Exhibit 10.1
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Purchase Agreement (“
Agreement ”) by and among NutraCea, a California
Corporation (“ NutraCea ”) and Ceautamed
Worldwide, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (“
Purchaser ”) is entered into as of July 29, 2009
(“ Effective Date ”). The parties
hereto agree as follows:
1.
Background and Purpose
.
1.1.
Vital Living Securities . In April 2007, NutraCea
purchased from their holders (“ Holders ”) (i)
senior secured convertible promissory notes that Vital Living,
Inc., a Nevada corporation (“ Vital Living ”)
issued to various investors in December 2003 (“ Vital
Living Notes ”) in the principal amount of approximately
$4,226,446 and which NutraCea purchased for an aggregate purchase
price of $4,226,446; and (ii) One Million (1,000,000) shares of
Vital Living’s Series A Preferred Stock, which NutraCea
purchased for $1,000,000 (“ Preferred Stock ”,
and together with the Vital Living Notes, the “ Vital
Living Securities ”).
1.2.
Vital Living Security Agreement . Pursuant to its
purchase of the Vital Living Securities, NutraCea was assigned
rights under the security agreement entered into by and among Vital
Living and the original purchasers of the Vital Living Notes
(“ Existing Security Agreement ”).
1.3.
Vital Living Lawsuit . On September 3, 2008,
NutraCea filed a complaint against Vital Living in Superior Court
of Arizona, Maricopa County (“ Court ”)
(CV2008-021291) alleging breach of contract, common count, money
lent, specific performance and injunctive relief (“
Action ”). On or about May 21, 2009, Vital Living
filed a counterclaim against NutraCea alleging breach contract and
fraud.
1.4
Letter of Intent . On
June 17, 2009, NutraCea and Purchaser executed a binding letter of
intent (“ LOI ”) that set forth a summary of the
terms of the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement. This Agreement supercedes in its entirety the
LOI, which shall have no further force and effect.
1.5
Deposit . In connection with
the LOI, Purchaser delivered to NutraCea a deposit of Two Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($200,000) (“ Deposit
”).
1.6
Assignment . NutraCea desires to
assign to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from
NutraCea, NutraCea’s rights in the Vital Living Securities,
the Existing Security Agreement and the Action pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2.
Assignment .
2.1.
Assignment as Payment . Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, Purchaser agrees to pay to NutraCea
the Purchase Price (as defined below), and NutraCea agrees to
assign to Purchaser (“ Assignment ”), on the
Closing Date (as defined below) free and clear of any Liens created
by NutraCea, (i) all the rights of NutraCea in the Vital Living
Securities and the Existing Security Agreement, comprising the
rights therein that NutraCea acquired from their holders in April
2007 and (ii) all the rights of NutraCea in the Action
(collectively, the “ Purchased Assets
”).
2.2.
Purchase Price . The purchase price (“
Purchase Price ”) for the Purchased Assets shall be
Three Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,600,000) plus the
Earn-Out Consideration (as defined below), which shall be payable
by: (i) Purchaser’s release of the Deposit; (ii)
the issuance by Purchaser to NutraCea of a Secured Promissory Note
in the original principal amount of Three Million Four Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($3,400,000) and in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A (“ Note ”), and (iii) the
payment of the Earn Out Consideration pursuant to Section
2.3.
2.3
Earn-Out . Purchaser shall pay to NutraCea
or its successors, assigns or designees, an amount equal to ten
percent (10%) of the Gross Revenues of Purchaser and its
Subsidiaries (as defined in the Note) during the Earn-Out Period
(as defined below) as provided in this Section 2.3 (“
Earn-Out Consideration ”). As used herein,
“ Gross Revenues ” means the entire amount of
any and all revenues and/or consideration actually received,
whether as payments, recoveries, charges or other forms of revenue
actually received, and including, without limitation, any revenues
or other consideration actually received by Purchaser or its
Subsidiaries upon the sale, lease, license or other transfer of any
of their rights, entitlements, or assets (including without
limitation any rights to market or distribute products) less all
sales taxes, commercially reasonable and bona fide credits
(all of which credits must comply with the requirements of Section
7(b)(xi) of the Security Agreement identified in Section 4.1(c))
and returns actually paid or provided (collectively “
Setoffs ”) . For purposes of this Agreement, the
“ Earn-Out Period ” shall mean the ten (10) year
period beginning August 15, 2012 and ending on August 14,
2022.
(a)
On or before the tenth Business Day
of the month following each month during the Earn-Out Period,
Purchaser shall pay NutraCea in immediately available funds the
Earn-Out Consideration earned on or before the last Business Day of
the prior month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event there
is a Setoff in a subsequent month that amends the Gross Revenues
and Earn-Out Consideration of a prior month (and which Setoff was
not previously taken into account in the calculation of Gross
Revenues), then the Earn-Out Consideration of the current month
shall be adjusted and calculated dollar for dollar (“
Adjusted Earn-Out Consideration ”) to reflect the
changes to the Earn-Out Consideration of the prior
month.
(b)
Concurrently with the payment of any Earn-Out
Consideration, Purchaser shall deliver to NutraCea in writing a
notice that contains an unaudited statement setting forth, with
respect to the month in which the Earn-Out Consideration Notice
relates, Purchaser’s detailed calculation of the Gross
Revenues and Setoffs of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries during such
month setting forth reasonably relevant information and data
reasonably requested by NutraCea. If no Earn-Out
Consideration is earned in a month, then Purchaser shall deliver to
NutraCea a written notice on or before the tenth Business Day of
the immediately following month that states that no Earn-Out
Consideration was earned in the immediately preceding
month. Each of the notices described in this Section 3.2
shall be referred to herein as an “ Earn-Out Consideration
Notice ”. NutraCea shall keep all documents and
information supplied to it hereunder confidential pursuant to the
terms of a fully executed mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit H.
(c)
Purchaser shall, and Purchaser
shall cause its Subsidiaries to, cooperate with NutraCea and its
representatives to enable them to review and verify the information
contained in the Earn-Out Payment Notices and shall, up to one (1)
time and date per quarter, provided at a reasonable location and
time requested by NutraCea, within fifteen (15) Business Days after
receipt of such request, such books, records and other information
as NutraCea and NutraCea’s accountants and agents may
reasonably request regarding the Earn-Out Payment Notice, and shall
cause appropriate representatives of the Purchaser and its
Subsidiaries to be reasonably available to discuss and respond to
all questions of NutraCea and its accountants and agents with
regard thereto (whether in person at Purchaser’s place of
business or by telephone or other means of communication requested
by NutraCea and its accountants and agents). If it is determined
(whether by mutual agreement of Purchaser and NutraCea or
otherwise) that a Earn-Out Consideration payment should have been
paid and was not paid or that an actual Earn-Out Consideration
payment that was made is less than ninety (90%) of the Earn-Out
Consideration payment that should have been paid, then Purchaser
shall pay all of NutraCea’s reasonable out of pocket expenses
incurred (including reasonable accountants’ and reasonable
attorneys’ fees and interest on the amount of money that was
not timely paid, bearing interest from the time such amount should
have been paid at five percent (5%) per annum) under
this Section 2.3 with respect to such Earn-Out Consideration
payment.
(d)
If any Subsidiary of Purchaser exists after
the date of this Agreement that did not exist on the date of this
Agreement, Purchaser shall provide NutraCea with written notice of
the existence of such Subsidiary within ten (10) Business Days
after it becomes a Subsidiary of Purchaser and shall cause such
Subsidiary to expressly assume the obligations of this Section 2.3
pursuant to a written agreement executed by NutraCea and such
Subsidiary on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to
NutraCea.
(e)
If any Equity Interests are sold,
assigned or otherwise transferred after the Closing to any entity
other than Purchaser or one of Purchaser’s Subsidiaries or
Purchaser’s Permitted Transferees and results in a Change in
Control as defined in Section 8.1(k) of the Note, a condition to
such transfer shall be that the party(ies) acquiring such Equity
Interests be approved by NutraCea and agree to assume the
liabilities of Purchaser pursuant to this Section 2.3 pursuant to a
written agreement between NutraCea and such party(ies) on terms and
conditions reasonably acceptable to NutraCea.
(f)
If any Equity Interests are
sold, assigned or otherwise transferred after the Closing to any
entity other than Purchaser or one of Purchaser’s
Subsidiaries or Purchaser’s Permitted Transferees and does
not result in a Change in Control as defined in Section 8.1(k) of
the Note, the conditions to such transfer shall be that (i) the
party(ies) acquiring such Equity Interests agree to comply with the
obligations of Purchaser hereunder, and (ii) all of the
consideration from the sale, assignment or transfer shall be
provided to Purchaser, with no portion provided to any of
Purchaser’s owners or affiliates and no portion subsequently
distributed or paid to Purchaser’s owners or affiliates for
any reason.
(g)
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Purchaser shall be permitted to sell, assign or otherwise transfer
Equity Interests to a third party that is not affiliated with or
related to Purchaser in a good faith and arms-length transaction
that results in a Change in Control as defined in Section 8.1(k) of
the Note; provided, that at the same time as such sale, assignment
or transfer of Equity Interests Purchaser or the third party
acquires NutraCea’s rights to receive the Earn-Out
Consideration by payment to NutraCea of (i) cash in the amount of
the Earn-Out Price and (ii) prepayment in full of all principal,
accrued interest and other amounts that are payable or will become
payable under the Note. For purposes of this Agreement, “
Earn-Out Price ” means the greater of (x) $6,000,000
minus the amount of any prior reductions by Purchaser of the
principal balance then owing under the Note, and (y) the Applicable
Percentage, as defined below, multiplied by the Earn-Out
Value, as defined below. Between the Effective Date of
this Agreement and the four year anniversary of such date, the
“ Applicable Percentage ” shall be twenty five
percent (25%). Between the four year anniversary of the Effective
Date and the eight year anniversary of the Effective Date, the
“ Applicable Percentage ” shall be twenty
percent (20%). Following the eight year anniversary of the
Effective Date the “ Applicable Percentage ”
shall be fifteen percent (15%). For purposes of this
Agreement, “ Earn-Out Value ” means the value of
one hundred percent (100%) of the equity interests of Purchaser, as
determined by a third party certified public accountant reasonably
acceptable to both NutraCea and Purchaser, based on the price per
percent of Purchaser’s Equity Interests as sold, assigned or
transferred by Purchaser in such Change in Control transaction. For
the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Permitted
Transferees” shall mean any one of the following:
(i) A transferee by will; (ii) A transfer to a spouse
(or widow or widower) of the transferor, and/or to the
transferor’s father or mother, and/or to the transferor's
children (including step-children and adopted children) and/or to
the transferor’s sibling or a trust established solely for
the benefit of such persons (each a “Permitted Family
Member”) provided that the operational and management control
over the Equity Interest of the transferor does not
change.
(h)
Subject to the Permitted Related Party
Threshold as it relates to actual products (but in no event to any
rights related to such products or to any other assets or rights of
Purchaser), during the Earn-Out Period, the consideration paid or
received in consideration of a Related Party Transaction shall be
no less than the amount of consideration that would be paid if such
transaction were completed with an unrelated third
party. For purposes of this Agreement, a “
Related Party Transaction ” shall be any transaction
(including without limitation a distribution, licensing, sales or
assignment transaction) among or between Purchaser, its
Subsidiaries, any of the underlying equity holders, or any of their
affiliates or family members of their affiliates. For purposes of
this Agreement, the “Permitted Related Party Threshold”
shall be $25,000 in product value during in any trailing twelve
month period.
(i)
Subject to the written consent of
NutraCea, from the date hereof through the end of the Earn-Out
Period, Purchaser shall operate the Business only through itself
and its Subsidiaries that have been approved in writing by NutraCea
and not through a “parent” entity.
3.
Closing . Subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 7
below, the Assignment shall take place at one closing (“
Closing ”). The Closing take place at the
offices of Weintraub Genshlea Chediak Law Corporation, 400 Capitol
Mall, Eleventh Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, at 10:00 a.m.
Sacramento time on July 27, 2009, or any other date agreed to by
the parties hereto (“ Closing Date
”).
4.
Transactions to be Effected at the
Closing . At the Closing:
4.1
Deliveries by Purchaser
. Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to
NutraCea:
(a)
the Note, duly executed by
Purchaser;
(b)
written authorization by Purchaser for NutraCea
and NutraCea’s counsel to release the Deposit to
NutraCea;
(c)
a security agreement (“ Security Agreement
”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B duly
executed by Purchaser (including execution of all exhibits
thereto);
(d)
a Confession of Judgment Statement and Attorney’s Declaration
in Support of Confession of Judgment Statement (collectively
“ Confession of Judgment ”) in the forms
attached hereto as Exhibit C-1 and Exhibit C-2 duly
executed by Purchaser and legal counsel for Purchaser (which
counsel must qualify in accordance with applicable law to execute
such document);
(e)
a
Mutual Release (“ Mutual Release ”) in the form
attached as Exhibit F, duly executed by Guarantor, Vital Living,
NutraCea and Purchaser;
(f)
a cash management
agreement (“ Cash Management Agreement ”) in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit J , duly executed by
Purchaser;
(g)
a guaranty (“
Guaranty ”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
D , duly executed by Stuart Benson (“ Guarantor
”, and together with this Agreement, the Note, the Security
Agreement, Mutual Release, Release, the Confession of Judgment, and
the Cash Management Agreement, the “ Transaction
Documents ”); and
(h)
a good standing certificate for
Purchaser certified by the Secretary of State of Delaware, dated as
of a date within ten calendar days before the Closing
Date.
4.2
Deliveries by NutraCea
. At the Closing, NutraCea shall deliver to
Purchaser:
(a)
a
written assignment of the Purchased Assets in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit E (“ Assignment Document
”), duly executed by NutraCea;
(b)
a release
(“ Release ”) executed by W
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