UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 8-K
 

 
CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 19, 2014
 

 
RiceBran Technologies
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 

 
California
0-32565
87-0673375
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

6720 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 390
Scottsdale, AZ
 
85253
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (602) 522-3000
 

 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 


Item1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

As previously disclosed, RiceBran Technologies (the “Company”) entered into a Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) on March 20, 2013 in connection with a private placement of its securities to certain accredited investors for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $4.9 million.  Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company could sell additional securities at one or more subsequent closings within sixty days of the initial closing.  On May 19, 2014, the Company sold additional securities under the Purchase Agreement consisting of (i) an aggregate of $1,249,762.50 in convertible notes which are convertible into shares of common stock of the Company at a price of $5.25 per share, and (ii) five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 357,075 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.25 per share.

The convertible notes have an annual interest rate equal to 5% which increases to 15% on September 1, 2014.  The convertible notes will automatically convert into shares of the Company’s common stock upon the Company obtaining shareholder approval to increase the number of the Company’s authorized shares to enable the issuance of the shares underlying the convertible notes and the warrants.  The convertible notes are due and payable on the earlier of the conversion date or July 31, 2016.   The convertible notes contain standard and customary events of default, including but not limited to the failure to make payments when due and failure to deliver a noteholder shares of common stock within ten days from the conversion date.  If an event of default occurs, each holder may require us to immediately redeem the convertible notes (including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon), in cash.

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is obligated to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 30 calendar days after the company obtains shareholder approval to increase its authorized shares of common stock covering the possible resale from time to time in the future of the shares of common stock underlying the convertible notes and the warrants.

Maxim Group LLC acted as advisor and placement agent for the financing and received a customary fee based on aggregate gross proceeds received from the investors.

The foregoing summary of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the convertible note and the warrants do not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of each of the aforementioned documents attached as Exhibits to the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 20, 2014, and which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.03
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information provided in response to Item 1.01 of this report is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 3.02
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

See Item 1.01 above, which disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.  The issuance of convertible notes and warrants was completed in accordance with the exemption provided by Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933 and/or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Each of the investors represented that it is an accredited investor, as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D, and that it was acquiring the securities for its own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
RICEBRAN TECHNOLOGIES
 
 
Date: May 20, 2014
By:
/s/ W. John Short
 
 
W. John Short
 
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(Duly Authorized Officer)