form10-q.htm
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 


FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark one)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from __________ to __________
 
Commission File Number 0-32565
 
 

 
NutraCea
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
California
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
87-0673375
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
6720 North Scottsdale Road., Suite 390
Scottsdale, AZ
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
 
85253
(Zip Code)
Issuer’s telephone number, including area code:  (602) 522-3000
 
Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes o No x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes o No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer:, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange.
 
Large accelerated filer o     Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o (do not check if a smaller reporting company)     Smaller reporting company x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule l2b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o No x
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
As of March 15, 2011, 195,509,109 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.
 



 
1

 
 
FORM 10-Q
 
Index
         
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
         
Item 1.
Unaudited Financial Statements
   
         
 
 
3
         
 
 
4
         
 
 
5
         
 
 
6
         
 
23
         
 
32
         
 
32
         
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
  32
         
 
32
         
 
35
         
 
35
         
 
35
       
 
35
       
 
35
         
 
35
         
Signatures
     
 
         
Certifications
       
 
 
2

 
NutraCea (Debtor in Possession)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
 (Unaudited; in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Revenues
  $ 8,403     $ 8,260     $ 23,126     $ 25,054  
Cost of goods sold
    6,269       6,478       17,788       20,339  
Gross profits
    2,134       1,782       5,338       4,715  
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
Selling, general and administrative
    3,842       5,102       11,468       16,194  
Professional fees
    668       457       1,632       2,408  
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
    -       8,845       1,000       8,845  
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    540       (12 )     943       342  
Provision (recovery) for doubtful accounts receivable and notes receivable
    86       (2 )     209       (66 )
Research and development
    1       167       123       841  
Impairment of trademarks
    -       1,494       -       1,494  
Total operating expenses
    5,137       16,051       15,375       30,058  
                                 
Loss from operations
    (3,003 )     (14,269 )     (10,037 )     (25,343 )
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    14       119       31       376  
Interest expense
    (404 )     (293 )     (985 )     (1,701 )
Loss on equity method investments
    (10 )     (151 )     (31 )     (203 )
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
    -       62       -       (91 )
Warrant liability (expense) income
    250       (74 )     63       1,497  
Other income
    31       -       231       -  
Other expense
    -       (100 )     -       (106 )
Total other income (expense)
    (119 )     (437 )     (691 )     (228 )
                                 
Reorganization expenses:
                               
Professional fees
    111       -       847       -  
Total reorganization expenses
    111       -       847       -  
Loss before income taxes
    (3,233 )     (14,706 )     (11,575 )     (25,571 )
Income tax benefit
    143       82       687       282  
Net loss
    (3,090 )     (14,624 )     (10,888 )     (25,289 )
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    -       27       -       108  
Net loss attributable to NutraCea shareholders
  $ (3,090 )   $ (14,597 )   $ (10,888 )   $ (25,181 )
                                 
Loss per share attributable to NutraCea shareholders
                               
Basic
  $ (0.02 )   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.14 )
Diluted
  $ (0.02 )   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.14 )
                                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
                               
Basic
    193,028       191,114       193,016       180,375  
Diluted
    193,028       191,114       193,016       180,375  

 
3


NutraCea (Debtor in Possession)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 (Unaudited; in thousands, except share amounts)
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
 Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,273     $ 952  
 Restricted cash
    1,916       1,915  
 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $277 and $153
    3,348       3,506  
 Inventories
    2,951       3,238  
 Notes receivable, current portion, net of allowance for doubtful notes receivable of $636 and $636
    1,200       1,200  
 Deposits and other current assets
    2,451       2,637  
 Assets held for sale - property, plant and equipment
    4,498       14,551  
 Assets held for sale - trademarks
    -       650  
Total current assets
    17,637       28,649  
                 
Notes receivable, net of current portion
    900       1,800  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    24,388       26,243  
Intangible assets, net
    6,644       7,679  
Goodwill
    5,746       5,626  
Equity method investments
    60       91  
Other long-term assets
    95       80  
Total assets
  $ 55,470     $ 70,168  
                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 2,667     $ 2,588  
Accrued expenses
    4,813       5,080  
Long-term debt - current portion
    3,716       6,642  
Warrant liability, current portion
    -       34  
Total current liabilities
    11,196       14,344  
                 
Liabilities subject to compromise
    6,406       6,988  
                 
Long-term liabilities:
               
Long-term debt, net of current portion
    5,459       5,957  
Deferred tax liability
    4,481       5,110  
Warrant liability, net of current portion
    1,216       1,245  
Other long-term liabilities
    1,000       1,000  
Total liabilities
    29,758       34,644  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Equity:
               
Equity attributable to NutraCea shareholders:
               
Convertible, series E preferred stock, no par value, $1,000 stated value, 2,743 shares authorized, no shares outstanding
    -       -  
Convertible, series D preferred stock, no par value, $1,000 stated value, 10,000 shares authorized,  no shares outstanding
    -       -  
Common stock, no par value, 350,000,000 shares authorized, 193,027,680 and 192,967,680 shares issued and outstanding
    206,163       205,291  
Accumulated deficit
    (180,032 )     (169,144 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (263 )     (467 )
Total equity attributable to NutraCea shareholders
    25,868       35,680  
Noncontrolling interest
    (156 )     (156 )
Total equity
    25,712       35,524  
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 55,470     $ 70,168  
 
 
4

 
NutraCea (Debtor in Possession)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 (Unaudited; in thousands)
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Cash flow from operating activities:
       
Net loss
  $ (10,888 )   $ (25,289 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization
    3,471       5,376  
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable and notes receivable
    209       (66 )
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
    1,000       8,845  
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    943       342  
Share-based employee and director compensation
    866       398  
Share-based consultant compensation
    6       -  
Warrant liability expense (income)
    (63 )     (1,497 )
Deferred tax benefit
    (691 )     (296 )
Reorganization expenses
    847       -  
Impairment of intangible assets
    -       1,494  
Foreign exchange loss
    -       91  
Loss on equity method investments
    31       203  
Share-based interest expense
    -       861  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable
    11       530  
Inventories
    332       1,083  
Other current assets
    178       1,142  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (911 )     1,285  
Net cash used in operating activities before reorganization item
    (4,659 )     (5,498 )
                 
Reorganization item - professional fees
    (738 )     -  
Net cash used for reorganization item
    (738 )     -  
Net cash used in operating activities
    (5,397 )     (5,498 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
         
Proceeds from payments on notes receivable
    900       522  
Purchases of property and equipment
    (415 )     (1,317 )
Proceeds from sale of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    8,872       -  
Proceeds from sale of equity method investment
    -       1,675  
Restricted cash
    -       2,211  
Other
    (16 )     -  
Net cash provided by investing activities
    9,341       3,091  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
         
Payments on redemption of convertible, preferred stock
    -       (556 )
Proceeds from noncontrolling interest
    -       32  
Payments on debt
    (3,595 )     (1,847 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (3,595 )     (2,371 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (28 )     48  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    321       (4,730 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    952       4,867  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 1,273     $ 137  
                 
Supplemental disclosures:
               
Cash paid for interest
  $ 812     $ 665  
Cash paid for income taxes
    -       -  
 
 
 
5

 
NutraCea (Debtor in Possession)
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Note 1. Basis of Presentation
 
In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (“Interim Financial Statements”) of NutraCea and subsidiaries (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for reporting on Form 10-Q; therefore, as permitted under these rules, certain footnotes and other financial information included in audited financial statements were condensed or omitted. The Interim Financial Statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the interim results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented.
 
These Interim Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
The interim results of operations and interim cash flows for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any other future period and have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern based on the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.  We have experienced recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations.  In the past we have turned to the equity markets for additional liquidity.  This was not a source of funds during 2010 and 2009 due to our financial position, the state of the equity markets and the bankruptcy filing discussed below.  However, exiting bankruptcy on November 30, 2010, combined with improving financial performance and equity market conditions, may allow us to raise equity funds.  We intend to provide the necessary cash to continue operations through the monetization of certain assets, growth of sales, and possible equity financing transactions.
 
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to classifications adopted in the current year.
 
Note 2. Chapter 11 Reorganization, Liquidity and Management’s Plan
 
Chapter 11 Reorganization

On November 10, 2009, NutraCea (the Parent Company) filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (Bankruptcy Code) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona (the Bankruptcy Court), in the proceeding entitled In re:  NutraCea, Case No. 2:09-bk-28817-CGC (the Chapter 11 Reorganization).  None of the Parent Company’s subsidiaries, including its Brazilian rice bran oil operation, were included in the bankruptcy filing.  The Parent Company continued to manage its assets and operate its business as “debtor-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.  Under the Bankruptcy Code, certain claims against the Parent Company in existence prior to the filing of the bankruptcy petition were stayed during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Reorganization.  Additional claims arose subsequent to the filing date from the Parent Company’s business operations, its secured borrowing from Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (Wells Fargo), its employment of professionals, its disposition of certain non-core assets (as described below) and its treatment of certain executory contracts.  The claim of Wells Fargo, the primary secured creditor of the Parent Company, was secured by perfected liens against the Parent Company’s real and personal property, including, without limitation, its plant and equipment, trade receivables and inventory.

 
6

 
On August 10, 2010, the Parent Company and the Official Unsecured Creditors Committee filed with the Bankruptcy Court an amended plan of reorganization (Amended Plan) in accordance with the Bankruptcy Code.  The Amended Plan called for the payment in full of all allowed claims.  Creditors voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Amended Plan and, on October 27, 2010, the Bankruptcy Court entered its order confirming the Amended Plan.  The confirmation order became final on November 10, 2010, and the Amended Plan became effective on November 30, 2010.

In connection with the Chapter 11 Reorganization, we entered into a Senior Secured Super-Priority Debtor-In-Possession Credit and Security Agreement (DIP Credit Agreement), successor loan to the Wells Fargo secured borrowing, which was paid in full as of December 31, 2010.

The liabilities subject to compromise existing at December 31, 2009 became the Parent Company’s payment obligations under the Amended Plan of approximately $7.0 million when the Amended Plan became effective.  As of December 2010, the portion of these obligations remaining unpaid is reflected as pre-petition liabilities.  During 2010, $0.6 million of these obligations were paid with proceeds from the sale of the Phoenix, Arizona building.  Interest accrued on the allowed liabilities subject to compromise from November 2009 through November 2010, at an annual rate of 0.38%.  Interest accrues on the unpaid prepetition liabilities at an annual rate of 8.25% beginning in December 2010.

The Parent Company intends to discharge the obligation to pay these pre-petition liabilities by selling non-core assets, possible equity financing transactions, collecting outstanding receivables, and borrowing on a secured basis.  To secure a portion of these payment obligations, unsecured creditors were granted a lien in all of the Parent Company’s assets.  The lien is administered and may be enforced by a plan agent, who was jointly selected by the Parent Company and the Official Unsecured Creditors Committee.  The plan agent may, among other things, sell specified assets if the payment benchmarks set forth in the Amended Plan are not met.

Under the Amended Plan, if we fail to meet certain benchmarks for payment to our general unsecured creditors as described in the Amended Plan, the plan agent may direct and control the sale of pledged assets as follows:

 
 
Benchmark Date
 
 
Required Cumulative 
          Payment          
 
Pledged Assets Subject to
 Sale by Plan Agent, if
       Benchmark Not Met 
 
Net Proceeds
Plan Agent Retains for the
General Unsecured Creditors
July 15, 2011
 
  50%
 
Dillon, Montana facility and all loose equipment,
 
75% of proceeds from the sale of the facility and up to 100% of the proceeds from the sale of loose equipment
             
October 15, 2011
 
  75%
 
Dillon, Montana facility and all loose equipment
 
75% of proceeds from the sale of the facility and up to 100% of the proceeds from the sale of loose equipment
             
January 15, 2012
 
100%
 
Lake Charles, Louisiana facility and any remaining pledged assets
 
Up to 100% of net proceeds from the sale
             

Since we will not be able to control the sale of the above assets if we do not meet the payment benchmarks, we cannot guarantee that the assets will be sold at a value satisfactory to us.  As of March 31, 2011, we have made distributions to the general unsecured creditors totaling $3.1 million, or approximately 44% of the amount owed, plus accrued interest.
 
 
7


Under the Amended Plan, the following must be paid to the general unsecured creditors, if and when received:
 
·
75% of the net proceeds from the sale of the Dillon, Montana facility;
 
·
the greater of (i) $2.2 million or (ii) 40% of the first $5.0 million in net proceeds we receive from the monetization of our interest in Nutra SA, LLC (Nutra SA) plus 50 % of any net proceeds over $5.0 million;
 
·
50% of the net proceeds from the sale of our interest in Rice Science, LLC or Rice Rx LLC;
 
·
100% of the net proceeds from the sale of any loose (uninstalled) equipment;
 
·
75% of any prepayments received on the note receivable from Ceautamed Worldwide, LLC (Ceautamed), if any, and all receipts on the note beginning April 1, 2011;
 
·
75% of the net proceeds from the sale or monetization of the Lake Charles, Louisiana improvements or Mermentau, Louisiana facility, after payment of professional fees;
 
·
75% of the net proceeds from the sale or monetization of any other pledged assets;
 
·
100% of any recoveries from avoidance actions or actions against former officers and directors.
 
 
Liquidity and Management’s Plans

The Parent Company and it’s wholly and majority owned subsidiaries have experienced recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations.  Due to defaults under our credit agreement with Wells Fargo our credit lines were reduced to approximately $3.5 million as of July 2009, which was the level of the current outstanding loans and obligations at that time.  We also entered into a forbearance agreement with Wells Fargo pursuant to which Wells Fargo agreed to forebear from exercising its rights and remedies with respect to the existing defaults.  We were behind on our payments to vendors and had defaulted on several agreements due to non-payment resulting in declaring bankruptcy as described above.  Although we emerged from bankruptcy in November 2010, we have not yet demonstrated the ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet our working capital needs. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

We have taken steps to improve profitability and liquidity by reducing our U.S. based employee headcount at both the corporate and plant operations level.  The reductions in force that occurred at various times throughout 2009 resulted in annualized savings of approximately $2.4 million (unaudited).  In January 2010, an additional corporate reduction in force was enacted resulting in annualized savings of $0.8 million (unaudited).  Effective January 1, 2010, we moved our corporate headquarters to less expensive office space resulting in yearly rent savings of approximately $1.2 million (unaudited).  The combined effect of the cost cutting efforts total $4.4 million (unaudited).

In the ongoing effort to improve profitability, significant emphasis will be placed on growing sales. The growth of revenues is expected to include the following:

·
growing sales in existing markets, including bulk Stabilized Rice Bran (SRB) and rice bran oil;
·
aligning with strategic partners who can provide channels for additional sales of our products including rice-bran oil extraction;
·
price increases; and
·
growing consumer retail product sales.
 
In the past we have turned to the equity markets for additional liquidity.  This was not a source of funds during 2010 and 2009 due to our financial position, the state of the equity markets and the bankruptcy filing.  However, exiting bankruptcy on November 30, 2010, combined with improving financial performance and equity market conditions, may allow us to raise equity funds.  We intend to provide the necessary cash to continue operations through the monetization of certain assets, growth of sales, and possible equity financing transactions.  Asset monetization may include some or all of the following:
 
·
sale or a sale-lease back of certain facilities;
·
sale of a noncontrolling interest in one or more subsidiaries; or
·
sale of surplus equipment.
 
8

 
Some of these sales could result in additional non-cash write downs of asset values.  Although management believes that they will be able to obtain the funds necessary to continue as a going concern there can be no assurances that our efforts will prove successful.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern.
 
Note 3.  General Business
 
We are a food ingredient and health company focused on the procurement, processing and refinement of rice bran and derivative products.  We have proprietary intellectual property that allows us to process and convert rice bran, one of the world’s most underutilized food resources, into a highly nutritious ingredient, stabilized rice bran (SRB) that has applications in various food products.  Our target markets are food manufacturers, nutraceuticals and animal nutrition.  It is also used as a stand-alone product that can be sold through non-related entities with distribution into the market place, both domestically and internationally.  These products include food supplements and nutraceuticals which provide health benefits for humans and animals based on SRB and SRB derivatives.  We believe that SRB products can deliver beneficial physiological effects.  We are continuing to pursue ongoing clinical trials and third party analyses in order to further support the uses for and effectiveness of our products.  In addition, NutraCea has developed a bio-refining approach to processing stabilized rice bran into various value added constituents such as rice bran oil (RBO), defatted rice bran (DRB) and a variety of other valuable derivatives of rice bran.

We have three reportable business segments: (1) Corporate; (2) SRB (SRB), which manufactures and distributes SRB in various granulations along with products derived from bran via patented enzyme treatment processes including a fat and protein rich water soluble fraction and a fiber rich insoluble fraction; and (3) Bio-Refining, which separates rice bran into crude rice bran oil and defatted rice bran which are then further processed into a number of valuable food and feed products.  Bio-Refining operations consisted of our operations in Brazil in 2010 and 2009.  The Corporate segment includes selling, general and administrative expenses, litigation settlements, and other expenses not directly attributable to other segments.  No corporate allocations are made to the other segments.  Interest is not allocated.

Note 4.  Loss Per Share (EPS)
 
Basic EPS is computed by dividing net loss attributable to NutraCea shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during all periods presented.  Options, warrants and shares available upon conversion of preferred stock are excluded from the basic EPS calculation and are considered in calculating the diluted EPS.

Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net loss attributable to NutraCea shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period increased by the number of additional shares that would have been outstanding if the impact of assumed exercises and conversions is dilutive.  The dilutive effect of outstanding options and warrants is calculated using the treasury stock method.  The dilutive effect of outstanding convertible preferred stock is calculated using the “if converted” method.  

 
9

 
Reconciliations of the numerators and denominators in the EPS computations follow:

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
NUMERATOR (in thousands):
                       
Basic and diluted - net loss attributable to NutraCea shareholders
  $ (3,090 )   $ (14,597 )   $ (10,888 )   $ (25,181 )
                                 
DENOMINATOR:
                               
Basic EPS - weighted average number of shares outstanding
    193,027,680       191,113,911       193,015,812       180,374,975  
Effect of dilutive securities outstanding
    -       -       -       -  
Diluted EPS - weighted average number of shares outstanding
    193,027,680       191,113,911       193,015,812       180,374,975  
                                 
Number of shares of common stock which could be purchased with weighted average outstanding securities not included in  diluted EPS because effect would be antidilutive-
                               
Stock options (average exercise price of $0.39 and $0.72)
    30,996,197       28,389,949       28,089,581       24,935,334  
Warrants (average exercise price of $1.27 and $1.34)
    39,578,506       44,124,792       39,666,418       38,280,523  

The impact of certain options and warrants outstanding at September 30, 2010 and 2009, were not included in the calculation of diluted EPS in 2010 and 2009, because to do so would be antidilutive.  Those securities which were antidilutive in 2010 and 2009 could potentially dilute EPS in the future.

Note 5. Comprehensive Loss
 
Comprehensive loss consists of the following:
 
   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Net loss
  $ (3,090 )   $ (14,624 )   $ (10,888 )   $ (25,289 )
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss) - foreign currency translation, net of tax
    751       1,076       204       (2,730 )
                                 
Comprehensive loss, net of tax
    (2,339 )     (13,548 )     (10,684 )     (28,019 )
                                 
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest
    -       27       -       108  
                                 
Total comprehensive loss attribibutable to NutraCea shareholders
  $ (2,339 )   $ (13,521 )   $ (10,684 )   $ (27,911 )


 
10

 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, as reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, is comprised of the following:
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
             
Foreign currency translation adjustment
  $ (263 )   $ (467 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (263 )   $ (467 )

Note 6. Irgovel and Nutra SA Membership Interest Purchase Agreement

In December 2010, we entered into a membership interest purchase agreement with AF Bran Holdings-NL LLC and AF Bran Holdings LLC (the Investors).  The transaction closed in January 2011.  The Investors agreed to purchase units in Nutra SA for an aggregate purchase price of $7.7 million.  Prior to the transaction, Nutra SA was our wholly owned subsidiary.  Nutra SA owns 100% of Irgovel.  Initially after the close, effective in January 2011, we own a 64.4% interest in Nutra SA, and the Investors own a 35.6% interest in Nutra SA.  The Parent Company received $4.0 million of the proceeds.  The remaining amount of $3.7 million, less $0.5 million retained by Nutra SA for administrative expenses, was invested in Irgovel for capital improvements and working capital needs.

The Parent Company agreed to use $2.2 million of the funds received from the January 2011 transaction closing to repay amounts owed to the general unsecured creditors in accordance with the Amended Plan.  The remaining $1.8 million was used for general corporate purposes; unsecured creditor claims and administrative expenses associated with the Chapter 11 Reorganization.

We are restricted from competing with Nutra SA and Irgovel in Brazil as further described in the purchase agreement.  In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events and conditions as described in the purchase agreement, the Investors may be required to purchase a number of units of Nutra SA from the Parent Company, at $2.00 per unit, resulting in the Investors holding up to a 49.0% interest in Nutra SA.  The Parent Company anticipates receiving on or about March 31, 2011, an additional $1.0 million from the Investors for the purchase of additional units in Nutra SA.  The purchase will increase the Investors’ interest in Nutra SA by 4.6%, to a 40.2% interest.

In 2011, we will consolidate the results of the operations of Nutra SA.  The Investors’ interest in Nutra SA will be reflected as a noncontrolling interest.  The amount of gain or loss, if any, resulting from the Investors’ purchases of interests in Nutra SA has yet to be determined.

Note 7. Settlement with Herbal Science

In March 2010, Herbal Science Singapore Pte. Ltd. (HS) filed a proof of claim against the Parent Company in the amount of $1.5 million in the Chapter 11 Reorganization.  In November 2010, we entered into a stipulated settlement agreement with HS and certain affiliates, which was subsequently approved by the Bankruptcy Court.  The stipulation provides that, by no later than January 2011, we will pay HS $0.9 million.  Upon HS’s receipt of the payment:

 
a.
We will assume the Rice Rx LLC (RRX) and Rice Science, LLC (RS) limited liability company agreements, together with a related supply agreement and license agreements, and the proof of claim will be deemed satisfied;
 
b.
HS will assign to us all of its interests in the RRX and RS limited liability companies;
 
c.
HS and the affiliates will assign to us any interest they have in the patentable pharmaceuticals, SRB isolates and related intellectual property;
 
d.
HS will assign to us the supply agreement, the license agreement and certain related research and development agreements;
 
e.
HS and the affiliates will agree not to engage in any research, development, sale, distribution, commercialization, and/or manufacturing activities concerning the patentable pharmaceuticals, SRB isolates and related intellectual property;
 
f.
HS and the affiliates will agree to cooperate with us in specified ways to protect, preserve and perfect the patentable pharmaceuticals, SRB isolates and related intellectual property; and
 
g.
The parties will waive and release all claims against each other in regard to the limited liability companies, the supply agreement, the license agreement and the research and development agreements.
 
 
11

 
In January 2011, we renegotiated the stipulated settlement agreement with HS and the affiliates to provide that the payment of $0.9 million would be deferred until we receive the balance of the purchase price for the sale of up to a 49% interest in Nutra SA or until funds otherwise become available earlier.  Until we satisfy our payment obligation to HS, HS has an allowed claim for $0.9 million and will receive distributions as a general unsecured creditor without priority.  We expect to pay our obligation in full no later than April 2011.


Note 8. Assets Held for Sale – Property, Plant and Equipment
 
The following is a summary of property, plant and equipment held for sale (in thousands):

   
September 30,
 2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
             
Land
  $ 233     $ 2,928  
Plant
    2,264       5,569  
Machinery and equipment
    2,001       4,813  
Construction in progress
    -       1,241  
Assets held for sale - property, plant and equipment
  $ 4,498     $ 14,551  
 
 
   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
 2009
 
Dillon facility
  $ 4,498     $ 4,492  
Phoenix building
    -       6,000  
Phoenix equipment
    -       4,059  
Assets held for sale - property, plant and equipment
  $ 4,498     $ 14,551  
 
Dillon facility

Our Dillon, Montana facility produces certain retail products - RiSolubles, RiFiber and RiBalance.  In addition, Dillon produces infant cereal products under a tolling agreement.  In October 2009, as part of evaluating non-core assets and businesses, management determined that the Dillon facility (which included land, building and equipment) would be offered for sale.  We began to aggressively market the Dillon facility in January 2010 once an agreement to sell the infant cereal business was entered into in December 2009.  A written offer to purchase the facility was received in January 2010 for $5.3 million.  Subsequently, the offer was withdrawn by the prospective buyer.  The net book value of the land, building and equipment as of March 31, 2010, was $4.5 million and no impairment was noted at that time, as we believed we could sell all the assets of Dillon at or above net book value. It is a fully functional facility.

Throughout 2010, we aggressively marketed the facility.  The facility is classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

Based on an evaluation of market conditions and a discounted cash flow analyses we recognized an impairment loss of $0.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
 
 
12


In February 2011, we ceased actively marketing the facility.  We continue to operate the facility for toll processing and are evaluating ways to utilize excess capacity.  As a result, in the first quarter of 2011, we reclassified the Dillon facility to property, plant and equipment in use and restarted depreciation.

Phoenix Building and Equipment

Our Phoenix, Arizona building was constructed to produce infant and adult cereal for worldwide sale.  When additional sales did not materialize, we determined that the cereal production could be adequately handled at the Dillon, Montana facility.  In July 2009, we decided to sell our infant cereal manufacturing building located in Phoenix, Arizona as well as the equipment housed in the building.  The building was listed for sale in September 2009, and based on our best judgment and prevailing market conditions, we recorded a noncash impairment charge of $6.5 million in September 2009 associated with the building.  In December 2009, an offer was received to purchase the cereal equipment.  As a result, we decided to sell the equipment and building separately.  Based on offers received from potential buyers, we recognized an additional impairment of $1.0 million on the building in the second quarter of 2010.  The building was sold in September 2010 for a gross price of $4.5 million.  We recorded a loss on disposal in 2010 of $0.5 million plus closing costs.

The equipment was sold in March 2010 for $3.7 million pursuant to the December 2009 offer, upon Bankruptcy Court approval.  We recorded a loss on disposal of $0.3 million during the first quarter of 2010.

We determined that the cereal product line did not constitute a component of the overall business entity and thus it has not been reported as a discontinued operation.

We used the proceeds from the sale of the building to (i) pay the remaining $1.8 million owed under the DIP Credit Agreement, (ii) pay the $1.4 million owed for all mechanic’s liens secured by the property, closing costs and property taxes, (iii) pay $1.0 million of unsecured creditor obligations and (iv) provide $0.3 million of funding for our exit from bankruptcy.

Lake Charles

Our Lake Charles, Louisiana facility was built at a cost of $3.8 million to process rice bran from a rice milling company adjacent to the facility.  The facility was idled in May 2009 due to lack of orders.  The facility is built on leased land which is owned by the rice milling company.  Due to non-payment of the lease rent, the rice milling company served us with a foreclosure notice in July 2009.  Upon receipt, management initiated discussions with the rice milling company to possibly sell them the building.  In September 2009, management made a written offer to sell the building for $1.3 million which was not accepted.  As a result of the written offer, we recorded an impairment of $2.3 million in 2009.  The facility is not classified as held for sale due to potential alternative uses and because we are not aggressively marketing the property.  We evaluated, and continue to evaluate, alternate uses of the facility which could include serving as an oil pressing operation or serving as a warehouse to store and distribute DRB produced in Brazil.

Corporate Office

In November 2009, the Bankruptcy Court approved our motion to reject our old corporate office lease and to enter into a new, less expensive, corporate office lease.  We relocated our headquarters in December 2009.  As a result in 2009, we recorded a $4.0 million loss on disposal of the leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures associated with the old corporate office.  The loss on disposal was partially off-set by (i) a $1.1 million tenant improvement and moving allowance deferred credit related to the prior lease and (ii) $0.2 million of net proceeds from an auction of the furniture and fixtures.  Since the old corporate lease was rejected under the bankruptcy procedures, the resulting charge has been included within reorganization expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.  In addition, approximately $0.2 million of non-cash charge was recorded related to furniture and fixtures relocated to the new corporate office. 
 
 
13

 
Note 9.  Equity and Share-Based Compensation
 
The following is a summary of stock option activity:
         
Weighted
 
         
Average
 
   
Number of
   
Exercise
 
   
Options
   
Price
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2009
    24,588,951     $ 0.49  
Granted
    9,693,152       0.20  
Exercised
    -          
Forfeited/expired
    (2,598,714 )     0.90  
Outstanding at September 30, 2010
    31,683,389       0.41  
Exercisable at September 30, 2010
    24,667,292     $ 0.39  

         
Weighted
 
         
Average
 
   
Number of
 
Exercise
 
   
Options
 
Price
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    25,193,477     $ 0.80  
Granted
    8,661,750       0.21  
Forfeited/expired
    (5,873,874 )     1.08  
Outstanding at September 30, 2009
    27,981,353       0.56  
Exercisable at September 30, 2009
    21,383,302     $ 0.64  

In July 2010, we modified 3,045,347 outstanding options, which had been awarded to employees.  The exercise price of the options was lowered to $0.20 per share from a weighted average $0.40 per share.  The stock price on the date of the re-pricing was $0.12 per share.  No other terms of the options were modified.  We recorded expense of less than $0.1 million in the third quarter 2010, representing the difference between the fair value of the options before and after the modification.

In the period from October 2010 to March 2011, approximately 15.9 million options were issued at an average price of $0.21 per share.  In the same period, approximately 8.0 million options at an average exercise price of $0.33 per share were forfeited, expired or cancelled.

In December 2010, we reached an agreement to settle all potential claims associated with the employment of Brad Edson, our former chief executive officer.  The agreement was subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court which was granted in January 2011.  As part of the settlement, he was required to forfeit 6,000,000 options granted in 2004 along with any stock holdings.  The options had an exercise price of $0.30 per share and were outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2010 and 2009.
 
 
14


In March 2011, we reached an agreement to settle all potential claims associated with the employment of Todd Crow, our former chief financial officer.  As part of the settlement, he was required to forfeit 1,662,942 options.  The agreement is subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court which is currently pending.  The options had an average exercise price of $0.37 per share and were outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2010 and 2009.
 
Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies

Purchase and Supply Commitments

In January 2011, Irgovel entered into a commitment to supply $0.4 million of crude rice bran oil each month from April 2011 to December 2011.  The commitment represents approximately 50% of Irgovel’s crude oil production capacity.

In January 2011, Irgovel entered into equipment purchase commitments totaling approximately $5.6 million.  The equipment is part of a capital project to expand production capacity and improve operational efficiency. We expect to pay for this equipment during the first nine months of 2011.

Litigation

In addition to the matters discussed below, from time to time we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business.  When applicable, we record accruals for contingencies when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.  While the outcome of lawsuits and other proceedings against us cannot be predicted with certainty, in the opinion of management, individually or in the aggregate, no such lawsuits are expected to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Defense costs are expensed as incurred and are included in professional fees.

Irgovel Stockholders Lawsuit

On August 28, 2008, former Irgovel stockholder David Resyng filed an indemnification suit against Irgovel, Osmar Brito and the remaining Irgovel stockholders (Sellers), requesting: (i) the freezing of the escrow account maintained in connection with the transfer of Irgovel’s corporate control to us and the presentation of all documentation related to the transaction, and (ii) damages in the amount of the difference between (a) the sum received by David Resyng in connection with the judicial settlement agreement executed in the action for the partial dissolution of the limited liability company filed by David Resyng against Irgovel and the Sellers and (b) the amount received by the Sellers in connection with the sale of Irgovel’s corporate control to us, in addition to moral damages as determined in the court’s discretion.  The amount of damage claimed by Mr. Resyng is approximately $3 million.

We believe that the filing of the above lawsuit is a fundamental default of the obligations undertaken by the Sellers under the Quotas Purchase Agreement for the transfer of Irgovel’s corporate control, executed by and among the Sellers and us on January 31, 2008 (Purchase Agreement).  Consequently, we believe that the responsibility for any indemnity, costs and expenses incurred or that may come to be incurred by Irgovel and/or us in connection with the above lawsuit is the sole responsibility of the Sellers.

 
15

 
On February 6, 2009, the Sellers filed a collection lawsuit against us seeking payment of the second installment of the purchase price under the Purchase Agreement, which the Sellers allege is approximately $1.0 million.  We have withheld payment of the second installment pending resolution of the Resyng lawsuit noted above.  The Parent Company has not been served with any formal notices in regard to this matter so far.  To date, only Irgovel has received formal legal notice. In addition, the Purchase Agreement requires that all disputes between us and the Sellers be adjudicated through arbitration. As part of the Purchase Agreement $2.0 million was deposited into an escrow account to cover contingencies with the net remaining funds payable to the Sellers upon resolution of all contingencies.  We believe any payout due to the lawsuit will be made out of the escrow account.  As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the balance in the escrow account was $1.9 million and is included in restricted cash in the consolidated balance sheets.  There is an offsetting liability in accrued expenses in our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  We believe that there is no additional material exposure as any amounts determined to be owed as a result of the above noted litigation and contingencies will be covered by the escrow account.

Shareholder Class Action

On February 27, 2009 and on April 27, 2009, securities class action lawsuits were filed in the District Court for the District of Arizona against us and certain of our current and former officers and directors.  On May 29, 2009, the cases were consolidated into a single action (the Federal Action) and lead plaintiff was appointed.  On July 1, 2009, lead plaintiff filed a consolidated class action complaint on behalf of all persons who purchased our common stock between April 2, 2007 and February 23, 2009.  The complaint alleged that we filed material misstatements in publically disseminated press releases and SEC filings misstating our financial condition and certain transactions during the period in question.  An amended consolidated complaint was filed on September 25, 2009.

The case has been settled in its entirety with the settlement to be funded by our directors and officers insurance carrier.  On October 1, 2010, the District Court of Arizona issued an order approving the settlement, certifying the class and entering judgment dismissing the matter.  On October 27, 2010, the Bankruptcy Court also entered an order approving the settlement.

Shareholder Derivative Action

In addition to the shareholder class actions, on March 30, 2009 and May 8, 2009, two shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed in Maricopa County Superior Court by persons identifying themselves as our shareholders and purporting to act on our behalf, naming us as a nominal defendant and naming our former chief executive officer and our then board of directors as defendants.

In these actions, the plaintiffs asserted claims against the individual defendants for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, and unjust enrichment based on the alleged wrongful conduct complained of in the federal action described above.  All of these claims were purportedly asserted derivatively on our behalf and the plaintiffs sought no monetary recovery against us.  Instead they sought, among other relief, disgorgement of all profits, benefits, and compensation received by the individual defendants together with their attorneys’ fees and costs.
 
By an order entered on June 3, 2009, the superior court consolidated these two cases into one action captioned In re:  NutraCea Derivative Litigation, Case No. CV2009-051495.  Following the filing of the Chapter 11 Reorganization, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the action for lack of standing.  On February 10, 2010, in response to that motion, plaintiffs filed a voluntary dismissal without prejudice of both actions and the court entered the dismissals.

 
16

 
SEC Enforcement Investigation

We received a letter from the SEC in January 2009 indicating that it had opened an informal inquiry, and we subsequently received an informal request for the production of documents in February 2009 relating to a number of 2007 transactions.  In March 2009, we received a formal order of private investigation from the SEC.  In June 2009, we received a subpoena for the production of documents that largely tracked the SEC’s earlier requests.  We responded to these requests for documents and based on findings related to the internal review and the SEC’s requests, we restated our financial statements for 2006, 2007 and the first three quarters of 2008.

On January 13, 2011, the SEC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona alleging that we violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act), 15 U.S.C. § 77q(a), Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78m(a), 78m(b)(2)(A), and 78m(b)(2)(B), and Rules 10b-5, 12b-20, 13a-1, and 13a-13 thereunder, 17 C.F.R. §§ 240.10b-5, 240.12b-20, 240.13a-1, and 240.13a-13 (the SEC Action).  We have settled these allegations with the SEC, without admitting or denying them, and have consented to the entry of a final judgment of permanent injunction (the Consent Judgment), which, among other things, permanently restrains and enjoins us from violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. § 77q(a), Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78m(a), 78m(b)(2)(A), and 78m(b)(2)(B), and Rules 10b-5, 12b-20, 13a-1, and 13a-13 thereunder, 17 C.F.R. §§ 240.10b-5, 240.12b-20, 240.13a-1, and 240.13a-13.  The final Consent Judgment was entered in the SEC action on February 14, 2011.  No financial penalty was assessed by the SEC against us.

W.D. Manor Mechanical Contractors, Inc. and Related Matters

On April 30, 2009, W.D. Manor Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (W.D. Manor) filed a complaint against us and other unrelated defendants in Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County (CV2009-013957) arising out of the construction of a facility in Phoenix, Arizona.  Various other sub-contractors joined in the lawsuit and asserted lien claims.  These claims have been accrued and expensed in our consolidated financial statements.  With the sale of the Phoenix facility in September 2010, all claims held by W. D. Manor and the other subcontractors who joined in the lawsuit, totaling $0.7 million, were paid in full from the proceeds of the sale and the lawsuit was dismissed. 

Farmers’ Rice Milling

Farmers’ Rice Milling (FRM) contended that we defaulted by failing to pay rentals due under two leases between the parties: (i) the March 15, 2007, ground lease, as amended on November 1, 2008, and (ii) the April 15, 2007, warehouse lease.  FRM filed suit against us to terminate the leases and recover damages thereunder.  This suit was filed in the 14th Judicial District Court on June 24, 2009, and was timely removed to the United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana, Lake Charles division.  We filed an answer and counterclaim and deposited into the registry of the court $0.1 million constituting the rentals due under the leases, a late fee due under the warehouse lease plus accrued interest.  As part of the Chapter 11 Reorganization, the leases were assumed under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code.  Arrearages due under the leases were paid in January 2011 and the lawsuit was dismissed.  FRM also asserted a claim for monetary damages for breach of a supply agreement, but that claim was dismissed from the lawsuit and allowed as a general unsecured claim in the Chapter 11 Reorganization.
 
 
17

 
Note 11. Segment Information

We have three reportable segments: Corporate; Stabilized Rice Bran (SRB), which manufactures and distributes SRB in various granulations along with products derived from bran via patented enzyme treatment processes including a fat and protein rich water soluble fraction and a fiber rich insoluble fraction; and Bio-Refining, which separates rice bran into crude rice bran oil and defatted rice bran which are then further processed into a number of valuable food and feed products.  The Bio-Refining segment consisted of our Irgovel operations in Brazil in 2010 and 2009.  The Corporate segment includes corporate general and administrative expenses, litigation settlements and other expenses not directly attributable to segments.  No corporate allocations are made to the other segments.  Interest is not allocated.

The table below presents segment information for the years identified and provides a reconciliation of segment information to total consolidated information.

 
18

 
     
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
     
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
            (1)     (2)        
Revenues
    $ -     $ 2,761     $ 5,642     $ 8,403  
Cost of goods sold
      -       1,501       4,768       6,269  
Gross profit
      -       1,260       874       2,134  
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general
                                 
and administrative)
      (52 )     (358 )     (310 )     (720 )
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
      -       -       -       -  
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
      -       (540 )     -       (540 )
Other operating expenses
      (2,285 )     (741 )     (851 )     (3,877 )
Loss from operations
    $ (2,337 )   $ (379 )   $ (287 )   $ (3,003 )
                                   
Net loss attributable to NutraCea shareholders
    $ (2,459 )   $ (379 )   $ (252 )   $ (3,090 )
Interest expense
      (240 )     -       (164 )     (404 )
Depreciation (in cost of goods sold)
      -       (97 )     (414 )     (511 )
Purchases of property and equipment
      8       41       222       271  
Property, plant and equipment, end of period
      1,985       9,610       12,793       24,388  
Assets held for sale, end of period
      -       4,498       -       4,498  
Goodwill, end of period
(3)
    -       -       5,746       5,746  
Intangible assets, net, end of period
      -       3,100       3,544       6,644  

     
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
     
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
            (1)     (2)        
Revenues
    $ -     $ 3,045     $ 5,215     $ 8,260  
Cost of goods sold
      -       2,224       4,254       6,478  
Gross profit
      -       821       961       1,782  
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general
                                 
and administrative)
      (250 )     (626 )     (278 )     (1,154 )
Impairment of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
      -       (10,339 )     -       (10,339 )
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
      -       12       -       12  
Other operating expenses
      (3,131 )     (513 )     (926 )     (4,570 )
Loss from operations
    $ (3,381 )   $ (10,645 )   $ (243 )   $ (14,269 )
                                   
Net loss attributable to NutraCea shareholders
    $ (3,186 )   $ (11,261 )   $ (150 )   $ (14,597 )
Interest expense
      (161 )     -       (132 )     (293 )
Depreciation (in cost of goods sold)
      -       (388 )     (294 )     (682 )
Purchases of property and equipment
      19       -       135       154  
Property, plant and equipment, end of period
      7,126       14,218       13,499       34,843  
Assets held for sale, end of period
      -       10,642       -       10,642  
Goodwill, end of period
(3)
    -       -       5,473       5,473  
Intangible assets, net, end of period
      -       3,880       4,143       8,023  
 
 
19


     
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
     
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
            (1)     (2)        
Revenues
    $ -     $ 9,298     $ 13,828     $ 23,126  
Cost of goods sold
      -       5,582       12,206       17,788  
Gross profit
      -       3,716       1,622       5,338  
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general
                                 
and administrative)
      (166 )     (1,044 )     (860 )     (2,070 )
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
      -       (1,000 )     -       (1,000 )
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
      -       (943 )     -       (943 )
Other operating expenses
      (6,451 )     (2,468 )     (2,443 )     (11,362 )
Loss from operations
    $ (6,617 )   $ (1,739 )   $ (1,681 )   $ (10,037 )
                                   
Net loss attributable to NutraCea shareholders
    $ (7,836 )   $ (1,739 )   $ (1,313 )   $ (10,888 )
Interest expense
      (493 )     -       (492 )     (985 )
Depreciation (in cost of goods sold)
      -       (348 )     (1,053 )     (1,401 )
Purchases of property and equipment
      23       49       343       415  
Property, plant and equipment, end of period
      1,985       9,610       12,793       24,388  
Assets held for sale, end of period
      -       4,498       -       4,498  
Goodwill, end of period
(3)
    -       -       5,746       5,746  
Intangible assets, net, end of period
      -       3,100       3,544       6,644  
 
     
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
     
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
              (1)       (2)        
Revenues
    $ -     $ 11,023     $ 14,031     $ 25,054  
Cost of goods sold
      -       8,358       11,981       20,339  
Gross profit
      -       2,665       2,050       4,715  
Depreciation and amortization (in selling, general
                                 
and administrative)
      (746 )     (2,038 )     (729 )     (3,513 )
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
      -       (10,339 )     -       (10,339 )
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
      -       (342 )     -       (342 )
Other operating expenses
      (9,129 )     (4,401 )     (2,334 )     (15,864 )
Loss from operations
    $ (9,875 )   $ (14,455 )   $ (1,013 )   $ (25,343 )
                                   
Net loss attributable to NutraCea shareholders
    $ (9,963 )   $ (14,347 )   $ (871 )   $ (25,181 )
Interest expense
      (1,243 )     -       (458 )     (1,701 )
Depreciation - (in cost of goods sold)
      -       (1,056 )     (807 )     (1,863 )
Purchases of property and equipment
      543       456       318       1,317  
Property, plant and equipment, end of period
      7,126       14,218       13,499       34,843  
Assets held for sale, end of period
      -       10,642       -       10,642  
Goodwill, end of period
(3)
    -       -       5,473       5,473  
Intangible assets, net, end of period
      -       3,880       4,143       8,023  
 
(1)
The SRB segment was formerly referred to as “NutraCea”.
(2)
The Bio-Refining segment was formerly referred to as “Irgovel”.
(3)
All changes in goodwill between December 31, 2009 and September 30, 2010, relate to foreign currency translation.
 
 
20


The following tables present data by geographic area:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
United States
  $ 2,459     $ 2,611     $ 7,253     $ 9,108  
Brazil
    4,318       4,932       12,496       13,432  
Other international
    1,626       717       3,377       2,514  
Total revenues
  $ 8,403     $ 8,260     $ 23,126     $ 25,054  

   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
             
United States
  $ 11,595     $ 12,678  
Brazil
    12,793       13,565  
Total property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 24,388     $ 26,243  
 
Note 12. Fair Value Measurement
 
As defined in ASC No. 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), fair value is based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Certain assets and liabilities are presented in the financial statements at fair value.  Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis include warrant liabilities.   Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include held-for-sale property, plant and equipment and held-for-sale trademarks.
 
We assess the inputs used to measure fair value using a three-tier hierarchy based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market:
 
 
Level 1 – inputs include quoted prices for identical instruments and are the most observable.
 
 
Level 2 – inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and observable inputs such as interest rates, currency exchange rates and yield curves.
 
 
Level 3 – inputs are not observable in the market and include management’s judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
 
For instruments measured using Level 3 inputs, a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances is disclosed.
 
The following table summarizes the fair values by input hierarchy of items measured at fair value on a recurring basis on our consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

 
21

 
 
       
As of September 30, 2010
 
       
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
                             
Warrant liability
(1 )   $ -     $ -     $ 1,216     $ 1,216  
Total liabilities at fair value
      $ -     $ -     $ 1,216     $ 1,216  
                                     
       
As of December 31, 2009
 
       
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
                                     
Warrant liability
(1 )   $ -     $ -     $ 1,279     $ 1,279  
Total liabilities at fair value
      $ -     $ -     $ 1,279     $ 1,279  
 
(1)  
Represents fair value of warrant liability established as a result of adoption of FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (FASB ASC 815) (previously EITF 07-5, “Determining Whether an Instrument (or an Embedded Feature) is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock).  Fair value of the warrant liabilities was determined using the Lattice Model.
 
The following tables summarize the changes in level 3 items measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

   
September 30, 2010
       
   
Fair Value as of Beginning of Year
   
Total
Realized/ Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
   
Issuance of New Warrants
   
Net
Transfers
Into (Out of)
 Level 3
   
Fair Value, September 30, 2010
   
Change in Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Instruments Still Held
 
          (1)                          
Warrant liability
  $ 1,279     $ 63     $ -     $ -     $ 1,216     $ 63  
Total Level 3 fair value
  $ 1,279     $ 63     $ -     $ -     $ 1,216     $ 63  
 
   
September 30, 2009
       
   
Adoption of ASC 815-40-15 as of Beginning of Year
   
Total
Realized/ Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)
   
Record Series D Warrants at Fair Value as of Beginning of Year
   
Issuance of New Warrants
   
Net
Transfers
Into (Out of)
 Level 3
   
Fair Value, at September 30, 2009
   
Change in Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Instruments Still Held
 
          (1)     (1)     (1)                    
Warrant liability
  $ 3,913     $ (3,333 )   $ 1,156     $ 680     $ -     $ 2,416     $ (3,333 )
Total Level 3 fair value
  $ 3,913     $ (3,333 )   $ 1,156     $ 680     $ -     $ 2,416     $ (3,333 )
 
 
(1)  
Included in warrant liability income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
 
22


 
The following tables summarize the fair values by input hierarchy of items measured at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets on a non-recurring basis (in thousands):
 
         
As of September 30, 2010
 
         
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
                               
Assets held for sale - property, plant and equipment
    (1 )   $ -     $ -     $ 4,498     $ 4,498  
Total assets at fair value
          $ -     $ -     $ 4,498     $ 4,498  
 
         
As of December 31, 2009
 
         
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
                               
Assets held for sale - property, plant and equipment
    (2 )   $ -     $ -     $ 14,551     $ 14,551  
Assets held for sale - trademarks
    (3 )     -       -       650       650  
Lake Charles building
    (4 )     -       -       1,251       1,251  
Total assets at fair value
          $ -     $ -     $ 16,452     $ 16,452  
 

(1)  
Represents land, building and equipment at our Dillon, Montana facility.  The fair value was measured based on third party appraisals, offers from potential buyers and management’s judgment.
 
(2)  
Represents land, building, equipment and construction in progress at our Dillon, Montana and Phoenix, Arizona facilities.  The fair value was measured based on third party appraisals, offers from potential buyers and subsequent sale of the assets, less costs to sell.
 
(3)   
Represents land, building and equipment at our Dillon, Montana facility.  The fair value was measured based on third party appraisals, offers from potential buyers and management’s judgment.
 
(4)  
We recorded an impairment of $2.3 million in 2009.  The fair value of the building was based on a written offer made to FRM and a third party appraisal.
 

Note 13. Events in Japan

As of March 31, 2011, we have not experienced any unfavorable impact on revenues from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami which devastated Japan, or its aftermath.  Shipments of our rice bran oil product to a southern port in Japan have been unaffected.  Although not foreseen at this time, we may experience unfavorable impacts on our operating results in the future should the situation change.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following discussion and analysis addresses material changes in the results of operations and financial condition of NutraCea and subsidiaries (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company,”) for the periods presented. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the related Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2009, the unaudited interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included in Part I — Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) and the Company’s other Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings and public disclosures.
 
This Form 10-Q may contain “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements about the Company’s market opportunities, strategies, competition and expected activities and expenditures, and at times may be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “project”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “plan”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “potential”, “intend”, “continue” and variations of these words or comparable words. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties, including the factors that may affect future results set forth in this Current Report on Form 10-Q and in our annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for revisions or changes after the filing date of this Form 10-Q.
 
 
23

 
We are a food ingredient and health company focused on the procurement, processing and refinement of rice bran and derivative products.  We have proprietary intellectual property that allows us to process and convert rice bran, one of the world’s most underutilized food resources, into a highly nutritious ingredient, stabilized rice bran (SRB) that has applications in various food products.  Our target markets are food manufacturers, nutraceuticals and animal nutrition.  It is also used as a stand-alone product that can be sold through non-related entities with distribution into the market place, both domestically and internationally.  These products include food supplements and nutraceuticals which provide health benefits for humans and animals based on SRB and SRB derivatives.  We believe that SRB products can deliver beneficial physiological effects.  We are continuing to pursue ongoing clinical trials and third party analyses in order to further support the uses for and effectiveness of our products.  In addition, NutraCea has developed a bio-refining approach to processing stabilized rice bran into various value added constituents such as rice bran oil (RBO), defatted rice bran (DRB) and a variety of other valuable derivatives of rice bran.

We have three reportable business segments: (1) Corporate; (2) Stabilized Rice Bran (SRB), which manufactures and distributes SRB in various granulations along with products derived from bran via patented enzyme treatment processes including a fat and protein rich water soluble fraction and a fiber rich insoluble fraction; and (3) Bio-Refining, which separates rice bran into crude rice bran oil and defatted rice bran which are then further processed into a number of valuable food and feed products.  The Corporate segment includes selling, general and administrative expenses, litigation settlements, amortization of intangible assets, and other expenses not directly attributable to other segments.  No corporate allocations are made to the other segments.  Interest is not allocated.

The SRB segment consists of four locations in California and Louisiana that produce SRB. Not included in these four locations is our Phoenix, Arizona facility, which became operational in February 2009 but was never brought into full production. The Phoenix facility was sold in September 2010. Our Lake Charles, Louisiana facility has been idle since May 2009. The SRB segment also includes our Dillon, Montana facility which produces RiSolubles (a highly nutritious, carbohydrate and lipid rich fraction), RiFiber (a fiber rich derivative) and RiBalance (a complete rice bran nutritional package).
 
The manufacturing facilities included in our SRB segment have specialized processing equipment and techniques for the treatment of rice grain products to cook, convert, isolate, dry and package finished food ingredients used in the formulation of health food and consumer food finished products. In addition, we have the capability to custom manufacture various grain based products for human food ingredient companies at our Dillon facility.

The Bio-Refining segment consists of our Irgovel operations in Brazil.  Irgovel manufactures RBO and DRB products for both the human and animal food markets in Brazil and internationally.  Irgovel owns the largest rice bran processing facility in South America and is the only Brazilian company to produce edible RBO for human consumption.  In refining RBO to an edible grade several co-products are obtained, including distilled fatty acids, a valuable raw material for the detergent industry.  DRB is compounded with a number of other ingredients to produce complex animal feeds which are packaged and sold under Irgovel brands in the Brazilian market.    
  
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2010, the Company’s net loss was $3.1 million, or ($.02) per share, compared to $14.6 million or ($.08) per share for the same period of 2009, an improvement of $11.5 million. Excluding the 2009 impairment charges of $10.3 million results in a year over year improvement of $1.2 million or 27.4% The improved results are primarily due to improved gross profit results and significantly reduced selling, general and administrative expenses for the Corporate and SRB segments.
 
 
24

 
Revenue and Gross Profit

The following table illustrates the contribution by each of our segments:
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
       
   
Consolidated
 
%
   
SRB
   
%
   
Bio-Refining
 
%
   
Increase/ (Decrease)
 
Revenues
  $ 8,403       100     $ 2,761       100     $ 5,642       100       143  
Cost of goods sold
    6,269       75       1,501       54       4,768       85       (209 )
Gross profit
  $ 2,134       25     $ 1,260       46     $ 874       15     $ 352  
                                                         
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
         
   
Consolidated
 
%
   
SRB
   
%
   
Bio-Refining
 
%
         
Revenues
  $ 8,260       100     $ 3,045       100     $ 5,215       100          
Cost of goods sold
    6,478       78       2,224       73       4,254       82          
Gross profit
  $ 1,782       22     $ 821       27     $ 961       18          
 
Our consolidated revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 of $8.4 million increased $0.1 million from the $8.3 million recorded in the prior year period, a 1.7% increase. Revenues for the SRB segment decreased $0.3 million (9.3%) and the Bio-Refining segment increased by $0.4 million (8.2%). SRB segment revenues were negatively impacted by $0.2 million from the loss of a private label customer related to products we no longer sell. The Bio-Refining segment revenues increased due to increased volumes and a significant increase in crude RBO export sales. 
 
Gross profit in the three months ended September 30, 2010 was $2.1 million (25%) compared to $1.8 million (21%) in 2009, an increase of $0.3 million. The SRB segment experienced significant improvement in margin percentage due to three primary factors: (i) elimination of lower margin private label products we no longer sell in 2010, (ii) no cost of goods sold was incurred in 2010 for the Lake Charles facility that was idled in August 2009 and continues to be offline, and (iii) in the third quarter of 2009, a charge for obsolete inventory was taken for $0.2 million. The Bio-Refining segment was negatively impacted in the first nine months of 2010 by higher plant operating costs associated with maintenance and general improvements along with lower plant utilization.  

Operating Expenses

Specific changes in the components of operating expenses are detailed in the following schedule:

 
25

 
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Selling, general and administrative
  $ 1,800     $ 1,038     $ 1,004     $ 3,842  
Professional fees
    537       24       107       668  
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
    -       -       -       -  
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       540       -       540  
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable and notes receivable
    -       36       50       86  
Research and development
    -       1       -       1  
Operating expenses
  $ 2,337     $ 1,639     $ 1,161     $ 5,137  
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Selling, general and administrative
  $ 3,007     $ 965     $ 1,130     $ 5,102  
Professional fees
    376       7       74       457  
Impairment of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       10,339       -       10,339  
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       (12 )     -       (12 )
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable and notes receivable
    (2 )     -       -       (2 )
Research and development
    -       167       -       167  
Operating expenses
  $ 3,381     $ 11,466     $ 1,204     $ 16,051  
 
   
Favorable (Unfavorable) Change
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Selling, general and administrative
  $ 1,207     $ (73 )   $ 126     $ 1,260  
Professional fees
    (161 )     (17 )     (33 )     (211 )
Impairment of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       10,339       -       10,339  
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       (552 )     -       (552 )
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable and notes receivable
    (2 )     (36 )     (50 )     (88 )
Research and development
    -       166       -       166  
Operating expenses
  $ 1,044     $ 9,827     $ 43     $ 10,914  

Sales, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $3.8 million and $5.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, a decrease of $1.3 million (24.7%). The decline in SG&A expense is attributable to significant cost cutting efforts in the Corporate and SRB segments. In July 2009 and January 2010, a significant reduction in force was implemented across all departments. Corporate segment depreciation (related to leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures) declined by $0.2 million due to the corporate headquarters move in January 2010. In addition, other SG&A declined by $0.3 million due to rent savings associated with the move. The remaining decline in other SG&A is attributable to a general reduction in corporate spending. The Bio-Refining segment expense was flat when comparing 2010 to 2009.

Research and Development (“R&D”) expenses were $1 thousand and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. R&D activities were significantly curtailed in 2010 due to cash constraints.

In the three month period ended September 30, 2010, there were no impairment charges. In the comparative 2009 period, the SRB segment recorded charges for impairment of two idle plant facilities and one intangible asset. The net carrying value for the idle Phoenix building and equipment was written down by $6.5 million and the idle Lake Charles facility by $2.3 million. Trademarks associated with certain equine products were written down by $1.5 million.

Professional fees were $0.7 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, a $0.2 million increase or 46.2%.  Professional fees are expenses associated with consultants, accounting and auditing services, SOX 404 compliance, and outside legal counsel. The increase is primarily due to high legal costs incurred related to litigation matters at Irgovel and fees associated with the sale of the Phoenix building in September 2010.
  
 
26

 
Operating Income (Expense)

Other expense, net, decreased $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared to 2009.   The decrease in net expense is due primarily to income created by the change in the value of warrant liabilities. Specific changes to other income and expense are as follows:
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Interest income
  $ (11 )   $ -     $ 25     $ 14  
Interest expense
    (240 )     -       (164 )     (404 )
Loss on equity method investments
    (10 )     -       -       (10 )
Foreign exchange loss
    -       -       -       -  
Warrant liability income
    250       -       -       250  
Other
    -       -       31       31  
Other (expense)
  $ (11 )   $ -     $ (108 )   $ (119 )

   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Interest income
  $ 36     $ -     $ 83     $ 119  
Interest expense
    (161 )     -       (132 )     (293 )
Loss on equity method investments
    (151 )     -       -       (151 )
Foreign exchange gain
    -       -       62       62  
Warrant liability expense
    (74 )     -       -       (74 )
Other
    (99 )     -       (1 )     (100 )
Other income (expense)
  $ (449 )   $ -     $ 12     $ (437 )
 
   
Favorable (Unfavorable) Change
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Interest income
  $ (47 )   $ -     $ (58 )   $ (105 )
Interest expense
    (79 )     -       (32 )     (111 )
Loss on equity method investments
    141       -       -       141  
Foreign exchange
    -       -       (62 )     (62 )
Warrant liability income (expense)
    324       -       -       324  
Other
    99       -       32       131  
Other income (expense)
  $ 438     $ -     $ (120 )   $ 318  
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND 2009
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, our net loss was $10.9 million, or ($.06) per share, compared to $25.2 million or ($.14) per share, in the same period of 2009, a reduced loss of $14.3 million. Excluding asset impairment charges and reorganization expenses, the same comparison yields a 2010 nine month loss of $9.0 million as compared to a 2009 nine month loss of $14.8 million, an improvement of $5.8 million or 39.1%.

Revenue and Gross Profit

The following table illustrates the gross profit contribution by each of our segments:

 
27

 
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
       
   
Consolidated
   
%
   
SRB
   
%
   
Bio-Refining
   
%
   
Increase/ (Decrease)
 
Revenues
  $ 23,126       100     $ 9,298       100     $ 13,828       100       (1,928 )
Cost of goods sold
    17,788       77       5,582       60       12,206       88       (2,551 )
Gross profit
  $ 5,338       23     $ 3,716       40     $ 1,622       12     $ 623  
                                                         
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
         
   
Consolidated
   
%
   
SRB
   
%
   
Bio-Refining
   
%
         
Revenues
  $ 25,054       100     $ 11,023       100     $ 14,031       100          
Cost of goods sold
    20,339       81       8,358       76       11,981       85          
Gross profit
  $ 4,715       19     $ 2,665       24     $ 2,050       15          

 
Our consolidated revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $23.1 million decreased $1.9 million from the $25.1 million recorded in the same period last year. SRB segment revenues decreased by $1.7 million (15.6%) while the Bio-Refining segment decreased slightly by $0.2 million (1.5%). SRB segment revenues in 2009 were impacted by three factors in 2010: (i) Revenues from animal nutrition products declined by $0.7 million primarily due to the sale of the equine product related assets (primarily trademarks, packaging materials and inventory) in April 2010. As a result of the transaction, we no longer sell higher priced branded equine products and instead supply bulk SRB to the buyer; (ii) the cereal product related sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 decreased by $0.1 million due to the March 2010 sale of the cereal product related assets to Kerry Ingredients (Kerry). The loss of cereal revenues beginning in the second quarter of 2010 was offset by an increase in tolling revenues of $0.3 million. Under the tolling arrangement, we continue to produce certain cereal products for Kerry on an order by order basis and (iii) SRB segment revenues were also negatively impacted by $1.4 million from the loss of a private label customer related to products we no longer sell. These decreases in SRB segment revenues were partially offset by increases in human nutrition SRB related products.

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $5.3 million (23%) compared to $4.7 million (20%) an increase of $0.6 million compared to the same period last year. For 2010, the SRB segment contributed $3.7 million (40%) to gross profit and the Bio-Refining segment contributed $1.6 million (12%). The SRB segment experienced significant improvement in margin percentage in 2010 due to the phasing out of lower margin private label products in 2009 that we no longer sell. In addition, capacity utilization at the Lake Charles facility in the first six months of 2009 was approximately 11%. The facility was idled in August 2009 and continues to be offline resulting in lower 2010 costs for the SRB segment. In the second and third quarter of 2009, charges for obsolete inventory were taken for $0.5 million as well. The Bio-Refining segment was negatively impacted in the first nine months of 2010 by higher plant operating costs associated with maintenance and general improvements along with lower plant utilization.

Operating Expenses

The changes to components making up operating expenses are detailed in the following schedule:
 
 
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Selling, general and administrative
  $ 5,426     $ 3,260     $ 2,782     $ 11,468  
Professional fees
    1,191       93       348       1,632  
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
    -       1,000       -       1,000  
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       943       -       943  
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable and notes receivable
    -       36       173       209  
Research and development
    -       123       -       123  
Operating expenses
  $ 6,617     $ 5,455     $ 3,303     $ 15,375  
                                 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Selling, general and administrative
  $ 7,806     $ 5,553     $ 2,835     $ 16,194  
Professional fees
    2,135       45       228       2,408  
Impairment of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       10,339       -       10,339  
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       342       -       342  
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable and notes receivable
    (66 )     -       -       (66 )
Research and development
    -       841       -       841  
Operating expenses
  $ 9,875     $ 17,120     $ 3,063     $ 30,058  
 
   
Favorable (Unfavorable) Change
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Selling, general and administrative
  $ 2,380     $ 2,293     $ 53     $ 4,726  
Professional fees
    944       (48 )     (120 )     776  
Impairment of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       9,339       -       9,339  
Loss on disposal of trademarks, property, plant and equipment
    -       (601 )     -       (601 )
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable and notes receivable
    (66 )     (36 )     (173 )     (275 )
Research and development
    -       718       -       718  
Operating expenses
  $ 3,258     $ 11,665     $ (240 )   $ 14,683  
 
Sales, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses were $11.5 million and $16.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, a significant decrease of $4.7 million (29.2%). The decline in SG&A expense is attributable to significant cost cutting efforts in the Corporate and SRB segments. In July 2009 and January 2010, a significant reduction in force was implemented across all departments. Corporate segment depreciation (related to leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures) declined by $0.6 million due to the corporate headquarters move in January 2010. In addition, other SG&A declined by $0.9 million due to rent savings associated with the move. The remaining decline in other SG&A is attributable to consulting fees no longer being paid to former employees in 2010 and a general reduction in corporate spending. The Bio-Refining segment expense was relatively flat when comparing 2010 to 2009.

Research and Development (“R&D”) expenses were $0.1 million and $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, a decrease of $0.7 million. R&D activities were significantly curtailed in 2010 due to cash constraints and a reduction in scientific staff.

In the comparative 2009 period, the SRB segment recorded charges for impairment of two idle plant facilities and one intangible asset. The net carrying value for the idle Phoenix building and equipment was written down by $6.5 million and the idle Lake Charles facility by $2.3 million. Trademarks associated with certain equine products were also written down by $1.5 million in 2009. In the second quarter of 2010, an additional impairment charge of $1.0 million was recorded related to the idle Phoenix, AZ facility which was held for sale.

Professional fees were $1.6 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, a decrease of $0.8 million, a decrease of 33.2%. Professional fees are expenses associated with consultants, accounting and auditing services, SOX 404 compliance, and outside legal counsel. The decrease is primarily due to payments made to consultants and legal and financial advisors retained in 2009 to assist the Audit Committee with their internal investigation and responses to Securities and Exchange Commission inquiries.
 
 
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Other Income (Expense)

Other expense, net, increased by $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to 2009. Specific changes to other income and expense components are as follows:
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Interest income
  $ 1     $ -     $ 30     $ 31  
Interest expense
    (493 )     -       (492 )     (985 )
Loss on equity method investments
    (31 )     -       -       (31 )
Foreign exchange loss
    -       -       -       -  
Warrant liability income
    63       -       -       63  
Other
    88       -       143       231  
Other income (expense)
  $ (372 )   $ -     $ (319 )   $ (691 )
                                 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Interest income
  $ 44     $ -     $ 332     $ 376  
Interest expense
    (1,243 )     -       (458 )     (1,701 )
Loss on equity method investments
    (203 )     -       -       (203 )
Foreign exchange loss
    (72 )     -       (19 )     (91 )
Warrant liability income
    1,497       -       -       1,497  
Other
    (111 )     -       5       (106 )
Other income (expense)
  $ (88 )   $ -     $ (140 )   $ (228 )
       
   
Favorable (Unfavorable) Change
 
   
Corporate
   
SRB
   
Bio-Refining
   
Consolidated
 
Interest income
  $ (43 )   $ -     $ (302 )   $ (345 )
Interest expense
    750       -       (34 )     716  
Loss on equity method investments
    172       -       -       172  
Foreign exchange
    72       -       19       91  
Warrant liability income
    (1,434 )     -       -       (1,434 )
Other
    199       -       138       337  
Other income (expense)
  $ (284 )   $ -     $ (179 )   $ (463 )
 
The increased expense is due primarily to significantly lower warrant liability income. This expense was partially offset by a decrease in interest expense of $0.7 million. In the first nine months of 2009, $0.9 million of interest expense associated with Series D Preferred shares was recorded. These Preferred shares were redeemed in August 2009. The resulting interest expense decrease for 2010 was partially offset by higher interest rates on secured bank debt at the Corporate segment.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Our cash and cash equivalents were $1.3 million and $1.0 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

At September 30, 2010, we had $1.9 million of restricted cash classified as current assets.  This amount represents restricted cash to cover certain litigation matters under the purchase agreement terms of the acquisition of Irgovel.
 
 
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Cash used in operating activities was $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to net cash used in operations in the same period of 2009 of $5.5 million.  The cash used in operations for the period ended September 30, 2010 resulted primarily from our net loss of $10.9 million offset by non-cash charges of: (i) $3.5 million for depreciation and amortization, (ii) impairment of property, plant, and equipment of $1.0 million, (iii) loss on disposal of assets of $0.9 million, (iv) share-based compensation of $0.9 million, and (v) deferred tax benefits of $0.7 million.

The changes in our operating assets and liabilities and the associated impact on our net cash used in operations during the period ended September 30, 2010 resulted in cash used of $0.4 million. The use of cash was primarily attributable to a reduction in inventories of $0.3 million, a decrease in other current assets of $0.2 million, and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $0.9 million.

Cash provided from investing activities was $9.3 million and $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Cash provided in the period ended September 30, 2010 resulted primarily from the sales of property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets totaling $8.9 million in cash.  This amount included the sale of the cereal business, the sale of the Phoenix building, and the sale of certain trademarks and intellectual property.  We also received $0.9 million on payments from notes receivables.  These amounts were partially offset by $0.4 million for purchases of property, plant, and equipment.

Cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $3.6 million and $2.4 million, respectively.  The results for the period ended September 30, 2010 are attributable to the payoff of the Wells Fargo revolving line of credit of $0.5 million and the reduction of the Wells Fargo term loan of $3.5 million.  These amounts were partially offset by the increase of debt at Irgovel for working capital needs.

 
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
 
We have not entered into any transactions with unconsolidated entities whereby we have financial guarantees, subordinated retained interests, derivative instruments or other contingent arrangements that expose us to material continuing risk, contingent liabilities, or any other obligation under a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing and liquidity support or market risk or credit risk support to the Company.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosures on the date of the financial statements.  On an ongoing basis, we evaluate the estimates, including, but not limited to, those related to revenue recognition. We use authoritative pronouncements, historical experience and other assumptions as the basis for making judgments.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
For further information about other critical accounting policies, see the discussion of critical accounting policies in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
 
 
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Recent accounting pronouncements

The accounting pronouncements discussed below includes only those that are applicable and could potentially have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (FASB ASC 815) (previously EITF 07-5, “Determining Whether an Instrument (or an Embedded Feature) is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock”).
 
In June 2009, the FASB revised variable interest reporting guidance.  The revised guidance requires an enterprise to perform a qualitative analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest(s) give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity and requires ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity.  We adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2010, and there was no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

The FASB has issued guidance clarifying the criteria for separating revenue between multiple deliverables.  This guidance applies to new revenue arrangements or arrangements materially modified in periods subsequent to adoption.  We are required to adopt this standard effective January 1, 2011.  Adoption of the standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements
  
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Not applicable
 
Item 4.  Controls and Procedures
 
The Company’s management evaluated, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Based on this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of the end of the period covered by this report because the material weaknesses identified by management in its 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K were not remediated.  As of September 30, 2010, management continued to evaluate a plan and process to remediate the material weaknesses.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
 Various lawsuits, claims, proceedings and investigations are pending involving us as described below in this section. In accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, when applicable, we record accruals for contingencies when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. In addition to the matters described herein, we are involved in or subject to, or may become involved in or subject to, routine litigation, claims, disputes, proceedings and investigations in the ordinary course of business, which in our opinion will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.
 
 
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Irgovel Stockholders Lawsuit

On August 28, 2008, former Irgovel stockholder David Resyng filed an indemnification suit against Irgovel, Osmar Brito and the remaining Irgovel stockholders (Sellers), requesting: (i) the freezing of the escrow account maintained in connection with the transfer of Irgovel’s corporate control to us and the presentation of all documentation related to the transaction, and (ii) damages in the amount of the difference between (a) the sum received by David Resyng in connection with the judicial settlement agreement executed in the action for the partial dissolution of the limited liability company filed by David Resyng against Irgovel and the Sellers and (b) the amount received by the Sellers in connection with the sale of Irgovel’s corporate control to us, in addition to moral damages as determined in the court’s discretion.  The amount of damage claimed by Mr. Resyng is approximately $3 million.

We believe that the filing of the above lawsuit is a fundamental default of the obligations undertaken by the Sellers under the Quotas Purchase Agreement for the transfer of Irgovel’s corporate control, executed by and among the Sellers and us on January 31, 2008 (Purchase Agreement).  Consequently, we believe that the responsibility for any indemnity, costs and expenses incurred or that may come to be incurred by Irgovel and/or us in connection with the above lawsuit is the sole responsibility of the Sellers.
 
On February 6, 2009, the Sellers filed a collection lawsuit against us seeking payment of the second installment of the purchase price under the Purchase Agreement, which the Sellers allege is approximately $1.0 million.  We have withheld payment of the second installment pending resolution of the Resyng lawsuit noted above.  The Parent Company has not been served with any formal notices in regard to this matter so far.  To date, only Irgovel has received formal legal notice. In addition, the Purchase Agreement requires that all disputes between us and the Sellers be adjudicated through arbitration. As part of the Purchase Agreement $2.0 million was deposited into an escrow account to cover contingencies with the net remaining funds payable to the Sellers upon resolution of all contingencies.  We believe any payout due to the lawsuit will be made out of the escrow account.  As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the balance in the escrow account was $1.9 million and is included in restricted cash in the consolidated balance sheets.  There is an offsetting liability in accrued expenses in our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  We believe that there is no additional material exposure as any amounts determined to be owed as a result of the above noted litigation and contingencies will be covered by the escrow account.

Shareholder Class Action

On February 27, 2009 and on April 27, 2009, securities class action lawsuits were filed in the District Court for the District of Arizona against us and certain of our current and former officers and directors.  On May 29, 2009, the cases were consolidated into a single action (the Federal Action) and lead plaintiff was appointed.  On July 1, 2009, lead plaintiff filed a consolidated class action complaint on behalf of all persons who purchased our common stock between April 2, 2007 and February 23, 2009.  The complaint alleged that we filed material misstatements in publically disseminated press releases and SEC filings misstating our financial condition and certain transactions during the period in question.  An amended consolidated complaint was filed on September 25, 2009.

The case has been settled in its entirety with the settlement to be funded by our directors and officers’ insurance carrier.  On October 1, 2010, the District Court of Arizona issued an order approving the settlement, certifying the class and entering judgment dismissing the matter.  On October 27, 2010, the Bankruptcy Court also entered an order approving the settlement.

Shareholder Derivative Action

In addition to the shareholder class actions, on March 30, 2009 and May 8, 2009, two shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed in Maricopa County Superior Court by persons identifying themselves as our shareholders and purporting to act on our behalf, naming us as a nominal defendant and naming our former chief executive officer and our then board of directors as defendants.
 
 
33


In these actions, the plaintiffs asserted claims against the individual defendants for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, and unjust enrichment based on the alleged wrongful conduct complained of in the federal action described above.  All of these claims were purportedly asserted derivatively on our behalf and the plaintiffs sought no monetary recovery against us.  Instead they sought, among other relief, disgorgement of all profits, benefits, and compensation received by the individual defendants together with their attorneys’ fees and costs.
 
By an order entered on June 3, 2009, the superior court consolidated these two cases into one action captioned In re:  NutraCea Derivative Litigation, Case No. CV2009-051495.  Following the filing of the Chapter 11 Reorganization, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the action for lack of standing.  On February 10, 2010, in response to that motion, plaintiffs filed a voluntary dismissal without prejudice of both actions and the court entered the dismissals.

SEC Enforcement Investigation

We received a letter from the SEC in January 2009 indicating that it had opened an informal inquiry, and we subsequently received an informal request for the production of documents in February 2009 relating to a number of 2007 transactions.  In March 2009, we received a formal order of private investigation from the SEC.  In June 2009, we received a subpoena for the production of documents that largely tracked the SEC’s earlier requests.  We responded to these requests for documents and based on findings related to the internal review and the SEC’s requests, we restated our financial statements for 2006, 2007 and the first three quarters of 2008.

On January 13, 2011, the SEC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona alleging that we violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act), 15 U.S.C. § 77q(a), Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78m(a), 78m(b)(2)(A), and 78m(b)(2)(B), and Rules 10b-5, 12b-20, 13a-1, and 13a-13 thereunder, 17 C.F.R. §§ 240.10b-5, 240.12b-20, 240.13a-1, and 240.13a-13 (the SEC Action).  We have settled these allegations with the SEC, without admitting or denying them, and have consented to the entry of a final judgment of permanent injunction (the Consent Judgment), which, among other things, permanently restrains and enjoins us from violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. § 77q(a), Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78m(a), 78m(b)(2)(A), and 78m(b)(2)(B), and Rules 10b-5, 12b-20, 13a-1, and 13a-13 thereunder, 17 C.F.R. §§ 240.10b-5, 240.12b-20, 240.13a-1, and 240.13a-13.  The final Consent Judgment was entered in the SEC action on February 14, 2011.  No financial penalty was assessed by the SEC against us.

W.D. Manor Mechanical Contractors, Inc. and Related Matters

On April 30, 2009, W.D. Manor Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (W.D. Manor) filed a complaint against us and other unrelated defendants in Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County (CV2009-013957) arising out of the construction of a facility in Phoenix, Arizona.  Various other sub-contractors joined in the lawsuit and asserted lien claims.  These claims have been accrued and expensed in our consolidated financial statements.  With the sale of the Phoenix facility in September 2010, all claims held by W.D. Manor and the other subcontractors who joined in the lawsuit, totaling $0.7 million, were paid in full from the proceeds of the sale and the lawsuit was dismissed. 

Farmers’ Rice Milling

Farmers’ Rice Milling (FRM) contended that we defaulted by failing to pay rentals due under two leases between the parties: (i) the March 15, 2007, ground lease, as amended on November 1, 2008, and (ii) the April 15, 2007, warehouse lease.  FRM filed suit against us to terminate the leases and recover damages thereunder.  This suit was filed in the 14th Judicial District Court on June 24, 2009, and was timely removed to the United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana, Lake Charles division.  We filed an answer and counterclaim and deposited into the registry of the court $0.1 million constituting the rentals due under the leases, a late fee due under the warehouse lease plus accrued interest.  As part of the Chapter 11 Reorganization, the leases were assumed under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code.  Arrearages due under the leases were paid in January 2011 and the lawsuit was dismissed.  FRM also asserted a claim for monetary damages for breach of a supply agreement, but that claim was dismissed from the lawsuit and allowed as a general unsecured claim in the Chapter 11 Reorganization.
 
 
34

 
Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
For a discussion of our risk factors, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2009 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following securities were issued during the three month period ended September 30, 2010:

On July 7, 2010, the Company issued an option to purchase 250,000 shares of our Common Stock to each non-employee director at a strike price of $0.20 with a ten year expiration date.  These options vest monthly over 24 months.

On September 1, 2010, the Company issued options to a consultant to purchase 150,000 shares of our Common Stock at a strike price of $0.22 with a ten year expiration date in connection with consulting services provided.

The securities described were issued in private placement transactions to a limited number of recipients in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and/or Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.  Each person or entity to whom securities were issued represented that the securities were being acquired for investment purposes, for the person’s or entity’s 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.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

Item 4. (Removed and Reserved)

 
Item 5. Other Information

None

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are attached hereto and filed herewith

EXHIBIT
NUMBER
DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
10.1(1)*
Third Amendment to Employment Agreement with W. John Short dated July 2, 2010.
10.2(1)*
First Amendment to Employment Agreement with Leo Gingras dated July 2, 2010.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Office Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*
Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement in which any Director or any Executive Officer participates.
 
 
(1)
incorporated herein by reference to exhibits previously filed on Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 8, 2010.
 
 
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