increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock, the Company may satisfy this obligation by obtaining such consent and submitting for filing with the SEC an Information Statement on Schedule 14C.

 

6

2.                    ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES.  The Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares shall be adjusted from time to time as follows:

 

(a)       Voluntary Adjustment By Company.  The Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant voluntarily reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(b)       Adjustment Upon Subdivision or Combination of Shares of Common Stock.  If the Company at any time on or after the Closing Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately increased.  If the Company at any time on or after the Closing Date combines (by combination, reverse stock split, or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately decreased.  Any adjustment under this Section 2(b) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

 

7

(c)       Most Favored Nations Anti-Dilution Adjustment. If, at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date but prior to 11:59 p.m. New York time, on the Expiration Date, the Company issues or sells any Options or Convertible Securities, (collectively, "Common Stock Rights" and the documentation relating thereto, including, without limitation, the securities themselves, are referred to as "Other Common Stock Rights Documentation"), that contain any anti-dilution provisions providing for the adjustment of the exercise price, conversion price or other price or rate at which shares of Common Stock thereunder may be purchased, acquired or converted, and/or any upward adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder, based upon future issuance or sales, or deemed future issuances or sales, of Common Stock (including, without limitation, price protection anti-dilution provisions, whether based upon a weighted average anti-dilution formula or a full ratchet anti-dilution formula, or otherwise), that individually is or, collectively are, more favorable to the holder of the applicable Common Stock Rights than those provided for herein or are not provided for herein, as the case may be, then and in such event the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Holder on the earlier of the date on which such Other Common Stock Rights Documentation is to be entered into and the date the Common Stock Rights are issued, together with a true, correct and complete copy of such anti-dilution provisions and all definitions relating thereto, provided that in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.  Effective immediately following the earlier of the date of the execution of such Other Common Stock Rights Documentation or the issuance of any such Common Stock Rights, such anti-dilution provisions and related definitions (collectively, the "Incorporated Anti-Dilution Provisions") shall  be deemed to have been incorporated herein and any adjustment pursuant to such provisions shall be deemed to be an adjustment hereunder subject to all applicable terms and provisions of this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any adjustments to the exercise price and the number of Warrant Shares issuable hereunder based on the Incorporated Anti-Dilution Provisions, shall be adjustments made by applying the terms of such Anti-Dilution Provisions to the Exercise Price then in effect.  (For example: if after the Issuance Date, the Company issues warrants, having an initial exercise price of $4.00 per share of Common Stock, with full ratchet anti-dilution provisions providing for adjustment of the exercise price of such warrants, if any shares of Common Stock are issued or deemed issued at a price below such $4.00 per share, to equal such lower price per share, with a concomitant increase in the number of shares issuable upon exercise of such warrants, such full ratchet anti-dilution provisions will become Incorporated Anti-Dilution Provisions hereunder and will be applied utilizing the then applicable Exercise Price; assuming the Exercise Price had not previously been adjusted, if the Company subsequently issues or is deemed to have issued shares of Common Stock at a price of $4.50 per share of Common Stock, the Exercise Price would be reduced from $5.25 to $4.50 and the number of shares of Common Stock that could be purchased under this Warrant would be increased from 300,000 shares to 350,000 shares).  Without limiting the foregoing, any amendment or termination of any such Incorporated anti-dilution provisions in accordance with the terms of the related Other Common Stock Rights Documentation or Common Stock Rights shall mutatis mutandis constitute an amendment or the termination, as the case may be, of such Incorporated Anti-Dilution Provisions hereunder, provided that in no event: (i) shall any such Incorporated Anti-Dilution Provision or the amendment or termination thereof under the related Other Common Stock Rights Documentation or Common Stock Rights otherwise modify, amend or affect the other terms and provisions of this Agreement, (ii) shall any such amendment or termination be effective to modify the Incorporated Anti-Dilution Provisions until written notice describing such amendment or termination (together with a copy of documentation relating thereto) has been provided to the Holder; and (iii) no such amendment or termination shall affect the exercise of price or number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant effectuated by the Holder thereof prior to its receipt of the notice referred to in clause (ii).  If Common Stock Rights are issued under two or more sets of Other Common Stock Rights Documentation or Common Stock Rights, this Section 2(c) shall apply to the Incorporated Anti-Dilution provisions or combination thereof, that is or are most favorable to the Holder.  No adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(c) shall result in an increase of the Exercise Price or decrease in the number of Warrant Shares that would otherwise be applicable without giving effect to this Section 2(c).

 

8

3.                   RIGHTS UPON PRO RATA DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS.  If the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock as a class, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property, options, evidence of indebtedness or any other assets by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a "Distribution"), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations or restrictions on exercise of this Warrant, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder's right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution (and beneficial ownership) to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such Distribution (and any Distributions declared or made on such initial Distribution or on any subsequent Distribution held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

 

4.                 PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS.

 

(d)       Purchase Rights.  In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of Common Stock as a class (the "Purchase Rights"), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations or restrictions on exercise of this Warrant, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder's right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right (and beneficial ownership) to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such right (and any Purchase Right granted, issued or sold on such initial Purchase Right or on any subsequent Purchase Right held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

 

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(e)       Fundamental Transactions.  The Company shall not enter into or be party to a Fundamental Transaction unless (i) the Successor Entity assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Loan Documents related to this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4(b), pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders prior to such Fundamental Transaction, including agreements , if so requested by the Holder, to deliver to each holder of the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants in exchange for such Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant including, without limitation, an adjusted exercise price equal to the value for the shares of Common Stock reflected by the terms of such Fundamental Transaction, and exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such adjustments to the number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and (ii) the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) is a publicly traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market.  Any security issuable or potentially issuable to the Holder pursuant to the terms of this Warrant on the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction shall be registered and freely tradable by the Holder without any restriction or limitation or the requirement to be subject to any holding period pursuant to any applicable securities laws.  Upon the occurrence or consummation of any Fundamental Transaction, and it shall be a required condition to the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction that, the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, shall succeed to, and the Company shall cause any Successor Entity or Successor Entities to jointly and severally succeed to, and be added to the term "Company" under this Warrant (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, may exercise every right and power of the Company prior thereto and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company prior thereto under this Warrant with the same effect as if the Company and such Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, had been named as the Company in this Warrant, and, solely at the request of the Holder, if the Successor Entity and/or Successor Entities is a publicly traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market, shall deliver (in addition to and without limiting any right under this Warrant) to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity and/or Successor Entities evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant and exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of the Successor Entity and/or Successor Entities (the "Successor Capital Stock") equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction (such corresponding number of shares of Successor Capital Stock to be delivered to the Holder shall be equal to the quotient of (i) the aggregate dollar value of all consideration (including cash consideration and any consideration other than cash ("Non-Cash Consideration"), in such Fundamental Transaction, as such values

 

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 are reflected in any definitive agreement for the Fundamental Transaction that has been executed at the time of the first public announcement of the Fundamental Transaction or, if no such value is determinable from such definitive agreement, as determined in accordance with Section 12 with the term "Non-Cash Consideration" being substituted for the term "Exercise Price") that the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of such Fundamental Transaction or the record, eligibility or other determination date for the event resulting in such Fundamental Transaction, had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction or the record, eligibility or other determination date for the event resulting in such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) divided by (ii) the per share Closing Sale Price of such corresponding capital stock on the Trading Day immediately prior to the consummation or occurrence of the Fundamental Transaction), and such security shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder, and with an identical total exercise price to the total Exercise Price hereunder (such adjustments to the number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting after the consummation or occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction the economic value of this Warrant that was in effect immediately prior to the consummation or occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, as elected by the Holder solely at its option).  Upon occurrence or consummation of a Fundamental Transaction and it shall be a required condition to the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction that, the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall deliver to the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon exercise of this Warrant at any time after the occurrence or consummation of the Fundamental Transaction, as elected by the Holder solely at its option, shares of Common Stock, Successor Capital Stock or, in lieu of the shares of Common Stock or Successor Capital Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant prior to such Fundamental Transaction), such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or any other property whatsoever (including warrants or other purchase or subscription rights), which for purposes of clarification may continue to be shares of Common Stock, if any, that the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of such Fundamental Transaction or the record, eligibility or other determination date for the event resulting in such Fundamental Transaction, had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction or the record, eligibility or other determination date for the event resulting in such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant), as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant.  In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the occurrence or consummation of any Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive securities, cash, assets or other property with respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock (a "Corporate Event"), the Company shall make appropriate provision to insure that, and any applicable Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall ensure that, and it shall be a required condition to the occurrence or consummation of such Corporate Event that, the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of this Warrant at any time after the occurrence or consummation of the Corporate Event, shares of Common Stock or Successor Capital Stock or, if so elected by the Holder, in lieu of the shares of Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property) purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant prior to such Corporate Event (but not in lieu of such items still issuable under Sections 3 and 4(a), which shall continue to be receivable on the Common Stock or on the such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or any other property otherwise receivable with respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock), such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or any other property whatsoever (including warrants or other purchase or subscription rights and any shares of Common Stock) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence or consummation of such Corporate Event or the record, eligibility or other determination date for the event resulting in such Corporate Event, had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate Event or the record, eligibility or other determination date for the event resulting in such Corporate Event (without regard to any limitations on exercise of this Warrant).  Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder.  The provisions of this Section 4(b) shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions and Corporate Events.

 

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(c)       Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Fundamental Transaction is announced or is scheduled to occur on or prior to the thirtieth month following the Issuance Date, at the request of the Holder delivered before the ninetieth (90th) day after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, the Company (or the Successor Entity) shall purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder, within five (5) Business Days after such request (or, if later, on the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction), cash in an amount equal to (if positive) 100% of the product of (A) the difference between (1) the arithmetic average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the last five (5) Trading Days ending on the date of the request of the Holder, and (2) the then existing Exercise Price, and (B) the maximum number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise on this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise of this Warrant.

 

5.                   NONCIRCUMVENTION.  The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) shall, so long as any of the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants, the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercise).  The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Principal Market or any other trading market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof.

 

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6.                   WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant.  In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.  Notwithstanding this Section 6, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.  Notice filings made by the Company on the SEC's EDGAR filing system shall constitute delivery of notice to Holder, so long as such filings are contemporaneously filed on the SEC's EDGAR filing system at the same time such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered to the Company's stockholders and, any time the Company also mails a physical copy of such notice to Company's stockholders, written notice of the availability thereof is delivered to the Holder contemporaneously with such filing.

 

7.                   REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.

 

(f)        Transfer of Warrant.  If this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith, subject to the Holder and the transferee complying with the transfer restrictions contained herein (including without limitation Section 14 hereof), issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred.

 

(g)       Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant.  Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.

 

(h)       Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants.  This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, that no Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants for fractional Warrant Shares shall be given.

 

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(i)        Issuance of New Warrants.  Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant (i) shall be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 7(a) or Section 7(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant which is the same as the Issuance Date, and (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant.

 

8.                  NOTICES.  Whenever notice is required to be given under this Warrant, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in writing in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Holder is not also a Lender under the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement, notices to such Holder shall be given in accordance with Section 16(a) to such address as such Holder may specify in a written notice delivered to the Company in accordance with said Section 16(a), which section shall be deemed incorporated herein and shall apply mutatis mutandis to such other Holder.  The Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon any adjustment of the Exercise Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grants, issuances or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation; provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.

 

9.                   AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.  This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.  This Warrant also may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders as of the date such consent is sought; provided, however, that (i) no such amendment shall adversely affect any Holder differently than it affects all other Holders, unless such Holder consents thereto, and (ii) no amendment may increase the Exercise Price, decrease the number or shares or class of shares obtainable upon exercise of this Warrant or decrease the time period in which this Warrant can be exercised without the written consent of the Holder.

 

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10.                GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL.  This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Subject to the provisions of Section 12, the Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper.  The Company hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to the Company at the address set forth in Section 16(a) of the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company's obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder.  THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS WARRANT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

11.                CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS.  This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and Agent and Lenders and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof.  The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant.

 

12.                DISPUTE RESOLUTION.  In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations via facsimile or electronic mail within two (2) Business Days of receipt of the Exercise Notice giving rise to such dispute, as the case may be, to the Holder.  If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation of the Exercise Price or the Warrant Shares within three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Holder, then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile or electronic mail (a) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price to an independent, reputable investment bank mutually acceptable to the Company and the Holder  or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to an independent, outside accountant mutually acceptable to the Company and the Holder.  The Company and Holder shall jointly cause at their mutual expense the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations.  Such investment bank's or accountant's determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

 

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13.                REMEDIES, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.  The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant and the other Loan Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant.  The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate.  The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

14.                TRANSFER.  This Warrant and the Warrant Shares (collectively, the "Securities") may only be transferred in compliance with state and federal securities laws.  In connection with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or pursuant to Rule 144, to the Company or to an Affiliate of a Holder or in connection with a pledge to an accredited investor as contemplated in Section 1(D) of Exhibit B hereto, the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the 1933 Act.  As a condition to transferring this Warrant, any transferee shall (i) agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Warrant and Exhibit B to this Warrant, (ii) if the transfer is not made (A) pursuant to an effective registration statement or (B) in a transfer not involving a change of beneficial ownership, make the representations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit B hereto (other than Sections 1(C), (G), and (I)), as of the date of the transfer for the benefit of the Company.  If such conditions are satisfied, such transferee shall have the rights and obligations of a Holder and Lender under this Warrant.

 

15.                SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Warrant is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Warrant so long as this Warrant as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties.  The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

16.                LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

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17.                ACCEPTANCE. Receipt of this Warrant by the Holder shall constitute acceptance of and agreement to all of the terms and conditions contained herein, including, without limitation, the provisions of Exhibit B to the extent applicable.

 

18.                INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

 

19.                INCORPORATION OF EXHIBIT B TERMS.  The terms and provisions of Exhibit B are incorporated by reference into this Warrant as if set forth herein.

 

20.                CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)         "1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(b)        "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, it being understood for purposes of this definition that "control" of a Person means the power directly or indirectly either to vote 10% or more of the stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.

 

(c)         "Attribution Parties" means, collectively, the following Persons and entities: (i) any investment vehicle, including, any funds, feeder funds or managed accounts, currently, or from time to time after the Issuance Date, directly or indirectly managed or advised by the Holder's investment manager or any of its Affiliates or principals, (ii) any direct or indirect Affiliates of the Holder or any of the foregoing, (iii) any Person acting or who could be deemed to be acting as a Group together with the Holder or any of the foregoing and (iv) any other Persons whose beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock would or could be aggregated with the Holder's and the other Attribution Parties for purposes of Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act.  For clarity, the purpose of the foregoing is to subject collectively the Holder and all other Attribution Parties to the Maximum Percentage.

 

(d)      "Bloomberg" means Bloomberg Financial Markets.

 

(e)       "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

 

(f)       "Closing Bid Price" and "Closing Sale Price" means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on the Principal Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price, as the case may be, then the last bid price or the last trade price, respectively, of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the OTC Link or "pink sheets" by OTC Markets Group Inc. (formerly Pink OTC Markets Inc.).  If the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price, as the case may be, of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder.  If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 12.  All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.

 

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(g)       "Common Stock" means (i) the Company's shares of Common Stock, no par value, and (ii) any share capital into which such Common Stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such Common Stock.

 

(h)       "Convertible Securities" means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

 

(i)        "Eligible Market" means the Principal Market, the NYSE MKT LLC, The NASDAQ Global Market, The NASDAQ Capital Market, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

 

(j)       "Expiration Date" means the date sixty (60) months after the Issuance Date or, if such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market (a "Holiday"), the next day that is not a Holiday.

 

(k)        "Fundamental Transaction" means (A) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through the use of subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise to accomplish the same, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) another Subject Entity, or (ii) sell, assign, lease, license, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company to one or more related Subject Entities, or (iii) make, or allow one or more Subject Entities to make, or allow the Company to be subject to or have its Common Stock be subject to or party to one or more Subject Entities making a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of at least either (x) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entities making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer were not outstanding, and offeror consummates the acquisition; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer, become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iv) consummate a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with one or more Subject Entities whereby all such related Subject Entities, individually or in the aggregate, acquire, either (x) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all the Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that the Subject Entities become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify its Common Stock, or (B) the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, issue or enter into any other instrument or transaction structured in a manner to circumvent, or that circumvents, the intent of this definition in which case this definition shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this definition to the extent necessary to correct this definition or any portion of this definition which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended treatment of such instrument or transaction.

 

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(l)       "Group" means a "group" as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and as defined in Rule 13d-5 thereunder.

 

(m)       "Options" means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

(n)      "Parent Entity" of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person, including such entity whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market (or, if so elected by the Required Holders, any other market, exchange or quotation system), or, if there is more than one such Person or such entity, the Person or Parent Entity designated by the Required Holders or in the absence of such designation, such Person or entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

 

(o)        "Person" means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(p)       "Principal Market" means the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

(q)        "Required Holders" means the holders of the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants representing at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement Warrants then outstanding.

 

(r)    "Subject Entity" means any Person, Persons or Group or any Affiliate of any such Person, Persons or Group.  "Subject Entities" shall mean individual Subject Entities acting in concert as a Group.

 

(s)   "Successor Entity" means one or more Person or Persons (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) which may be the entity formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or one or more Person or Persons (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Company or the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

 

19

(t)    "Trading Day" means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded; provided that "Trading Day" shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time).

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

20

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

	 	
RICEBRAN TECHNOLOGIES

	 	 	 	
	 	
By:

	
/s/ J. Dale Belt

	
	 	
Name: 

	
J. Dale Belt

	
	 	
Title:

	
Exec. VP & Secretary

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