CYANOTECH CORP
SB-2/A, 1996-02-28
MEDICINAL CHEMICALS & BOTANICAL PRODUCTS
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<PAGE>
   
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 1996
    
 
   
                                                      Registration No. 333-00951
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                   FORM SB-2
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
    
                            ------------------------
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                              <C>
            NEVADA                            2833                          91-1206026
(State or other jurisdiction of   (Primary Standard Industrial           (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)     Classification Code Number)          Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
                    73-4460 QUEEN KAAHUMANU HWY., SUITE 102
                             KAILUA-KONA, HI 96740
                                 (808) 326-1353
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                  of Registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                           GERALD R. CYSEWSKI, PH.D.
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                    73-4460 QUEEN KAAHUMANU HWY., SUITE 102
                             KAILUA-KONA, HI 96740
                                 (808) 326-1353
 
          (Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                            ------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                              <C>
           BRADFORD J. SHAFER, ESQ.                          AUGUST J. MORETTI, ESQ.
             THOMAS J. LIMA, ESQ.                            RICHARD FRIEDMAN, ESQ.
           TAMARA L. THOMPSON, ESQ.                           ALI N. GHIASSI, ESQ.
        BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP                  HELLER EHRMAN WHITE & MCAULIFFE
        ONE MARKET, SPEAR STREET TOWER                        525 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
            SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105                            PALO ALTO, CA 94301
                (415) 442-0900                                   (415) 324-7000
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
                            ------------------------
 
    If  this Form  is filed  to register  additional securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration statement  number  of  the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
 
    If  this Form  is a post-effective  amendment filed pursuant  to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act,  check the following box  and list the Securities  Act
registration  statement number  of the earlier  effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
 
   
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected  to be made pursuant to Rule  434,
please check the following box. / /
    
                            ------------------------
 
    THE  REGISTRANT HEREBY  AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON  SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT  SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN  ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933, AS  AMENDED, OR UNTIL  THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT
SHALL  BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE  AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,
ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                             CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
 
  SHOWING LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS OF INFORMATION REQUIRED BY ITEMS ON FORM SB-2
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    ITEM NUMBER AND HEADING
                   IN FORM SB-2 REGISTRATION                                     LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------
<C>        <S>                                                    <C>
       1.  Front of Registration Statement and Outside Front
            Cover of Prospectus.................................  Outside  Front  Cover  Page;  Front  of  Registration
                                                                   Statement
       2.  Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages of
            Prospectus..........................................  Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages;  Available
                                                                   Information
       3.  Summary Information and Risk Factors.................  Prospectus  Summary; Risk Factors; Inside Front Cover
                                                                   Page
       4.  Use of Proceeds......................................  Prospectus Summary; Use of Proceeds
       5.  Determination of Offering Price......................  Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
       6.  Dilution.............................................  Not Applicable
       7.  Selling Security Holders.............................  Not Applicable
       8.  Plan of Distribution.................................  Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
       9.  Legal Proceedings....................................  Not Applicable
      10.  Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control
            Persons.............................................  Management
      11.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
            Management..........................................  Principal Stockholders
      12.  Description of Securities............................  Prospectus Summary;  Capitalization;  Description  of
                                                                   Capital Stock
      13.  Interest of Named Experts and Counsel................  Not Applicable
      14.  Disclosure of Commission Position on Indemnification
            for Securities Act Liabilities......................  Not Applicable
      15.  Organization Within Last Five Years..................  Not Applicable
      16.  Description of Business..............................  Prospectus   Summary;   Risk   Factors;  Management's
                                                                   Discussion and Analysis  of Financial Condition  and
                                                                   Results of Operations; Business
      17.  Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of
            Operation...........................................  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of Financial
                                                                   Condition and Results of Operations
      18.  Description of Property..............................  Business
      19.  Certain Relationships and Related
            Transactions........................................  Certain Transactions; Principal Stockholders
      20.  Market for Common Equity and Related Stockholder
            Matters.............................................  Outside Front Cover  Page; Prospectus Summary;  Price
                                                                   Range   of   Common  Stock   and   Dividend  Policy;
                                                                   Description of  Capital Stock;  Shares Eligible  for
                                                                   Future Sale
      21.  Executive Compensation...............................  Management
      22.  Financial Statements.................................  Consolidated Financial Statements
      23.  Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on
            Accounting and Financial Disclosure.................  Not Applicable
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN  ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
   
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 28, 1996
    
 
                                1,500,000 SHARES
 
                                 [COMPANY LOGO]
                            ------------------------
 
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
   
    All 1,500,000  shares of  Common  Stock offered  hereby  are being  sold  by
Cyanotech Corporation ("Cyanotech" or the "Company"). The Company's Common Stock
is  currently traded on the  Nasdaq National Market under  the symbol "CYAN." On
February 27, 1996,  the last  reported sale  price of  the Common  Stock on  the
Nasdaq  National Market was $8  5/8 per share. See  "Price Range of Common Stock
and Dividend Policy."
    
                            ------------------------
 
           THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF
       RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
                             ---------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
    EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS  THE
       SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE SECURITIES
            COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY  OF
                THIS  PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
                           CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>                       <C>                       <C>
                                           PRICE TO                UNDERWRITING              PROCEEDS TO
                                            PUBLIC                 DISCOUNT (1)              COMPANY (2)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share........................             $                         $                         $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total (3)........................             $                         $                         $
</TABLE>
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
(1) Does not include a non-accountable expense allowance payable by the  Company
    to   the  Representative   of  the  Underwriters.   See  "Underwriting"  for
    indemnification arrangements with the several Underwriters.
 
   
(2) Before  deducting expenses  payable by  the Company  estimated at  $495,000,
    including the Representative's non-accountable expense allowance.
    
 
(3)  The Company has granted to the  Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up
    to  225,000   additional   shares   of  Common   Stock   solely   to   cover
    over-allotments,  if any. If the Underwriters  exercise this option in full,
    the Price to Public will total $         , Underwriting Discount will  total
    $             and  the Proceeds  to Company  will  total $             . See
    "Underwriting."
 
    The shares of  Common Stock are  offered by the  several Underwriters  named
herein  subject to receipt and acceptance by  them and subject to their right to
reject any  order in  whole or  in part.  It is  expected that  delivery of  the
certificates  representing such shares will be  made against payment therefor at
the office  of Van  Kasper &  Company,  San Francisco,  California on  or  about
               , 1996.
 
                              Van Kasper & Company
 
   
                                 MARCH   , 1996
    
<PAGE>
CYANOTECH DEVELOPS AND COMMERCIALIZES NATURAL
PRODUCTS FROM MICROALGAE, A LARGELY UNEXPLORED AND UNEXPLOITED
RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCE
 
   
    SPIRULINA  is a  naturally occurring  multi-cellular microscopic  plant that
grows extremely fast, producing a new crop approximately every week. The Company
has developed  and  produces  a  unique strain  of  this  microalgae,  SPIRULINA
PACIFICA,  which is a vegetable-based, highly  absorbable source of natural beta
carotene,  mixed  carotenoids  and  other  phytonutrients,  B  vitamins,   gamma
linolenic  acid, protein and  essential amino acids.  SPIRULINA PACIFICA is sold
world-wide to the health and natural foods market.
    
 
    [Photograph of Spirulina cells]
 
    ASTAXANTHIN is a red pigment used  primarily in the aquaculture industry  to
impart  pink color to  the flesh of  pen-raised fish and  shrimp. The Company is
currently conducting  pilot  production  work  and  feeding  trials  on  natural
astaxanthin  derived  from the  Haematococcuss microalgae,  and is  discussing a
strategic alliance with a major aquaculture feed formulator.
 
    [Photograph of haematococcuss cells containing astaxanthin]
 
    MOSQUITOCIDE PRODUCTS   are currently  under development  by Cyanotech.  The
toxin   gene  from  Bacillus  Thuringinsis   var,  israelensis  (Bti)  has  been
genetically engineered into Synechococcus,  a blue green algae  which is a  food
for   mosquito   larvae.  The   Company  believes   that   when  applied   to  a
mosquito-infested body  of  water, the  algae  could  act as  an  effective  and
environmentally  safe means of  control. Development of  a commercial production
system for this product is scheduled to start by mid-1996.
 
    [Photograph of Syneochoccus cells]
 
                            ------------------------
 
IN CONNECTION  WITH THIS  OFFERING, THE  UNDERWRITERS MAY  OVER-ALLOT OR  EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF
THE  COMPANY AT  A LEVEL ABOVE  THAT WHICH  MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL  IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH  TRANSACTIONS MAY  BE EFFECTED  IN THE  OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET  OR
OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
    Cyanotech   has  developed   and  implemented   proprietary  production  and
harvesting technologies, systems and processes permitting year-round  production
of SPIRULINA PACIFICA.
 
1. GROWING PONDS
 
    SPIRULINA  PACIFICA  is  cultured in  shallow,  open ponds  adjacent  to the
Pacific Ocean. Paddlewheels agitate the  water, permitting even exposure of  the
algae  to the  sun. A  combination of fresh  water and  nutrient-rich deep ocean
water, drawn from a depth of 2,000 feet, is used to fill the ponds.
 
    [Photograph of Spirulina growing ponds]
 
2. SEPARATION SCREENS
 
    SPIRULINA PACIFICA  is pumped  from the  culture ponds  through  underground
pipes to a process building where it is screened for particulate matter and then
separated  by stainless steel  screens from the culture  medium. In this system,
100% of the growing  media is continuously recycled  to culture ponds to  become
the nutrient base for the next crop.
 
    [Photograph  of  stainless steel  screens used  in processing  the Company's
Spirulina products]
 
3. VACUUM WASHING SYSTEM
 
    Prior to drying, SPIRULINA PACIFICA is  washed three times with fresh  water
and vacuum filtered.
 
    [Photograph  of  vacuum  washing  system used  in  processing  the Company's
Spirulina products.]
 
4. OCEAN CHILL DRYING (U.S. PATENT 15,276,977)
 
    Cyanotech has developed and patented  a drying system for powder  microalgae
products called OCEAN CHILL DRYING. The drying process takes approximately three
seconds and results in a dark green powder with a consistency similar to flour.
 
    [Drawing depicting the Company's Ocean Chill Drying process]
 
5. FINISHED PRODUCT
 
    Bulk  SPIRULINA PACIFICA  powder, tablets  and flakes  are packaged  in foil
laminate heat-sealed bags with an oxygen absorbing pack sealed in each bag. This
packaging ensures product freshness and extends the shelf life of bulk SPIRULINA
PACIFICA.
 
    [Photograph of finished powder packaging]
 
6. COLD COMPRESSION TABLETING
 
    SPIRULINA PACIFICA tablets are produced  by Cyanotech by blending  SPIRULINA
PACIFICA  powder with  a minimum  amount of excipients  and tableting  in a cold
compression tablet making machine.
 
    [Photograph of cold compression tablet-making machine]
 
7. QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTING
 
    A sample  from  each lot  of  SPIRULINA  PACIFICA is  subjected  to  quality
assurance  testing including  bulk density, moisture,  particulate matter, color
and taste and subjected  to a prescribed set  of microbiological tests for  food
products.
 
    [Photograph of Quality Assurance Testing Process]
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION, INCLUDING "RISK FACTORS" AND THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS
AND  NOTES THERETO, APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN  THIS PROSPECTUS. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE
NOTED AND  UNLESS  THE CONTEXT  INDICATES  OTHERWISE, ALL  INFORMATION  IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS  ASSUMES (I) NO  EXERCISE OF THE  UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION
AND (II) CONVERSION  OF THE  COMPANY'S 1,250,000  SHARES OF  SERIES A  PREFERRED
STOCK  INTO 250,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK,  EFFECTIVE AS OF THE CLOSING OF THIS
OFFERING. SEE "UNDERWRITING."
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Cyanotech develops and commercializes natural products from microalgae.  The
Company   is  currently  producing  microalgae   products  for  the  nutritional
supplement  and  immunological  diagnostics  markets  and  is  also   developing
microalgae-based  products for  the aquaculture  feed/pigments, biopesticide and
food coloring markets. Microalgae are a diverse group of over 30,000 species  of
microscopic  plants which  have a  wide range  of physiological  and biochemical
characteristics and  naturally  contain  high levels  of  nutrients.  Microalgae
represent a largely unexplored and unexploited renewable natural resource, which
grow  much faster  than land-based  plants. Under  favorable growing conditions,
certain microalgae  produce  a new  crop  every week.  Cyanotech  has  designed,
developed  and implemented  proprietary production  and harvesting technologies,
systems and processes which  eliminate many of  the stability and  contamination
problems  frequently encountered in the  production of microalgae. The Company's
technologies,  systems,  processes   and  favorable   growing  location   permit
year-round harvesting of its microalgal products in a cost-effective manner. The
Company  believes that these accomplishments have  not been equaled by any other
company, university or research institute.
 
    Cyanotech's principal revenues  are derived from  sales of  microalgae-based
"Spirulina" products for the vitamin and supplement market, which for the United
States alone is estimated at $3.7 billion. SPIRULINA PACIFICA is a unique strain
of  Spirulina developed  by Cyanotech  which provides  a vegetable-based, highly
absorbable  source  of  natural  beta  carotene,  mixed  carotenoids  and  other
phytonutrients,  B vitamins, gamma linolenic acid ("GLA"), protein and essential
amino acids. The Company believes  its Hawaiian SPIRULINA PACIFICA has  achieved
high  brand identity  among both  wholesale and  retail customers,  and that the
Company's  products  have  better  taste,  more  consistent  color  and  greater
concentrations of natural beta carotene than competing Spirulina products. Since
1993,  the  Company  has been  capacity-constrained,  with demand  for  its bulk
SPIRULINA PACIFICA products exceeding the Company's production capabilities. The
Company has tripled its Spirulina  production capacity since 1993 and  continues
to  increase capacity.  Cyanotech currently markets  its products  in the United
States and twelve other  countries through a  combination of retail,  wholesale,
and  private label channels, and plans to market new products either directly or
through strategic alliances where appropriate.
 
    Cyanotech  maintains  an  environmentally  responsible  philosophy  in   the
development and production of its products, using natural production methods and
resources  which employ extensive recycling of  raw materials and nutrients. The
Company believes  that these  recycling methods  result in  substantially  lower
operating  costs. The  Company's production system  operates without  the use of
pesticides and herbicides,  and does  not create erosion,  fertilizer runoff  or
water pollution. The Company believes that it is the only producer of microalgae
to receive organic certification.
 
    The  Company is incorporated in Nevada.  Its principal executive offices are
located at 73-4460 Queen Kaahumanu  Hwy., Suite 102, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii  96740,
and  its telephone  number is  (808) 326-1353.  Unless otherwise  indicated, all
references in  this  Prospectus  to  the  "Company"  and  "Cyanotech"  refer  to
Cyanotech  Corporation, a  Nevada corporation, and  its wholly-owned subsidiary,
Nutrex, Inc.
 
                            ------------------------
 
    SPIRULINA PACIFICA-TM-, OCEAN-CHILL  DRYING-TM-, HAWAIIAN ENERGIZER-TM-  and
NUTREX-TM-  are trademarks  of the Company.  SPIRULINA PACIFICA  is a registered
trademark of the Company in Japan.  The SPIRULINA PACIFICA logo is a  registered
trademark  of the  Company in the  United States. This  Prospectus also includes
trademarks of entities other than the Company.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
Common Stock offered by the Company..........  1,500,000 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after the
 offering....................................  15,232,460 shares (1)
Use of proceeds..............................  Construction of additional Spirulina  culture
                                               ponds,   a  natural   astaxanthin  production
                                               facility and culture ponds, a
                                               laboratory/warehouse   and   a   cogeneration
                                               facility, and for working capital and general
                                               corporate purposes
Nasdaq symbol................................  CYAN
</TABLE>
 
               SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,   NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                          --------------------  --------------------
                                                            1994       1995       1994       1995
                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
<S>                                                       <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Net sales...............................................  $   2,697  $   4,150  $   2,921  $   5,972
Gross profit............................................      1,202      1,875      1,339      3,188
Income from operations..................................        220        718        534      1,781
Net income..............................................        204        769        503      1,729
Net income per common share.............................  $    0.02  $    0.05  $    0.04  $    0.12
Weighted average number of common shares and common
 share equivalents......................................     13,330     13,589     13,907     14,452
</TABLE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          QUARTER ENDED
                                                             ---------------------------------------
                                                                                          DECEMBER
                                                              JUNE 30,    SEPTEMBER 30,      31,
                                                                1995          1995          1995
                                                             -----------  -------------  -----------
Net sales..................................................   $   1,568     $   2,056     $   2,348
<S>                                                          <C>          <C>            <C>
Gross profit...............................................         778         1,112         1,298
Income from operations.....................................         418           621           742
Net income.................................................         413           605           711
Net income per common share................................        0.03          0.04          0.05
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                                         ------------------------
                                                                                         AS
                                                                          ACTUAL    ADJUSTED (2)
                                                                         ---------  -------------
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
<S>                                                                      <C>        <C>
Working capital........................................................  $   1,004    $  12,509
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net..............................      7,204        7,204
Total assets...........................................................      9,649       21,154
Stockholders' equity...................................................      7,371       18,876
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Includes 3,674,885 shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon conversion
    of  the Company's Series C Preferred Stock. Excludes as of December 31, 1995
    (i) 997,000 shares of  Common Stock reserved for  issuance upon exercise  of
    outstanding  warrants,  (ii) 400,000  shares  of Common  Stock  reserved for
    issuance under the  Company's 1995 Stock  Option Plan, of  which options  to
    purchase  101,000  shares are  outstanding, (iii)  213,475 shares  of Common
    Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of outstanding  options
    under  the Company's 1985 Incentive Stock Option Plan, (iv) 89,000 shares of
    Common Stock reserved  for issuance  under the  Company's 1994  Non-Employee
    Directors  Stock Option and  Stock Grant Plan, of  which options to purchase
    9,000 shares of  Common Stock  are outstanding,  and (v)  102,000 shares  of
    Common  Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of  other  non-qualified  options to
    purchase Common  Stock. See  "Capitalization," "Management  -- Stock  Option
    Plan," "Certain Transactions" and "Description of Capital Stock."
 
   
(2)  Adjusted to  give effect to  the sale  of 1,500,000 shares  of Common Stock
    offered by the Company hereby at an assumed public offering price per  share
    of  $8 5/8, the last  reported sale price of the  Common Stock on the Nasdaq
    National Market on February 27, 1996,  and the application of the  estimated
    net proceeds therefrom. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Capitalization."
    
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY IN ADDITION TO THE
OTHER  INFORMATION  CONTAINED IN  THIS PROSPECTUS  BEFORE PURCHASING  THE COMMON
STOCK OFFERED HEREBY.
 
PRODUCT CONCENTRATION
 
   
    Since  1992  substantially  all  of  the  Company's  net  sales  have   been
attributable  to its  SPIRULINA PACIFICA  products. Sales  of SPIRULINA PACIFICA
products accounted for approximately 97% of  the Company's net sales in each  of
the  years ended March 31, 1994 and 1995  and the nine months ended December 31,
1995. The Company  believes that  SPIRULINA PACIFICA products  will continue  to
constitute  a substantial  portion of net  sales. The Company  plans to increase
production of Spirulina products substantially in 1996 by using a portion of the
net proceeds from this  offering to construct more  Spirulina ponds and  related
Spirulina  processing facilities. There can be  no assurance that the market for
Spirulina products in general, or  the Company's SPIRULINA PACIFICA products  in
particular,  will support  the increased  output anticipated  from the Company's
planned expansion. Any decrease in the overall level of sales of, or the  prices
for,  the  Company's  SPIRULINA  PACIFICA  products,  whether  as  a  result  of
competition, change in consumer demand, increased worldwide supply of  Spirulina
or  any other  factors, would  have a material  adverse effect  on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company's Spirulina
products are rich in natural beta carotene. Two large scale studies released  in
January  1996 on synthetic beta carotene  indicated that certain health benefits
previously associated with  beta carotene  generally do not  exist in  synthetic
beta  carotene. Although synthetic  beta carotene has  different properties from
natural beta carotene, consumers' perception  of beta carotene generally may  be
adversely  affected by these  and other studies. If  consumer perceptions of the
negative effects  of  synthetic beta  carotene  are extended  to  the  Company's
products  which contain natural beta carotene, the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operation  could be materially adversely affected.  See
"Management's  Discussions and  Analysis of  Financial Condition  and Results of
Operations."
    
 
CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN PRODUCT MIX
 
   
    Approximately 32.3% and 49.9% of the  Company's net sales in the year  ended
March  31, 1995 and the nine months  ended December 31, 1995, respectively, were
derived from sales to  the Company's top three  customers during those  periods.
The Company's largest customer, a Hong Kong-based natural products marketing and
distribution  company, accounted for approximately 3.0% and 31.4% of Cyanotech's
net sales in the year  ended March 31, 1995 and  the nine months ended  December
31,  1995, respectively. The  Hong Kong-based company  is a multilevel marketing
organization which purchases the Company's packaged consumer products and  sells
them  under  a private  label. The  Company understands  that the  government of
China, where the Hong  Kong-based company distributes the  vast majority of  the
products  it purchases  from the  Company, is  considering regulating multilevel
marketing organizations. Any such regulation could result in reduced orders  for
the  Company's products being placed by the Hong Kong-based company, which could
in turn have  a material  adverse effect  on the  Company's business,  financial
condition  and results of  operations. The Company's  second largest customer, a
Canadian  Spirulina   marketing   and  distribution   company,   accounted   for
approximately  16.8% and 11.0% of Cyanotech's net  sales in the year ended March
31, 1995  and  the  nine  months ended  December  31,  1995,  respectively.  The
Company's   third  largest  customer,  a  Dutch-based  Spirulina  marketing  and
distribution company, accounted for approximately 12.5% and 7.5% of  Cyanotech's
net  sales in the year  ended March 31, 1995 and  the nine months ended December
31, 1995,  respectively. The  loss of,  or significant  adverse change  in,  the
relationship  between the  Company and its  largest customer or  any other major
customer would  have  a  material  adverse effect  on  the  Company's  business,
financial  condition and  results of  operations. The  loss of,  or reduction in
orders from, any  significant customer,  losses arising  from customer  disputes
regarding  shipments,  fees,  product  condition  or  related  matters,  or  the
Company's inability to collect accounts receivable from any major customer could
have a material adverse  effect on the  Company's business, financial  condition
and results of operations. See "Business -- Customers."
    
 
    A  majority of the Company's  net sales are derived  from the Company's bulk
SPIRULINA PACIFICA products, which have lower associated gross profit  (measured
in dollars) but higher associated gross margin (measured
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
   
as  a percentage  of net sales)  than the Company's  packaged consumer products.
Accordingly, an increase  in the percentage  of net sales  attributable to  bulk
products  would increase the Company's gross  margin. Conversely, an increase in
the percentage of the Company's net sales attributable to the Company's packaged
consumer products  would decrease  its gross  margin but  likely increase  gross
profit.  The  Company expects  that its  product  mix will  vary from  period to
period, and a decrease in orders from  a customer such as the Company's  largest
current  customer which purchases only  packaged consumer products could require
the Company to  reallocate greater portions  of its production  capacity to  its
lower  gross profit bulk products.  In such event, the  Company expects that its
gross margin  would  be  favorably  impacted but  that  its  earnings  would  be
adversely affected.
    
 
   
    The  Company currently estimates that net  sales for the three months ending
March 31, 1996  will be  comparable to  or lower than  net sales  for the  three
months  ended December 31,  1995, principally due  to (i) lower  orders from the
Company's largest customer and,  to a lesser extent,  (ii) less sunlight,  lower
temperatures  and more rainfall  related to normal  seasonality during the first
eight weeks of the quarter. The decrease in sales is expected to result in lower
net income in  the three  months ending  March 31,  1996 compared  to the  three
months  ended December  31, 1995.  Although there  can be  no assurance  in this
regard, based on discussions  with the Company's  largest customer, the  Company
anticipates  that sales to  its largest customer should  continue to represent a
significant portion of the Company's total net sales in the three months  ending
March  31, 1996 and the  year ending March 31, 1997.  See "-- History of Losses;
Fluctuations in Operating Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis  of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
    
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPANSION INTO ADDITIONAL MARKETS AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
 
    Other   than  its  Spirulina  and  phycobiliprotein  products,  the  Company
currently has no products  available for commercial  sale. The Company  believes
that  its  future success  is substantially  dependent on  the expansion  of the
worldwide Spirulina market and the Company's ability to successfully develop and
commercialize new products and penetrate  new markets. For example, the  Company
is  currently conducting  pilot production  work on  natural astaxanthin,  a red
pigment principally used in the aquaculture industry to impart pink color to the
flesh of pen-raised fish  and shrimp. Natural astaxanthin  is a new product  for
the  Company and  many production  issues must  be resolved  prior to commercial
production. The  Company's  future  product plans  also  include  a  genetically
engineered  mosquitocide and natural  food colorings. There  can be no assurance
that the  Company  can  successfully  develop  these  or  any  other  additional
products, that any such products will be capable of being produced in commercial
quantities  at reasonable  cost, or that  any such products  will achieve market
acceptance. The Company  has little experience  marketing its products  directly
and is generally dependent on the marketing skills and efforts of third parties.
There  can be no  assurances as to  whether the marketing  efforts of such third
parties will be successful or whether such third parties will eventually compete
with the Company or assist the Company's competitors. Many other companies  have
significantly greater marketing and product development experience and resources
to devote to marketing and product development than the Company. The Company has
entered into, and expects to enter into additional, selected strategic alliances
with  third  parties for  product  development and  marketing.  There can  be no
assurances regarding  the performance  of  such third  parties, or  the  overall
success,  if any, of such  strategic alliances. The inability  of the Company to
successfully develop or  commercialize these  or any  additional products  would
have  a material adverse  effect on the  Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations. See "Business -- Products Under Development."
 
CONCENTRATION OF PRODUCTION CAPACITY; RELIANCE ON CLIMATE CONDITIONS
 
    All of  the Company's  production capacity  is located  at its  Kailua-Kona,
Hawaii  facility,  on property  leased from  the  State of  Hawaii and  which is
situated on a 200-year-old lava flow adjacent to a dormant volcano. The  Company
maintains  minimal finished goods inventory. In  the event that production at or
transportation from such facility were  interrupted by fire, volcanic  eruption,
earthquake,  tidal wave,  hurricane, or  other natural  disaster, work stoppage,
termination or suspension of the Company's facility lease by the State of Hawaii
for public use or similar purposes, other regulatory actions or any other cause,
the
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
Company would be unable  to continue to produce  its products at such  facility.
Such  an  interruption  would  materially  and  adversely  affect  the Company's
business, financial  condition  and  results of  operations.  See  "Business  --
Manufacturing" and "-- Properties."
 
    Due  to the  importance of  sunlight and  a consistent  warm temperature for
microalgae growth, the Company's production is significantly affected by weather
patterns and seasonal weather changes.  For example, the Company estimates  that
its  ponds are  up to  approximately 20% less  productive between  the months of
November and February due  to fewer daylight hours  and lower temperatures  than
during  other months of the year. Any  unseasonably cool or cloudy weather would
adversely impact  the Company's  production and  could have  a material  adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
See  "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Quarterly Results."
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
 
    The Company's success  depends to  a significant extent  upon the  continued
service  of Gerald R.  Cysewski, its President and  Chief Executive Officer, and
other members of the Company's executive management and the loss of any of  such
key  executives could have a material  adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition or results of operations. Furthermore, the Company's  future
performance  depends  on  its  ability  to  identify,  recruit  and  retain  key
management personnel. The competition for  such personnel is intense, and  there
can  be no assurance the Company will be successful in such efforts. The Company
is also dependent  on its ability  to continue to  attract, retain and  motivate
production,  distribution, sales and  other personnel, of which  there can be no
assurance. The  failure  to attract  and  retain  such personnel  could  have  a
material  adverse  effect on  the  Company's business,  financial  condition and
results of operations. See "Management."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING EXPANDING OPERATIONS
 
    Since 1992 the Company  has experienced substantial  growth in its  revenues
and  operations, and has undergone substantial changes in its business that have
placed significant  demands on  the Company's  management, working  capital  and
financial  and management control systems. The Company's current expansion plans
also may place a significant strain on the Company's management, working capital
and financial and management control  systems. Failure to upgrade the  Company's
operating,  management and financial control systems or difficulties encountered
during such upgrades  could adversely affect  the Company's business,  financial
condition  and results  of operations.  Although the  Company believes  that its
systems and controls are adequate to address its current needs, there can be  no
assurance  that such systems will be adequate to address future expansion of the
Company's business.  The  Company's  results of  operations  will  be  adversely
affected if revenues do not increase sufficiently to compensate for the increase
in operating expenses resulting from any expansion and there can be no assurance
that  any expansion will be profitable or  that it will not adversely affect the
Company's results  of  operations.  In  addition,  the  success  of  any  future
expansion  plans will depend in  part upon the Company's  ability to continue to
improve and expand  its management  and financial control  systems, to  attract,
retain  and motivate  key personnel, and  to raise  additional required capital.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in these regards.
 
COMPETITION
 
    The  Company's  SPIRULINA  PACIFICA  products  compete  with  a  variety  of
vitamins,  dietary  supplements, other  algal  products and  similar nutritional
products available  to  consumers. The  nutritional  products market  is  highly
competitive.  It includes international, national,  regional and local producers
and distributors, many of whom have greater resources than the Company, and many
of whom  offer a  greater variety  of products.  The Company  believes that  its
direct  competition in the Spirulina market  currently is from Dainippon Ink and
Chemical's Earthrise  Farms facility  in  California. To  a lesser  extent,  the
Company  competes with numerous smaller farms  in China, India, Thailand, Brazil
and South Africa. The  Company's packaged consumer  products marketed under  its
Nutrex  brand also compete  with products marketed  by health food manufacturing
customers of  the Company  who  purchase bulk  Spirulina  from the  Company  and
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
package  it for retail  sales. A large Spirulina  production facility located in
Mexico, which  has been  closed since  1993, may  reopen. Should  this  facility
resume   production  in  substantial  quantities,  the  Company  will  encounter
increased competition.
 
    In addition to other Spirulina  based products, SPIRULINA PACIFICA  competes
in  certain markets  with other "green  superfoods," such as  Chlorella (a green
microalgae with sales  primarily in  Japan), APHAMIZOMENON  (a blue-green  algae
harvested  from  an  eutrophic  lake  in  Oregon  with  sales  primarily through
multilevel marketing) and  cereal grasses such  as barley, wheat  and kamut.  In
addition,  major  food and  beverage  companies may  become  more active  in the
nutritional products business,  either directly  or through  the acquisition  of
smaller  companies.  A decision  by another  company to  focus on  the Company's
existing or target markets  or a substantial increase  in the overall supply  of
Spirulina  could  have  a material  adverse  effect on  the  Company's business,
financial condition and results of  operations. While the Company believes  that
it  competes favorably  on factors such  as quality, brand  name recognition and
loyalty, the Company's SPIRULINA PACIFICA  products have typically been sold  at
prices  higher than other Spirulina products. There can be no assurance that the
Company will not experience competitive  pressure, particularly with respect  to
pricing,  that  could adversely  affect  its business,  financial  condition and
results of operations.
 
    The products being developed by  Cyanotech will compete with both  synthetic
and  natural products on  the basis of  price and quality.  The Company's future
competitors may include major chemical and specialized biotechnology  companies,
many  of which have  financial, technical and  marketing resources significantly
greater than  those  of  Cyanotech.  Cyanotech  believes  that  its  proprietary
technology  combined  with  the  metabolic diversity  and  high  productivity of
microalgae will allow the Company to compete in large market areas against large
companies, although there can be no assurance in this regard.
 
    The Company's natural astaxanthin  product, if successfully developed,  will
compete  directly against synthetic astaxanthin  produced and marketed worldwide
by Hoffman LaRoche.  The Company believes  that there are  no other  significant
producers  of  astaxanthin.  Although  the Company  is  unaware  of  any studies
indicating that natural astaxanthin has  any benefits not otherwise provided  by
synthetic  astaxanthin,  it  believes there  is  consumer demand  for  a natural
astaxanthin product. See "Business -- Competition."
 
DEPENDENCE ON PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY
 
    Although the  Company regards  its  proprietary technology,  trade  secrets,
trademarks  and similar  intellectual property  as critical  to its  success and
relies on  a  combination  of  trade secret,  contract,  patent,  copyright  and
trademark  law  to  establish  and  protect  its  rights  in  its  products  and
technology, there can be no assurance that  the Company will be able to  protect
its  technology  adequately or  that  competitors will  not  be able  to develop
similar technology  independently.  In addition,  the  laws of  certain  foreign
countries may not protect the Company's intellectual property rights to the same
extent  as the laws  of the United  States. Cyanotech has  had one United States
patent issued to it. Litigation in the United States or abroad may be  necessary
to  enforce  the  Company's patent  or  other intellectual  property  rights, to
protect the Company's trade secrets, to determine the validity and scope of  the
proprietary  rights of others or to  defend against claims of infringement. Such
litigation, even if successful, could result in substantial costs and  diversion
of resources and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
results  of operations and financial condition. Additionally, although currently
there are  no pending  claims or  lawsuits that  have been  brought against  the
Company,  if any such claims  are asserted against the  Company, the Company may
seek to obtain a license under  the third party's intellectual property  rights.
There  can be no assurance  however, that a license  would be available on terms
acceptable or favorable to the Company, if at all.
 
    While the disclosure and use of  Cyanotech's know-how and trade secrets  are
generally controlled under agreements with the parties involved, there can be no
assurance  that all confidentiality agreements will be honored, that others will
not independently develop  equivalent technology, that  disputes will not  arise
concerning  the ownership of intellectual property, or that dissemination of the
Company's trade secrets will not occur.  The Company anticipates that it may  in
the future apply for additional patents on certain aspects of its technology. No
assurance  can be given  that its patent  applications will issue  as patents or
that any patent  now or to  be issued  will provide the  Company with  preferred
positions  with respect to the covered technology. Additionally, there can be no
assurance   that   any   patent   issued   to   the   Company   will   not    be
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
challenged,  invalidated or circumvented  or that the  rights granted thereunder
will provide adequate protection to  the Company's products. Furthermore,  there
can be no assurance that others will not independently develop similar products,
duplicate  the  Company's products  or, if  patents are  issued to  the Company,
design around  the patents  issued to  the Company.  See "Business  --  Patents,
Licenses and Trademarks."
 
VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE
 
   
    The  Company's stock price has been, and is likely to continue to be, highly
volatile. The market price of the  Common Stock has fluctuated substantially  in
recent  periods, rising from $1 1/8  on March 24, 1995, to  a high of $14 7/8 at
November 27,  1995,  to  $8  5/8 at  February  27,  1996.  Future  announcements
concerning  the Company  or its  competitors, quarterly  variations in operating
results, introduction of new products or changes in product pricing policies  by
the  Company  or  its  competitors,  changes  in  market  demand  for Spirulina,
acquisition or loss of significant customers, weather patterns and other acts of
nature that  may affect  or  be perceived  to  affect the  Company's  production
capability,  or changes in earnings estimates  by analysts, among other factors,
could cause the market price of the Common Stock to fluctuate substantially.  In
addition,  stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume volatility in
recent years. This volatility has had a substantial effect on the market  prices
of  securities of many smaller public companies for reasons frequently unrelated
to the  operating performance  of  the specific  companies. These  broad  market
fluctuations  may adversely affect  the market price of  the Common Stock. There
can be no assurance that the market  price of the Common Stock will not  decline
below  the public offering price. See "Price  Range of Common Stock and Dividend
Policy."
    
 
RISK OF PRODUCT LIABILITY
 
    Use of the Company's  products and potential  products in human  consumption
may  expose  the Company  to liability  claims  from the  use of  such products,
although the Company has not been subject  to any such claims to date.  Although
the  Company conducts regular quality assurance tests, there can be no assurance
that the  Company's products  will  not suffer  contamination at  the  Company's
facilities  or in the distribution channel, which  could in turn cause injury to
consumers. Although the Company does not have any reason to believe that natural
beta carotene increases health risks, one large scale study released in  January
1996 indicated that among smokers and persons who worked with asbestos, users of
synthetic  beta carotene suffered  a higher incidence of  death from lung cancer
and heart disease. The Company maintains product liability insurance in  limited
amounts  for  products involving  human consumption.  However,  there can  be no
assurance that the Company's insurance will be adequate or will remain available
to cover any  liabilities arising from  use of the  Company's current or  future
products. A contamination problem, product liability claim or recall of products
could  have  a  material adverse  effect  on the  Company's  business, financial
condition and  results of  operations. See  "Business --  Product Liability  and
Legal Proceedings."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL SALES
 
   
    In  the  years ended  March  31, 1994  and 1995  and  the nine  months ended
December 31, 1995, international sales accounted for approximately 32%, 42%  and
56%,  respectively,  of  the  Company's  net  sales.  The  Company  expects that
international sales will continue to represent a significant portion of its  net
sales. The Company's business, financial condition and results of operations may
be  materially adversely affected  by any difficulties  associated with managing
accounts receivable from international customers, tariff regulations, imposition
of governmental  controls, political  and economic  instability or  other  trade
restrictions.   Although  the   Company's  international   sales  are  currently
denominated in United  States dollars, fluctuations  in currency exchange  rates
could  cause  the  Company's products  to  become relatively  more  expensive to
customers in  the affected  country, leading  to a  reduction in  sales in  that
country.  Additionally,  the Company's  largest  customer resells  the Company's
products principally  in mainland  China, and  thus the  Company is  exposed  to
political,  legal, economic  and other  risks and  uncertainties associated with
doing business in  China. See  "-- Customer Concentration  and Risks  Associated
with Changes in Product Mix," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition  and Results of Operations" and  "Business -- Marketing and Sales" and
"-- Distribution."
    
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
HISTORY OF LOSSES; FLUCTUATIONS IN OPERATING RESULTS
 
   
    The Company was formed in  1983 and did not  become profitable on an  annual
basis  until fiscal  1992. As  of December  31, 1995,  the Company's accumulated
deficit was $5.4 million.  There can be  no assurance that  the Company will  be
consistently  profitable on either  a quarterly or an  annual basis. The Company
has experienced quarterly fluctuations in operating results and anticipates that
these fluctuations may continue in future periods. Future operating results  may
fluctuate  as  a result  of changes  in  sales levels  to the  Company's largest
customers, new product introductions, weather patterns, the mix between sales of
bulk products and packaged consumer products, start-up costs associated with new
facilities, expansion into new markets, sales promotions, competition, increased
energy costs, the announcement or introduction of new products by the  Company's
competitors,  changes in the  Company's customer mix, and  overall trends in the
market for  Spirulina products.  While a  significant portion  of the  Company's
expense  levels are  relatively fixed,  and the  timing of  increases in expense
levels is based in large part on the Company's forecasts of future sales, if net
sales are below expectations in any given period, the adverse impact on  results
of  operations may  be magnified by  the Company's inability  to adjust spending
quickly enough  to compensate  for the  sales shortfall.  The Company  may  also
choose  to reduce prices or increase  spending in response to market conditions,
which may have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
    
 
   
    The Company currently estimates that net  sales for the three months  ending
March  31, 1996,  will be comparable  to or lower  than net sales  for the three
months ended December  31, 1995, principally  due to (i)  lower orders from  the
Company's  largest customer, a Hong Kong-based multilevel marketing organization
that purchases the Company's packaged consumer  products and sells them under  a
private  label and, to  a lesser extent, (ii)  less sunlight, lower temperatures
and more rainfall related to normal seasonality during the first eight weeks  of
the  quarter. The decrease in sales of packaged consumer products is expected to
result in lower net income in the three months ending March 31, 1996 compared to
the three months ended December 31, 1995. Although there can be no assurance  in
this  regard,  based on  discussions with  the  Company's largest  customer, the
Company anticipates  that  sales to  its  largest customer  should  continue  to
represent  a significant portion of  the Company's total net  sales in the three
months  ending  March  31,  1996  and  the  year  ending  March  31,  1997.  See
"Management's  Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results of
Operations -- Quarterly Results."
    
 
POTENTIAL DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING FDA AND OTHER GOVERNMENT APPROVALS
 
   
    The  Company's  products,  potential  products  and  its  manufacturing  and
research  activities are subject to varying degrees of regulation by a number of
government authorities in the  United States and  in other countries,  including
the  Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug
and Cosmetic Act and  by the Environmental Protection  Agency ("EPA") under  the
Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide and  Rodenticide  Act ("FIFRA").  Each  line of
products that  is or  may  be marketed  by the  Company,  its licensees  or  its
collaborators can present unique regulatory problems and risks, depending on the
product  type, uses  and method  of manufacture.  The FDA  regulates, to varying
degrees and in  different ways,  dietary supplements, other  food products,  and
diagnostic   medical  device   and  pharmaceutical   products,  including  their
manufacture, testing, exportation,  labeling, and, in  some cases,  advertising.
Generally,   prescription  pharmaceuticals  and   certain  types  of  diagnostic
products, as medical devices, are regulated more rigorously than foods, such  as
dietary  supplements. The EPA rigorously regulates pesticides, among other types
of products.
    
 
   
    The Company  is also  subject  to other  federal,  state and  foreign  laws,
regulations  and policies with respect to  labeling of its products, importation
of organisms, and occupational safety, among others. Federal, state and  foreign
laws,  regulations and policies are always  subject to change and depend heavily
on administrative policies and interpretations.  The Company works with  foreign
distributors  in  its compliance  with foreign  laws, regulations  and policies.
There can be no assurance  that any changes with  respect to federal, state  and
foreign  laws, regulations and  policies, and, particularly  with respect to the
FDA and EPA or other such  regulatory bodies, with possible retroactive  effect,
will  not have  a material adverse  effect on the  Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations. There can  be no assurance that any of  the
Company's  potential products  will satisfy  applicable regulatory requirements.
See "Business -- Government Regulation."
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
CONTROL BY OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The Company's  officers and  directors  and their  affiliates will,  in  the
aggregate,  control approximately 39.8% of the voting power of the capital stock
of the  Company  upon completion  of  this offering.  As  a result,  in  certain
circumstances,  these  stockholders acting  together  may be  able  to determine
matters requiring approval  of the  stockholders of the  Company, including  the
election  of the  Company's directors,  or they  may delay,  defer or  prevent a
change in control of the Company. In addition, Eva R. Reichl, a director of  the
Company,  has the  contractual right  to nominate one  person for  election as a
director. See "Certain Transactions," "Principal Stockholders" and  "Description
of Capital Stock."
 
EFFECT OF ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
 
    The  Company's Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 5,000,000
shares of  Preferred  Stock, 734,977  of  which are  currently  outstanding  and
designated  as Series  C Preferred  Stock, and  to determine  the price, rights,
preferences and privileges of those shares without any further vote or action by
the Company's stockholders. The  rights of the holders  of Common Stock will  be
subject  to, and  may be  adversely affected  by, the  rights of  the holders of
Preferred Stock. The consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding  shares
of  Series C Preferred  Stock is required  to change the  powers, preferences or
rights of such shares, sell all or substantially all of the Company's assets  or
merge  the Company. Such rights could have  the effect of delaying, deferring or
preventing a change in control of the Company. While the Company has no  present
intention  to issue additional  shares of Preferred  Stock, such issuance, while
providing desirable flexibility in connection with the possible acquisitions and
other corporate  purposes,  could have  the  effect of  delaying,  deferring  or
preventing  a  change  in  control  of  the  Company  and  entrenching  existing
management. In addition, such Preferred  Stock may have other rights,  including
economic  rights senior  to the  Common Stock,  and, as  a result,  the issuance
thereof could have a material adverse effect  on the market value of the  Common
Stock.  The Company is also subject  to the anti-takeover provisions of Sections
78.411 through 78.444  of the  Nevada Revised Statutes,  which restrict  certain
"combinations" with "interested stockholders" unless certain conditions are met.
By  delaying and deterring unsolicited takeover attempts, these provisions could
adversely affect prevailing market  prices for the  Company's Common Stock.  See
"Description of Capital Stock."
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
   
    Sales  of substantial amounts of shares of Common Stock in the public market
following the offering could have an adverse  impact on the market price of  the
Common   Stock.  Upon  completion  of  this  offering,  the  Company  will  have
outstanding approximately  15.2 million  shares of  Common Stock,  assuming  the
conversion  of all the outstanding shares  of Preferred Stock into Common Stock,
no exercise  of  the Underwriters'  over-allotment  option and  no  exercise  of
options or warrants to purchase the Company's Common Stock. Of these shares, all
of  the Common Stock being sold hereby and approximately 5.5 million shares held
by existing stockholders will be freely  tradeable (unless such shares are  held
by  an "affiliate" of the Company as such term is defined in the Securities Act)
without restriction or registration under the Securities Act. The remaining  8.3
million  shares  were issued  and sold  by the  Company in  private transactions
("Restricted Shares") and are eligible for public sale only if registered  under
the Securities Act or sold in accordance with Rule 144 thereunder. Approximately
1.1  million of  the Restricted  Shares are currently  eligible for  sale in the
public market pursuant to Rule 144(k) (of which approximately 870,000 shares are
subject to  the  agreements not  to  sell described  below).  Approximately  7.2
million  additional Restricted Shares  will be eligible for  sale in reliance on
Rule 144 (of which approximately 6.6  million are subject to the agreements  not
to  sell described below). The directors, executive officers and stockholders of
the Company who  hold in  the aggregate  approximately 7.5  million shares  have
agreed,  subject to certain limited exceptions,  not to offer, sell or otherwise
dispose of,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  shares  of  Common  Stock,  or  any
securities  convertible into  or exercisable for,  or any rights  to purchase or
acquire, Common Stock owned by them for the 120-day period after the closing  of
this  offering without  the prior  written consent of  Van Kasper  & Company. In
addition, the Company has agreed that for a period of 120 days after the date of
this Prospectus, it will not, without the prior written consent of Van Kasper  &
Company,  issue, offer, sell, grant options  to purchase or otherwise dispose of
any equity security or  securities convertible into  or exchangeable for  equity
securities except for (i) shares of the Common Stock offered hereby, (ii) shares
of  Common  Stock issued  pursuant to  the exercise  of outstanding  options and
warrants,   (iii)   shares   of   Common   Stock   issued   pursuant   to    the
    
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
   
conversion  of  Preferred  Stock and  (iv)  options granted  to  its associates,
officers, directors  and consultants  so long  as none  of such  options  become
exercisable  during said 120-day period. The Company has reserved 400,000 shares
of Common  Stock for  issuance under  the  1995 Stock  Option Plan,  options  to
purchase  101,000  shares  of which  have  been  granted. The  Company  also has
outstanding options to purchase 213,475 shares, which options were granted under
the 1985  Incentive Stock  Option Plan.  In addition,  the Company  has  options
outstanding to purchase 9,000 shares under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors Stock
Option  and  Stock Grant  Plan and  other  non-qualified options  outstanding to
purchase 102,000  shares of  Common Stock.  The Company  has filed  registration
statements  under the Securities Act covering  an aggregate of 800,000 shares of
Common Stock  issuable under  the  Company's 1995  Stock  Option Plan  and  1985
Incentive Stock Option Plan. Shares issued upon the exercise of stock options or
previously  issued on exercise, generally will be available for sale in the open
market subject to Rule 144 volume  limitations applicable to affiliates and  the
lock-up agreements with Van Kasper & Company described above. No predictions can
be  made as  to the effect,  if any,  that market sales  of Common  Stock or the
availability of Common Stock for sale  will have on the market price  prevailing
from time to time. Sale of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock in the
public market following this offering could adversely affect the market price of
the Common Stock. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
    
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
   
    The  net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the shares of Common Stock
offered by the  Company are estimated  to be approximately  $11.5 million at  an
assumed  offering price of $8 5/8 per share, the last reported sale price of the
Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on February 27, 1996. Since 1993, the
Company has  been  capacity-constrained,  with demand  for  its  bulk  SPIRULINA
PACIFICA  products exceeding the Company's production capabilities. Accordingly,
the Company has  not been able  to accept  any major new  customers since  March
1995. The Company intends to use approximately $4 million of the net proceeds of
the  offering  to  construct  additional culture  ponds  and  related processing
facilities in order to increase the production of SPIRULINA PACIFICA products. A
portion of the net proceeds are expected to be used as follows: (i) construction
of a facility and culture ponds for the production of natural astaxanthin,  (ii)
construction of a laboratory/warehouse, and (iii) construction of a cogeneration
facility. The remainder of the net proceeds will be used for working capital and
general corporate purposes.
    
 
    Pending  such uses, the Company intends to invest the net proceeds from this
offering  in  short-term   interest-bearing  securities,  including   government
obligations and money market instruments.
 
                PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY
 
   
    Until February 27, 1996, the Company's Common Stock was quoted on The Nasdaq
SmallCap  Market. On such date, the Company's  Common Stock began trading on the
Nasdaq National Market.  The following  table sets forth  the high  and low  bid
quotation  per share of the Company's Common Stock on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market
and the Nasdaq National Market, as the  case may be, for the periods  indicated.
Quotations  from  The  Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market  are  from  the  Nasdaq  Monthly
Statistical Summary  Report, and  reflect  inter-dealer prices,  without  retail
mark-up, mark-down or commission, and may not represent actual transactions.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            HIGH        LOW
                                                                          ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                       <C>        <C>
Year ended March 31, 1994
  First Quarter.........................................................  1 7/8      1 3/16
  Second Quarter........................................................  1 3/8      1 1/8
  Third Quarter.........................................................  1 9/16     1
  Fourth Quarter........................................................  1 1/2      1
Year ended March 31, 1995
  First Quarter.........................................................  1 1/8      13/16
  Second Quarter........................................................  1 5/8      15/16
  Third Quarter.........................................................  1 1/2      1 1/4
  Fourth Quarter........................................................  1 3/8      1 1/16
Year ending March 31, 1996
  First Quarter.........................................................  1 3/8      1 1/16
  Second Quarter........................................................  3 3/8      1 1/8
  Third Quarter.........................................................  14 7/8     5 1/8
  Fourth Quarter (through February 27, 1996)............................  11 3/8     6 1/4
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    As of December 31, 1995, there were approximately 1,445 holders of record of
the  Company's Common Stock. On February 27,  1996, the last reported sale price
of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $8 5/8 per share.
    
 
    The Company has never declared or  paid cash dividends on its Common  Stock.
Holders  of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to cumulative annual dividends
at the rate of $.40  per share if and when  declared by the Board of  Directors.
The  Company  may  not pay  dividends  on the  Common  Stock until  it  has paid
accumulated dividends on the Series  C Preferred Stock. Cumulative dividends  in
arrears on the Series C Preferred Stock as of December 31, 1995 amounted to $1.9
million  ($2.563 per share). The Company currently  intends to retain all of its
earnings for  use  in its  business  and does  not  anticipate paying  any  cash
dividends  on its Series  C Preferred Stock  or Common Stock  in the foreseeable
future. See "Description of Capital Stock."
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
   
    The following table sets forth (i)  the capitalization of the Company as  of
December  31,  1995, (ii)  the pro  forma  capitalization of  the Company  as of
December 31, 1995, assuming full conversion of all outstanding shares of  Series
A  Preferred  Stock  into  shares  of Common  Stock,  and  (iii)  the  pro forma
capitalization of the Company  as of December 31,  1995, as adjusted to  reflect
the  sale by the  Company of 1,500,000  shares of Common  Stock pursuant to this
offering and the  receipt and application  by the Company  of the estimated  net
proceeds  therefrom, assuming a public  offering price of $8  5/8 per share (the
last reported sale price of  the Common Stock on  the Nasdaq National Market  on
February  27, 1996) and after deducting  the estimated underwriting discount and
estimated offering expenses.  The capitalization  information set  forth in  the
table  below is qualified by the more detailed consolidated financial statements
and notes thereto included  elsewhere in this Prospectus  and should be read  in
conjunction with such consolidated financial statements and notes.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                                                 -----------------------------------
                                                                                                          PRO FORMA
                                                                                  ACTUAL     PRO FORMA   AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                 ---------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                              <C>        <C>          <C>
                                                                                           (IN THOUSANDS)
Long-term liabilities, net of current portion..................................  $     908   $     908    $     908
                                                                                 ---------  -----------  -----------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized
  Series A, 12% cumulative; 1,250,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no
   shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted;
   liquidation value $0.40 per share plus unpaid accumulated dividends.........          1      --           --
  Series C, 8% cumulative, convertible; 734,977 shares issued and outstanding,
   actual, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted; liquidation value $5.00 per
   share plus unpaid accumulated dividends.....................................          1           1            1
Common Stock, $0.005 par value, 18,000,000 shares authorized; 9,807,575 shares
 issued and outstanding, actual; 10,057,575 shares issued and outstanding, pro
 forma; 11,557,575 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted (1)....         49          50           58
Additional paid-in capital.....................................................     12,720      12,720       24,217
Accumulated deficit............................................................     (5,400)     (5,400)      (5,400)
                                                                                 ---------  -----------  -----------
  Total stockholders' equity...................................................      7,371       7,371       18,876
                                                                                 ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total capitalization.......................................................  $   8,279   $   8,279    $  19,784
                                                                                 ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                                 ---------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
(1) Excludes 3,674,885 shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon conversion
    of  the Company's Series C Preferred Stock. Also excludes as of December 31,
    1995 (i) 997,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon  exercise
    of  outstanding warrants, (ii)  400,000 shares of  Common Stock reserved for
    issuance under the  Company's 1995 Stock  Option Plan, of  which options  to
    purchase  101,000  shares are  outstanding, (iii)  213,475 shares  of Common
    Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of outstanding  options
    under  the Company's 1985 Incentive Stock Option Plan, (iv) 89,000 shares of
    Common Stock reserved  for issuance  under the  Company's 1994  Non-Employee
    Directors  Stock Option and  Stock Grant Plan, of  which options to purchase
    9,000 shares of  Common Stock  are outstanding,  and (v)  102,000 shares  of
    Common  Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of  other  non-qualified  options to
    purchase Common  Stock.  See "Management  --  Stock Option  Plan,"  "Certain
    Transactions" and "Description of Capital Stock."
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The   following  table  sets  forth   for  the  periods  indicated  selected
consolidated financial  data  for the  Company.  The consolidated  statement  of
income  data for the  years ended March  31, 1994 and  1995 and the consolidated
balance sheet  data at  March  31, 1994  and 1995  have  been derived  from  the
Company's  consolidated financial  statements, which  have been  audited by KPMG
Peat Marwick  LLP,  independent  certified  public  accountants.  The  following
selected  consolidated financial  and operating data  are qualified  by the more
detailed consolidated financial statements of the Company and the notes  thereto
included  elsewhere in  this Prospectus and  should be read  in conjunction with
such consolidated  financial  statements  and notes  and  the  discussion  under
"Management's  Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results of
Operations" included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The consolidated statement of
income data for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 1994 and 1995 and  the
consolidated  balance sheet data at December 31, 1995 are derived from unaudited
consolidated financial statements which, in the opinion of management, have been
prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements  and
contain  all adjustments, consisting of  normal recurring adjustments, necessary
for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations  for
such  periods. The results of operations for  the nine months ended December 31,
1995 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,   NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                        --------------------  --------------------
                                                                          1994       1995       1994       1995
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                                          (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA
Net sales.............................................................  $   2,697  $   4,150  $   2,921  $   5,972
  Cost of sales.......................................................      1,495      2,275      1,582      2,784
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Gross profit..........................................................      1,202      1,875      1,339      3,188
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating expenses:
  Research and development............................................         59        171         93        243
  General and administrative..........................................        604        685        504        862
  Sales and marketing.................................................        319        301        208        302
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total operating expenses..........................................        982      1,157        805      1,407
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Income from operations............................................        220        718        534      1,781
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Other income (expense):
  Interest income.....................................................         13         17         12         19
  Interest expense....................................................        (16)       (27)       (19)       (63)
  Other income, net...................................................         22         98         13     --
  Proportionate share of loss of joint venture........................        (35)       (37)       (37)    --
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total other income (expense)......................................        (16)        51        (31)       (44)
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net income before income taxes....................................        204        769        503      1,737
    Provision for income taxes........................................     --         --         --              8
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net income........................................................  $     204  $     769  $     503  $   1,729
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net income per common share.......................................  $    0.02  $    0.05  $    0.04  $    0.12
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Weighted average number of common shares and common share
 equivalents..........................................................     13,330     13,589     13,907     14,452
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       MARCH 31,
                                                                                  --------------------  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                    1994       1995         1995
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  -------------
                                                                                            (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital.................................................................  $     870  $     600    $   1,004
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net.......................................      3,365      4,635        7,204
Total assets....................................................................      5,132      6,212        9,649
Stockholders' equity............................................................      4,160      5,104        7,371
</TABLE>
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
OVERVIEW
 
    Substantially  all of the Company's resources are currently dedicated to the
production of SPIRULINA  PACIFICA, a nutritional  microalgae. The Company  sells
SPIRULINA  PACIFICA to health  food manufacturers, health  food distributors and
retail consumers on a worldwide basis. Through the application of its Integrated
Culture Biology Management ("ICBM") technology, the Company maintains continuous
algae cultures and produces a new crop  from each of its 45 algal culture  ponds
(aggregating  approximately 28 acres)  approximately every week  on average. For
the year ended March 31, 1994, with an average of 17 culture ponds in  operation
(aggregating  approximately 10 acres),  the Company had  net sales of $2,697,000
and net income of $204,000. For the  year ended March 31, 1995, with an  average
of  25  culture ponds  in operation  (aggregating  approximately 15  acres), the
Company had net sales of $4,150,000 and net income of $769,000.
 
   
    Since 1993 the Company  has been capacity-constrained,  with demand for  its
bulk   SPIRULINA   PACIFICA   products   exceeding   the   Company's  production
capabilities. Historically,  a majority  of the  Company's net  sales have  been
derived  from the Company's  bulk SPIRULINA PACIFICA  products, which have lower
associated gross profit (measured in dollars) but higher associated gross margin
(measured as a  percentage of net  sales) than the  Company's packaged  consumer
products.  Accordingly, an increase in the  percentage of net sales attributable
to bulk  products would  increase  the Company's  gross margin.  Conversely,  an
increase  in  the percentage  of  the Company's  net  sales attributable  to the
Company's packaged consumer products would decrease its gross margin but  likely
increase  gross profit. The Company expects that  its product mix will vary from
period to period, and a decrease in orders from a customer such as the Company's
largest current customer which purchases  only packaged consumer products  could
require the Company to reallocate greater portions of its production capacity to
its  lower gross profit bulk  products. In such event,  the Company expects that
its gross margin  would be  favorably impacted but  that its  earnings would  be
adversely affected. See "Risk Factors -- Product Concentration."
    
 
   
    The  Company currently estimates that net  sales for the three months ending
March 31, 1996  will be  comparable to  or lower than  net sales  for the  three
months  ended December 31,  1995, principally due  to (i) lower  orders from the
Company's largest customer, a Hong Kong-based multilevel marketing  organization
that  purchases the Company's packaged consumer  products and sells them under a
private label and, to  a lesser extent, (ii)  less sunlight, lower  temperatures
and  more rainfall related to normal seasonality during the first eight weeks of
the quarter. The decrease in sales of packaged consumer products is expected  to
result in lower net income in the three months ending March 31, 1996 compared to
the  three months ended December 31, 1995. Although there can be no assurance in
this regard,  based on  discussions  with the  Company's largest  customer,  the
Company  anticipates  that  sales to  its  largest customer  should  continue to
represent a significant portion  of the Company's total  net sales in the  three
months  ending March  31, 1996  and the  year ending  March 31,  1997. See "Risk
Factors -- Customer Concentration and  Risks Associated with Changes in  Product
Mix."
    
 
    The  Company is currently producing SPIRULINA PACIFICA at full capacity and,
with  a  portion  of  the  net  proceeds  of  this  offering,  is  planning   to
significantly  increase the  rate of  production by late  1996. There  can be no
assurance that the  favorable supply/demand  characteristics of  the market  for
SPIRULINA PACIFICA will continue. In order to meet the increasing demand for the
Company's   Spirulina  products,  the  Company  completed  construction  of  six
additional 36,000 square foot algal culture ponds during December 1995, bringing
the total  number of  ponds to  45. The  Company is  currently constructing  six
additional  such ponds  and installing  the associated  equipment. This  work is
expected to be completed by late  February 1996 and full production attained  by
early  March 1996. The Company intends to undertake a substantial pond expansion
project that is currently scheduled to be completed in late 1996 with a  portion
of the net proceeds from this offering.
 
    Using  a portion of the net proceeds  of this offering, the Company plans to
begin construction of a natural astaxanthin production facility in mid-1996.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    The following table sets forth certain consolidated statement of income data
as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                        YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                        --------------------  --------------------
                                                          1994       1995       1994       1995
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net sales.............................................      100.0%     100.0%     100.0%     100.0%
<S>                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
  Cost of sales.......................................       55.4       54.8       54.2       46.6
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Gross profit..........................................       44.6       45.2       45.8       53.4
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating expenses:
  Research and development............................        2.2        4.1        3.2        4.1
  General and administrative..........................       22.4       16.5       17.2       14.4
  Sales and marketing.................................       11.8        7.3        7.1        5.1
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total operating expenses..........................       36.4       27.9       27.5       23.6
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Income from operations............................        8.2       17.3       18.3       29.8
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Other income (expense):
  Interest income.....................................        0.4        0.4        0.4        0.3
  Interest expense....................................       (0.5)      (0.7)      (0.6)      (1.0)
  Other income, net...................................        0.8        2.4        0.4     --
  Proportionate share of loss of joint venture........       (1.3)      (0.9)      (1.3)    --
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total other income (expense)......................       (0.6)       1.2       (1.1)      (0.7)
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net income before income taxes....................        7.6       18.5       17.2       29.1
    Income taxes......................................     --         --         --           (0.1)
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net income........................................        7.6%      18.5%      17.2%      29.0%
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND 1994
 
  NET SALES
 
   
    Net sales for the  nine months ended December  31, 1995 increased 104.5%  to
$5,972,000  from $2,921,000 for  the comparable period in  1994. The increase is
attributable to increased prices, increased  sales of bulk Spirulina powder  and
tablets  and  increased  sales  of  packaged  consumer  products.  The increased
production is  a  result  of  the  Spirulina  production  expansions  that  were
completed  in  October  1994  and  May  1995.  Due  to  the  Company's  capacity
constraints, it has not been able to accept any major new customers since  March
1995.  However,  approximately  $1,752,000  of  the  period  to  period increase
resulted from  increased  sales  to  the  Company's  largest  customer,  a  Hong
Kong-based  natural products marketing and  distribution company which purchases
packaged consumer  products  for private  label  resale. See  "Risk  Factors  --
Customer Concentration and Risks Associated with Changes in Product Mix."
    
 
    International  sales represented 56% and 39% of total net sales for the nine
months  ended  December  31,  1995  and  1994,  respectively.  The  increase  is
attributable  principally  to the  Company's  increasing emphasis  on developing
international markets and higher sales of packaged consumer products into  Asian
retail markets.
 
  GROSS PROFIT
 
    Gross  profit  represents  net sales  less  the  cost of  goods  sold, which
includes the  cost  of materials,  manufacturing  overhead costs,  direct  labor
expenses and depreciation and amortization. The Company's gross profit increased
138.1% to $3,188,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 1995 from $1,339,000
in  the comparable period of 1994. The  Company's gross margin was 53.4% for the
nine months ended
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
December 31,  1995 compared  to 45.8%  for the  comparable period  of 1994.  The
increase  in gross margin was primarily attributable to higher prices and higher
production levels resulting  in the absorption  of fixed manufacturing  overhead
costs over a significantly increased sales volume during the period.
 
  OPERATING EXPENSES
 
    Operating  expenses were $1,407,000  for the nine  months ended December 31,
1995, an increase of 74.8% from $805,000  in the comparable period of the  prior
year,  and represented 23.6% of net sales compared to 27.5% of net sales for the
nine months ended  December 31,  1994. The improvement  as a  percentage of  net
sales was due to increased sales for the nine months ended December 31, 1995.
 
    RESEARCH  AND DEVELOPMENT.   Research  and development  expense increased to
$243,000, or 4.1% of  net sales, for  the nine months  ended December 31,  1995,
from  $93,000 or 3.2% of net sales, for the nine months ended December 31, 1994.
The increase from the prior period was primarily the result of the research work
done on natural beta  carotene products for the  joint venture partnership  with
Hauser  Chemical Research, Inc. ("Hauser")  and on natural astaxanthin. Research
and development costs are expected to  increase further during the remainder  of
the  year ending March 31, 1996,  and increase substantially during future years
as the  Company  continues  work  on the  development  of  natural  astaxanthin,
genetically engineered mosquitocide and other algae products.
 
    GENERAL  AND ADMINISTRATIVE.  General  and administrative expenses increased
to $862,000, or 14.4% of net sales, for the nine months ended December 31, 1995,
from $504,000, or 17.2%  of net sales,  for the comparable  period of the  prior
year.  This increase  in absolute  dollars was due  to the  payment of associate
incentive bonuses indexed to the Company's profitability during the nine  months
ended  December  31,  1995,  higher  insurance  costs  and  compensation expense
associated with grants of Common Stock to non-employee directors.
 
    SALES AND MARKETING.  Sales and marketing expenses increased to $302,000  or
5.1%  of net sales, for the nine  months ended December 31, 1995, from $208,000,
or 7.1% of net sales, for the comparable period of the prior year. The  increase
was  primarily  due  to  higher payroll  and  travel  expenditures.  The Company
anticipates that sales and marketing expenses will increase during the remainder
of the year ending March 31, 1996  and in future years as the Company  increases
its marketing efforts both domestically and internationally.
 
  PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF LOSS FROM JOINT VENTURE
 
    Proportionate  share of loss from joint venture represents the Company's 50%
ownership interest in a joint venture with Acquasearch, Inc. for the development
of astaxanthin. The loss in the  nine months ended December 31, 1994  represents
services  and facilities  and equipment  use that  was contributed  to the joint
venture by the  Company. The joint  venture was terminated  in November 1994  by
mutual consent and the Company has no further obligation under the joint venture
arrangement.
 
  INCOME TAXES
 
    The  tax provision  of $7,500  for the nine  months ended  December 31, 1995
represents estimated  alternative minimum  taxes payable.  The Company  made  no
provision  for income taxes for  the nine months ended  December 31, 1994 due to
the utilization of tax net operating loss carry forwards. As of March 31,  1995,
tax net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards amounted to $6.8 million and
$140,000,  respectively. Subject to certain  limitations and differences between
federal and state tax laws, the Company expects to apply these carryforwards  to
taxable  income and/or  income taxes in  the year  ending March 31,  1996 and in
future years until such carryforwards are fully utilized or expire unutilized.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1994
 
  NET SALES
 
    Net sales for the year ended March 31, 1995 were $4,150,000, a 54%  increase
over  net sales of $2,697,000 for the year ended March 31, 1994. The increase in
net sales  during the  year ended  March 31,  1995 was  due primarily  to  price
increases and significantly higher production and sales of bulk Spirulina powder
and  tablets. The  increased production was  the result  of Spirulina production
expansions that were completed in March and October of 1994.
 
    International sales represented 42% and 32% of total net sales for the years
ended March  31,  1995  and  1994,  respectively.  This  increase  reflects  the
Company's increasing emphasis on developing international markets.
 
  GROSS PROFIT
 
    Gross profit increased 56.0% to $1,875,000 for the year ended March 31, 1995
from  $1,202,000 for the year ended March 31, 1994. The slight increase in gross
margin to 45.2% for the year ended March 31, 1995 from 44.6% for the year  ended
March 31, 1994 was due primarily to higher prices and higher production levels.
 
  OPERATING EXPENSES
 
    Operating  expenses were  $1,157,000 for the  year ended March  31, 1995, an
increase of 17.8% from  $982,000 in the prior  year. These expenses  represented
27.9%  and 36.4%  of net  sales for  the years  ended March  31, 1995  and 1994,
respectively.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.  Expenditures for research and development  during
the  year ended March 31, 1995 increased  by 189.8% to $171,000 from the limited
activity of the prior year primarily as a result of the research work being done
for the joint venture partnership with Hauser.
 
    GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE.   General and administrative expenses  increased
13.4%  to $685,000 during the year ended  March 31, 1995 primarily due to higher
insurance and payroll expenditures.
 
    SALES AND  MARKETING.    Sales  and marketing  expenses  decreased  5.6%  to
$301,000 during the year ended March 31, 1995 from 1994 due to lower advertising
and promotion expenditures associated with the Nutrex product line.
 
    Inflation during the years ended March 31, 1994 and 1995 and the nine months
ended  December  31,  1995 did  not  have  a material  impact  on  the Company's
operations.
 
QUARTERLY RESULTS
 
    The following table  sets forth certain  unaudited quarterly financial  data
for  the four  quarters in  the year ended  March 31,  1995 and  the first three
quarters in the  year ending March  31, 1996.  In the opinion  of the  Company's
management,  this unaudited information  has been prepared on  the same basis as
the audited consolidated financial statements contained herein and includes  all
adjustments  (consisting of  normal recurring adjustments)  necessary to present
fairly the information set forth therein. The operating results for any  quarter
are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          QUARTER ENDED
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      JUNE 30,     SEPTEMBER 30,    DECEMBER 31,     MARCH 31,    JUNE 30,     SEPTEMBER 30,
                                        1994           1994             1994           1995         1995           1995
                                     -----------  ---------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  ---------------
                                                                          (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                  <C>          <C>              <C>              <C>          <C>          <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
 DATA:
Net sales..........................   $     930      $   1,043        $     948      $   1,229    $   1,568      $   2,056
  Cost of sales....................         516            525              539            695          790            944
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
  Gross profit.....................         414            518              409            534          778          1,112
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
Operating expenses:
  Research and development.........          24             30               39             78           69             89
  General and administrative.......         156            181              168            180          206            315
  Sales and marketing..............          65             69               75             92           85             87
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
    Total operating expenses.......         245            280              282            350          360            491
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
    Income from operations.........         169            238              127            184          418            621
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
Other income (expense):
  Interest income..................           4              4                4              5            6              4
  Interest expense.................          (8)            (7)              (4)            (8)         (10)           (21)
  Other income, net................           9              1                3             85           (1)             1
  Proportionate share of loss of
   joint venture...................         (13)           (24)          --             --           --             --
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
    Total other income (expense)...          (8)           (26)               3             82           (5)           (16)
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
    Net income before income
     taxes.........................         161            212              130            266          413            605
    Provision for income taxes.....      --             --               --             --           --             --
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
    Net income.....................   $     161      $     212        $     130      $     266    $     413      $     605
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
                                          -----         ------            -----     -----------  -----------        ------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                         1995
                                     -------------
 
<S>                                  <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
 DATA:
Net sales..........................    $   2,348
  Cost of sales....................        1,050
                                          ------
  Gross profit.....................        1,298
                                          ------
Operating expenses:
  Research and development.........           85
  General and administrative.......          341
  Sales and marketing..............          130
                                          ------
    Total operating expenses.......          556
                                          ------
    Income from operations.........          742
                                          ------
Other income (expense):
  Interest income..................            9
  Interest expense.................          (32)
  Other income, net................       --
  Proportionate share of loss of
   joint venture...................       --
                                          ------
    Total other income (expense)...          (23)
                                          ------
    Net income before income
     taxes.........................          719
    Provision for income taxes.....            8
                                          ------
    Net income.....................    $     711
                                          ------
                                          ------
</TABLE>
    
 
    The following table sets forth certain consolidated statement of income data
as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      QUARTER ENDED
                                 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  JUNE 30,     SEPTEMBER 30,    DECEMBER 31,     MARCH 31,    JUNE 30,     SEPTEMBER 30,
                                    1994           1994             1994           1995         1995           1995
                                 -----------  ---------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  ---------------
Net sales......................       100.0%         100.0%           100.0%         100.0%       100.0%         100.0%
<S>                              <C>          <C>              <C>              <C>          <C>          <C>
  Cost of sales................        55.5           50.3             56.9           56.6         50.4           45.9
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
  Gross profit.................        44.5           49.7             43.1           43.4         49.6           54.1
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
Operating expenses:
  Research and development.....         2.5            2.9              4.1            6.3          4.4            4.4
  General and administrative...        16.8           17.4             17.7           14.6         13.1           15.3
  Sales and marketing..........         7.0            6.6              7.9            7.5          5.4            4.2
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
    Total operating expenses...        26.3           26.9             29.7           28.4         22.9           23.9
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
    Income from operations.....        18.2           22.8             13.4           15.0         26.7           30.2
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
Other income (expense):
  Interest income..............         0.4            0.4              0.4            0.4          0.4            0.3
  Interest expense.............        (0.9)          (0.7)            (0.4)          (0.6)        (0.6)          (1.0)
  Other income, net............         1.0            0.1              0.3            6.9         (0.1)        --
  Proportionate share of loss
   of joint venture............        (1.4)          (2.3)          --             --           --             --
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
    Total other income
     (expense).................        (0.9)          (2.5)             0.3            6.6         (0.4)          (0.8)
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
    Net income before income
     taxes.....................        17.3           20.3             13.7           21.6         26.3           29.4
    Provision for income
     taxes.....................      --             --               --             --           --             --
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
    Net income.................        17.3%          20.3%            13.7%          21.6%        26.3%          29.4%
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
                                      -----          -----            -----          -----        -----          -----
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                      1995
                                 ---------------
Net sales......................         100.0%
<S>                              <C>
  Cost of sales................          44.7
                                        -----
  Gross profit.................          55.3
                                        -----
Operating expenses:
  Research and development.....           3.6
  General and administrative...          14.5
  Sales and marketing..........           5.6
                                        -----
    Total operating expenses...          23.7
                                        -----
    Income from operations.....          31.6
                                        -----
Other income (expense):
  Interest income..............           0.4
  Interest expense.............          (1.4)
  Other income, net............        --
  Proportionate share of loss
   of joint venture............        --
                                        -----
    Total other income
     (expense).................          (1.0)
                                        -----
    Net income before income
     taxes.....................          30.6
    Provision for income
     taxes.....................           0.3
                                        -----
    Net income.................          30.3%
                                        -----
                                        -----
</TABLE>
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
    Although the Company has been profitable in each of the last seven quarters,
there  can be no assurance that such  profitability will continue or that levels
of net sales, income from operations and net income will not vary  significantly
among  quarterly periods. The Company  has experienced quarterly fluctuations in
operating results and anticipates that these fluctuations may continue in future
periods. Due  to  the importance  of  sunlight and  temperature  for  microalgae
growth,  the Company's production is  significantly affected by weather patterns
and seasonal weather  changes. The Company  estimates that its  ponds are up  to
approximately  20% less productive  between the months  of November and February
due to less sunlight  and lower temperatures.  The decline in  net sales in  the
quarter  ended  December 31,  1994  from the  quarter  ended September  30, 1994
resulted from this seasonality combined with the fact that there was no increase
in the number of producing ponds between those two periods.
 
   
    The Company currently estimates that net  sales for the three months  ending
March  31, 1996  will be  comparable to or  lower than  net sales  for the three
months ended December  31, 1995, principally  due to (i)  lower orders from  the
Company's  largest customer, a Hong Kong-based multilevel marketing organization
that purchases the Company's packaged consumer  products and sells them under  a
private  label and, to  a lesser extent, (ii)  less sunlight, lower temperatures
and more rainfall related to normal seasonality during the first eight weeks  of
the  quarter. The decrease in sales of packaged consumer products is expected to
result in lower net income in the three months ending March 31, 1996 compared to
the three months ended December 31, 1995. Although there can be no assurance  in
this  regard,  based on  discussions with  the  Company's largest  customer, the
Company anticipates  that  sales to  its  largest customer  should  continue  to
represent  a significant portion of  the Company's total net  sales in the three
months ending March 31, 1996 and the year ending March 31, 1997.
    
 
   
    Future operating  results may  fluctuate as  a result  of changes  in  sales
levels  to the Company's  largest customers, new  product introductions, weather
patterns, the mix between sales of bulk products and packaged consumer products,
start-up costs associated with new facilities, expansion into new markets, sales
promotions,  competition,   increased   energy  costs,   the   announcement   or
introduction  of  new  products by  the  Company's competitors,  changes  in the
Company's customer mix, and overall trends in the market for Spirulina products.
See "Risk Factors -- History of Losses; Fluctuations in Operating Results."
    
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    In  recent  periods,  the  Company   has  met  its  operating  and   capital
requirements from cash flow from operating activities, additional borrowings and
proceeds from the exercise of warrants and stock options. The Company's cash and
cash  equivalent  balance increased  by $280,000  during  the nine  months ended
December 31, 1995. The  increase was primarily due  to increased profit  levels,
borrowings  from two  customers and proceeds  from the exercise  of warrants and
stock options. Major uses of cash during the nine months ended December 31, 1995
included $643,000 in additional accounts receivable to support the higher  sales
level  and $2,622,000 in additional investment in culture ponds and equipment to
increase Spirulina production capacity. Largely as a result of the increases  in
cash and accounts receivable, working capital increased $404,000 during the nine
months  ended  December  31,  1995. The  Company  presently  estimates  that its
existing capital resources,  the net  proceeds from this  offering and  interest
thereon,  together with its  facility and equipment  financing and expected cash
flow from  operations,  will be  sufficient  to  fund its  current  and  planned
operations  and capital expenditures.  The Company currently  has no bank credit
lines.
 
    As of December 31, 1995, the Company had construction commitments  totalling
$1,120,000,  which the Company intends to fund  from cash reserves and cash flow
from operations.  In addition,  the Company  intends to  use approximately  $7.5
million  of the  net proceeds  from this  offering for  the construction  of (i)
additional culture ponds and related processing facilities, (ii) a facility  and
culture   ponds   for   the   production  of   natural   astaxanthin,   (iii)  a
laboratory/warehouse, and (iv) a cogeneration facility. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
    In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement  of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-Lived  Assets  for  Long-Lived Assets  to  Be  Disposed Of."  SFAS  No. 121
requires that long-lived  assets and certain  identifiable intangibles held  and
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
used  by an  entity be  reviewed for  impairment whenever  events or  changes in
circumstances indicate  that  the  carrying  amount  of  an  asset  may  not  be
recoverable.  If the  sum of  the expected  future cash  flows is  less than the
carrying amount of the asset, an  impairment loss is recognized. Measurement  of
that loss would be based on the fair value of the asset. Generally, SFAS No. 121
requires  that long-lived  assets and certain  intangibles to be  disposed of be
reported at the lower of  carrying amount or fair value  less cost to sell.  The
provisions of SFAS No. 121 must be adopted by the Company no later than April 1,
1996.  The Company has not determined when  it will adopt the provisions of SFAS
No. 121 but does not expect adoption to have a material effect on the  Company's
consolidated financial statements.
 
    In  October 1995, the  Financial Accounting Standards  Board issued SFAS No.
123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." SFAS No. 123 establishes a  new,
fair  value based  method of  measuring stock-based  compensation, but  does not
require an entity  to adopt  the new method  for preparing  its basic  financial
statements.  For  entities  not  adopting the  new  method  for  preparing basic
financial statements, SFAS No. 123 requires  disclosure in the footnotes of  pro
forma net earnings and earnings per share information as if the fair value based
method  had been adopted. Adoption of SFAS No. 123 is required no later than the
Company's year ending March  31, 1997. The disclosure  requirements of SFAS  No.
123  are effective  for financial  statements for  fiscal years  beginning after
December 31, 1995. The Company will  comply with the disclosure requirements  of
SFAS No. 123 in its financial statements for its year ending March 31, 1997.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
OVERVIEW
 
    Cyanotech  develops and commercializes natural products from microalgae. The
Company  is  currently  producing   microalgae  products  for  the   nutritional
supplement   and  immunological  diagnostics  markets  and  is  also  developing
microalgae-based products for  the aquaculture  feed/pigments, biopesticide  and
food  coloring markets. Microalgae are a diverse group of over 30,000 species of
microscopic plants  which have  a wide  range of  physiological and  biochemical
characteristics  and  naturally  contain high  levels  of  nutrients. Microalgae
represent a largely unexplored and unexploited renewable natural resource, which
grow much faster  than land-based  plants. Under  favorable growing  conditions,
certain  microalgae  produce  a new  crop  every week.  Cyanotech  has designed,
developed and implemented  proprietary production  and harvesting  technologies,
systems  and processes which  eliminate many of  the stability and contamination
problems frequently encountered  in the  production of  microalgae. The  Company
believes  its technologies,  systems, processes  and favorable  growing location
permit year-round  harvesting of  its microalgal  products in  a cost  effective
manner. The Company believes that these accomplishments have not been equaled by
any other company, university or research institute.
 
   
    Cyanotech's  principal revenues  are derived from  sales of microalgae-based
"Spirulina" products for the vitamin and supplement market, which for the United
States alone is estimated at $3.7 billion. SPIRULINA PACIFICA is a unique strain
of Spirulina developed  by Cyanotech  which provides  a vegetable-based,  highly
absorbable  source  of  natural  beta  carotene,  mixed  carotenoids  and  other
phytonutrients, B vitamins, gamma linolenic acid ("GLA"), protein and  essential
amino  acids. The Company believes its  Hawaiian SPIRULINA PACIFICA has achieved
high brand identity  among both  wholesale and  retail customers,  and that  the
Company's  products  have  better  taste,  more  consistent  color  and  greater
concentrations of natural beta carotene than competing Spirulina products. Since
1993, the  Company  has been  capacity-constrained,  with demand  for  its  bulk
SPIRULINA PACIFICA products exceeding the Company's production capabilities. The
Company  has tripled its Spirulina production  capacity since 1993 and continues
to increase capacity.  Cyanotech currently  markets its products  in the  United
States  and twelve other  countries through a  combination of retail, wholesale,
and private label channels, and plans to market new products either directly  or
through strategic alliances where appropriate.
    
 
    Cyanotech   maintains  an  environmentally  responsible  philosophy  in  the
development and production of its products, using natural production methods and
resources which employ extensive recycling  of raw materials and nutrients.  The
Company  believes  that these  recycling methods  result in  substantially lower
operating costs. The  Company's production  system operates without  the use  of
pesticides  and herbicides,  and does not  create erosion,  fertilizer runoff or
water pollution. The Company believes that it is the only producer of microalgae
to receive organic certification.
 
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
 
    Microalgae are a diverse group of microscopic plants that have a wide  range
of  physiological and  biochemical characteristics and  naturally contain, among
other things,  high levels  of  proteins, amino  acids, vitamins,  pigments  and
enzymes.  Microalgae grow  extremely fast, making  it possible to  harvest a new
crop every week utilizing optimal  culture and processing technologies. The  raw
materials  required  for microalgae  growth are  abundant and  include sunlight,
carbon dioxide and agricultural fertilizers.
 
    Research on  potential uses  of  microalgae began  in  the early  1900s  and
intensified  after  World War  II.  One of  the  first comprehensive  reviews on
applications of microalgae and methods to  grow microalgae was in ALGAL  CULTURE
FROM  LABORATORY TO  PILOT PLANT, published  by the Carnegie  Institute in 1953.
Most early work centered on microalgae as a food and this theme was carried into
recent work by NASA, which continues to  examine microalgae as a source of  food
as  well as a means to remove carbon dioxide and generate oxygen in outer space.
Current industry  and  university research  is  directed at  identifying  unique
compounds  produced  by  microalgae  for the  fine  chemical  and pharmaceutical
markets.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
   
    Over 30,000 species of microalgae are known to exist and represent a largely
unexplored and  unexploited  renewable  natural  resource.  Microalgae  has  the
following  properties that make commercial production attractive: (1) microalgae
grow much faster  than land  grown plants; (2)  microalgae have  a uniform  cell
structure  with  no  bark,  stems,  branches  or  leaves,  which  permits easier
extraction of  products and  higher  utilization of  the microalgae  cells;  (3)
cellular  uniformity also makes  it practical to  manipulate and control growing
conditions in order to optimize a particular cell characteristic; (4) microalgae
contain a  wide  array  of  vitamins and  other  important  nutrients;  and  (5)
microalgae  contain  natural  pigments and  are  a potential  source  of medical
products.
    
 
   
    Commercial applications  for these  microscopic plants  include  nutritional
products, diagnostic products, aquaculture feed/pigments, natural food colorings
and  research  grade  chemicals.  The  Company  believes  that  microalgae could
potentially be  used for  other commercial  applications, including  genetically
engineered products for the biopesticide and pharmaceutical industries. The most
significant  microalgae  products  produced  today are  algae  utilized  as food
supplements. These include forms of Spirulina, Chlorella, lake grown blue  green
algae  and natural beta  carotene from DUNALIELLA  SALINA. These microalgae food
supplements  contain,  in   varying  degrees,  highly   absorbable  sources   of
phytonutrients  including  mixed  carotenoids,  B  vitamins,  GLA,  protein  and
essential  amino  acids.  Published  scientific  animal  studies  suggest   that
increased  levels of some of these natural  compounds in the diet may reduce the
risk of  many types  of cancer  and strengthen  the immune  system. The  Company
believes that demand for these microalgae products has increased as the benefits
of plant-based nutrients, commonly known as "green superfoods," are beginning to
receive promotion in retail markets outside the health food community.
    
 
    While  many  unique  compounds  have  been  identified  in  microalgae,  the
efficient and cost  effective commercial  production of  microalgae is  elusive.
Many  microalgae culture systems  have been designed and  tested and failed over
the last 20 years. Because microalgae produced for food supplements is typically
cultivated and  harvested  outdoors,  production is  affected  significantly  by
climate,  weather conditions and the chemical  composition of the culture media.
Without consistent sunlight, warm temperature, low rainfall and proper  chemical
balance,  microalgae will  not grow as  quickly, resulting  in longer harvesting
cycles, decreased pond utilization  and increased cost. Furthermore,  microalgal
growth  requires a  nutrient rich environment.  The high nutrient  levels in the
ponds promote the  growth of  unwanted organisms,  or "weeds,"  if the  chemical
composition  of the ponds changes from  its required balance. Once contamination
occurs, a pond must  be emptied, cleaned and  restarted, a process that  further
decreases pond utilization and increases production costs.
 
    Microalgae  producers also  face relatively  high harvesting  and processing
costs, particularly  with  respect to  the  energy  costs required  to  dry  the
microalgae  prior to packaging and the  labor required throughout the harvesting
and processing cycles. Once harvested, microalgal cells contain from 85% to  95%
water.  The high water content is due to internal water in the cells that cannot
be removed  by  mechanical  means.  The  Company  estimates  that  the  cost  of
conventional heat-based microalgae drying processes represents approximately 30%
of  total production  cost. Most  drying systems  also damage  or destroy oxygen
sensitive nutrients in the finished microalgae products.
 
THE CYANOTECH SOLUTION
 
   
    Cyanotech has designed, developed and implemented proprietary production and
harvesting  technologies,  systems  and  processes  which  reduce  many  of  the
stability and contamination problems frequently encountered in the production of
microalgae.  This proprietary production  system is known  as Integrated Culture
Biology  Management  ("ICBM").  Through  the  application  of  this  technology,
Cyanotech's  ponds are in production year-round  without any significant loss in
productivity  due  to   contamination.  The  Company   believes  that  such   an
accomplishment  remains  unique  to  Cyanotech.  Certain  aspects  of  the  ICBM
technology are also applicable to producing other microalgae products which  the
Company  currently has  under development.  The Company  believes that  its ICBM
technology combined with the  climate conditions at  its production facility  in
Hawaii make it a cost-effective producer of premium Spirulina products.
    
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
    In  addition  to  the  advantages  of  its  ICBM  technology,  Cyanotech has
developed a patented system for the  recovery of carbon dioxide from its  drying
system  exhaust gas, called OCEAN-CHILL DRYING. Since microalgae are essentially
microscopic "plants," they require sunlight, water, carbon dioxide and nutrients
for optimal  growth.  By  recovering  carbon dioxide  that  would  otherwise  be
released into the atmosphere, the Company is able to divert the recovered carbon
dioxide  back to the  algae cultures to  nourish the growing  algae. The Company
believes that this process  provides it with a  significant cost advantage  over
other  microalgae producers who must purchase carbon dioxide. OCEAN-CHILL DRYING
also dries microalgal products in a low oxygen environment which protects oxygen
sensitive nutrients. In addition, Cyanotech has developed an automated Spirulina
processing system, which enables a single operator to harvest and produce  dried
Spirulina powder.
 
    Another  major advantage for  the Company is the  location of its production
facility at the  Hawaii Ocean Science  and Technology ("HOST")  Park at  Keahole
Point,  Hawaii. The  Company believes  that the  combination of  consistent warm
temperature, abundant sunlight, and low rainfall  at this facility makes this  a
favorable location for economically cultivating microalgae on a large scale. The
Company  believes that in contrast to  its facility, other microalgae production
facilities  located  in  areas  lacking  these  characteristics  stop  producing
microalgae  for  up to  four months  a  year because  of unfavorable  climate or
weather conditions.
 
    At the HOST Park, the Company has access to cold, clean, deep sea water that
is pumped up from a depth of 2,000 feet. This sea water is used both as a source
of nutrients for microalgae  culture and as a  cooling agent in the  OCEAN-CHILL
DRYING  process.  Additionally, Cyanotech's  facility has  access to  a complete
industrial infrastructure and  is located 30  miles from a  deep water port  and
adjacent  to an airport. The  Company believes that the  combination of its ICBM
technology,  favorable  growing  location,  year-round  production   capability,
OCEAN-CHILL  DRYING process and automated  processing system can be successfully
applied to the large-scale cultivation of  other species of microalgae that  may
be  identified for commercial applications.  The Company is currently conducting
pilot production work on  natural astaxanthin, a red  pigment used primarily  in
the  aquaculture industry to impart  pink color to the  flesh of pen-raised fish
and shrimp. Among the Company's other microalgae products under development  are
a genetically engineered mosquitocide and natural food colorings.
 
CYANOTECH'S STRATEGY
 
    The  Company's  objective is  to be  the leading  developer and  producer of
microalgal products in  its existing and  future markets. The  Company seeks  to
achieve this objective through the following strategies:
 
    - INCREASE  THE  COMPANY'S SPIRULINA  MARKET SHARE.  The Company  intends to
      increase its world  market share  for Spirulina by  expanding channels  of
      distribution,  expanding geographically and locating new potential markets
      for Spirulina. The Company  plans to expand  domestic sales and  marketing
      efforts  for its Nutrex products and  private label packaged products, and
      to explore mass marketing opportunities for Spirulina based products.  The
      Company's products are sold in twelve foreign countries and the Company is
      investigating  ways  to  expand  the  global  presence  of  its  products,
      including through the  addition of  foreign distributors.  The Company  is
      investigating  potential additonal  uses for  Spirulina. To  this end, the
      Company intends  to  fund  limited  clinical  trials  on  the  effects  of
      Spirulina  on arthritis and the immune system, and to fund studies for the
      use of Spirulina as a premium animal feed.
 
   
    - PROMOTE BRAND  UNIQUENESS AND  PACKAGED PRODUCTS.  Cyanotech is  the  only
      Hawaiian  producer  of  Spirulina and  has  developed a  unique  strain of
      Spirulina marketed  as  "SPIRULINA  PACIFICA."  Manufacturers  who  market
      Cyanotech's  brand generally identify and  promote Hawaiian Spirulina as a
      superior product.  The  private label  customers  also promote  the  brand
      uniqueness  of  Hawaiian Spirulina,  which  the Company  believes provides
      competitive differentiation  in  the  marketplace. The  Company  plans  to
      increase  marketing emphasis  on packaged  products, which  generally have
      higher associated gross profit per  pound than bulk products. The  Company
      believes  that it  is the only  producer of microalgae  to receive organic
      certification.
    
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
    - INCREASE BREADTH OF PRODUCT OFFERINGS. The Company is developing and plans
      to develop other products from microalgae, utilizing, in part, its current
      production technologies. These products include aquaculture  feed/pigments
      and  biopesticides. The  Company is currently  conducting pilot production
      work  on  natural  astaxanthin,  a  red  pigment  used  primarily  in  the
      aquaculture  industry to impart pink color to the flesh of pen-raised fish
      and shrimp. Among  the Company's  other products under  development are  a
      genetically engineered mosquitocide and natural food colorings.
 
   
    - ESTABLISH  STRATEGIC  ALLIANCES. The  Company  intends to  market  new and
      existing products  through  strategic  alliances  where  appropriate.  The
      Company  believes that these alliances will allow  it to focus on its core
      business as a microalgal producer and  to gain access to broader  markets.
      For  example, the Company is currently discussing a strategic alliance for
      its proposed natural  astaxanthin product  with a  major aquaculture  feed
      formulator.
    
 
   
    - CONTINUE  IMPROVEMENT UPON PRODUCTION  METHODOLOGIES. Cyanotech intends to
      continue to  improve  upon  its ICBM  proprietary  production  system  and
      OCEAN-CHILL  DRYING system and apply certain  of those technologies in the
      development of additional  microalgae-based products  for the  aquaculture
      feed/pigments,  biopesticide, food coloring and nutrition markets, as well
      as other potential commercial uses.
    
 
   
    - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. Cyanotech has a strong commitment to
      the environment. The Company's  production system recovers carbon  dioxide
      from  its drying system  exhaust gas, recycles 100%  of the growing media,
      operates without the use of pesticides or herbicides, and does not  create
      erosion,  fertilizer runoff or water  pollution. The Company believes that
      these recycling methods result in significantly lower operating costs.
    
 
TECHNOLOGY
 
    Cyanotech  has  developed  the  following  proprietary  technology  for  the
efficient, stable and cost-effective production of microalgal products:
 
    - INTEGRATED  CULTURE BIOLOGY  MANAGEMENT. Most notable  among the Company's
      technology is  the proprietary  ICBM  microalgae production  method  which
      integrates  culture pond  chemistry and harvesting  and processing methods
      designed to maintain  optimal microalgae growing  conditions. The  Company
      believes  that ICBM has eliminated many of the stability and contamination
      problems  frequently  encountered  in   the  large  scale  production   of
      microalgae.  Currently,  the  Company's Spirulina  microalgae  is produced
      using ICBM in a system in which 100% of the growing media is  continuously
      recycled  to culture ponds to become the  nutrient base for the next crop.
      Culture ponds  generally  are  harvested  approximately  once  each  week.
      Spirulina  production  with  ICBM has  proven  to be  an  extremely stable
      operating  environment,  permitting  the  Company  to  grow  and   harvest
      Spirulina  year-round without any significant problems of contamination by
      unwanted algae and associated loss  of productivity. The Company  believes
      that  such an  accomplishment has not  been equaled by  any other company,
      university or research institute.
 
   
    - OCEAN-CHILL DRYING. Cyanotech  has also  developed and  patented a  drying
      system  for powder  microalgal products.  Called OCEAN-CHILL  DRYING, this
      unique system utilizes cold sea water  brought from a depth of 2,000  feet
      in  a  closed-cycle modified  spray-drying system  that cools  and removes
      moisture from the air exiting the dryer. This dryer air is then  recycled,
      permitting  the Company  to control  and reduce  oxygen levels  within the
      dryer, minimize product  oxidation and increase  carbon dioxide levels  to
      concentrations  that make recovery feasible.  The recovered carbon dioxide
      is then fed to the algae culture  ponds as a nutrient source. This  system
      substantially  eliminates  carbon  dioxide exhaust  emissions,  provides a
      higher quality  product, and  significantly  reduces production  costs  by
      recovering carbon dioxide that would otherwise have to be purchased.
    
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
PRODUCTS AND PRODUCT CANDIDATES
 
    The following table summarizes the market applications and current status of
the Company's current products and products under development.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
                                MARKET APPLICATION       STATUS
<S>                             <C>                      <C>
CURRENT PRODUCTS:
  SPIRULINA PACIFICA Powder     Health and nutrition     Domestic and international
                                                          wholesale and retail sales
  SPIRULINA PACIFICA Tablets    Health and nutrition     Domestic and international
                                                          wholesale and retail sales
  SPIRULINA PACIFICA Flakes     Health and nutrition     Domestic retail sales
  HAWAIIAN ENERGIZER Sports     Health and nutrition     Domestic retail sales
   Drink Powder
  HAWAIIAN ENERGIZER Tablets    Health and nutrition     Domestic retail sales
  Phycobiliproteins             Immunological
                                diagnostics              Domestic and international sales
PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT:
  Natural Astaxanthin           Aquaculture pigment      Pilot production in process
  Genetically Engineered        Pesticide                Production system development work
   Mosquitocide                                           expected to start mid-1996
  Natural Food Colorings        Food manufacturers       Pilot production in process
</TABLE>
 
PRODUCTS
 
  SPIRULINA
 
    Cyanotech's  principal  product  is  a  nutritional  microalgae  marketed as
SPIRULINA PACIFICA, a unique strain of Spirulina developed by Cyanotech and sold
worldwide to  the health  and  natural foods  market.  SPIRULINA PACIFICA  is  a
vegetable  microalgae  that  is  a  highly  absorbable  source  of  natural beta
carotene, mixed carotenoids and other  phytonutrients, B vitamins, GLA,  protein
and  essential amino acids. The Company  believes SPIRULINA PACIFICA has greater
concentrations of natural beta carotene, better taste and more consistent  color
than  competing Spirulina  products. The  Company believes  that it  is the only
Spirulina producer to have its products and processes certified organic.
 
   
    Spirulina is  a  naturally  occurring microscopic  plant  which  grows  wild
throughout  the world in alkaline  environments such as soda  lakes. It has been
used for thousands of years  as a food. Today, Spirulina  is used by the  health
conscious  consumer for a variety  of immediate and long  term effects. Based on
customer testimonials, the Company believes that the primary immediate  benefits
Spirulina  provides are  increased energy and,  in people who  have arthritis or
injuries,  decreased  joint  pain.  Spirulina  is  a  good  source  of   natural
phytonutrients,  including carotenoids and  phycocyanin, among others. Published
scientific animal studies suggest that increased levels of some of these natural
compounds in the diet may reduce the risk of many types of cancer and strengthen
the immune system.
    
 
   
    The Company produces SPIRULINA  PACIFICA in three  forms: powder, flake  and
tablets.  Powder is used as an ingredient in health food drinks while flakes are
used as a seasoning on  salads and pasta. Tablets are  consumed daily as a  food
supplement.  The  retail  price  of the  Company's  Spirulina  packaged consumer
products is approximately $17.00 for a one-month supply.
    
 
    The Company  also  produces and  markets  two products  under  the  HAWAIIAN
ENERGIZER  name. HAWAIIAN ENERGIZER sports  drink contains complex carbohydrates
and vegetarian protein in  combination with SPIRULINA  PACIFICA, Bee Pollen  and
Siberian  Ginseng. HAWAIIAN  ENERGIZER tablets  contain SPIRULINA  PACIFICA, Bee
Pollen and Siberian Ginseng.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
  PHYCOBILIPROTEINS
 
    Cyanotech also produces phycobiliproteins which are sold to the medical  and
biotechnology   research  industry.  Phycobiliproteins  are  highly  fluorescent
pigments purified from microalgae. Their spectral properties make them useful as
tags or markers  in many  kinds of biological  assays, such  as flow  cytometry,
fluorescence immunoassays and fluorescence microscopy.
 
    The  Company produces a line of  four phycobiliprotein products with various
spectral properties. R-phycoerythrin (RPE)  is a red  pigment used primarily  in
flow  cytometry.  Allo-phycocyanin (APC)  is a  blue pigment  also used  in flow
cytometry, but typically in  combination with RPE to  form a fluorescent  tandem
phycobiliprotein    conjugate    which   improves    sensitivity.   Cross-linked
allo-phycocyanin (XL-APC) is a stabilized form of APC which can be used in  very
diluted  solution without problems of degradation. C-phycocyanin (CPC) is also a
blue pigment  and, although  not used  extensively in  cytometry, has  potential
applications  in food  and cosmetics  coloring. The  Company's phycobiliproteins
currently  range  in  price   from  $5,000  to  $33,000   per  gram.  Sales   of
phycobiliproteins  accounted for less than 3% of the Company's net sales for the
nine months  ended December  31, 1995.  The Company  anticipates that  sales  of
phycobiliproteins will not be material in future periods.
 
PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT
 
    Cyanotech's  expertise  is  in  the  development  of  efficient,  stable and
cost-effective production systems for microalgal products. The Company does  not
conduct basic scientific research to identify new microalgal products or develop
new  microalgal  products  through  genetic  engineering.  Rather,  the  Company
investigates  specific  microalgae  identified  in  scientific  literature   for
potentially  marketable  products.  When  necessary,  the  Company  will license
specific organisms and/or basic science technology for pilot-studies.
 
    Three  products  are   under  active  development   by  Cyanotech:   natural
astaxanthin, genetically engineered mosquitocide and natural food colorings.
 
  NATURAL ASTAXANTHIN
 
   
    Astaxanthin  is a red pigment used  primarily in the aquaculture industry to
impart pink  color to  the flesh  of pen-raised  fish and  shrimp. For  example,
without  astaxanthin in their diet, the flesh  of pen-raised salmon is white and
has a limited market. The astaxanthin  market currently is dominated by  Hoffman
LaRoche,  which produces synthetic astaxanthin  from petrochemicals. The Company
believes that  Hoffman  LaRoche currently  sells  synthetic astaxanthin  to  the
aquaculture industry at approximately $1,140 per pure pound.
    
 
    The  Company is  currently discussing a  strategic alliance  for its natural
astaxanthin with a major aquaculture feed formulator. The Company has also  been
working  with this feed formulator  to schedule feeding tests  at a major salmon
production facility. Presently, feeding schedules call for Cyanotech to  deliver
limited amounts of natural astaxanthin product beginning in March 1996.
 
   
    Using  a portion of the net proceeds  of this offering, the Company plans to
begin construction of  a natural  astaxanthin production  facility by  mid-1996.
Natural  astaxanthin is a new product for the Company and many production issues
must be resolved prior to commercial production. There can be no assurance  that
the Company will resolve production issues or that the Company will successfully
complete  its pilot production  scale studies of  natural astaxanthin. See "Risk
Factors -- Risks Associated with  Expansion into Additional Markets and  Product
Development" and "-- Competition."
    
 
  GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MOSQUITOCIDE
 
    A  genetically engineered  mosquitocide was  developed at  the University of
Memphis by a  team under  the direction of  Professor Edward  Stevens, Jr.,  who
successfully  cloned the toxin gene  from BACILLUS THURINGINSIS VAR, ISRAELENSIS
(Bti) into the  blue-green algae SYNECHOCOCCUS.  The bacterial toxin  of Bti  is
very  specific to mosquitoes  and black flies,  while the blue-green  algae is a
food  for  mosquito  larvae.  The  Company  believes  that  when  applied  to  a
mosquito-infested  body  of  water, the  algae  could  act as  an  effective and
environmentally safe means of control.
 
   
    In June 1995, Cyanotech signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement with
the University of  Memphis to  manufacture and sell  the genetically  engineered
mosquitocide. Development of a commercial
    
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
production  system is  scheduled to  start by mid-1996.  In addition  to being a
nuisance, mosquitoes are carriers for  viral encephalitis in the United  States,
and  major  carriers for  a number  of diseases  throughout the  world including
malaria, yellow fever,  dengue fever  and filariasis. The  Company is  currently
investigating   the   possible   application  of   this   technology   to  other
biopesticides.
 
  NATURAL FOOD COLORINGS
 
    Natural beta carotene, a  fat soluble pigment found  in many plants, can  be
used  as a yellow/orange  coloring agent for margarine,  cake mixes, soft drinks
and other  products.  The Company  believes  that  there are  no  other  natural
yellow/orange food colorings available today.
 
    In  August 1994,  Cyanotech and Hauser  formed a  joint venture partnership,
BetaPharm International,  to develop,  produce and  sell products  derived  from
DUNALIELLA  SALINA (natural beta carotene). Pilot  scale studies are underway to
determine the economic and technical  feasibility of producing certain  products
derived  from natural beta carotene.  If the results of  the project warrant and
market conditions dictate, the joint venture  will proceed to obtain funding  to
commercialize  the  product. The  parties  must agree  on  all commercialization
funding  decisions.  If  commercialization  (i.e.,  obtaining  production  plant
funding) cannot be reached by December 31, 1996, the joint venture will dissolve
and licenses granted by the parties under the joint venture will terminate.
 
  OTHER POTENTIAL PRODUCTS
 
   
    Many  potential  commercial substances  have  been identified  in microalgae
including amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids, pigments, enzymes,  anti-bacterial
agents  and anti-viral  agents. Cyanotech believes  that it has,  and is further
developing, technology which  will allow  the Company  to produce  a variety  of
products  from  microalgae.  Of  particular  interest  to  the  Company  is  the
production of natural colorants for use  in foods and cosmetics and an  expanded
line  of  biopesticides through  genetic  manipulation of  microalgae. Cyanotech
believes that  a large  market may  exist  for these  products, and  that  while
government  approval  for  such products  is  likely to  be  required, Cyanotech
believes approval may be obtained in a shorter time period and with less expense
than for pharmaceutical  products. The  Company believes that  as new  potential
products  are  either identified  in microalgae  or genetically  engineered into
microalgae, it  will be  in a  unique  position to  employ its  proprietary  and
commercially  proven  technology  for  the cost  effective  production  of these
potential products.
    
 
MANUFACTURING
 
  SPIRULINA
 
    Cyanotech began culturing SPIRULINA PACIFICA in 1985 at its present facility
at the HOST Park. SPIRULINA PACIFICA is cultured in shallow, open ponds adjacent
to the Pacific Ocean. Paddlewheels  agitate the water, permitting even  exposure
of  the algae to  the sun. A  combination of fresh  water and nutrient-rich deep
ocean water, drawn from  a depth of  2,000 feet, is used  to fill the  Spirulina
ponds.  Ninety-six trace  elements are supplied  by deep ocean  water. The other
major components  required  for growing  Spirulina  are food-grade  baking  soda
(sodium bicarbonate) and carbon dioxide.
 
    SPIRULINA  PACIFICA  is pumped  from the  culture ponds  through underground
pipes to a process building where it is screened for particulate matter and then
separated by stainless steel screens from the culture medium. It is then  washed
three  times with fresh  water and vacuum  filtered. SPIRULINA PACIFICA intended
for use in powder and tablets is dried by a patented OCEAN-CHILL DRYING process.
The Company uses deep ocean water in its OCEAN-CHILL DRYING process. The Company
obtains the cold water from the HOST Park at a cost substantially less than  the
cost  of generating the same cooling effect by refrigeration. The drying process
takes approximately three  seconds and  results in a  dark green  powder with  a
consistency similar to flour. SPIRULINA PACIFICA prepared in flake form is dried
in  a  more conventional  proprietary process.  Bulk SPIRULINA  PACIFICA powder,
tablets and flakes are packaged in foil laminate heat-sealed bags with an oxygen
absorbing pack sealed in each bag. This packaging ensures product freshness  and
extends the shelf life of bulk SPIRULINA PACIFICA.
 
    Carbon  dioxide is recovered  as a result of  the OCEAN-CHILL DRYING process
and fed back to  the culture ponds as  a nutrient. By use  of ICBM, all  culture
media    from    the   harvest    are    recycled   to    culture    ponds   and
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
   
additional nutrients are added to support the next growth phase. Active  culture
remaining  in the ponds  after harvest serves  to inoculate the  next batch. The
algae reproduces rapidly, and,  on average, approximately  one week is  required
before  the culture pond is again  harvested. Spirulina production with ICBM has
proven to be an extremely  stable operating environment, permitting the  Company
to  grow and harvest Spirulina without any significant problems of contamination
by unwanted algae and associated loss of productivity. The Company believes that
its  Spirulina   competitors  continue   to  experience   problems  of   culture
contamination  by  unwanted  algae,  requiring that  culture  ponds  be emptied,
cleaned and restarted. The Company is presently pursuing certification under the
international quality management system ISO 9000.
    
 
    Spirulina powder  is  difficult  to tablet  and  most  tablet  manufacturers
overcome  this difficulty  by either  adding high amounts  (from 10%  to 30%) of
excipients to "glue" the tablet together or by using a heat granulation  process
that  destroys nutrients. SPIRULINA PACIFICA tablets are produced by the Company
by blending  SPIRULINA  PACIFICA powder  with  a minimum  amount  of  excipients
(maximum of 2%) and tableting in a cold press compression tablet-making machine.
SPIRULINA  PACIFICA flakes  are produced  by blending  SPIRULINA PACIFICA powder
with food-grade lecithin  and drying this  in a proprietary  drying system.  The
Company's   packaged  consumer   products  are   bottled  and   labeled  by  two
subcontractors in California, both of which are certified cGMP manufacturers and
undergo regular governmental inspections.
 
    A sample  from  each lot  of  SPIRULINA  PACIFICA is  subjected  to  quality
assurance  testing. Quality  assurance testing includes  bulk density, moisture,
particulate matter, color and taste. In addition, each lot of SPIRULINA PACIFICA
is subjected to  a prescribed set  of microbiological tests  for food  products,
including  total  aerobic bacteria,  coliform  bacteria and  E.  coli. SPIRULINA
PACIFICA powder is certified  free of pesticides  and herbicides, and  certified
Kosher.
 
   
    Since 1993 Cyanotech has tripled its production capacity of Spirulina to its
present  annual production capacity of  350 metric tons per  year. In June 1995,
the Company more than doubled its drying capacity.
    
 
  NATURAL ASTAXANTHIN
 
   
    Cyanotech is  conducting  pilot  production work  to  develop  a  commercial
production  system for natural astaxanthin.  HAEMATOCOCCUS, the microalgae which
produces  astaxanthin,  grows  in  neutral  conditions  and  is  susceptible  to
contamination  by unwanted algae.  Cyanotech is developing  a proprietary system
which it believes will solve this problem. The Company employs a closed  culture
system  during  the initial  stage of  algal  growth, after  which the  algae is
transferred to open ponds for astaxanthin production. An additional advantage of
the Company's pilot system  is the ability to  control the temperature of  algal
cultures  by the use of cold seawater.  Natural astaxanthin is a new product for
the Company and  many production  issues must  be resolved  prior to  commercial
production.  There can be no assurance  that the Company will resolve production
issues or that the Company will successfully complete its pilot production scale
studies of  natural astaxanthin.  See  "Risk Factors  -- Risks  Associated  with
Expansion into Additional Markets and Product Development" and "-- Competition."
    
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
MARKETING AND SALES
 
    The  Company  believes  that  its present  bulk  customers  could  consume a
significant portion of the increased production of Spirulina from the facilities
expansion funded by a portion of the net proceeds of this offering. However,  it
is  the Company's  strategy to first  emphasize sales of  higher priced packaged
consumer products  through its  own Nutrex  brand and  private label  customers,
since  sales of packaged consumer products  carry higher associated gross profit
than sales of bulk products. Cyanotech intends to form strategic alliances  with
established  mass  market sales  and  distribution companies  to  sell Spirulina
products into mass  markets. The Company  also intends to  take certain  efforts
targeted  at  expanding  the  bulk  market  for  Spirulina  and  to  continue to
differentiate its products based on quality, taste and color consistency.
 
   
    - PRODUCT IDENTITY AND  BRAND UNIQUENESS.   Cyanotech is  the only  Hawaiian
      producer  of  Spirulina and  has developed  a  unique strain  of Spirulina
      marketed as  "SPIRULINA PACIFICA."  Manufacturers who  market  Cyanotech's
      brand  generally  identify and  promote Hawaiian  Spirulina as  a superior
      product. The private label customers also promote the brand uniqueness  of
      Hawaiian  Spirulina,  which  the  Company  believes  provides  competitive
      differentiation in the marketplace.
    
 
    - EXPAND SALES OF CONSUMER PACKAGED PRODUCTS.
 
     PRIVATE LABEL  CONSUMER  PACKAGED  PRODUCTS.    The  Company  has  achieved
     significant  sales  of  private  label  products  in  certain  Pacific  Rim
     countries. Cyanotech plans to capitalize upon its unique Hawaiian brand  to
     increase  the  number  of  both domestic  and  international  private label
     customers.
 
     NUTREX BRAND PRODUCTS.  The Company believes that a substantial opportunity
     exists to  increase domestic  sales of  its Nutrex  brand products.  Nutrex
     packaged  consumer  products and  certain  of the  Company's  private label
     products currently  are the  only  organic certified  microalgal  products,
     which  the  Company  believes  is  important  to  health  and  natural food
     consumers. The Company is launching a  new label and an intensified  retail
     marketing  program. The  initial thrust  of this  program will  be to focus
     resources on high  volume, large natural  food store chains  such as  Whole
     Foods,  Mrs.  Gooches, Alfalfas,  Wild Oats,  Bread  and Circus,  and Puget
     Consumers  Cooperatives.  The  Company  intends  to  hire  domestic   sales
     personnel and increase spending on Nutrex marketing activities.
 
    - DEVELOP  STRATEGIC ALLIANCES.  The  Company is seeking strategic alliances
      with sales and distribution  companies that have  proven track records  in
      mass  market sales and distribution outside  the health food industry. The
      objective is to generate sales of consumer packaged products in chain drug
      stores  and  discount  stores.  Cyanotech  anticipates  coordinating  this
      program with media advertising.
 
    - EXPAND  BULK SALES.  The Company intends to focus marketing efforts on its
      existing bulk  customers  in  order  to  increase  bulk  sales.  Cyanotech
      develops  product literature  and marketing materials  for bulk customers,
      sponsors cooperative advertising, participates in trade shows and provides
      speakers for product  forums and  press interviews. The  Company plans  to
      sponsor  feed studies on the  benefits of incorporating SPIRULINA PACIFICA
      in feed formulations for poultry, pets and fish in an effort to expand the
      bulk market for Spirulina products.
 
    - DIFFERENTIATE PRODUCTS ON QUALITY ADVANTAGES.   Cyanotech believes it  has
      established  a quality advantage for its  SPIRULINA PACIFICA in the health
      food and nutrition industry. The Company plans on maintaining its  premium
      status  through (i) continued  education of customers  about the Company's
      product quality and (ii) consistent improvement of product quality through
      improved processing and handling of finished goods.
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
    The majority of Cyanotech's bulk Spirulina sales are to companies with their
own Spirulina  product  lines. Many  of  these companies  identify  and  promote
Cyanotech's  Hawaiian Spirulina  in their  products. In  the United  States, the
Company sells directly  to manufacturers and  health food formulators.  Packaged
consumer products sell in the domestic market through an established health food
distribution  network and via mail order.  Orders for packaged consumer products
are taken at the store  level by one of  34 regional broker representatives  and
shipped  through one of 22 distributors. In  the foreign markets the Company has
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
appointed exclusive  sales distributors  for both  bulk Spirulina  and  packaged
consumer  products. The  Company now  has exclusive  sales distributors  for the
following regions: (i) Japan,  Korea, Taiwan and  Singapore; (ii) Canada;  (iii)
the Benelux Countries; (iv) Australia; (v) Hong Kong and China; and (vi) France.
 
CUSTOMERS
 
   
    Cyanotech   markets  and  sells  its   Spirulina  products  to  health  food
manufacturers, private label  customers, retail  distributors, natural  products
distributors  and direct to certain natural food stores. The Company's customers
range in size from large enterprises with  over $500 million in annual sales  to
small  neighborhood retail stores. Several of  the Company's major customers are
businesses that  were  established  exclusively to  market  and  sell  Spirulina
products. The Company cooperates closely with these customers to develop product
labeling  and  advertising designed  to educate  the  consumer about  the health
benefits of using a "green superfood" such as Spirulina and, more  specifically,
SPIRULINA  PACIFICA products. Net sales to the Company's three largest customers
increased from approximately 32.3% of net sales in the year ended March 31, 1995
to approximately 49.9% of net sales in the nine months ended December 31,  1995.
Since  1993 the Company has been  capacity-constrained, with demand for its bulk
SPIRULINA PACIFICA products exceeding the Company's production capabilities. The
Company has not been able to accept any major new customers since March 1995.
    
 
    HEALTH FOOD  MANUFACTURERS.   Health food  manufacturers use  the  Company's
products  as the key  ingredient in Spirulina  products, or as  an ingredient in
health food  formulations,  which they  manufacture  for sale.  These  customers
purchase  bulk powder or bulk tablets and package the products under their brand
label for sale to the health and natural food markets. In some instances,  these
customers  produce  products  under  private-labeling  arrangements  with  third
parties. Many of the products produced by these customers are often marketed and
sold in direct  competition with the  Nutrex line of  retail consumer  products.
However,  the  Company  differentiates  its  products  from  those  of  its bulk
customers  by  reserving  the  certified  organic  line  of  products  for  sale
exclusively under the Nutrex label and certain private labels.
 
    PRIVATE  LABEL  CUSTOMERS.   The  Company currently  provides  private label
retail consumer products to two international customers. Using Spirulina tablets
produced by the Company, the products are  packaged by one of the Company's  two
bottling subcontractors in Southern California, using product labels supplied by
the customer. Products for these customers are manufactured only upon receipt of
an order; finished product inventories are not maintained by the Company.
 
    RETAIL  DISTRIBUTORS.   According to WHOLE  FOODS RETAILER  magazine, in the
domestic health  and  natural food  industry,  retail distributors  account  for
approximately  57% of  all products sold  to health and  natural food retailers.
Retail  distributors  act  as  product  wholesalers  to  independent  and  chain
retailers.  The  majority of  domestic  Nutrex sales  in  the nine  months ended
December 31, 1995 were  to 22 distributors.  Pricing and promotional  strategies
with  respect to  retail distributors  are coordinated  by the  Company's master
broker, an independent consultant  retained by the  Company on a  month-to-month
basis.
 
    NATURAL  PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTORS.  In the nine months ended December 31, 1995,
the Company sold to three U.S. customers engaged in the business of distributing
natural  raw  materials  to  health   and  natural  food  manufacturers.   These
distributors   provide  their  customers   with  standardized  quality  control,
warehousing and distribution services, and charge a mark-up on the products  for
providing these services. These distributors may differentiate the products they
sell, but they generally treat the products as commodities, with price being the
major determining factor in their purchasing decision.
 
    NATURAL FOOD STORES.  Less than 5% of the Company's sales in the nine months
ended  December 31, 1995, were direct sales to independent or chain natural food
retail stores. The Company believes that most natural food retail stores  prefer
to purchase products from retail distributors.
 
COMPETITION
 
  SPIRULINA
 
    The  Company's  SPIRULINA  PACIFICA  products  compete  with  a  variety  of
vitamins, dietary  supplements, other  algal  products and  similar  nutritional
products available to consumers. The nutritional products
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
market  is highly competitive. It includes international, national, regional and
local producers and distributors, many of  whom have greater resources than  the
Company,  and many  of whom  offer a  greater variety  of products.  The Company
believes that its direct competition in  the Spirulina market currently is  from
Dainippon Ink and Chemical's Earthrise Farms facility in California and numerous
smaller  farms in China, India, Thailand, Brazil  and South Africa, but that the
Company is the only producer of certified organic microalgal consumer  products.
The  Company's packaged consumer  products marketed under  its Nutrex brand also
compete with products  marketed by  health food manufacturing  customers of  the
Company  who purchase bulk Spirulina from the  Company and package it for retail
sales. A large Spirulina  production facility in Mexico,  which has been  closed
since  1993, may reopen.  Should this facility  resume production in substantial
quantities, the Company would encounter increased competition.
 
    In addition to other Spirulina  based products, SPIRULINA PACIFICA  competes
in  certain markets  with other "green  superfoods," such as  Chlorella (a green
microalgae with sales  primarily in  Japan), APHAMIZOMENON  (a blue-green  algae
harvested  from  an  eutrophic  lake  in  Oregon  with  sales  primarily through
multilevel marketing) and  cereal grasses such  as barley, wheat  and kamut.  In
addition,  major  food and  beverage  companies may  become  more active  in the
nutritional products business,  either directly  or through  the acquisition  of
smaller  companies.  A decision  by another  company to  focus on  the Company's
existing markets or  target markets  or a  substantial increase  in the  overall
supply  of  Spirulina could  have  a material  adverse  effect on  the Company's
business, financial  condition  and results  of  operations. While  the  Company
believes  that  it competes  favorably on  factors such  as quality,  brand name
recognition  and  loyalty,  the  Company's  SPIRULINA  PACIFICA  products   have
typically  been sold at prices higher  than most other Spirulina products. There
can be no assurance that the  Company will not experience competitive  pressure,
particularly  with respect to pricing, that could adversely affect its business,
financial condition and results of operations. See "Risk Factors -- Competition"
and "--  Customer Concentration  and Risks  Associated with  Changes in  Product
Mix."
 
  PHYCOBILIPROTEINS
 
    There are four major competitors which manufacture phycobiliprotein products
for  sale, including Molecular  Probes, Inc., Quantify  Inc., Martek Biosciences
Corporation and  Prozyme Inc.  Cyanotech competes  with these  companies on  the
basis   of  price  and  quality.  In  addition,  one  large  potential  user  of
phycobiliproteins,  Coulter,  Inc.,   manufactures  phycobiliproteins  for   its
internal use. New synthetic fluores-
cent  compounds  have been  developed by  a  third party  which are  superior to
phycobiliproteins in some applications. The advantage of the synthetic compounds
is their lower molecular weight and, in some cases, their lower cost. While  the
Company's  phycobiliprotein  products may  not  be able  to  compete effectively
against synthetic compounds in some applications, Cyanotech's  phycobiliproteins
have gained a reputation for high quality at a competitive price.
 
  PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT
 
    The  products being developed by Cyanotech  will compete with both synthetic
and natural products  on the basis  of price and  quality. The Company's  future
competitors  may include major chemical and specialized biotechnology companies,
many of which  have financial, technical  and marketing resources  significantly
greater  than  those  of  Cyanotech.  Cyanotech  believes  that  its proprietary
technology combined  with  the  metabolic diversity  and  high  productivity  of
microalgae will allow the Company to compete in large market areas against large
companies, although there can be no assurance in this regard.
 
    The  Company's natural astaxanthin product,  if successfully developed, will
compete directly against synthetic  astaxanthin produced and marketed  worldwide
by  Hoffman LaRoche.  The Company believes  that there are  no other significant
producers of  astaxanthin.  Although  the  Company is  unaware  of  any  studies
indicating  that natural astaxanthin has any  benefits not otherwise provided by
synthetic astaxanthin,  it  believes there  is  consumer demand  for  a  natural
astaxanthin product.
 
    Cyanotech's  proposed mosquitocide  product may,  if successfully developed,
compete with chemical pesticides as well as other biopesticides. Three companies
currently manufacture a mosquito biopesticide
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
based on the bacterial Bti toxin: Abbot Laboratories, Novo and Sandoz. There can
be no assurance  that Cyanotech's proposed  product, if successfully  developed,
can or would compete favorably with the other Bti products currently available.
 
    The Company's natural food coloring, if successfully developed, will compete
directly  with  synthetic  food  colorings as  well  as  natural  food colorings
produced by other companies.
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
   
    The  Company's  products,  potential  products  and  its  manufacturing  and
research  activities are subject to varying degrees of regulation by a number of
government authorities in the  United States and  in other countries,  including
the  Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug
and Cosmetic Act and  by the Environmental Protection  Agency ("EPA") under  the
Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide, and  Rodenticide Act  ("FIFRA"). Each  line of
products that  is or  may  be marketed  by the  Company,  its licensees  or  its
collaborators can present unique regulatory problems and risks, depending on the
product  type, uses  and method  of manufacture.  The FDA  regulates, to varying
degrees and in  different ways,  dietary supplements, other  food products,  and
diagnostic   medical  device   and  pharmaceutical   products,  including  their
manufacture, testing, exportation,  labeling, and, in  some cases,  advertising.
Generally,   prescription  pharmaceuticals  and   certain  types  of  diagnostic
products, as medical devices, are regulated more rigorously than foods, such  as
dietary  supplements. The EPA rigorously regulates pesticides, among other types
of products.
    
 
   
    The Company  is also  subject  to other  federal,  state and  foreign  laws,
regulations  and policies with respect to  labeling of its products, importation
of organisms, and occupational safety, among others. Federal, state and  foreign
laws,  regulations and policies are always  subject to change and depend heavily
on administrative policies and interpretations.  The Company works with  foreign
distributors  in  its compliance  with foreign  laws, regulations  and policies.
There can be no assurance  that any changes with  respect to federal, state  and
foreign  laws, regulations and  policies, and, particularly  with respect to the
FDA and EPA or other such  regulatory bodies, with possible retroactive  effect,
will  not have  a material adverse  effect on the  Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations. There can  be no assurance that any of  the
Company's  potential products  will satisfy  applicable regulatory requirements.
See "Risk Factors -- Potential Difficulty in Obtaining FDA and Other  Government
Approvals."
    
 
   
    The  Federal Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act ("DSHEA") regulates
the use and marketing  of dietary supplements,  including vitamin products.  The
DSHEA  covers only dietary supplements and  contains a number of provisions that
differentiate dietary supplements from  other foods. The  DSHEA also sets  forth
standards  for adulteration  of dietary  supplements or  ingredients thereof and
establishes current food Good Manufacturing Practices ("cGMP") requirements  for
dietary  supplements. It also provides detailed requirements for the labeling of
dietary supplements, including  nutrition and ingredient  labeling. The  Company
currently   believes  that  its  SPIRULINA   PACIFICA,  marketed  as  a  dietary
supplement, is exempt from FDA regulation as a food additive.
    
 
   
    The Company's Spirulina manufacturing  processes and the Company's  contract
bottlers  are required to adhere  to cGMP as prescribed  by the FDA. The Company
believes that it is currently in  compliance with all applicable cGMP and  other
food  regulations.  Such  regulations  specify  component  and  product  testing
standards, quality assurance requirements,  and records and other  documentation
controls.  Compliance with  relevant cGMP requirements  can be  onerous and time
consuming, and there can be no assurance  that the Company can continue to  meet
relevant  FDA  manufacturing requirements  for  existing products  or  meet such
requirements for  any future  products. Ongoing  compliance with  food cGMP  and
other   applicable  regulatory  requirements   are  monitored  through  periodic
inspections by  state  and  federal  agencies, including  the  FDA,  the  Hawaii
Department  of Health and comparable agencies  in other countries. The Company's
processing facility  is also  inspected annually  for organic  certification  by
Quality  Assurance  International and  for  Kosher certification  by  the Kosher
Overseers Association. The use of Spirulina as a food additive for seasoning  on
salads or pasta or for such other food uses has not been cleared by the FDA. The
Company  currently markets the product  for these food uses  on the basis of its
belief that its use in these  food applications is generally recognized as  safe
and   therefore   is   not   subject   to   FDA   premarket   clearances   as  a
    
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
   
food additive. A  determination that the  Company is in  violation of the  FDA's
food  cGMP  and other  food regulations,  including food  additive requirements,
could lead  to  the imposition  of  civil penalties,  including  fines,  product
recalls or product seizures, and potentially criminal sanctions.
    
 
   
    As  IN VITRO diagnostic medical device components, phycobiliprotein products
do not  currently  require  premarket  clearances by  the  FDA.  However,  as  a
component  of a medical device,  they can nonetheless still  be subject to other
various medical device requirements, including cGMP requirements.
    
 
   
    All  new  color  additives  require  premarket  clearances  from  the   FDA.
Therefore,  the Company's potential natural food color products will require FDA
clearances,  unless  they  meet  the  requirements  of  current  color  additive
regulations.  The Company's proposed  natural astaxanthin product  will need FDA
clearance for use as a color additive in the United States. The Company believes
that no regulatory approval is required for use of astaxanthin as a colorant  in
foods  in  major markets  outside the  United States.  The process  of obtaining
clearances for a new color additive  is expensive and time consuming.  Extensive
information   is   required  on   the  toxicity   of  the   additive,  including
carcinogenicity studies and  other animal  testing. No assurances  can be  given
that  any of the Company's proposed products  intended for use in coloring foods
will be cleared by the FDA as color additives on a timely basis, if at all.
    
 
   
    FIFRA requires the registration of most pesticides, including the  Company's
proposed genetically engineered mosquitocide. The EPA also regulates under FIFRA
the  experimental  testing  of  pesticides,  facility  inspections,  records and
exports of pesticides. The registration of a new pesticide must usually  contain
different  types of supporting data,  including product chemistry, environmental
fate, toxicology,  and  fish  and wildlife  studies.  Although  biochemical  and
microbial   pesticides  are  sometimes  treated  differently  from  conventional
chemical pesticides because of their unique modes of action, low volumes, target
species specificity or natural  occurrence, there can be  no assurance that  EPA
registration of the Company's mosquitocide can be obtained on a timely basis, if
at all.
    
 
PATENTS, LICENSES AND TRADEMARKS
 
    Although  the  Company regards  its  proprietary technology,  trade secrets,
trademarks and  similar intellectual  property as  critical to  its success  and
relies  on  a  combination  of trade  secret,  contract,  patent,  copyright and
trademark  law  to  establish  and  protect  its  rights  in  its  products  and
technology,  there can be no assurance that  the Company will be able to protect
its technology  adequately or  that  competitors will  not  be able  to  develop
similar  technology  independently. In  addition,  the laws  of  certain foreign
countries may not protect the Company's intellectual property rights to the same
extent as the laws  of the United  States. Cyanotech has  had one United  States
patent  issued to it. Litigation in the United States or abroad may be necessary
to enforce  the  Company's patent  or  other intellectual  property  rights,  to
protect  the Company's trade secrets, to determine the validity and scope of the
proprietary rights of others or to  defend against claims of infringement.  Such
litigation,  even if successful, could result in substantial costs and diversion
of resources and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, although  currently
there  are no  pending claims  or lawsuits  that have  been brought  against the
Company, if any such  claims are asserted against  the Company, the Company  may
seek  to obtain a license under  the third party's intellectual property rights.
There can be no assurance, however, that  a license would be available on  terms
acceptable or favorable to the Company, if at all.
 
    While  the disclosure and use of  Cyanotech's know-how and trade secrets are
generally controlled under agreements with the parties involved, there can be no
assurance that all confidentiality agreements will be honored, that others  will
not  independently develop equivalent  technology, that disputes  will not arise
concerning the ownership of intellectual property, or that dissemination of  the
Company's  trade secrets will not occur. The  Company anticipates that it may in
the future apply for additional patents on certain aspects of its technology. No
assurance can be  given that its  patent applications will  issue as patents  or
that  any patent  now or to  be issued  will provide the  Company with preferred
positions with respect to the covered technology. Additionally, there can be  no
assurance    that   any   patent   issued   to   the   Company   will   not   be
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
challenged, invalidated or  circumvented or that  the rights granted  thereunder
will  provide adequate protection to  the Company's products. Furthermore, there
can be no assurance that others will not independently develop similar products,
duplicate the  Company's products  or, if  patents are  issued to  the  Company,
design around the patents issued to the Company. See "Risk Factors -- Dependence
on Proprietary Technology."
 
ASSOCIATES
 
    The  Company employed 53 associates as of December 31, 1995, of which 49 are
full-time. Approximately  20  associates  are involved  in  the  harvesting  and
production  process, five are involved in  research and product development, and
the remainder  are involved  in sales,  administration and  support.  Management
believes  that its relations with  its associates are good.  The Company has not
experienced difficulty in attracting personnel. None of the Company's associates
are represented by a labor union.
 
    Effective April 1, 1995, the Company  implemented a profit sharing plan  for
all associates not covered under a separate management incentive plan. Under the
profit sharing plan, 5% of pre-tax profits are allocated based on gross wages to
non-management   associates  on  a  quarterly   basis.  Fifty  percent  of  each
associate's profit sharing bonus is distributed  in cash on an after-tax  basis,
the remainder is deposited in each associate's 401(k) account on a pre-tax basis
with a six year vesting schedule, based on years of service with the Company.
 
PROPERTIES
 
   
    The  Company  is  located in  Kailua-Kona,  Hawaii,  at the  HOST  Park. The
facility in Kailua-Kona  consists of  approximately 77  leased acres  containing
production  ponds, a  processing facility, a  laboratory, administrative offices
and additional space  for production ponds.  All products are  produced at  this
facility.  The  property is  leased from  the  State of  Hawaii under  a 30-year
commercial lease expiring  in 2025. Cyanotech  has made a  request to obtain  an
option to lease an additional 160 acres at the HOST Park, which request has been
approved,  subject to preparation  of final documentation.  The Company believes
that there is sufficient available land at  the HOST Park to meet its  currently
planned  needs. The Company has no  production facilities or offices outside the
State of Hawaii.
    
 
PRODUCT LIABILITY AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    Cyanotech is not currently  subject to any  material legal proceedings.  The
Company  may  from time  to time  become  a party  to various  legal proceedings
arising in  the normal  course  of its  business.  These actions  could  include
product   liability,  employee-related  issues  and  disputes  with  vendors  or
customers. Due  to the  nature of  the Company's  products, the  Company may  be
subject  to  product  liability  claims  involving  personal  injuries allegedly
related to  the  Company's  products.  The  Company  carries  product  liability
insurance  in limited amounts  for products involving  human consumption. In the
opinion  of  management,  broader   product  liability  insurance  coverage   is
prohibitively  expensive  at  this  time. Nevertheless,  any  future  claims are
subject to the uncertainties related to  litigation and the ultimate outcome  of
any  such proceedings or claims  cannot be predicted. There  can be no assurance
that the Company's insurance is adequate  or will remain available to cover  any
such  claims. In addition, the Company  may experience product recalls, although
no such recalls have been required to date. See "Risk Factors -- Risk of Product
Liability."
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
    The directors and executive officers of Cyanotech and their respective  ages
and positions with Cyanotech are set forth in the following table.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   NAME                        AGE                      POSITION
- ------------------------------------------     ---     ------------------------------------------
Gerald R. Cysewski, Ph.D. ................     46      Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
                                                        Executive Officer
<S>                                         <C>        <C>
Ronald P. Scott...........................     41      Executive Vice President - Finance and
                                                        Administration, Secretary, Treasurer and
                                                        Director
Glenn Jensen..............................     37      Vice President - Operations
Kelly J. Moorhead.........................     40      Vice President - Sales and Marketing and
                                                        President, Nutrex, Inc.
Julian C. Baker...........................     29      Director
Eva R. Reichl.............................     77      Director
John T. Ushijima..........................     71      Director
Paul C. Yuen, Ph.D. ......................     67      Director
</TABLE>
 
    DR.  CYSEWSKI co-founded the Company in 1983 and has served as a director of
the Company and as  its Scientific Director since  that time. Since March  1990,
Dr.  Cysewski has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
and in October 1990 was also appointed to the position of Chairman of the Board.
From 1988 to November 1990, he served as Vice Chairman of the Company. From 1980
to 1982 Dr. Cysewski was group leader of microalgae research and development  at
Battelle Northwest, a major contract research and development firm. From 1976 to
1980  Dr. Cysewski was an assistant professor  in the Department of Chemical and
Nuclear Engineering at  the University  of California, Santa  Barbara, where  he
received  a two-year  grant from  the National  Science Foundation  to develop a
culture system  for blue-green  algae. Dr.  Cysewski received  his doctorate  in
Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.
 
    MR.  SCOTT  was appointed  to the  Board  of Directors  of the  Company (the
"Board") in November 1995, has served as Executive Vice President - Finance  and
Administration  since August  1995, and  has served  as Secretary  and Treasurer
since November 1990 and June 1990, respectively. From December 1990 until August
1995 Mr.  Scott served  as Vice  President -  Finance and  Administration.  From
September  1990 to December 1990,  Mr. Scott served as  Controller. From 1989 to
1990, he  was Assistant  Controller  for PRIAM  Corporation, a  manufacturer  of
Winchester  disk  drives. From  1980 to  1989, he  served in  various accounting
management positions  with Measurex  Corporation, a  manufacturer of  industrial
process control systems. Mr. Scott holds a B.S. degree in Finance and Management
from  California University, San Jose, and  an M.B.A. degree from the University
of Santa Clara.
 
    MR. JENSEN has  served as  Vice President -  Operations since  May 1993.  He
joined  the Company in  1984 as Process  Manager and was  promoted to Production
Manager in  1991,  in which  position  he served  until  his promotion  to  Vice
President  - Operations. Prior to joining Cyanotech, Mr. Jensen worked for three
years as a  plant engineer  at a  Spirulina production  facility, Cal-Alga  near
Fresno, California, which ceased to do business in 1983. Mr. Jensen holds a B.S.
degree in Health Science from California State University, Fresno.
 
    MR.  MOORHEAD  has  served  as  Vice President  -  Sales  and  Marketing and
President of Nutrex,  Inc. since  December 1991.  From August  1987 to  December
1991,  he served as Vice President - Production. Mr. Moorhead joined the Company
as Production  Biologist  in December  1984.  Prior to  joining  Cyanotech,  Mr.
Moorhead  worked at the Oceanic Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii where he conducted
research on production of Spirulina from agricultural wastes. Mr. Moorhead holds
a B.S.  degree in  Aquatic  Biology from  the  University of  California,  Santa
Barbara.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
    MR.  BAKER has served as a director  of the Company since November 1995. Mr.
Baker is a portfolio manager for Laurence A. Tisch and Preston R. Tisch and  for
members  of their family. Prior to his employment by the Tisch family, Mr. Baker
was a member of The Clipper Group and its predecessors, CS First Boston Merchant
Bank and  First Boston  Venture Capital.  Mr.  Baker is  a graduate  of  Harvard
University.  Laurence A. Tisch and Preston R. Tisch are Co-Chairmen and Co-Chief
Executive Officers  of  Loews  Corporation  and own  approximately  32%  of  the
outstanding shares of that corporation. Loews Corporation owns approximately 84%
of   the  outstanding  shares  of   CNA  Financial  Corporation.  CNA  Financial
Corporation, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, is a significant stockholder  of
Cyanotech. See "Principal Stockholders."
 
    MS. REICHL has served as a director of the Company since August 1993. She is
a  private  investor who  has  been involved  in a  variety  of real  estate and
fruit-growing operations in the states of Florida and Washington during the past
ten years.
 
    MR. USHIJIMA has served as a director of the Company since 1984. He has been
a Partner in the  law firm of  Ushijima & Ushijima, Hilo,  Hawaii, for over  ten
years.  Mr. Ushijima is also a former  Hawaii State Senator and currently serves
as a member of the Board of Regents for the University of Hawaii.
 
    DR. YUEN has served as a director of the Company since August 1993. Dr. Yuen
currently serves as Dean, College of  Engineering, for the University of  Hawaii
at  Manoa. From July  1992 to March 1993,  Dr. Yuen was  Acting President of the
University of  Hawaii. From  1989 to  1992,  Dr. Yuen  was Interim  Senior  Vice
President  for Academic Affairs,  University of Hawaii at  Manoa. Dr. Yuen holds
M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Illinois Institute  of
Technology.
 
    The  Company's directors are elected at the annual stockholders' meeting and
serve until their respective successors are elected or until death,  resignation
or  removal. Officers  are appointed  by, and  serve at  the discretion  of, the
Board. There  are  no family  relationships  among any  directors  or  executive
officers of the Company.
 
BOARD COMMITTEES
 
    The  Board  has  an Audit  Committee  and  a Compensation  and  Stock Option
Committee. The Board does not have a standing nominating committee. The  present
Audit  Committee consists of Dr. Yuen, Mr.  Ushijima and Ms. Reichl. The present
Compensation and Stock Option Committee consists  of Dr. Yuen, Mr. Ushijima  and
Ms. Reichl.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
    Each  non-employee director  is entitled to  receive $500  per Board meeting
attended and is reimbursed  for all out-of-pocket  costs incurred in  connection
with attendance at such meetings. In addition, each non-employee director (other
than  Mr.  Baker)  has received,  pursuant  to the  Company's  1994 Non-Employee
Directors Stock Option and Stock Grant Plan (the "Non-Employee Directors Plan"),
options to purchase  3,000 shares  of the Company's  Common Stock.  At the  1996
Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders,  Mr. Baker  and  any  other  new non-employee
director (in each case if continuing as a director) who has not received such  a
grant  will receive a 10-year option to purchase 3,000 shares. Each non-employee
director who  has received  such  an option  grant,  at each  subsequent  annual
meeting  of  stockholders,  received  or  will  receive  under  the Non-Employee
Directors  Plan  an  automatic  grant  of   2,000  shares  of  fully  paid   and
non-assessable  shares of Common Stock that  are non-transferable for six months
following the date of such grant. During  the fiscal year ended March 31,  1995,
each  of the  director nominees  other than Mr.  Cysewski was  granted under the
Non-Employee Directors Plan  options to  purchase 3,000 shares  of Common  Stock
expiring in 2004 at $1.0625 per share, representing the fair market value of the
shares on the date of grant.
 
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS
 
    The  Company believes  that its  status as a  Nevada corporation  as well as
certain provisions of its Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws will  be
useful  to attract and  retain qualified persons as  directors and officers. The
Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation limit the liability of directors to
the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law. This provision is intended to  allow
the  Company's directors  the benefit of  Nevada Corporation  Law which provides
that directors of Nevada corporations may be relieved of
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
monetary liabilities for breach of  their fiduciary duties as directors,  except
under  certain  circumstances, including  (i)  acts or  omissions  which involve
intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law, or (ii) the payment
of unlawful distributions. The Company's  Bylaws provide that the Company  shall
indemnify  its officers and  directors to the fullest  extent provided by Nevada
law.
 
    The Company  has  obtained officer  and  director liability  insurance  with
respect to liabilities arising out of certain matters, including matters arising
under the Securities Act.
 
    There  is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer,
associate or other  agent of the  Company as to  which indemnification is  being
sought, nor is the Company aware of any threatened litigation that may result in
claims for indemnification by any director, officer, associate or other agent.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
  SUMMARY OF CASH AND OTHER COMPENSATION
 
    The  following table sets forth the  aggregate cash compensation paid by the
Company for services  rendered during  the years  ended March  31, 1995  (fiscal
1995),  March  31,  1994 (fiscal  1994)  and  December 31,  1992  (fiscal 1992),
respectively, to the  Company's Chief  Executive Officer  (the "Named  Executive
Officer").  No executive officer earned over  $100,000. No executive officer who
would have otherwise been includable  in this table on  the basis of salary  and
bonus earned for fiscal 1995 has resigned or terminated employment.
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           LONG-TERM
                                                                ANNUAL COMPENSATION   COMPENSATION AWARDS
                                                                                      -------------------
                                                                --------------------      SECURITIES
                                                                 SALARY      BONUS        UNDERLYING
           NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION             FISCAL YEAR     ($)        ($)       OPTIONS/SARS(#)
- -------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -------------------
Gerald R. Cysewski                                       1995   $  86,809  $  10,000          11,000
<S>                                                <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
  Chairman of the Board,                                 1994(1)    71,941    --              11,000
  President and Chief Executive Officer                  1992      69,000     --              --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1)  The  Company changed  its fiscal  year end  from December  31 to  March 31,
    effective March 31, 1994.
 
  STOCK OPTION GRANTS TO NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
    The following  table  contains information  concerning  the grant  of  stock
options  made by the Company  during the year ended March  31, 1995 to the Named
Executive Officer.
 
                     OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                                              NUMBER OF     PERCENT OF
                                                              SECURITIES       TOTAL
                                                              UNDERLYING   OPTIONS/ SARS   EXERCISE
                                                               OPTIONS/     GRANTED TO     OR BASE
                                                                 SARS      EMPLOYEES IN     PRICE     EXPIRATION
                           NAME                              GRANTED (#)    FISCAL YEAR     ($/SH)       DATE
- -----------------------------------------------------------  ------------  -------------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                          <C>           <C>            <C>         <C>
Gerald R. Cysewski (1).....................................     11,000         11.1%       $0.9375     6/30/99
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1)  The  options  become  exercisable  in  four  equal  and  cumulative  annual
    installments  over  the  optionee's  period  of  service  with  the Company,
    beginning one year after the June 30, 1994 grant date.
 
  OPTION EXERCISES AND HOLDINGS
 
    The following table provides information with respect to the Named Executive
Officer and certain other officers concerning the exercise of options during the
year ended March 31, 1995 and unexercised options held as of March 31, 1995.  No
stock appreciation rights were exercised during the year ended March 31, 1995 or
outstanding as of March 31, 1995.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
            AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
                            FY-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           NUMBER OF SECURITIES        VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                          UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED    IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS/ SARS
                                                NUMBER OF               OPTIONS/SARS AT MARCH 31,
                                                  SHARES       VALUE               1995               AT MARCH 31, 1995 ($)
                                               ACQUIRED ON   REALIZED   --------------------------  --------------------------
                    NAME                       EXERCISE (#)     ($)     EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE  EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE
- ---------------------------------------------  ------------  ---------  -----------  -------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                                            <C>           <C>        <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
Gerald R. Cysewski (1).......................       0            0           5,500        16,500             0     $   2,750
Ronald P. Scott (1)..........................       0            0          23,000        24,000         7,184         7,434
Glenn Jensen (1).............................       0            0          28,000        24,000         8,434         7,434
Kelly J. Moorhead (1)........................       0            0          34,000        25,000        10,308         8,058
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
   
(1)  Since March 31, 1995,  the Company has granted  to Dr. Cysewski and Messrs.
    Jensen, Moorhead and Scott, options  to purchase 14,500, 12,000, 13,000  and
    14,500  shares of Common Stock, respectively. The options become exercisable
    in four equal and cumulative annual installments over the optionee's  period
    of  service with the Company,  beginning one year after  the August 10, 1995
    grant date.
    
 
STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
    The Board adopted, and the stockholders approved, the 1995 Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan") in August  1995. The Plan  is the successor  plan to the  Company's
1985  Incentive  Stock  Option Plan  (the  "Prior  Plan"). The  Plan  contains a
discretionary grant  program (the  "Discretionary Grant  Program"), under  which
associates  and consultants  may be  granted options  to purchase  shares of the
Company's Common Stock, and a  discounted option grant program (the  "Discounted
Grant  Program"), under which  associates may elect  to have a  portion of their
base salary reduced each year in return for options to purchase shares of Common
Stock at a discount  from current fair market  value. Options granted under  the
Discretionary  Grant  Program may  be  either incentive  stock  options ("ISOs")
designed to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code or
non-qualified  options  ("NQOs")  which  are   not  intended  to  satisfy   such
requirements. All grants under the Discounted Grant Program are NQOs.
 
    The  Discretionary  Grant  Program  and  the  Discounted  Grant  Program are
administered by a committee (the "Committee") of two or more non-employee  Board
members  appointed by  the Board,  presently the  Compensation and  Stock Option
Committee. Under the  Plan, 400,000  shares of  the Company's  Common Stock  are
reserved  for issuance  over the  ten-year term of  the Plan.  Associates of the
Company or its subsidiaries (including officers) and consultants are eligible to
participate in the Plan.  As of December 31,  1995, approximately 35  associates
were eligible to participate in the Plan.
 
    The Committee may authorize loans or installment payments in order to assist
optionees   in  financing  the   exercise  of  outstanding   options  under  the
Discretionary  Grant  Program  or  Discounted  Grant  Program  on  terms  to  be
determined by the Committee. Any such financing may be subject to forgiveness in
whole or in part, at the discretion of the Committee, over the optionee's period
of  service with the Company.  As of December 31,  1995, no loans or installment
payments had been authorized.
 
    There are  currently outstanding  options to  purchase 101,000  and  213,475
shares  of Common Stock under the Plan  and the Prior Plan, respectively, with a
weighted average exercise price per share of $2.32.
 
401(K) PLAN
 
    The Company sponsors a 401(k) Plan (the "401(k) Plan") under which  eligible
associates  may contribute,  on a  pre-tax basis, up  to 15%  of the associate's
total annual income from the Company,  subject to certain Internal Revenue  Code
limitations.  Associates may contribute 50% of their profit-sharing bonus to the
401(k) Plan.  All  contributions are  allocated  to the  associate's  individual
account and are subject to a six-year vesting schedule based on years of service
with the Company. All full-time associates who have attained age 18 are eligible
to participate in the 401(k) Plan. See "Business -- Associates."
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
    STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT.  In connection with the purchase by Eva R. Reichl in
1993  of  1,800,000 shares  of the  Company's Common  Stock, certain  holders of
Common Stock, including Gerald R. Cysewski (the "Holders"), the Company and  Ms.
Reichl  entered into  a Stockholders  Agreement dated  as of  May 17,  1993 (the
"Stockholders Agreement"). Under the Stockholders Agreement, the parties  agreed
that without approval of a majority of the Holders' and Ms. Reichl's shares, the
Company  would not propose, and  the Holders and Ms.  Reichl would not vote for,
any resolution, Bylaw change or other proposal that would increase the Company's
Board of  Directors  to more  than  six members.  In  addition, the  Company  is
obligated  under the  Stockholders Agreement to  notify Ms. Reichl  of any Board
elections so that she may nominate one person for election as a director. At any
Board election, the Holders and Ms. Reichl  have agreed to vote their shares  to
elect such nominee. The Stockholders Agreement terminates when Ms. Reichl sells,
transfers  or disposes of  any of the  1,800,000 shares acquired,  other than by
will, the laws of descent, or to any entity controlled by Ms. Reichl.
 
OTHER TRANSACTIONS
 
   
    SHARE CONVERSION AGREEMENT.   In February 1996, the  Company entered into  a
Preferred  Stock  Conversion and  Registration  Rights Agreement  with Firemen's
Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey (an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary  of
CNA  Financial Corporation) ("Firemen's Insurance"),  a principal stockholder of
the Company (the "Conversion  Agreement"), for the  conversion of the  Company's
Series  A Preferred Stock into  Common Stock effective upon  the closing of this
offering. Firemen's Insurance holds 1,250,000  shares of the Company's Series  A
Preferred  Stock (the "Series  A Shares"), constituting all  the Series A Shares
currently issued and  outstanding, which  shares were  convertible into  250,000
shares  of  Common Stock  until February  28, 1995.  Pursuant to  the Conversion
Agreement, Firemen's Insurance has  agreed to convert the  Series A Shares  into
250,000  shares  of  Common  Stock, which  conversion  ratio  was  determined in
accordance with  an  independent  valuation.  Firemen's  Insurance  has  agreed,
subject  to certain limited exceptions, not  to offer, sell or otherwise dispose
of, directly  or indirectly,  any  shares of  Common  Stock, or  any  securities
convertible  into  or exercisable  for, or  any rights  to purchase  or acquire,
Common Stock owned  by them  through the  date 120 days  after the  date of  the
closing  of this  offering. In  addition, the  Company has  granted to Firemen's
Insurance certain "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the  Series A Shares and the shares  of
Common  Stock issuable upon conversion of the Company's Series C Preferred Stock
held  by  Firemen's  Insurance.  See   "Shares  Eligible  for  Future  Sale   --
Registration Rights."
    
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
    The   following  table  sets  forth  information  regarding  the  beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of December 31, 1995 and as  adjusted
to  reflect the sale of shares of Common Stock offered hereby by (i) each person
who is known to the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the  outstanding
shares  of the Common  Stock of the  Company, (ii) the  Named Executive Officer,
(iii) each director and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                PERCENTAGE OF SHARES
                                                                                                   OUTSTANDING(1)
                                                                                SHARES        ------------------------
NAME AND ADDRESS                                                             BENEFICIALLY       BEFORE        AFTER
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                                                              OWNED         OFFERING     OFFERING
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                        <C>                <C>          <C>
Gerald R. Cysewski, Ph.D. (2)............................................         473,308(3)         3.4%         3.1%
Ronald P. Scott (2)......................................................          34,750(4)           *            *
Julian C. Baker (2)......................................................              --(5)          --           --
Eva R. Reichl (2)........................................................       1,805,000           13.1         11.8
John T. Ushijima (2).....................................................         283,600(6)         2.1          1.9
Paul C. Yuen (2).........................................................          13,100(7)           *            *
B. Michael Pisani........................................................         855,573(8)         6.0          5.4
 44 Lake Road
 Short Hills, NJ 07078
CNA Financial Corporation................................................       3,408,641(9)        24.8         22.4
 CNA Plaza
 Chicago, IL 60685
American Cyanamid Company................................................         699,730(10)        5.1          4.6
 (a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Home Products Corporation)
 5 Giralda Farms
 Madison, NJ 07940
All directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons)(5)(11).......       2,670,658           19.3         17.4
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------
 *  Less than 1.0%.
 
(1) Reflects the pro forma capitalization  of the Company at December 31,  1995,
    assuming  for all percentages  presented full conversion  of all outstanding
    shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock into  shares
    of  Common  Stock (13,732,460  issued and  outstanding before  the offering;
    15,232,460 issued and outstanding after the offering). See "Capitalization."
    For  each  person,  also  assumes   as  outstanding  options  and   warrants
    exercisable by such person within 60 days of December 31, 1995.
 
(2)  Address is c/o  Cyanotech Corporation, 73-4460  Queen Kaahumanu Hwy., Suite
    102, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
 
(3) Includes options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1995 for  11,000
    shares of Common Stock.
 
(4)  Includes options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1995 for 22,250
    shares of Common Stock.
 
(5) Does  not include  250,000 shares  held by  Firemen's Insurance  Company  of
    Newark,  NJ  ("Firemen's Insurance"),  183,486  shares held  by National-Ben
    Franklin Company of Illinois ("National-Ben Franklin") and 2,975,155  shares
    of  Common  Stock issuable  upon conversion  of 595,031  shares of  Series C
    Preferred Stock  held by  Firemen's  Insurance. Mr.  Baker is  the  director
    nominee  (relating to the Series A  Preferred Stock which is being converted
    to Common  Stock  as of  the  closing of  this  offering) of  CNA  Financial
    Corporation,  the  parent company  of  Firemen's Insurance  and National-Ben
    Franklin, and disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
 
(6) Includes options exercisable within 60  days of December 31, 1995 for  3,000
    shares of Common Stock.
 
(7)  Includes options exercisable within 60 days  of December 31, 1995 for 3,000
    shares of Common Stock.
 
(8) Includes  warrants exercisable  within  60 days  of  December 31,  1995  for
    561,816 shares of Common Stock.
 
(9)  Represents 250,000 shares held by  Firemen's Insurance, 183,486 shares held
    by National-Ben Franklin and 2,975,155 shares of Common Stock issuable  upon
    conversion  of 595,031 shares of Series  C Preferred Stock held by Firemen's
    Insurance.  National-Ben  Franklin  and  Firemen's  Insurance  are  indirect
    wholly-owned  subsidiaries of CNA Financial Corporation. Firemen's Insurance
    holds approximately 81.0% of the Series C Preferred Stock.
 
(10) Represents  699,730 shares  of  Common Stock  issuable upon  conversion  of
    139,946  shares of Series C Preferred Stock. American Cyanamid Company holds
    approximately 19.0% of the Series C Preferred Stock.
 
(11) Includes  85,250 shares  issuable under  options and  warrants to  purchase
    shares  of Common Stock exercisable within 60  days of December 31, 1995 to:
    Gerald R.  Cysewski  (11,000 shares);  Ronald  P. Scott  (22,250);  John  T.
    Ushijima  (3,000 shares);  Paul C.  Yuen (3,000  shares); and  46,000 shares
    issuable to other executive officers.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
    The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 18,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, $0.005 par  value per share, of  which 9,807,575 shares of  Common
Stock  were issued  and outstanding as  of December 31,  1995 (10,057,575 shares
issued  and   outstanding,   assuming   full  conversion   of   the   Series   A
Preferred Stock effective on the closing of this offering), and 5,000,000 shares
of  Preferred Stock,  $0.001 par  value per share,  734,977 shares  of which are
designated  as  Series  C  Preferred   Stock,  and  are  currently  issued   and
outstanding.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
    Subject  to  the  rights  of  holders of  Preferred  Stock,  the  holders of
outstanding shares of Common  Stock are entitled to  share ratably in  dividends
declared  out of  assets legally  available therefor  at such  time and  in such
amounts as the Board of Directors may from time to time lawfully determine. Each
holder of Common Stock is entitled to  one vote for each share held.  Cumulative
voting   in  elections  of  directors  and  all  other  matters  brought  before
stockholders meetings, whether they be annual or special, is not permitted.  The
Common  Stock is  not entitled  to conversion  or preemptive  rights and  is not
subject to redemption  or assessment. Subject  to the rights  of holders of  any
outstanding  Preferred Stock, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, any assets legally available  for distribution to stockholders as  such
are to be distributed ratably among the holders of the Common Stock at that time
outstanding.  The Common  Stock presently outstanding  is, and  the Common Stock
issued in this offering will be, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
    Preferred Stock  may  be  issued in  series  from  time to  time  with  such
designations,   relative   rights,   priorities,   preferences,  qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof, to the  extent that such are not fixed  in
the  Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation,  as the Board determines. The
rights,  preferences,  limitations  and  restrictions  of  different  series  of
Preferred  Stock may differ  with respect to dividend  rates, amounts payable on
liquidation, voting rights,  conversion rights,  redemption provisions,  sinking
fund  provisions  and other  matters. The  Board may  authorize the  issuance of
Preferred Stock  which ranks  senior to  the Common  Stock with  respect to  the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets on liquidation. In addition,
the  Board is authorized to  fix the limitations and  restrictions, if any, upon
the payment of dividends  on Common Stock  to be effective  while any shares  of
Preferred  Stock are outstanding.  The Board, without  stockholder approval, can
issue Preferred Stock with  voting and conversion  rights which could  adversely
affect  the  voting  power of  the  holders  of Common  Stock.  The  issuance of
Preferred Stock  may have  the effect  of delaying,  deferring or  preventing  a
change in control of the Company.
 
    The  Company's 8% Cumulative, Convertible Preferred  Shares -- Series C (the
"Series C Shares")  are convertible at  the option of  the holders thereof  into
Common  Stock  at the  rate of  five shares  of  Common Stock  for one  share of
Preferred Stock  through February  23,  2000, after  which date  the  conversion
feature  is no longer applicable.  Holders of 21,030 Series  C Shares elected to
convert such shares into  105,150 shares of Common  Stock during the year  ended
March 31, 1995. Series C Shares have voting rights equal to the number of shares
of  Common  Stock into  which  they are  convertible  and have  a  preference in
liquidation over all other series of  preferred stock of five dollars per  share
plus  any  accumulated but  unpaid  dividends. Holders  of  Series C  Shares are
entitled to cumulative annual  dividends at the  rate of $.40  per share if  and
when  declared by the Board; cumulative dividends  in arrears as of December 31,
1995 amounted to $1.9  million ($2.563 per share).  Upon conversion of Series  C
Shares,  cumulative  dividends  in arrears  on  converted shares  are  no longer
payable. Each share of Series C Preferred Stock entitles holders to voting power
equal to the voting power of the number of shares of Common Stock into which the
shares of  Series  C Preferred  Stock  may be  converted.  Holders of  Series  C
Preferred  Stock are entitled to vote on  all matters on which holders of shares
of Common Stock are entitled  to vote. The consent of  holders of a majority  of
the outstanding Series C Shares is required to change the powers, preferences or
rights  of the Series C  Shares, sell all or  substantially all of the Company's
assets or merge the Company. The Series  C Shares were originally issued with  a
redemption  feature. Terms of the Series C Shares were modified in February 1991
to eliminate the redemption feature.
 
    The Company  has no  present intention  to issue  any additional  shares  of
Preferred Stock.
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
WARRANTS
 
    As  of December  31, 1995, the  Company had warrants  outstanding to acquire
997,000 shares  of the  Company's  Common Stock.  The  warrants were  issued  in
consideration  for loans to the Company, in consideration for and in recognition
of services performed, and to  certain individuals who guaranteed notes  payable
by the Company. Warrants granted for loans, services and guarantees were granted
with  exercise prices  not lower  than the  fair market  value of  the Company's
Common Stock on the date of grant. These outstanding warrants are exercisable at
prices ranging from $.40 to $1.00 per  share, with a weighted average price  per
share of $.458, and expire on various dates from 1996 to 1999.
 
NEVADA ANTI-TAKEOVER LAWS AND CERTAIN CHARTER PROVISIONS
 
    Nevada's  "Combination with Interested Stockholders Statute," Nevada Revised
Statutes 78.411-78.444, which applies to Nevada corporations having at least 200
stockholders,  prohibits  an  "interested  stockholder"  from  entering  into  a
"combination"  with  the  corporation,  unless  certain  conditions  are  met. A
"combination" includes (a) any merger  with an "interested stockholder," or  any
other  corporation  which is  or  after the  merger  would be,  an  affiliate or
associate  of  the  interested  stockholder,  (b)  any  sale,  lease,  exchange,
mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of assets, in one transaction or
a  series  of  transactions,  to  an  "interested  stockholder,"  having  (i) an
aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of  the
corporation's  assets, (ii) an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the
aggregate market value of  all outstanding shares of  the corporation, or  (iii)
representing  10% or more of the earning power or net income of the corporation,
(c) any issuance or transfer of  shares of the corporation or its  subsidiaries,
to the "interested stockholder," having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or
more  of  the  aggregate market  value  of  all the  outstanding  shares  of the
corporation, (d) the  adoption of any  plan or proposal  for the liquidation  or
dissolution  of the  corporation proposed  by the  "interested stockholder," (e)
certain  transactions  which  would  have  the  effect  of  in  increasing   the
proportionate  share  of  outstanding shares  of  the corporation  owned  by the
"interested stockholder," or (f) the receipt of benefits, except proportionately
as a  stockholder, of  any loans,  advances or  other financial  benefits by  an
"interested  stockholder."  An  "interested  stockholder" is  a  person  who (i)
directly or indirectly owns 10% or more  of the voting power of the  outstanding
voting  shares  of the  corporation or  (ii)  an affiliate  or associate  of the
corporation which at any time within three years before the date in question was
the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power
of the then outstanding shares of the corporation.
 
    A corporation to which the statute applies may not engage in a "combination"
within three years after the interested stockholder acquired its shares,  unless
the  combination  or  the  interested stockholder's  acquisition  of  shares was
approved by the board  of directors before  the interested stockholder  acquired
the  shares. If this approval was not obtained, then after the three-year period
expires, the  combination may  be consummated  if all  the requirements  in  the
Articles  of Incorporation are met and either  (a) (i) the board of directors of
the  corporation  approves,  prior  to  such  person  becoming  an   "interested
stockholder,"  the  combination or  the purchase  of  shares by  the "interested
stockholder" or (ii)  the combination  is approved  by the  affirmative vote  of
holders  of a majority of voting power not beneficially owned by the "interested
stockholder" at a meeting called no earlier than three years after the date  the
"interested stockholder" became such or (b) the aggregate amount of cash and the
market  value of  consideration other  than cash  to be  received by  holders of
common shares and  holders of  any other  class or  series of  shares meets  the
minimum requirements set forth in Sections 78.411 through 78.443, inclusive, and
prior  to the consummation of the  combination, except in limited circumstances,
the "interested  stockholder"  will not  have  become the  beneficial  owner  of
additional voting shares of the corporation.
 
    Nevada's   "Control  Share  Acquisition  Statute,"  Nevada  Revised  Statute
Section78.378-78.379, prohibits an acquiror,  under certain circumstances,  from
voting  shares of a target corporation's  stock after crossing certain threshold
ownership percentages, unless the  acquiror obtains the  approval of the  target
corporation's  stockholders. The Control Share  Acquisition Statute only applies
to Nevada corporations with  at least 200 stockholders,  including at least  100
record  stockholders who are Nevada residents, and which do business directly or
indirectly in Nevada.  The Company does  not intend to  "do business" in  Nevada
within  the meaning of  the Control Share Acquisition  Statute. Therefore, it is
unlikely that the Control Share Acquisition  Statute will apply to the  Company.
The  statute  specifies  three  thresholds: at  least  one-fifth  but  less than
one-third, at least one-third but less than a majority, and a majority or  more,
of  all the outstanding voting power. Once  an acquiror crosses one of the above
thresholds, shares which it acquired in the transaction
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
taking it over the threshold or within ninety days become "Control Shares" which
are deprived  of  the  right to  vote  until  a majority  of  the  disinterested
stockholders  restore that right. A special  stockholders' meeting may be called
at the request of the acquiror to  consider the voting rights of the  acquiror's
shares  no more than 50 days (unless the  acquiror agrees to a later date) after
the delivery by  the acquiror  to the  corporation of  an information  statement
which  sets forth the  range of voting  power that the  acquiror has acquired or
proposes to acquire and  certain other information  concerning the acquiror  and
the  proposed control share acquisition. If  no such request for a stockholders'
meeting is made,  consideration of the  voting rights of  the acquiror's  shares
must  be  taken at  the next  special  or annual  stockholders' meeting.  If the
stockholders fail to restore  voting rights to the  acquiror or if the  acquiror
fails  to timely deliver  an information statement to  the corporation, then the
corporation may, if so provided in its articles of incorporation or bylaws, call
certain of the acquiror's shares for redemption. The Company's Restated Articles
of Incorporation and  Bylaws do not  currently permit it  to call an  acquiror's
shares  for redemption under these  circumstances. The Control Share Acquisition
Statute also  provides  that  the stockholders  who  do  not vote  in  favor  of
restoring  voting rights to the Control Shares  may demand payment for the "fair
value" of their shares (which  is generally equal to  the highest price paid  in
the transaction subjecting the stockholder to the statute).
 
    The  provisions described above,  together with the ability  of the Board of
Directors to issue  Preferred Stock  as described under  "Preferred Stock,"  may
have  the effect of delaying or deterring  a change in the control or management
of the Company. See "Risk Factors -- Effect of Anti-Takeover Provisions."
 
LISTING
 
   
    The Company's Common Stock is currently quoted on the Nasdaq National Market
under the symbol "CYAN."
    
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
    First Interstate  Bank of  Washington, N.A.  is the  registrar and  transfer
agent of the Company's Common Stock.
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
GENERAL
 
   
    Upon  completion  of  this  offering,  the  Company  will  have  outstanding
approximately 15.2 million shares  of Common Stock,  assuming the conversion  of
all  the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock into Common Stock, no exercise of
the Underwriters' over-allotment option and  no exercise of options or  warrants
to purchase the Company's Common Stock. Of these shares, all of the Common Stock
being  sold  hereby  and  approximately  5.5  million  shares  held  by existing
stockholders will  be  freely tradeable  (unless  such  shares are  held  by  an
"affiliate"  of  the Company  as such  term  is defined  in the  Securities Act)
without restriction or registration under the Securities Act. The remaining  8.3
million  shares  were issued  and sold  by the  Company in  private transactions
("Restricted Shares") and are eligible for public sale only if registered  under
the Securities Act or sold in accordance with Rule 144 thereunder. Approximately
1.1  million of  the Restricted  Shares are currently  eligible for  sale in the
public market pursuant to Rule 144(k) (of which approximately 870,000 shares are
subject to  the  agreements not  to  sell described  below).  Approximately  7.2
million  additional Restricted Shares  will be eligible for  sale in reliance on
Rule 144 (of which approximately 6.6  million are subject to the agreements  not
to  sell described below). The directors, executive officers and stockholders of
the Company who  hold in  the aggregate  approximately 7.5  million shares  have
agreed,  subject to certain limited exceptions,  not to offer, sell or otherwise
dispose of,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  shares  of  Common  Stock,  or  any
securities  convertible into  or exercisable for,  or any rights  to purchase or
acquire, Common Stock owned by them for the 120-day period after the closing  of
this  offering without  the prior  written consent of  Van Kasper  & Company. In
addition, the Company has agreed that for a period of 120 days after the date of
this Prospectus, it will not, without the prior written consent of Van Kasper  &
Company,  issue, offer, sell, grant options  to purchase or otherwise dispose of
any equity securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for  equity
securities  except for (i) shares of Common Stock offered hereby, (ii) shares of
Common Stock  issued  pursuant  to  the  exercise  of  outstanding  options  and
warrants,  (iii) shares  of Common  Stock issued  pursuant to  the conversion of
Preferred Stock and (iv) options granted to its associates, officers,  directors
and  consultants so long as none of  such options become exercisable during said
120-day period. Van Kasper & Company may, in its sole discretion and at any time
    
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
without notice, release  all or  any portion of  the securities  subject to  the
lock-up  agreements. No predictions can  be made as to  the effect, if any, that
market sales of Common Stock or the  availability of Common Stock for sale  will
have  on the market  price prevailing from  time to time.  Sale of a substantial
number of shares of  Common Stock in the  public market following this  offering
could  adversely affect the market price of  the Common Stock. See "Risk Factors
- -- Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
 
   
    In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, any holder of  Restricted
Shares,  including an affiliate of  the Company, as to  which at least two years
have elapsed since the later of the  date of their acquisition from the  Company
or  an affiliate,  would be  entitled within  any three-month  period to  sell a
number of  shares that  does  not exceed  the  greater of  (i)  1% of  the  then
outstanding  shares of  Common Stock  (approximately 115,000  shares immediately
after the completion of this offering assuming no exercise of the  Underwriters'
over-allotment  option  and assuming  no conversion  of  the Series  C Preferred
Stock) or (ii)  the average weekly  trading volume  of the Common  Stock in  the
over-the-counter market during the four calendar weeks immediately preceding the
date on which notice of the sale is filed with the Commission. Sales pursuant to
Rule  144 are also subject  to certain other requirements  relating to manner of
sale, notice and availability of current public information about the Company. A
person (or persons whose shares are aggregated)  who is not deemed to have  been
an  affiliate of  the Company  at any time  during the  three months immediately
preceding the sale, and  who, together with  any previous holder  who is not  an
affiliate  of the Company, has beneficially owned Restricted Shares for at least
three years, would  be entitled to  sell such shares  under Rule 144(k)  without
regard to the limitations described above. The foregoing summary is not intended
to be a complete description of Rule 144.
    
 
    The  Company has reserved 400,000 shares  of Common Stock for issuance under
the 1995 Stock  Option Plan, options  to purchase 101,000  shares of which  have
been  granted.  The Company  also has  outstanding  options to  purchase 213,475
shares, which options were granted under  the 1985 Incentive Stock Option  Plan.
In  addition, the Company has options outstanding to purchase 9,000 shares under
the 1994 Non-Employee  Directors Stock  Option and  Stock Grant  Plan and  other
non-qualified  options outstanding to  purchase 102,000 shares  of Common Stock.
The Company has filed registration statements under the Securities Act  covering
an  aggregate of 800,000 shares  of Common Stock under  the Company's 1995 Stock
Option Plan  and  1985 Incentive  Stock  Option  Plan. Shares  issued  upon  the
exercise  of stock options  or previously issued on  exercise, generally will be
available for sale  in the open  market subject to  Rule 144 volume  limitations
applicable  to affiliates and  the lock-up agreements with  Van Kasper & Company
described above.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
    In connection with a  Joint Venture Agreement  consummated August 31,  1994,
between  Hauser  Chemical  Research,  Inc. ("Hauser")  and  the  Company, Hauser
purchased 96,969 shares of  the Company's Common Stock  and the Company  granted
certain  demand  and "piggy-back"  registration  rights to  Hauser  covering the
96,969 shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement  dated
as  of August  31, 1994.  Under the  agreement, Hauser  may, subject  to certain
limitations, require the Company to register  shares of such Common Stock  under
the  Securities Act to enable it to sell such shares to the public. In addition,
whenever the  Company proposes  to  register any  of  its securities  under  the
Securities  Act (other than registrations in  connection with stock option plans
and certain other  registrations), Hauser  may require the  Company, subject  to
certain  limitations, to  include all  or any portion  of such  shares of Common
Stock in the registration. The Company  generally is required to bear all  costs
incurred   in  connection   with  the  "piggy-back"   registrations  other  than
underwriting discounts and commissions payable with respect to the Common  Stock
and  fees of counsel to the holders of the Common Stock, and Hauser is generally
required to bear all costs incurred in connection with the demand registrations.
Hauser has agreed, subject to certain limited exceptions, not to offer, sell  or
otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock, or any
securities  convertible into  or exercisable for,  or any rights  to purchase or
acquire, Common Stock owned by them through the date 120 days after the date  of
the closing of this offering.
 
   
    The Company has granted to Firemen's Insurance and American Cyanamid certain
"piggy-back"  registration rights  with respect  to the  shares of  Common Stock
issuable upon  conversion  of the  Series  A Shares  and  the Series  C  Shares,
amounting to 3,924,885 shares of Common Stock on an as-converted basis. Whenever
the  Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act
in connection with the public offering of such securities solely for cash (other
than registrations  in connection  with  stock option  plans and  certain  other
registrations),  Firemen's  Insurance  and  American  Cyanamid  may  require the
    
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
   
Company, subject to certain  limitations, to include all  or any portion of  the
Common Stock acquired pursuant to the conversion of Series A Shares and Series C
Shares  in such registration. The Company has agreed to register for sale in any
future offering until February 3, 2005 a minimum of the greater of (i)  American
Cyanamid's  or Firemen's Insurance (as the case  may be) pro rata portion of not
less than 40% of the total number of securities to be registered in any offering
with respect to  all security  holders with piggy-back  registration rights  and
(ii)  110,000 of American Cyanamid's shares  or 507,000 of Firemen's Insurance's
shares (as the case may be). American Cyanamid and Firemen's Insurance also have
certain rights to withdraw their election to sell in any such offering prior  to
the  effectiveness of  the registration  statement related  thereto. The Company
generally is required  to bear all  costs incurred in  connection with all  such
registrations  other than  underwriting discounts  and commissions  payable with
respect to the Common  Stock and fees  of counsel to the  holders of the  Common
Stock.  In  connection  with  and  in  consideration  of  the  granting  of such
registration rights,  Firemen's Insurance  and  American Cyanamid  have  agreed,
subject  to certain limited exceptions, not  to offer, sell or otherwise dispose
of, directly  or indirectly,  any  shares of  Common  Stock, or  any  securities
convertible  into  or exercisable  for, or  any rights  to purchase  or acquire,
Common Stock owned  by them  through the  date 120 days  after the  date of  the
closing of this offering. See "Certain Transactions -- Other Transactions."
    
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    Subject  to  the terms  and conditions  of  the Underwriting  Agreement, the
Underwriters named below,  through their  representative, Van  Kasper &  Company
(the  "Representative"), have severally agreed to  purchase from the Company the
number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite their names below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               NUMBER OF
NAME                                                                             SHARES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                            <C>
Van Kasper & Company.........................................................
 
                                                                               ----------
Total........................................................................   1,500,000
                                                                               ----------
                                                                               ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters
are subject  to certain  conditions precedent,  and that  the underwriters  will
purchase  all shares of  Common Stock offered  hereby if any  of such shares are
purchased.
 
    The Underwriters propose to offer the Common Stock directly to the public at
the offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus and to certain
selected dealers at this price  less a concession not  in excess of $        per
share.  The Underwriters may allow and such dealers may reallow a concession not
in excess of $      per share to certain other dealers.
 
    The Company has granted  an option to the  Underwriters, exercisable by  the
Representative  within 30 days after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up
to 225,000 additional shares of Common Stock at the initial offering price, less
underwriting discounts  and commissions.  The  Representative may  exercise  the
over-allotment  option solely  for the  purpose of  covering over-allotments, if
any, incurred in the sale of the  shares of Common Stock offered hereby. To  the
extent  that the  over-allotment option is  exercised, each  of the Underwriters
will have a firm commitment to purchase approximately the same percentage of the
additional shares as the number  of shares to be  purchased and offered by  that
Underwriter in the above table bears to the total.
 
    The  Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  the  Underwriters  against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The  Representative
has informed the Company that the Underwriters do not intend to confirm sales to
accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.
 
    Certain  stockholders,  representing in  the  aggregate 7,460,748  shares of
Common Stock (assuming conversion of the Company's Series C Preferred Stock) and
the holders of  options to purchase  85,250 shares of  Common Stock have  agreed
pursuant  to such lock-up agreements, subject to certain limited exceptions, not
to offer, sell or  otherwise dispose of, directly  or indirectly, any shares  of
Common  Stock, or  any securities  convertible into  or exercisable  for, or any
rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock owned by them for the 120-day period
after the closing  of this  offering without the  prior written  consent of  the
Representative.  The Representative may, in its  sole discretion and at any time
without notice, release all  or any portion of  the securities subject to  these
lock-up agreements. In addition, the Company has agreed that for a period of 120
days  after the date of this Prospectus,  it will not, without the prior written
consent of the Representative, issue, offer, sell, grant options to purchase  or
otherwise  dispose of  any equity securities  or securities  convertible into or
exchangeable for equity securities except for (i) shares of Common Stock offered
hereby, (ii)  shares  of  Common  Stock  issued  pursuant  to  the  exercise  of
outstanding  options and warrants, (iii) shares  of Common Stock issued pursuant
to  the  conversion  of  Preferred  Stock  and  (iv)  options  granted  to   its
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
associates,  officers, directors and consultants so long as none of such options
become exercisable  during said  120-day period.  Sales of  such shares  in  the
future  could adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock. See "Shares
Eligible for Future Sale."
 
    The Company has agreed to  pay the Representative a non-accountable  expense
allowance of 1.0% of the total proceeds of the offering.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    Certain  legal  matters with  respect to  the validity  of the  Common Stock
offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Woodburn and Wedge,  Reno,
Nevada.  Certain legal matters  in connection with this  offering will be passed
upon for  the  Company  by  Brobeck, Phleger  &  Harrison  LLP,  San  Francisco,
California.  Certain  legal matters  in connection  with  this offering  will be
passed upon for the Underwriters by Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, Palo  Alto,
California.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The  consolidated  financial  statements of  Cyanotech  Corporation  and its
subsidiary as of March 31, 1995 and March 31, 1994, and for each of the years in
the two-year period ended March 31, 1995,  have been included herein and in  the
Registration  Statement  in reliance  on the  report of  KPMG Peat  Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, and upon the authority of said firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
   
    Cyanotech is  subject  to  the  reporting  requirements  of  the  Securities
Exchange  Act  of  1934, as  amended  (the  "Exchange Act"),  and  in accordance
therewith, files  annual  and  quarterly reports,  proxy  statements  and  other
information  with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). The
Company has filed a registration statement  on Form SB-2 (herein, together  with
all  amendments and exhibits  referred to as  the "Registration Statement") with
the Commission under  the Securities Act  of 1933, as  amended (the  "Securities
Act").  This Prospectus, which constitutes a part of the Registration Statement,
does not contain all of the information, exhibits and schedules set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain parts  of which are  omitted in accordance  with
the  rules  and  regulations of  the  Commission. For  further  information with
respect to the Company  and the Common  Stock, reference is  hereby made to  the
Registration  Statement, exhibits and schedules thereto. Statements contained in
this Prospectus  as  to the  contents  of any  contract  or any  other  document
referred to are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, if such contract
or  document is filed as an exhibit  to the Registration Statement, reference is
made to  the copy  of such  contract  or document  filed as  an exhibit  to  the
Registration  Statement, and each such statement being qualified in all respects
by such reference to  such exhibit. Copies of  such materials may be  inspected,
without  charge, at  the offices  of the  Commission, or  obtained at prescribed
rates from  the  Public  Reference  Section of  the  Commission  at  Room  1024,
Judiciary  Plaza, 450  Fifth Street,  N.W., Washington,  D.C. 20549,  and at the
Commission's regional  offices  located at  Citicorp  Center, 500  West  Madison
Street,  Suite 1400,  Chicago, Illinois  60661 and  at Seven  World Trade Center
(13th Floor), New York, New York 10019. The Company's Common Stock is quoted  on
the  Nasdaq  National Market.  Reports, proxy  statements and  other information
concerning the Company  may also  be inspected  at the  National Association  of
Securities Dealers, Inc. at 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
    
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               PAGE
                                                                                                             ---------
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Independent Auditors' Report...............................................................................        F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 1994 and 1995 and at December 31, 1995 (unaudited)................        F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended March 31, 1994 and 1995 and for the Nine Months Ended
 December 31, 1994 and 1995 (unaudited)....................................................................        F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended March 31, 1994 and 1995 and the Nine
 Months Ended December 31, 1995 (unaudited)................................................................        F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended March 31, 1994 and 1995 and for the Nine Months
 Ended December 31, 1994 and 1995 (unaudited)..............................................................        F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................................................................        F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Cyanotech Corporation:
 
    We  have audited the  accompanying consolidated balance  sheets of Cyanotech
Corporation and  subsidiary as  of March  31,  1995 and  1994, and  the  related
consolidated  statements of income, stockholders' equity  and cash flows for the
years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility
of the Company's  management. Our  responsibility is  to express  an opinion  on
these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We  conducted  our audits  in  accordance with  generally  accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to  obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also  includes
assessing  the  accounting principles  used  and significant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement  presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In  our  opinion, the  consolidated financial  statements referred  to above
present fairly, in all  material respects, the  financial position of  Cyanotech
Corporation  and subsidiary as  of March 31,  1995 and 1994,  and the results of
their operations and  their cash flows  for the years  then ended in  conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
 
Honolulu, Hawaii
May 3, 1995
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                 MARCH 31, 1994 AND 1995 AND DECEMBER 31, 1995
                       (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
                                ASSETS (NOTE 4)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       MARCH 31,
                                                                                  --------------------  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                    1994       1995         1995
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  -------------
<S>                                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                                                                         (UNAUDITED)
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents.....................................................  $     866  $     496    $     776
  Accounts receivable...........................................................        462        648        1,291
  Inventories (note 2)..........................................................        398        375          275
  Prepaid expenses..............................................................          7          5           32
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
    Total current assets........................................................      1,733      1,524        2,374
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net (note 3)..............................      3,365      4,635        7,204
Other assets....................................................................         34         53           71
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
    Total assets................................................................  $   5,132  $   6,212    $   9,649
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                        LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
<S>                                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current maturities of long-term debt (note 4).................................  $      13  $       7    $     175
  Current maturities of capital lease obligations (note 5)......................         26         58          123
  Accounts payable..............................................................        566        629          700
  Accrued expenses and other (note 7)...........................................        258        230          372
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
    Total current liabilities...................................................        863        924        1,370
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities (note 4)...........................          7     --              550
Obligations under capital lease, excluding current maturities (note 5)..........        102        184          358
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
    TOTAL LIABILITIES...........................................................        972      1,108        2,278
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred stock (note 8)......................................................          2          2            2
  Common stock of $.005 par value; authorized 18,000,000 shares; outstanding
   8,736,506 shares at March 31, 1994, 9,051,325 shares at March 31, 1995 and
   9,807,575 shares at December 31, 1995........................................         44         45           49
  Additional paid-in capital....................................................     12,042     12,216       12,720
  Accumulated deficit...........................................................     (7,898)    (7,129)      (5,400)
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
                                                                                      4,190      5,134        7,371
  Less -- treasury stock, 30,000 common shares at cost..........................         30         30       --
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
    Total stockholders' equity..................................................      4,160      5,104        7,371
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
Commitments and contingencies (notes 5, 8 and 12)
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity..................................  $   5,132  $   6,212    $   9,649
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
                                                                                  ---------  ---------       ------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994 AND 1995 AND
                  NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1995
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER-SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,     NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                                    --------------------  ------------------------
                                                                      1994       1995        1994         1995
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                 <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
                                                                                          (UNAUDITED)  (UNAUDITED)
NET SALES (note 10)...............................................  $   2,697  $   4,150   $   2,921    $   5,972
COST OF SALES.....................................................      1,495      2,275       1,582        2,784
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    GROSS PROFIT..................................................      1,202      1,875       1,339        3,188
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
  Research and development........................................         59        171          93          243
  General and administrative......................................        604        685         504          862
  Sales and marketing.............................................        319        301         208          302
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total operating expenses......................................        982      1,157         805        1,407
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Income from operations........................................        220        718         534        1,781
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest income.................................................         13         17          12           19
  Interest expense................................................        (16)       (27)        (19)         (63)
  Other income, net...............................................         22         98          13       --
  Proportionate share of loss of joint venture (note 6)...........        (35)       (37)        (37)      --
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total other income (expense)..................................        (16)        51         (31)         (44)
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Net income before income taxes................................        204        769         503        1,737
Provision for income taxes........................................     --         --          --               (8)
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
NET INCOME........................................................  $     204  $     769   $     503    $   1,729
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE.......................................  $    0.02  $    0.05   $    0.04    $    0.12
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
Weighted average number of common shares and common share
 equivalents......................................................     13,330     13,589      13,907       14,452
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                      YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994 AND 1995
              AND NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 (UNAUDITED)
                       (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      PREFERRED STOCK
                                          (NOTE 8)            COMMON STOCK      ADDITIONAL
                                    --------------------  --------------------    PAID-IN     ACCUMULATED    TREASURY
                                     SHARES    PAR VALUE   SHARES    PAR VALUE    CAPITAL       DEFICIT        STOCK
                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                 <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>            <C>
BALANCES AT MARCH 31, 1993........  2,118,507  $       2  6,260,197  $      31   $   9,665     $  (8,102)    $     (30)
Common stock issued for cash, net
 of costs of $24..................     --         --      2,350,000         12       2,314        --            --
Exercise of warrants for cash.....     --         --         83,000          1          37        --            --
Exercise of stock options for
 cash.............................     --         --          3,300     --               2        --            --
Common stock issued in
 satisfaction of debt.............     --         --         40,000     --              24        --            --
Other.............................     --         --              9     --          --            --            --
Net income........................     --         --         --         --          --               204        --
                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -------------       -----
BALANCES AT MARCH 31, 1994........  2,118,507          2  8,736,506         44      12,042        (7,898)          (30)
Common stock issued for cash, net
 of costs of $6...................     --         --        146,969          1         144        --            --
Exercise of warrants for cash.....     --         --         38,400     --              24        --            --
Exercise of stock options for
 cash.............................     --         --          4,300     --               3        --            --
Conversion of 21,030 shares of
 Series C preferred stock to
 105,150 shares of common stock...    (21,030)    --        105,150     --          --            --            --
Conversion of 100,000 shares of
 Series E preferred stock to
 20,000 shares of common stock....   (100,000)    --         20,000     --          --            --            --
Issuance of common stock warrants
 for services.....................     --         --         --         --               3        --            --
Net income........................     --         --         --         --          --               769        --
                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -------------       -----
BALANCES AT MARCH 31, 1995........  1,997,477          2  9,051,325         45      12,216        (7,129)          (30)
Exercise of warrants for cash.....     --         --        695,200          4         420        --            --
Exercise of stock options for
 cash.............................                           80,550                     74
Issuance of stock grants to non-
 employee directors...............     --         --          8,000     --              40        --            --
Exchange of 12,500 shares of
 Series B preferred stock for
 2,500 shares of common stock.....    (12,500)    --          2,500     --          --            --            --
Retire 30,000 shares of treasury
 stock............................     --         --        (30,000)    --             (30)       --                30
Net income........................     --         --         --         --          --             1,729        --
                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -------------       -----
BALANCES AT DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (unaudited)......................  1,984,977  $       2  9,807,575  $      49   $  12,720     $  (5,400)    $  --
                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -------------       -----
                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -------------       -----
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                        TOTAL
                                    STOCKHOLDERS'
                                       EQUITY
                                    -------------
<S>                                 <C>
BALANCES AT MARCH 31, 1993........    $   1,566
Common stock issued for cash, net
 of costs of $24..................        2,326
Exercise of warrants for cash.....           38
Exercise of stock options for
 cash.............................            2
Common stock issued in
 satisfaction of debt.............           24
Other.............................       --
Net income........................          204
                                         ------
BALANCES AT MARCH 31, 1994........        4,160
Common stock issued for cash, net
 of costs of $6...................          145
Exercise of warrants for cash.....           24
Exercise of stock options for
 cash.............................            3
Conversion of 21,030 shares of
 Series C preferred stock to
 105,150 shares of common stock...       --
Conversion of 100,000 shares of
 Series E preferred stock to
 20,000 shares of common stock....       --
Issuance of common stock warrants
 for services.....................            3
Net income........................          769
                                         ------
BALANCES AT MARCH 31, 1995........        5,104
Exercise of warrants for cash.....          424
Exercise of stock options for
 cash.............................           74
Issuance of stock grants to non-
 employee directors...............           40
Exchange of 12,500 shares of
 Series B preferred stock for
 2,500 shares of common stock.....       --
Retire 30,000 shares of treasury
 stock............................       --
Net income........................        1,729
                                         ------
BALANCES AT DECEMBER 31, 1995
 (unaudited)......................    $   7,371
                                         ------
                                         ------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                      YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994 AND 1995
                AND NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1995
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,     NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                                    --------------------  ------------------------
                                                                      1994       1995        1994         1995
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                 <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
                                                                                          (UNAUDITED)  (UNAUDITED)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income......................................................  $     204  $     769   $     503    $   1,729
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
   operating activities:
    Proportionate share of loss of joint venture..................         35         37          37       --
    Depreciation and amortization.................................        253        338         234          356
    Net (increase) decrease in:
      Accounts receivable.........................................        (77)      (186)         (5)        (643)
      Inventories.................................................       (159)        23         (43)         100
      Prepaid expenses and other assets...........................         33        (17)        (40)         (45)
    Net increase (decrease) in:
      Accounts payable............................................        283         63        (152)          71
      Accrued expenses and other..................................         63        (28)         45          142
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
        Net cash provided by operating activities.................        635        999         579        1,710
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Investment in equipment and leasehold improvements..............     (1,770)    (1,442)       (982)      (2,622)
  Investment in joint venture.....................................        (35)       (37)        (37)      --
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
        Net cash used in investing activities.....................     (1,805)    (1,479)     (1,019)      (2,622)
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Net proceeds from issuance of common stock......................      2,366        175         174          538
  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt........................     --         --          --              750
  Principal payments on capital lease obligations.................        (10)       (52)        (38)         (64)
  Principal payments on long-term debt............................       (532)       (13)        (10)         (32)
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
        Net cash provided by financing activities.................      1,824        110         126        1,192
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
        Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents......        654       (370)       (314)         280
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period..................        212        866         866          496
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period........................  $     866  $     496   $     552    $     776
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
  Cash paid during the period for interest........................  $      18  $      26   $      20    $      25
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
  Non-cash investing and financing activities:
    Equipment leased under capital lease obligation...............  $     133  $     166   $     167    $     303
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Common stock issued in satisfaction of debt...................  $      24  $  --       $  --        $  --
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                    ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994 AND 1995
            AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1995
                    (INFORMATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND
           NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1995 IS UNAUDITED)
                 (ALL AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
 
(1) SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    (a) Description of Business
 
    Cyanotech  Corporation  is  engaged  in  the  identification  and  wholesale
commercialization of  high-value chemicals,  nutritional additives  and  related
products  derived  from blue-green  (cyanobacteria)  and other  algae. Cyanotech
Corporation is  dependent,  to an  extent,  upon  the health  food  and  medical
diagnostic industry sectors.
 
    (b) Principles of Consolidation
 
    The Company consolidates enterprises in which it has a controlling financial
interest.   The  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the
accounts of Cyanotech Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nutrex,  Inc.
All  significant intercompany balances and  transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.
 
    (c) Cash Equivalents
 
    For purposes  of the  consolidated  statements of  cash flows,  the  Company
considers  all highly liquid debt investments purchased with original maturities
of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
 
    (d) Inventories
 
    Inventories are stated at  the lower of  cost (which approximates  first-in,
first-out) or market.
 
    (e) Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
 
    Owned  equipment and  leasehold improvements  are stated  at cost. Equipment
under capital lease is stated at the lower of the present value of minimum lease
payments or  fair  value  of  the  equipment at  the  inception  of  the  lease.
Depreciation  and amortization are provided  using the straight-line method over
the following estimated useful lives:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  ESTIMATED
                                                                                USEFUL LIVES
                                                                               ---------------
<S>                                                                            <C>
Equipment....................................................................    3 to 10 years
Leasehold improvements.......................................................       lease term
Furniture and fixtures.......................................................          7 years
Equipment under capital lease................................................       lease term
</TABLE>
 
    Amortization of equipment  under capital lease  is included in  depreciation
and amortization expense in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
 
    (f) Investments in Joint Ventures
 
    Investments  in joint ventures  and other investments  for which the Company
has the  ability  to  exercise  significant influence  over  the  operating  and
financing policies of the enterprise are accounted for under the equity method.
 
    (g) Net Income Per Common Share
 
    Net  income per common share is computed based on net income after preferred
stock dividend requirements  and the  weighted average number  of common  shares
outstanding during the year, adjusted to
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
(1) SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
reflect  the assumed exercise of outstanding  stock options and warrants and the
conversion of preferred stock to the extent such items have a dilutive effect on
the computation. Fully  diluted net income  per common share  is not  materially
different from primary net income per common share.
 
    (h) Income Taxes
 
    Deferred  tax  assets  and liabilities  are  recognized for  the  future tax
consequences  attributable  to  differences  between  the  financial   statement
carrying  amounts of  existing assets  and liabilities  and their  tax bases and
operating loss carryforwards. Deferred tax  assets and liabilities are  measured
using  enacted income tax rates  applicable to the period  in which the deferred
tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes  in
tax  laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted
through the provision for income taxes.
 
    (i) Accounting Changes -- Future Implementation
 
    In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement  of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-Lived  Assets and for  Long-Lived Assets to  Be Disposed Of."  SFAS No. 121
requires that long-lived  assets and certain  identifiable intangibles held  and
used  by an  entity be  reviewed for  impairment whenever  events or  changes in
circumstances indicate  that  the  carrying  amount  of  an  asset  may  not  be
recoverable.  If the sum of the expected future cash flows derived from an asset
is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized.
Measurement of that loss would be based on the fair value of the asset.
 
    Generally,  SFAS  No.  121  requires  that  long-lived  assets  and  certain
identifiable  intangibles to be disposed of be reported at the lower of carrying
amount or fair value less cost to sell.
 
    The provisions of SFAS No. 121 must be adopted by the Company no later  than
April  1, 1996. The Company has not determined when it will adopt the provisions
of SFAS No. 121 but  does not expect adoption to  have a material effect on  the
Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
 
    In  October 1995, the  Financial Accounting Standards  Board issued SFAS No.
123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." SFAS No. 123 establishes a  new,
fair  value based  method of  measuring stock-based  compensation, but  does not
require an entity  to adopt  the new method  for preparing  its basic  financial
statements.  For  entities  not  adopting the  new  method  for  preparing basic
financial statements, SFAS No. 123 requires  disclosure in the footnotes of  pro
forma net earnings and earnings per share information as if the fair value based
method  had been adopted. Adoption of SFAS No. 123 is required no later than the
Company's year ending March  31, 1997. The disclosure  requirements of SFAS  No.
123  are effective  for financial  statements for  fiscal years  beginning after
December 31, 1995. The Company will  comply with the disclosure requirements  of
SFAS No. 123 in its financial statements for its year ending March 31, 1997.
 
(2) INVENTORIES
    Inventories  consists of  the following  as of March  31, 1994  and 1995 and
December 31, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARCH 31,
                                                                  --------------------   DECEMBER 31,
                                                                    1994       1995          1995
                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------------
<S>                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>
Raw materials...................................................  $      15  $      29     $      67
Work in process.................................................        105        105           105
Finished goods..................................................        192        171            33
Supplies........................................................         86         70            70
                                                                  ---------  ---------         -----
                                                                  $     398  $     375     $     275
                                                                  ---------  ---------         -----
                                                                  ---------  ---------         -----
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
(3) EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS, NET
    Equipment and leasehold improvements consists  of the following as of  March
31, 1994 and 1995 and December 31, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 MARCH 31,
                                                            --------------------  DECEMBER 31,
                                                              1994       1995         1995
                                                            ---------  ---------  ------------
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>
Equipment.................................................  $   2,221  $   2,622   $    2,995
Leasehold improvements....................................      2,638      3,648        6,028
Furniture and fixtures....................................         28         31           36
Equipment under capital lease (note 5)....................        133        299          602
                                                            ---------  ---------  ------------
                                                                5,020      6,600        9,661
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization............     (2,201)    (2,539)      (2,895)
Construction in-progress..................................        546        574          438
                                                            ---------  ---------  ------------
    Equipment and leasehold improvements, net.............  $   3,365  $   4,635   $    7,204
                                                            ---------  ---------  ------------
                                                            ---------  ---------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
(4) LONG-TERM DEBT
    Long-term  debt consists of the following as  of March 31, 1994 and 1995 and
December 31, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       MARCH 31,
                                                                                                      ------------  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                                      1994   1995       1995
                                                                                                      -----  -----  ------------
<S>                                                                                                   <C>    <C>    <C>
Note payable at 5% to the State of Hawaii, Department of Agriculture, in annual installments of $14,
 including interest; final payment due September 1995...............................................  $  20  $   7     $--
Notes payable at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 2%, adjusted quarterly; principal
 payments of $37.5 due quarterly....................................................................   --     --         725
Less current maturities of long-term debt...........................................................    (13)    (7)     (175)
                                                                                                      -----  -----     -----
    Long-term debt, excluding current maturities....................................................  $   7  $--       $ 550
                                                                                                      -----  -----     -----
                                                                                                      -----  -----     -----
</TABLE>
 
    Note payable to the State of  Hawaii, Department of Agriculture was  secured
by substantially all of the Company's assets.
 
    On  April 1, 1995,  the Company executed  a $250 note,  payable in principal
installments of $12.5 each quarter,  plus interest, with principal and  interest
payments satisfied by delivering to the lender an equivalent market value amount
of  salable product  or cash  (at the lender's  option). The  note payable bears
interest at  the  London  Interbank  Offered  Rate  (LIBOR)  plus  2%,  adjusted
quarterly, and is secured by certain assets of the Company.
 
    On  July 11,  1995, the  Company executed a  $500 note  payable in principal
installments of $25  each quarter,  plus interest, with  principal and  interest
payments satisfied by delivering to the lender an equivalent market value amount
of  salable product  or cash  (at the lender's  option). The  note payable bears
interest at LIBOR plus 2%, adjusted quarterly, and is secured by certain  assets
of  the Company. The quarterly principal payment due October 1, 1995 was paid in
January 1996.
 
(5) LEASES
    The Company leases  certain of its  equipment and a  building under  capital
leases  expiring between 1998 and 2000 and leases facilities, equipment and land
under operating leases expiring  between 1996 and 2013.  At March 31, 1995,  the
net book value of equipment under the capital leases amounted to $266.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
(5) LEASES (CONTINUED)
    Future  minimum lease payments under  noncancelable operating leases and the
present value of future minimum capital lease payments as of March 31, 1995  are
as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         CAPITAL      OPERATING
                                                                         LEASES        LEASES
                                                                      -------------  -----------
<S>                                                                   <C>            <C>
Year ended March 31:
  1996..............................................................    $      75     $      87
  1997..............................................................           75            77
  1998..............................................................           68            74
  1999..............................................................           58            72
  2000..............................................................            3            72
  Thereafter, through 2013..........................................       --               941
                                                                            -----    -----------
                                                                              279     $   1,323
                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                     -----------
Less amount representing interest at 8.1%...........................           37
                                                                            -----
    Present value of minimum capital lease obligations..............          242
Less current maturities of capital lease obligations................           58
                                                                            -----
    Obligations under capital lease, excluding current maturities...    $     184
                                                                            -----
                                                                            -----
</TABLE>
 
    Total  rent expense under operating  leases amounted to $49  and $48 for the
years ended March 31, 1994 and 1995, respectively, and $33 and $71 for the  nine
months ended December 31, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
    As of March 31, 1995, the Company has received a commitment for an equipment
leasing credit facility totalling $350.
 
(6) INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURES
    In  March 1993, the Company formed  a joint venture corporation, OceanColor,
Inc., with an unrelated entity, Aquasearch, Inc., to develop commercial  systems
for producing a natural red pigment from micro-
algae,  called  astaxanthin,  for  use  as  a  natural  feed  ingredient  by the
aquaculture industry.  On November  18, 1994,  the joint  venture agreement  was
terminated  by mutual consent.  Under the terms of  the joint venture agreement,
the Company  owned a  50% interest  in OceanColor,  Inc., and  was committed  to
contribute, subject to certain conditions, services and facilities and equipment
use  and technology valued at $423. As  of the termination date, $63 of services
and facilities and  equipment use had  been contributed and  the Company has  no
further  obligation  under the  joint venture  arrangement. The  joint venture's
financial statements are not significant to the Company's consolidated financial
statements. The Company plans to continue, on its own, development of commercial
systems for the production of astaxanthin.
 
    On August 31,  1994, the  Company formed  a joint  venture partnership  with
Hauser  Chemical Research, Inc. (Hauser) to develop, produce, and market natural
beta carotene. Under the  terms of the partnership  agreement, Hauser has a  60%
interest  and the Company has  a 40% interest in  the joint venture. Development
work was expected to be completed in 1995 with the total cost to the Company for
its share of development costs not expected to exceed $300 (as of March 31, 1995
and December  31, 1995,  approximately  $125 and  $174, respectively,  had  been
incurred).  Funding for the  construction of the  commercial production facility
would be arranged by the joint venture partnership.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
(7) ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER
    Accrued expenses and other  consists of the following  as of March 31,  1994
and 1995 and December 31, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       MARCH 31,
                                                                  --------------------   DECEMBER 31,
                                                                    1994       1995          1995
                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------------
<S>                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>
Accrued payroll and related benefits............................  $      64  $     126     $     269
Accrued directors' fees.........................................         40         35            30
Deposits........................................................         58         26        --
Other accrued liabilities.......................................         96         43            73
                                                                  ---------  ---------         -----
                                                                  $     258  $     230     $     372
                                                                  ---------  ---------         -----
                                                                  ---------  ---------         -----
</TABLE>
 
(8) PREFERRED STOCK
    Series A and B preferred stock are nonvoting (except for the right of Series
A  preferred stockholders  to elect one  director, as described  below) and were
convertible into common stock at the rate of five shares of preferred stock  for
one share of common stock through February 28, 1995 for Series A preferred stock
and  February  28,  1993 for  Series  B  preferred stock.  Holders  of  Series A
preferred stock are entitled to 12%  cumulative annual dividends at the rate  of
$.048  per  share; cumulative  dividends in  arrears  as of  March 31,  1995 and
December 31, 1995 amount to $595 ($.476  per share) and $640 ($.512 per  share),
respectively,  for Series A. Series A  preferred stockholders have a prior claim
in liquidation of  $.40 per  share plus all  declared but  unpaid dividends.  On
December 27, 1995, the Company exchanged 2,500 shares of restricted common stock
for the remaining 12,500 shares of Series B perferred stock.
 
    Series  A  preferred  stockholders  also  have  certain  preemptive  rights,
anti-dilution privileges  and the  right to  elect one  member of  the board  of
directors.  The consent of  Series A preferred stockholders  is also required to
alter their present rights, issue additional shares of preferred stock, sell the
Company, or sell or assign the Company's proprietary technical information.
 
    Series C convertible preferred stock is convertible into common stock at the
rate of one share  of preferred stock  for five shares  of common stock  through
February  23,  2000,  after  which  date the  conversion  feature  is  no longer
applicable. Holders of  21,030 shares  of Series  C preferred  stock elected  to
convert  such shares into 105,150  shares of common stock  during the year ended
March 31, 1995. Series C preferred stock  has voting rights equal to the  number
of  shares of common stock into which it  is convertible and has a preference in
liquidation over all other series  of preferred stock of  $5 per share plus  any
accumulated  but  unpaid  dividends. Holders  of  Series C  preferred  stock are
entitled to  8% cumulative  annual dividends  at  the rate  of $.40  per  share;
cumulative  dividends in  arrears as  of March  31, 1995  and December  31, 1995
amount to $1,663 ($2.263 per share) and $1,884 ($2.563 per share), respectively.
Upon conversion of Series C preferred stock, cumulative dividends in arrears  on
converted  shares  are no  longer payable.  The  amount of  cumulative dividends
foregone due to conversion  during the year  ended March 31,  1995 and the  nine
months  ended  December 31,  1995  amounted to  $36  and nil,  respectively. The
consent of Series C preferred stockholders  is required to change their  present
rights or sell all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
 
    The  Series  C  convertible preferred  stock  was originally  issued  with a
redemption feature.  Terms of  the Series  C preferred  stock were  modified  in
February 1991 to eliminate such redemption feature.
 
    Series  E convertible preferred stock was convertible at the holder's option
into common stock at the rate of five shares of preferred stock for one share of
common or for  such number  of common  shares as have  a market  value of  $.75,
through  September 26, 1994. Series E  convertible preferred stock was converted
by the holder into  20,000 shares of  common stock on  September 21, 1994.  Upon
conversion  of  Series E  preferred stock,  cumulative  dividends in  arrears on
converted shares  were no  longer payable.  The amount  of cumulative  dividends
foregone due to conversion during the year ended March 31, 1995 was $38.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
(8) PREFERRED STOCK (CONTINUED)
    Preferred stock as of March 31, 1994 and 1995 and December 31, 1995, consist
of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         MARCH 31,
                                                         ----------  DECEMBER 31,
                                                         1994  1995      1995
                                                         ----  ----  ------------
<S>                                                      <C>   <C>   <C>
Preferred stock, authorized 5,000,000 shares;
 $.001 par value, issued and outstanding:
  Series A, 12% cumulative; 1,250,000 shares;
   liquidation value $.40 per share plus
   unpaid accumulated dividends........................  $  1  $  1      $  1
  Series B, 12% cumulative, 12,500 shares on
   March 31, 1994 and 1995; nil shares on
   December 31, 1995; liquidation value $.40 per share
   plus unpaid accumulated dividends...................   *     *       --
  Series C, 8% cumulative, convertible; 756,007 shares
   as of March 31, 1994 and 734,977 shares as of March
   31, 1995 and December 31, 1995: liquidation value
   $5.00 per share plus unpaid accumulated dividends...     1     1         1
  Series E, 12% cumulative, convertible; converted to
   common shares in September 1994.....................   *     --      --
                                                         ----  ----     -----
                                                         $  2  $  2      $  2
                                                         ----  ----     -----
                                                         ----  ----     -----
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
*Amount is less than $.5
 
(9) STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
 
STOCK OPTIONS
 
    At  the  Annual Meeting  held on  August  9, 1995,  the stockholders  of the
Company approved the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan (Plan), reserving a  total
of 400,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the Plan. The Plan provides
for  the issuance of both incentive  and nonqualified stock options. Options are
to be granted at or above the fair market value of the Company's common stock at
the date of grant and generally become exercisable over a five-year period.
 
    The Company also has  a Non-Employee Director Stock  Option and Stock  Grant
Plan,  which was approved by stockholders  in 1994. Under the Plan, non-employee
directors are  granted  a  ten-year  option to  purchase  3,000  shares  of  the
Company's  common  stock at  its  fair market  value on  the  date of  grant. In
addition, on the date of each Annual  Meeting of Stockholders in each year  that
this  plan is in effect, each non-employee director continuing in office will be
automatically granted, without  payment, 2,000  shares of common  stock that  is
non-transferable  for six  months following the  date of grant.  Grants of 8,000
shares of common stock were made under this plan in August 1995.
 
    In 1985, the Company adopted an Incentive Stock Option Plan (qualified stock
option plan) and authorized 200,000 shares of  common stock to be set aside  for
grants  to officers and key employees of  the Company. In 1993, the stockholders
approved an amendment  to the Incentive  Stock Option Plan  which increased  the
number  of shares reserved for issuance under this plan from 200,000 to 400,000.
Options are granted with exercise prices not lower than the fair market value of
the Company's  common stock  at  the date  of  grant. Options  generally  become
excercisable  in four  equal annual installments,  commencing one  year from the
date of grant and expire, if not  exercised, five years from the date of  grant,
unless stipulated
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
(9) STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS (CONTINUED)
otherwise  by  the  Compensation and  Stock  Option  Committee of  the  board of
directors. The Incentive Stock Option Plan terminated on March 18, 1995. Options
granted prior to the plan termination date are not affected.
 
    The Company has also issued  nonqualified stock options to nonemployees  and
directors  in exchange for services provided  to the Company. Nonqualified stock
options are granted with exercise prices not lower than the fair market value of
the Company's common stock on the date of grant, are immediately exercisable and
expire two to ten years from the date of grant.
 
    A summary of transactions relating to  options during the years ended  March
31, 1994 and 1995, and nine months ended December 31, 1995 is set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          OPTIONS OUTSTANDING
                                                       ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                QUALIFIED                    NONQUALIFIED
                                         SHARES UNDER  ----------------------------  ----------------------------
                                            OPTION      NUMBERS OF                    NUMBER OF
                                          AVAILABLE    SHARES UNDER    PRICE PER     SHARES UNDER    PRICE PER
                                          FOR GRANT       OPTION         SHARE          OPTION         SHARE
                                         ------------  ------------  --------------  ------------  --------------
<S>                                      <C>           <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
Balances at March 31, 1993.............       47,400       152,600   $   .56 to .94       18,000   $  .50 to 5.25
Additional shares reserved.............      200,000        --             --             --             --
Options granted........................      (82,000)       82,000             1.50       --             --
Options exercised......................       --            (3,300)      .56 to .94       --             --
Options cancelled......................       10,300       (10,300)     .56 to 1.50      (16,000)    3.30 to 5.25
                                         ------------  ------------  --------------  ------------  --------------
Balances at March 31, 1994.............      175,700       221,000      .56 to 1.50        2,000              .50
Options granted........................      (98,900)       98,900              .94      115,000     1.06 to 2.00
Options exercised......................       --            (4,300)     .56 to  .94       --             --
Options canceled.......................       20,900       (20,900)     .56 to 1.50       (3,000)            1.06
                                         ------------  ------------  --------------  ------------  --------------
Balances at March 31, 1995.............       97,700       294,700      .56 to 1.50      114,000      .50 to 2.00
Additional shares reserved.............      400,000        --             --             --             --
Options granted........................     (101,000)      101,000             5.13       --             --
Options exercised......................                    (77,550)     .56 to 1.50       (3,000)            1.06
Options cancelled......................        3,675        (3,675)     .56 to 1.50       --             --
Expiration of 1985 Plan................     (101,375)       --             --             --             --
                                         ------------  ------------  --------------  ------------  --------------
Balances at December 31, 1995..........      299,000       314,475   $  .56 to 5.13      111,000   $  .50 to 2.00
                                         ------------  ------------  --------------  ------------  --------------
                                         ------------  ------------  --------------  ------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
    At  March 31, 1995  and December 31,  1995, options to  purchase 408,700 and
425,475 shares of common stock, respectively, were exercisable at average prices
of $1.23 and $2.21 per share, respectively.
 
WARRANTS
 
    The Company has warrants outstanding to acquire 1,653,800 and 997,000 shares
of the  Company's common  stock as  of March  31, 1995  and December  31,  1995,
respectively.  The  warrants  were  issued in  consideration  for  loans  to the
Company, in consideration for  and in recognition of  services performed and  to
certain  individuals  who  guaranteed  notes payable  by  the  Company. Warrants
granted for loans, services and guarantees were granted with exercise prices not
lower than the fair market  value of the Company's common  stock on the date  of
grant.  The warrants are  exercisable at prices  ranging from $.40  to $1.00 per
share and expire on various dates from 1996 to 1999.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
(10) MAJOR CUSTOMERS AND EXPORT SALES
    Sales to major customers for  the years ended March  31, 1994 and 1995,  and
the  nine months  ended December  31, 1994 and  1995, are  summarized as follows
(percent of product sales):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,      NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      ------------------------  ----------------------------------
                                                         1994         1995            1994              1995
                                                         -----        -----     ----------------  ----------------
<S>                                                   <C>          <C>          <C>               <C>
Customer A..........................................          *%           *%             *%               31%
Customer B..........................................         16%          17%            13%               11%
Customer C..........................................          *%          13%            12%                *%
Customer D..........................................         10%           *%             *%                *%
                                                             --           --             --                --
                                                             26%          30%            25%               42%
                                                             --           --             --                --
                                                             --           --             --                --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
*Less than 10% of product sales.
 
    Product sales revenue by geographic area for the years ended March 31,  1994
and  1995, and the nine months ended  December 31, 1994 and 1995, are summarized
as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,     NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                              DECEMBER 31,
                                                  --------------------  ------------------------
                                                    1994       1995        1994         1995
                                                  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                               <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
United States...................................  $   1,828  $   2,412   $   1,781    $   2,620
Canada..........................................        497        696         378          654
Europe..........................................        202        621         424          558
Asia/Pacific....................................        170        421         338        2,150
                                                  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                  $   2,697  $   4,150   $   2,921    $   5,972
                                                  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
(11) INCOME TAXES
    The provision for income taxes for the  years ended March 31, 1994 and  1995
and  nine months ended  December 31, 1994 is  nil due to  the utilization of net
operating losses.  The provision  for income  taxes for  the nine  months  ended
December 31, 1995 represents estimated alternative minimum taxes payable.
 
    The  tax  effects of  temporary differences  related  to various  assets and
liabilities that give rise to deferred  tax assets and deferred tax  liabilities
as of March 31, 1994 and 1995, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                MARCH 31,
                                                                           --------------------
                                                                             1994       1995
                                                                           ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Net operating loss carryforwards.......................................  $   2,949  $   2,585
  Tax credit carryforwards...............................................        149        141
  Other..................................................................         62         72
                                                                           ---------  ---------
                                                                               3,160      2,798
Less valuation allowance.................................................     (3,051)    (2,751)
                                                                           ---------  ---------
    Net deferred tax assets..............................................  $     109  $      47
                                                                           ---------  ---------
                                                                           ---------  ---------
Deferred tax liability -- equipment and leasehold improvements...........  $     109  $      47
                                                                           ---------  ---------
                                                                           ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The  valuation allowance for  deferred tax assets  as of March  31, 1994 and
1995 was $3,051 and $2,751,  respectively. The valuation allowance decreased  by
$71 and $300 during the years ended March 31, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
(11) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    At  March 31, 1995, the Company has tax net operating tax loss carryforwards
available to  offset future  federal and  state taxable  income and  tax  credit
carryforwards available to offset future federal income taxes as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              INVESTMENT    RESEARCH AND
                                                              NET OPERATING      TAX       EXPERIMENTATION
                                                                 LOSSES        CREDITS       TAX CREDITS
                                                              -------------   ----------   ---------------
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>          <C>
Expires March 31,
  1998......................................................     $--            --                 3
  1999......................................................     --             --                14
  2000......................................................     --               14              15
  2001......................................................        852         --                22
  2002......................................................      1,800         --                15
  2003......................................................      1,405                           52
  2004......................................................      1,825         --                 5
  2005......................................................        155         --            --
  2006......................................................        763         --            --
  2007......................................................          1         --            --
  2008......................................................     --             --            --
  2009......................................................          1         --            --
                                                                 ------          ---             ---
                                                                 $6,802           14             126
                                                                 ------          ---             ---
                                                                 ------          ---             ---
</TABLE>
 
    Investment  tax credits will be recorded as a reduction of the provision for
federal income taxes in the year realized.
 
(12) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
    At March 31,  1995 and December  31, 1995, the  Company has commitments  for
capital expenditures totaling $506 and $1,120, respectively.
 
    The  Company is involved in various claims arising in the ordinary course of
business. In  the  opinion of  management,  the ultimate  disposition  of  these
matters  will  not have  a material  adverse effect  on the  Company's financial
position or results of operations.
 
                                      F-15


<PAGE>

[Aerial photograph of Cyanotech's production facility located 
at the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park on the Kona coast of 
Hawaii.]

Cyanotech's production facility located at the Hawaii Ocean Science and 
Technology Park on the Kona coast of Hawaii

[Photograph of selected bottles containing the Company's Spirulina 
products.]


<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
 
    NO  DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON  HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND,
IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS
HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS  DOES
NOT  CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY SECURITIES  OTHER THAN THOSE TO WHICH IT RELATES
OR AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, TO ANY PERSON IN  ANY
JURISDICTION  IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE
DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS  NOR ANY OFFER OR  SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL,  UNDER
ANY  CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE  HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF
ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    -----
<S>                                              <C>
Prospectus Summary.............................           3
Risk Factors...................................           5
Use of Proceeds................................          13
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend
 Policy........................................          13
Capitalization.................................          14
Selected Consolidated Financial Data...........          15
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
 Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations....................................          16
Business.......................................          23
Management.....................................          37
Certain Transactions...........................          41
Principal Stockholders.........................          42
Description of Capital Stock...................          43
Shares Eligible for Future Sale................          45
Underwriting...................................          48
Legal Matters..................................          49
Experts........................................          49
Available Information..........................          49
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.....         F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                                1,500,000 SHARES
 
                                 [COMPANY LOGO]
 
                             CYANOTECH CORPORATION
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
 
                             ---------------------
 
                              Van Kasper & Company
 
   
                                 MARCH   , 1996
    
 
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 24. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
    The  Nevada Private Corporation Law ("NPCL") provides that a corporation may
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a  party,
by  reason of  the fact  that such  person was  an officer  or director  of such
corporation, or  is or  was serving  at the  request of  such corporation  as  a
director,  officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, to (x) any action or suit by or in the right
of the corporation against  expenses, including amounts  paid in settlement  and
attorneys'  fees,  actually  and  reasonably incurred,  in  connection  with the
defense or settlement believed to be in,  or not opposed to, the best  interests
of  the corporation, except that indemnification may  not be made for any claim,
issue or matter  as to  which such  a person  has been  adjudged by  a court  of
competent  jurisdiction to be liable  to the corporation or  for amounts paid in
settlement to the  corporation and (y)  any other action  or suit or  proceeding
against  expenses, including attorneys' fees,  judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement, actually  and reasonably  incurred, if he  or she  acted in  good
faith  and in  a manner which  he or  she reasonably believed  to be  in, or not
opposed to, reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful: To  the
extent  that a director, officer, employee or  agent has been "successful on the
merits or otherwise" the corporation must indemnify such person. The articles of
incorporation or bylaws may provide that the expenses of officers and  directors
incurred in defending any such action must be paid as incurred and in advance of
the  final disposition of such  action. The NPCL also  permits the Registrant to
purchase and  maintain insurance  on behalf  of the  Registrant's directors  and
officers  against any liability arising out of  their status as such, whether or
not Registrant would  have the power  to indemnify him  against such  liability.
These  provisions  may  be  sufficiently broad  to  indemnify  such  persons for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
 
    The Company's Bylaws provide that the  Company shall, to the fullest  extent
permitted by applicable law, indemnify any director or officer of the Company in
connection  with  certain  actions,  suits  or  proceedings,  against  expenses,
including attorneys'  fees,  judgments, fines  and  amounts paid  in  settlement
actually  and  reasonably incurred.  The  Company is  also  required to  pay any
expenses incurred  by a  director or  officer in  defending such  an action,  in
advance  of the final  disposition of such action.  The Company's Bylaws further
provide that, by  resolution of  the Board of  Directors, such  benefits may  be
extended to employees, agents or other representatives of the Company.
 
    The NPCL provides that a corporation's articles of incorporation may contain
a  provision which eliminates or limits the  personal liability of a director or
officer to  the  corporation or  its  stockholders  for damages  for  breach  of
fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that such a provision must not
eliminate  or limit  the liability  of a  director or  officer for:  (a) acts or
omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation  of
law;  or  (b)  the  payment of  illegal  distributions.  The  Company's Restated
Articles of Incorporation include a provision eliminating the personal liability
of directors for breach  of fiduciary duty except  that such provision will  not
eliminate or limit any liability which may not be so eliminated or limited under
applicable law.
 
    Reference  is made to  Section 7 of the  Underwriting Agreement contained in
Exhibit 1.1 hereto,  indemnifying the Company's  officers and directors  against
certain liabilities.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 25. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
    The  following  table  sets forth  the  costs  and expenses  payable  by the
Registrant in connection  with the sale  of Common Stock  being registered.  All
amounts  are estimates except the registration fee,  the NASD fee and the Nasdaq
National Market fee.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                AMOUNT TO
                                                                                 BE PAID
                                                                                ----------
<S>                                                                             <C>
Registration fee..............................................................  $    4,164
NASD fee......................................................................       1,708
Nasdaq National Market fee....................................................      17,500
Non-accountable expense allowance.............................................     148,781
Printing and engraving........................................................      75,000
Legal fees and expenses.......................................................     175,000
Accounting fees and expenses..................................................      35,000
Director and officer insurance................................................      22,000
Blue sky fees and expenses....................................................      10,000
Transfer agent fees...........................................................       5,000
Miscellaneous.................................................................         847
                                                                                ----------
  Total.......................................................................  $  495,000
                                                                                ----------
                                                                                ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
ITEM 26. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
 
    Since January  1993,  the  Registrant  has issued  and  sold  the  following
unregistered securities in reliance on the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of
the Securities Act:
 
   
    (a)  On January  15, 1993,  the Company issued  to Mr.  Eugene Nester 25,000
shares of its Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant at an  exercise
price of $0.40 per share.
    
 
   
    (b)  On February 26,  1993, an aggregate  of 20,000 shares  of the Company's
Common Stock were  issued upon  conversion of  100,000 shares  of the  Company's
Series  B Preferred Stock. Each of Mr. Robert Lesson, Jr., Mr. John L. Kidde and
Mr. Wilson Kidde received 2,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock. Mr. Ashton
Hawkins received 12,500 shares.
    
 
   
    (c) On May 11, 1993, the Company issued to Mr. James Austin 40,000 shares of
its Common Stock in payment for services at a price of $0.60 per share.
    
 
   
    (d) Pursuant  to a  Subscription Agreement  dated as  of May  15, 1993,  the
Company sold 1,800,000 shares of its Common Stock to Ms. Eva Reichl at $1.00 per
share  for  an aggregate  purchase price  of $1,800,000,  560,000 of  which were
purchased on May 15, 1993, 640,000 of which were purchased on June 14, 1993, and
600,000 of which were purchased on August 30, 1993.
    
 
   
    (e) On June 10, 1993, the Company issued to Mr. Eugene Nester 35,000  shares
of its Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants for 35,000 shares at an
exercise price of $0.40 per share.
    
 
   
    (f)  The Company issued to  a group of four  investors 550,000 shares of its
Common Stock under subscription agreements between January 10, 1994 and  January
12, 1994 at a price of $1.00 per share.
    
 
   
    (g)  On March 2, 1994, the Company issued to Mr. Eugene Nester 48,000 shares
of its Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants at an exercise price of
$0.50 per share.
    
 
   
    (h) On May 26, 1994, the Company  issued to Mr. George Kay 21,570 shares  of
its  Common  Stock in  connection with  the  conversion of  4,314 shares  of the
Company's Series C Preferred Stock into Common Stock.
    
 
   
    (i) On June 15, 1994, the Company  issued to Gilbert Glass 83,580 shares  of
its  Common Stock  in connection  with the  conversion of  16,716 shares  of the
Company's Series C Preferred Stock into Common Stock.
    
 
   
    (j) Since August 10, 1994, the Company has granted non-qualified options  to
purchase  an aggregate of 15,000 shares of its Common Stock to certain directors
pursuant to its 1994 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option and Stock Grant Plan at
a weighted average exercise price of $1.125.
    
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
   
    (k) On August 31, 1994, the  Company sold to Hauser Chemical Research,  Inc.
96,969  shares of the Company's Common Stock  for an aggregate purchase price of
$100,000 cash.
    
 
   
    (l) On September  19, 1994,  the Company granted  to a  customer options  to
purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share.
    
 
   
    (m)  On September 21, 1994,  the Company issued 20,000  shares of its Common
Stock to Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd. in connection with the conversion of 100,000  shares
of the Company's Series E Preferred Stock into its Common Stock.
    
 
   
    (n)  On September 30, 1994, the Company  issued a warrant to purchase 25,000
shares of Common Stock  at an exercise  price of $1.00  per share to  Canterbury
Associates  in  exchange for  certain  services to  be  rendered pursuant  to an
agreement between the Company and Canterbury Associates dated January 26,  1994.
The agreement was terminated on January 5, 1995.
    
 
   
    (o)  On October 5, 1994,  the Company issued to  a customer 50,000 shares of
its Common Stock at $1.00 per share.
    
 
   
    (p) On December  16, 1994, the  Company issued to  Mr. John Ushijima  38,400
shares  of its Common Stock pursuant to  the exercise of warrants at an exercise
price of $0.625 per share.
    
 
   
    (q) On April 12, 1995, the Company issued to Mr. Eugene Nester 38,400 shares
of its Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants at an exercise price of
$0.625 per share.
    
 
   
    (r) On May 11, 1995, the Company  issued 199,757 shares of its Common  Stock
to  Mr. B. Michael  Pisani pursuant to  the exercise of  warrants at an exercise
price of $0.625 per share.
    
 
   
    (s) On May  12, 1995,  the Company issued  to Mr.  William Bensinger  76,800
shares  of its Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants on May 12, 1995
at an exercise price of $0.625.
    
 
   
    (t) On May 12, 1995, the Company  issued to Mr. John Ushijima 19,200  shares
of  its Common Stock pursuant to the exercise  of warrants on May 12, 1995 at an
exercise price of $0.625 per share.
    
 
   
    (u) On May 15, 1995, the Company issued to Mr. Robert Long 30,643 shares  of
its  Common Stock  pursuant to the  exercise of warrants  on May 11,  1995 at an
exercise price of $0.625 per share.
    
 
   
    (v) On August 9, 1995,  the Company granted 8,000  shares of fully paid  and
non-assessable Common Stock to certain of its non-employee directors pursuant to
its 1994 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option and Stock Grant Plan.
    
 
   
    (w)  On August 23, 1995, the Company  issued to Mr. Robert Long 2,000 shares
of its Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants at an exercise price of
$1.00 per share.
    
 
   
    (x) On August 23, 1995, the Company  issued to Mr. B. Michael Pisani  74,000
shares  of its Common Stock pursuant to  the exercise of warrants at an exercise
price of $1.00 per share.
    
 
   
    (y) On October 18,  1995, the Company issued  3,000 shares of the  Company's
Common  Stock to Ms.  Eva Reichl pursuant  to the exercise  of options under the
1994 Non-Employee Directors  Stock Option and  Stock Grant Plan  at an  exercise
price of $1.0625 per share.
    
 
   
    (z)  On December  4, 1995,  the Company  issued to  Mr. James  Austin 38,400
shares of the Company's Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant at an
exercise price of $0.625 per share.
    
 
   
    (aa) On December 8,  1995, the Company issued  to Mr. John Ushijima  120,000
and  96,000 shares of the  Company's Common Stock pursuant  to the exercise of a
warrant at exercise prices of $0.40 and $0.50, respectively, per share.
    
 
   
    (bb) On December 29, 1995, the Company issued to Mr. BJ Howard 2,500  shares
of  its Common  Stock in exchange  for 12,500  shares of the  Company's Series B
Preferred Stock.
    
 
   
    (cc) On January 5, 1996, the Company issued to Mr. B. Michael Pisani 100,000
shares of its Common Stock pursuant to  the exercise of warrants at an  exercise
price of $0.40 per share.
    
 
   
    (dd) On January 22, 1996, the Company issued to Mr. William Bensinger 96,000
shares  of its Common Stock pursuant to  the exercise of warrants at an exercise
price of $0.50 per share.
    
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
ITEM 27. EXHIBITS.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER    DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
- ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>
   1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
   3.1     Restated Articles  of  Incorporation.  (Incorporated by  reference  to  Exhibit 3.3  to  the  Company's
            Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1991, file no. 0-14602.)
   3.2     Bylaws  of the  Registrant, as  amended. (Incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit  3.1 to  the Company's
            Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
   4.1**   Specimen Common Stock Certificate.
   4.2     Terms of the Series C Preferred Stock as Revised 1991. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
            Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1990, file no. 0-14602.)
   5.1**   Opinion of Woodburn and Wedge.
  10.1     1985 Incentive  Stock Option  Plan dated  March 18,  1985, as  amended. (Incorporated  by reference  to
            Exhibit  4(d) to the Company's Registration Statement on Form  S-8 filed on December 3, 1992, file no.
            33-55310.)
  10.4     Stockholders Agreement dated  as of May  17, 1993. (Incorporated  by reference to  Exhibit 10.8 to  the
            Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1994, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.5     1994  Non-Employee Directors Stock Option  and Stock Grant Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
            10.7 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1994, file  no.
            0-14602.)
  10.6     Supply  and Exclusive Marketing Agreement between the Company and Nutrition Gandalf dated July 8, 1994.
            Confidential portions of  this exhibit have  been omitted  and filed separately  with the  Commission.
            (Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.2  to the Company's Quarterly Report  on Form 10-QSB for the
            quarter ended December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.7     Joint Venture Agreement  dated as of  August 31, 1994  between Hauser Chemical  Research, Inc. and  the
            Company.  Confidential  portions of  this  exhibit have  been omitted  and  filed separately  with the
            Commission. (Incorporated by  reference to  Exhibit 10.9  to the  Company's Quarterly  Report on  Form
            10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1994, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.8     Letter  and Registration Rights Agreement dated August  31, 1994 between Hauser Chemical Research, Inc.
            and the Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
            10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1994, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.9     Facilities Rental Agreement dated November 1, 1994 between the Company and Natural Energy Laboratory of
            Hawaii Authority. (Superseded by Exhibit  10.15.) (Incorporated by reference  to Exhibit 10.11 to  the
            Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.10    Facilities Rental Agreement dated December 2, 1994 between the Company and Natural Energy Laboratory of
            Hawaii  Authority. (Superseded by Exhibit  10.15.) (Incorporated by reference  to Exhibit 10.12 to the
            Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.11    Term Loan  Agreement  dated  April 1,  1995  between  Spirulina International  B.V.  and  the  Company.
            (Incorporated  by reference to  Exhibit 10.13 to  the Company's Annual  Report on Form  10-KSB for the
            fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.12    License Agreement  by and  between The  University of  Memphis and  the Company  dated June  19,  1995.
            (Incorporated  by reference to  Exhibit 10.14 to  the Company's Annual  Report on Form  10-KSB for the
            fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.13    Term Loan Agreement  dated July 11,  1995 between Satoshi  Sakurada and the  Company. (Incorporated  by
            reference  to Exhibit  10.3 to the  Company's Quarterly  Report on Form  10-QSB for  the quarter ended
            December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER    DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
- ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  10.14    1995 Stock Option Plan  for Cyanotech Corporation  dated August 9, 1995,  as amended. (Incorporated  by
            reference  to Exhibit 4(c)  to the Company's Registration  Statement on Form S-8  filed on October 27,
            1995, file no. 33-63789.)
<S>        <C>
  10.15    Sub-Lease Agreement between the  Company and the  Natural Energy Laboratory  of Hawaii Authority  dated
            December  29, 1995. (Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  10.1 to the  Company's Quarterly Report on
            Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.16*   Preferred Stock Conversion and Registration Rights Agreement  by and between the Company and  Firemen's
            Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, dated as of February 20, 1996.
  10.17*   Registration  Rights Agreement  by and  between the Company  and American  Cynamid Company  dated as of
            February 20, 1996.
  10.18    Management Incentive Plan dated May 18, 1995.  Confidential portions of this exhibit have been  omitted
            and  filed separately with the Commission. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's
            Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  11.1**   Statement re: Computation of Earnings Per Share.
  21.1**   Subsidiaries of the Company.
  23.1**   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
  23.2**   Consent of Woodburn and Wedge (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1**   Power of Attorney.
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 *  Filed herewith.
   
**  Previously filed.
    
 
ITEM 28. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities  Act
may  be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons  of  the
Registrant pursuant to the NPCL, the  Restated Articles of Incorporation or  the
Bylaws  of Registrant, Underwriting Agreement,  or otherwise, the Registrant has
been advised  that in  the opinion  of the  Commission such  indemnification  is
against  public policy  as expressed in  the Securities Act,  and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In  the  event that  a  claim for  indemnification  against  such
liabilities  (other than the  payment by the Registrant  of expenses incurred or
paid by a  director, officer,  or controlling person  of the  Registrant in  the
successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is asserted  by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities  being
registered  hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the matter  has been  settled by  controlling precedent,  submit to  a court  of
appropriate  jurisdiction  the question  whether such  indemnification by  it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
 
    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
        (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities  Act,
    the  information omitted from the  form of Prospectus filed  as part of this
    Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
    Prospectus filed by  the Registrant  pursuant to  Rule 424(b)(1)  or (4)  or
    497(h)  under  the  Securities  Act  shall be  deemed  to  be  part  of this
    Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
        (2) For the purpose  of determining any  liability under the  Securities
    Act,  each post-effective amendment that contains a form of Prospectus shall
    be deemed to  be a  new Registration  Statement relating  to the  securities
    offered  therein, and the offering of such  securities at that time shall be
    deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has duly caused  this Amendment to the Registration  Statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of Kailua-Kona, State of Hawaii on February 27, 1996.
    
 
                                          CYANOTECH CORPORATION
 
                                          By    /s/ GERALD R. CYSEWSKI, PH.D.
 
                                            ------------------------------------
                                             Gerald R. Cysewski, Ph.D.
                                            PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                             OFFICER
 
   
    PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1993, THE AMENDMENT TO
THE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT HAS  BEEN SIGNED  BY THE  FOLLOWING PERSONS  IN THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                        TITLE                         DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------  --------------------
 
<C>                                                     <S>                                  <C>
                /s/ GERALD R. CYSEWSKI, PH.D.           Chairman of the Board, President      February 27, 1996
     -------------------------------------------         and Chief Executive Officer
              Gerald R. Cysewski, Ph.D.
 
                                     *                  Executive Vice President -- Finance   February 27, 1996
     -------------------------------------------         and Administration, Chief
                   Ronald P. Scott                       Financial Officer, Secretary,
                                                         Treasurer and Director
 
                                     *                  Director                              February 27, 1996
     -------------------------------------------
                   Julian C. Baker
 
                                     *                  Director                              February 27, 1996
     -------------------------------------------
                    Eva R. Reichl
 
                                     *                  Director                              February 27, 1996
     -------------------------------------------
                   John T. Ushijima
 
                                     *                  Director                              February 27, 1996
     -------------------------------------------
                 Paul C. Yuen, Ph.D.
 
          *By         /s/ GERALD R. CYSEWSKI
               ---------------------------------------
                Gerald R. Cysewski, Ph.D.
                     Attorney in Fact
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER    DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
- ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>
   1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
   3.1     Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation. (Incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  3.3  to  the Company's
            Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1991, file no. 0-14602.)
   3.2     Bylaws of  the Registrant,  as amended.  (Incorporated by  reference to  Exhibit 3.1  to the  Company's
            Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
   4.1**   Specimen Common Stock Certificate.
   4.2     Terms of the Series C Preferred Stock as Revised 1991. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
            Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1990, file no. 0-14602.)
   5.1**   Opinion of Woodburn and Wedge.
  10.1     1985  Incentive Stock  Option Plan  dated March  18, 1985,  as amended.  (Incorporated by  reference to
            Exhibit 4(d) to the Company's Registration Statement on  Form S-8 filed on December 3, 1992, file  no.
            33-55310.)
  10.4     Stockholders  Agreement dated as  of May 17,  1993. (Incorporated by  reference to Exhibit  10.8 to the
            Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1994, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.5     1994 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option  and Stock Grant Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to  Exhibit
            10.7  to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1994, file no.
            0-14602.)
  10.6     Supply and Exclusive Marketing Agreement between the Company and Nutrition Gandalf dated July 8,  1994.
            Confidential  portions of  this exhibit have  been omitted  and filed separately  with the Commission.
            (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit  10.2 to the Company's Quarterly  Report on Form 10-QSB for  the
            quarter ended December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.7     Joint  Venture Agreement dated  as of August  31, 1994 between  Hauser Chemical Research,  Inc. and the
            Company. Confidential  portions of  this  exhibit have  been omitted  and  filed separately  with  the
            Commission.  (Incorporated by  reference to  Exhibit 10.9  to the  Company's Quarterly  Report on Form
            10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1994, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.8     Letter and Registration Rights Agreement dated August  31, 1994 between Hauser Chemical Research,  Inc.
            and the Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
            10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1994, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.9     Facilities Rental Agreement dated November 1, 1994 between the Company and Natural Energy Laboratory of
            Hawaii  Authority. (Superseded by Exhibit  10.15.) (Incorporated by reference  to Exhibit 10.11 to the
            Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.10    Facilities Rental Agreement dated December 2, 1994 between the Company and Natural Energy Laboratory of
            Hawaii Authority. (Superseded by Exhibit  10.15.) (Incorporated by reference  to Exhibit 10.12 to  the
            Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.11    Term  Loan  Agreement  dated  April 1,  1995  between  Spirulina International  B.V.  and  the Company.
            (Incorporated by reference  to Exhibit 10.13  to the Company's  Annual Report on  Form 10-KSB for  the
            fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.12    License  Agreement  by and  between The  University of  Memphis and  the Company  dated June  19, 1995.
            (Incorporated by reference  to Exhibit 10.14  to the Company's  Annual Report on  Form 10-KSB for  the
            fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.13    Term  Loan Agreement dated  July 11, 1995 between  Kenny Corporation and  the Company. (Incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit  10.3 to  the Company's Quarterly  Report on  Form 10-QSB for  the quarter  ended
            December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  10.14    1995  Stock Option Plan  for Cyanotech Corporation dated  August 9, 1995,  as amended. (Incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit 4(c)  to the Company's Registration  Statement on Form S-8  filed on October  27,
            1995, file no. 33-63789.)
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER    DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
- ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  10.15    Sub-Lease  Agreement  between the  Company  and Natural  Energy  Laboratory of  Hawaii  Authority dated
            December 29, 1995. (Incorporated  by reference to  Exhibit 10.1 to the  Company's Quarterly Report  on
            Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
<S>        <C>
  10.16*   Preferred  Stock Conversion and Registration Rights Agreement  by and between the Company and Firemen's
            Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, dated as of February 20, 1996.
  10.17*   Registration Rights Agreement  by and  between the  Company and American  Cynamid Company  dated as  of
            February 20, 1996.
  10.18    Management  Incentive Plan dated May 18, 1995. Confidential  portions of this exhibit have been omitted
            and filed separately with the Commission. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the  Company's
            Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995, file no. 0-14602.)
  11.1**   Statement re: Computation of Earnings Per Share.
  21.1**   Subsidiaries of the Company.
  23.1**   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
  23.2**   Consent of Woodburn and Wedge (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1**   Power of Attorney.
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 *  Filed herewith.
   
**  Previously filed.
    

<PAGE>

                                CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                                (a Nevada Corporation)
                           1,500,000 Shares of Common Stock

                                UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                                      , 1996
                                                         -------------

VAN KASPER & COMPANY
As Representative of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I,
11661 San Vincente Boulevard, Suite 709
Los Angeles, California 90049

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Cyanotech Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters") 1,500,000 shares (the "Firm Stock") of the Company's Common
Stock, $0.005 par value (the "Common Stock").  In addition, the Company also
proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional
225,000 shares of the Common Stock on the terms and for the purposes set forth
in Section 2(b) (the "Option Stock").  The Firm Stock and any Option Stock
purchased pursuant to this Agreement are referred to below as the "Stock."  Van
Kasper & Company is acting as representative of the several Underwriters and in
that capacity is referred to in this Agreement as the "Representative."

     The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters as
set forth below.

     1.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.  The Company hereby
represents and warrants to and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

          (a)  A Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-00951) on Form 
SB-2 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), 
including such amendments to such registration statement as may have been 
required to the date of this Agreement, relating to the Stock has been 
prepared by the Company under and in conformity with the provisions of the 
Securities Act, the rules and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder and has 
been filed with the Commission. After the execution of this Agreement, the 
Company will file with the Commission either (i) if such registration 
statement, as it may have been amended, has been declared by the Commission 
to be effective under the Securities Act, either (A) if the Company relies on 
Rule 434 under the Securities Act, a Term Sheet (defined below) relating to 
the Stock, that identifies the Preliminary Prospectus (defined below) that it 
supplements and contains such information as is required or permitted by Rules

<PAGE>

434, 430A and 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations or (B) if the Company does not
rely on Rule 434 under the Securities Act, a prospectus in the form most
recently included in an amendment to such registration Statement (or, if no such
amendment has been filed, in such registration statement), with such changes or
insertions as are required by Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations or
permitted by Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, and in the case of either
(i)(A) or (i)(B) of this sentence, as has been provided to and approved by the
Representative, or (ii) if such registration statement, as it may have been 
amended, has not been declared by the Commission to be effective under the 
Securities Act, an amendment to such registration statement, including a form 
of prospectus, a copy of which amendment has been furnished to and approved 
by the Representative prior to the execution of this Agreement.  As used in 
this Agreement, the term "Registration Statement" means such registration 
statement, as amended at the time when it was or is declared effective, 
including all financial schedules and exhibits thereto and including any 
information omitted therefrom pursuant to Rule 430A of the Rules and 
Regulations and included in the Prospectus (defined below); the term 
"Preliminary Prospectus" means each prospectus subject to completion filed 
with such registration statement or any amendment thereto (including the 
prospectus subject to completion, if any, included in the Registration 
Statement or any amendment thereto at the time it was or is declared 
effective); the term "Prospectus" means:

               (A)  if the Company relies on Rule 434 under the Securities Act,
the Term Sheet relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule
424(b)(7) under the Securities Act, together with the Preliminary Prospectus
identified therein that such Term Sheet supplements;

               (B)  if the Company does not rely on Rule 434 under the
Securities Act, the prospectus first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) under the Securities Act; or

               (C)  if the Company does not rely on Rule 434 under the
Securities Act and if no prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule
424(b) under the Securities Act, the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement;

provided that if any revised prospectus that is provided to the Underwriters by
the Company for "use in connection with the offering of the Stock" differs from
the prospectus on file with the Commission at the time the Registration
Statement became or becomes, as the case may be, effective, whether or not the
revised prospectus is required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b)(3) of the Rules and Regulations, the term "Prospectus" shall mean such
revised prospectus from and after the time it is first provided to the
Underwriters for such use.

                                       -2-


<PAGE>

The term "Term Sheet" as used in this Agreement means any term sheet that
satisfies the requirements of Rule 434 under the Securities Act.  Any reference
in this Agreement to the "date" of a prospectus that includes a Term Sheet means
the date of such Term Sheet.

          (b)  No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or preventing or suspending the issue of any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose are pending
or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated by the
Commission; no order suspending the sale of the Stock in any jurisdiction has
been issued and no proceedings for that purpose are pending or, to the best
knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, and any request of the
Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or otherwise) has been
complied with.

          (c)  When any Preliminary Prospectus was filed with the Commission it
(i) contained all statements required to be contained therein and complied in
all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules
and Regulations, and (ii) did not include any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.  When the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
was or is declared effective, it (i) contained or will contain all statements
required to be contained therein and complied or will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, and (ii) did not or will
not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  When the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (or, if the Prospectus or such amendment or
supplement is not required to be so filed, when the Registration Statement or
the amendment thereto containing such amendment or supplement to the Prospectus
was or is declared effective) and at all times subsequent thereto up to and
including the Closing Date (defined below) and any date on which Option Stock is
to be purchased, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented at any such time,
(i) contained or will contain all statements required to be contained therein
and complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of
the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations, and (ii) did not or will not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (c) do not apply to statements or omissions made in
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or any 


                                       -3-

<PAGE>


amendment thereto or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use
therein.

          (d)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly
incorporated and are validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has full power (corporate and
other) and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) and as
currently being conducted and proposed to be conducted by it and is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing in all jurisdictions in
which the character of the property owned or leased or the nature of the
business transacted by it makes qualification necessary (except where the
failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the
business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations
or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole).  Each of the Company and each of its
subsidiaries are in possession of and operating in compliance with all
authorizations, licenses, certificates, consents, orders and permits from
federal, state, local, foreign and other governmental or regulatory authorities
that are material to the conduct of its business, all of which are valid and in
full force and effect.  Except as may be disclosed in the Registration
Statement, the Company owns all of the outstanding capital stock of each of its
subsidiaries, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest,
encumbrance, claim or equitable interest of any type, kind or nature.  None of
the subsidiaries of the Company (excluding the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 
21.1 to the Registration Statement) is a "significant subsidiary" as such 
term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.  As used in this 
Agreement, the word "subsidiary" means any corporation, partnership, limited 
liability company or other entity of which the Company directly or indirectly 
owns 50% or more of the equity or that the Company directly or indirectly 
controls.  The Company does not have any subsidiaries that are not 
corporations.

          (e) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), there has not been any
material loss or interference with the business of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries from fire, explosion, flood, volcano, tidal wave, earthquake or
other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any court or
governmental action, order or decree, or any changes in the capital stock or
long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the
Company, or any material adverse change, or a development known
to the


                                       -4-

<PAGE>


Company that might cause or result in a material adverse change, in or affecting
the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of
operation or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, the prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, in each case other than as may
be set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), and
since such dates, except in the ordinary course of business, neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any material transaction not
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).

          (f) There is no agreement, contract, license, lease or other document
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or, if
the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) or
to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is not described
or filed as required.  All contracts described in the Prospectus (or, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), if any,
are in full force and effect on the date hereof, and neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any other party
thereto is in material breach of or default under any such contract.

          (g)  The authorized and outstanding capital stock of the Company is
set forth in the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus), and the description of the Common Stock therein
conforms with and accurately describes the rights set forth in the instruments
defining the same.  The shares of the Stock have been duly and validly
authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefore as provided
herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the
issuance of the Stock is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

          (h)  All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable,
have been issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities
laws and were not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive rights or
other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.  All of the issued shares
of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and
issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company, free and
clear of all liens or encumbrances.  The description of the Company's stock
option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or
other rights granted or exercised thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus (or,
if the Prospectus is not in


                                       -5-

<PAGE>


existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), accurately and fairly
present the information required to be shown with respect to such plans,
arrangements, options and rights.  Other than this Agreement and the options to
purchase the Common Stock described in the Prospectus, there are no options,
warrants or other rights outstanding to subscribe for or purchase any shares of
the Company's capital stock.  There are no preemptive rights applicable to any
shares of capital stock of the Company.

          (i)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by, and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of, the Company,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as rights to
indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable federal or state
securities laws, public policy or general equitable principles.  The filing of
the Registration Statement does not give rise to any rights, other than those
which have been waived, for or relating to the registration of any capital stock
of the Company.

          (j)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, or with the
giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in violation of or in
default under, nor will the execution or delivery of this Agreement or the
completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement result in a
material violation of or constitute a breach of or a default (including without
limitation with the giving of notice, the passage of time or otherwise) under,
the certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other governing
documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or other
evidence of indebtedness or in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
loan agreement, lease, license, joint venture or other agreement or instrument
to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of
its or their properties may be bound or affected.  The Company has not incurred
any liability, direct or indirect, for any finders' or similar fees payable on
behalf of the Company or the Underwriters in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.  The performance by the Company of its
obligations under this Agreement will not violate any law, ordinance, rule or
regulation, or any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any
governmental agency or body or of any court having jurisdiction over the
Company, its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, or result in
the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, claim or encumbrance upon any
property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  Except for permits
and similar authorizations required under the Securities Act, the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or under other securities
or Blue Sky laws of certain jurisdictions, the clearance of this offering with
the NASD and for such permits and authorizations that have been obtained, no
consent, approval, authorization or order of any court,


                                       -6-

<PAGE>


governmental agency or body, financial institution or any other person is
required in connection with the completion of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

          (k)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries owns, or has valid
rights to use, all items of real and personal property which are material to the
business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and free and clear
of all liens, encumbrances and claims that might materially interfere with the
business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations
or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

          (l)  Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or
possesses adequate rights to use all material patents, patent rights,
inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names and
copyrights described or referred to in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus) as owned by or used by any of them, or which are
necessary for the conduct of their business as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus); and neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with
asserted rights of others with respect to any patents, patent rights,
inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, tradenames or
copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise),
results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as
a whole.

          (m)  There is no litigation or governmental proceeding to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject which is pending or, to the best
knowledge of the Company, is threatened or contemplated against the Company or
any of its subsidiaries which, if subject to an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations
or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, that might
prevent consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or that
are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus (or, if
the Prospectus is not in existence, in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus)
and are not so disclosed.

          (n)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation
of, and neither the Company nor any of its


                                       -7-

<PAGE>


subsidiaries has received any notice or claim from any governmental agency or
third party that any of them is in violation of, any law, order, ordinance, rule
or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any agency
or body or of any court, to which it or its properties (whether owned or leased)
may be subject, which violation would reasonably be expected to have a material
effect on the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results
of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

          (o)  The Company has not taken and shall not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted
or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange
Act, the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations or otherwise, the stabilization or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale
or resale of the Stock.  No bid or purchase by the Company and, to the best
knowledge of the Company, no bid or purchase that could be attributed to the
Company (as a result of bids or purchases by an "affiliated purchaser" within
the meaning of Rule 10b-6 under the Exchange Act) for or of the Stock, the
Common Stock, any securities of the same class or series as the Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exchangeable for or that represent any right
to acquire the Common Stock is now pending or in progress or will have commenced
at any time prior to the completion of the distribution of the Stock.

          (p)  KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, whose reports appear in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, are, and during the periods covered by their
reports in the Registration Statement were, independent accountants as required
by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The financial statements
and schedules included in the Registration Statement, each Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly (or, if the Prospectus has not been
filed with the Commission, as to the Prospectus, will present fairly) the
financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and changes in
stockholders' equity and the financial statements and schedules included in the
Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated
therein.  Such financial statements and schedules have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods presented.  The unaudited quarterly financial 
data included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
present fairly (or, if the Prospectus has not been filed with the Commission, as
to the Prospectus, will present fairly) the information shown therein and have
been prepared on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements
presented therein.  No other financial statements or schedules are required to
be included in the Registration Statement.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>



          (q)  The books, records and accounts of the Company and each of its
subsidiaries accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable detail, the
transactions in and dispositions of the assets of the Company and each of its
subsidiaries.  The systems of internal accounting controls maintained by the
Company and each of its subsidiaries are sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's
general or specific authorization; and (ii) transactions are recorded as
necessary (x) to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles and (y) to maintain accountability for
assets.

          (r)  The Company will not, and the Company has delivered to the
Representative the written agreement of each of its officers and directors and
all persons who own more than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(collectively, "Material Holders") to the effect that each of the Material
Holders will not, in each case for a period of 120 days following the date of
this Agreement, in each case without the prior written consent of the
Representative, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, or
announce the offer of, any Common Stock or options or convertible securities
exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, Common Stock; provided
however, that the Company may issue Common Stock upon the exercise of stock
options and may grant options to purchase Common Stock under its plans described
in the Registration Statement so long as none of such options become 
exercisable during a period of 120 days following the date of this Agreement.

          (s)  No labor disturbance by the employees of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries exists, is imminent or, to the best knowledge of the Company,
is contemplated or threatened; and the Company is not aware of an existing,
imminent or threatened labor disturbance by the employees of any principal
suppliers, contract manufacturing organizations, manufacturers, authorized
dealers or distributors that would reasonably be expected to result in any
material adverse change in the business, properties, condition (financial or
otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole.  No collective bargaining agreement exists with
any of the Company's or any of the Company's subsidiaries' employees and, to the
best knowledge of the Company, no such agreement is imminent.

          (t)  Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed all
federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are required to be filed or
has requested extension thereof and has paid all taxes, including withholding
taxes, penalties and interest, assessments, fees and other charges to the extent
that the same have become due and payable, except for such as are being
contested in good faith.  No tax assessment or deficiency has been made or
proposed against the Company or any of its



                                       -9-

<PAGE>


subsidiaries nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any notice
of any proposed tax assessment or deficiency in either case that has not been
paid in full or is not being by the Company in good faith.

          (u)  Except as set forth in the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is
not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) there are no
outstanding loans, advances or guaranties of indebtedness by the Company to or
for the benefit of any of (i) its "affiliates," as such term is deemed in the
Rules and Regulations, (ii) any of the officers or directors of any of its
subsidiaries or (iii) any of the members of the families of any of them.

          (v)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has, directly or
indirectly, at any time: (i) made any contributions to any candidate for
political office in violation of law; (ii) made any payment to any local, state,
federal or foreign governmental officer or official, or other person charged
with similar public or quasi-public duties; or (iii) violated any provision of
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

          (w)  The Company has not distributed and will not distribute prior to
the Closing Date or on or prior to any date on which the Option Stock is to be
purchased, as the case may be, any prospectus or other offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Stock other than the Prospectus,
the Registration Statement and any other material which may be permitted by the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.


                                       -10-

<PAGE>


          (x) The Stock has been approved for inclusion for listing on the
Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.

          (y) The Company is not now, and intends to conduct its affairs in the
future in such a manner so that it will not become, an investment company within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.


                                       -11-

<PAGE>


          (z) The Company satisfies the requirements for filing a registration
statement on Form SB-2.

     2.   PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE STOCK.

          (a)  On the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements of the Company contained in this Agreement and subject to the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell to the
several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $______ per share
of Stock ("Purchase Price") the respective number of shares of Firm Stock set
forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I to this Agreement
(subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8 of this Agreement).

          (b)  On the basis of the several (and not joint) representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements of the Underwriters contained in this
Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
the Company grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase from the
Company, severally and jointly, all or any portion of the Option Stock at the
Purchase Price.  This option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in
the sale of the Firm Stock by the Underwriters and may be exercised in whole or
in part at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day after the
date of the Prospectus upon written, telecopied or telegraphic notice by the
Representative to the Company setting forth the aggregate principal amount of
Option Stock as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and
the settlement date.  The Option Stock shall be purchased severally, and not
jointly,


                                       -12-

<PAGE>


by each Underwriter, if purchased at all, in the same proportion that the number
of shares of Firm Stock set forth opposite the name of the Underwriter in
Schedule I to this Agreement bears to the total number of shares of Firm Stock
to be purchased by the Underwriters under Section 2(a) above, subject to such
adjustments as the Representative in its absolute discretion shall make to
eliminate any fractional Stock.  Delivery of Option Stock, and payment therefor,
shall be made as provided in Section 2(c) and Section 2(d) below.

          (c)  Delivery of the Firm Stock and the Option Stock (if the option
granted by the Company in Section 2(b) above has been exercised not later than
7:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the date two business days preceding the
Closing Date), and payment therefor, shall be made at the office of Van Kasper &
Company, 600 California Street, San Francisco, California at 7:00 a.m., San
Francisco time, on the third business day after the date of this Agreement, or
at such time on such other day, not later than seven full business days after
such third business day, as shall be agreed upon in writing by the Company and
the Representative, or as provided in Section 8 of this Agreement.  The date and
hour of delivery and payment for the Firm Stock are referred to in this
Agreement as the "Closing Date."  As used in this Agreement, "business day"
means a day on which the Nasdaq Stock Market is operating and on which banks in
New York and California are open for business and not permitted by law or
executive order to be closed.  Certificates for the Stock shall be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Representative may request in
writing at least two business days before the Closing Date.

          (d)  If the option granted by the Company in Section 2(b) above is
exercised after 7:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the date two business days
preceding the Closing Date, delivery of the Option Stock and payment therefor
shall be made at the office of Van Kasper & Company, 600 California Street, San
Francisco, California at 7:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the date specified by
the Representative (which shall be three or four or fewer business days after
the exercise of the option, but not in excess of the period specified in the
Rules and Regulations). 

          (e)  Payment of the purchase price for the Stock by the several
Underwriters shall be made by certified or official bank check or checks drawn
in next-day funds, payable to the order of the Company.  Such payment shall be
made upon delivery of Stock to the Representative for the respective accounts of
the several Underwriters.  The Stock to be delivered to the Representative shall
be registered in such name or names and shall be in such denominations as the
Representative may request at least two business days before the Closing Date,
in the case of Firm Stock, and at least one business prior to the purchase of
the Option


                                       -13-

<PAGE>


Stock, in the case of the Option Stock.  The Representative, individually and
not on behalf of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make
payment to the Company for Stock to be purchased by any Underwriter whose check
shall not have been received by the Representative on the Closing Date or any
later date on which Option Stock is purchased for the account of such
Underwriter.  Any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of
its obligations hereunder.

          (f)  The several Underwriters propose to offer the Stock for sale to
the public as soon as the Representative deems it advisable to do so.  The Firm
Stock is to be initially offered to the public at the public offering price set
forth (or to be set forth) in the Prospectus.  The Representative may from time
to time thereafter change the public offering price and other selling terms.

          (g)  The information set forth in the last paragraph on the front
cover page (insofar as such information relates to the Underwriters), the legend
respecting stabilization set forth on the inside front cover page and the
statements set forth under the caption "Underwriting" in any Preliminary
Prospectus, in the Registration Statement and in the final form of Prospectus
filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) constitute the only information furnished by the
Underwriters to the Company for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or the Registration Statement.

     3.   FURTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY.  The Company covenants and agrees
with the several Underwriters as follows:

          (a)  The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement, and any amendment thereof, if not effective at the time of execution
of this Agreement, to become effective as promptly as possible.  If the
Registration Statement has become or becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A, or
filing of the Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company
will file the Prospectus, properly completed (and in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters) pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the
time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the
Representative of such timely filing.  The Company will not file the Prospectus,
any amended Prospectus, any amendment (including post-effective amendments) of
the Registration Statement or any supplement to the Prospectus without (i)
advising the Representative of and, a reasonable time prior to the proposed
filing of such amendment or supplement, furnishing the Representative with
copies thereof and (ii) obtaining the prior consent of the Representative to
such filing.  The Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly
upon the request of the Representative, any amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus that may be necessary or advisable in
the reasonable opinion of the


                                       -14-

<PAGE>


Representative in connection with the distribution of the Stock by the
Underwriters and use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective as
promptly as possible.

          (b)  The Company will promptly advise the Representative (i) when the
Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) when any post-effective amendment
thereof becomes effective, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any
amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the
receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
registration, qualification or exemption from registration or qualification of
the Stock for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose.  The Company will make every reasonable effort to
prevent the issuance of any such stop order or suspension and, if issued, to
obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

          (c)  The Company will (i) on or before the Closing Date, deliver to
the Representative and its counsel a signed copy of the Registration Statement
as originally filed and of each amendment thereto filed prior to the time the
Registration Statement becomes effective and, promptly upon the filing thereof,
a signed copy of each post-effective amendment, if any, to the Registration
Statement (together with, in each case, all exhibits thereto unless previously
furnished to the Representative) and will also deliver to the Representative,
for distribution to the several Underwriters, a sufficient number of additional
conformed copies of each of the foregoing (excluding exhibits) so that one copy
of each may be distributed to each Underwriter, (ii) as promptly as possible
deliver to the Representative and send to the several Underwriters, at such
office or offices as the Representative may designate, as many copies of the
Prospectus as the Representative may reasonably request and (iii) thereafter
from time to time during the period in which a prospectus is required by law to
be delivered by an Underwriter or a dealer, likewise to send to the Underwriters
as many additional copies of the Prospectus and as many copies of any supplement
to the Prospectus and of any amended Prospectus, filed by the Company with the
Commission, as the Representative may reasonably request for the purposes
contemplated by the Securities Act.

          (d)  If at any time during the period in which a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or a dealer any event shall
occur as a result of which it is necessary to supplement or amend the Prospectus
in order to make the Prospectus not misleading in light of the circumstances 
then existing or so that the Prospectus will
not omit to state a material fact necessary in light of the circumstances 
then existing to be stated therein, in


                                       -15-

<PAGE>


each case at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser of the Stock,
or if it shall be necessary to amend or to supplement the Prospectus to comply
with the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Company will forthwith
prepare and file with the Commission a supplement to the Prospectus or an
amended Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so supplemented or amended will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material 
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in light of the 
circumstances then existing not misleading and so that it then will 
otherwise comply with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.  If, 
after the public offering of the Stock by the Underwriters and during such 
period, the Underwriters propose to vary the terms of offering thereof by 
reason of changes in general market conditions or otherwise, the 
Representative will advise the Company in writing of the proposed variation 
and if, in the opinion either of counsel for the Company or counsel for the 
Underwriters, such proposed variation requires that the Prospectus be 
supplemented or amended, the Company will forthwith prepare and file with the 
Commission a supplement to the Prospectus setting forth such variation.  The 
Company authorizes the Underwriters and all dealers to whom any of the Stock 
may be sold by the Underwriters to use the Prospectus, as from time to time 
so amended or supplemented, in connection with the sale of the Stock in 
accordance with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Rules 
and Regulations for such period.

          (e)  The Company will cooperate with the Representative and its
counsel in the qualification or registration of the Stock for offer and sale
under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representative may designate and, if applicable, in connection with exemptions
from such qualification or registration and, during the period in which a
Prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or a dealer, in
keeping such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to
service of process or to qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in any
jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified.  The Company will, from time to
time, prepare and file such statements, reports and other documents as are or
may be required to continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in
effect for so long a period as the Representative may reasonably request for the
distribution of the Stock.

          (f)  During a period of five years commencing with the date of this
Agreement, the Company will promptly furnish to the Representative and to each
Underwriter who may so request in writing copies of (i) all periodic and special
reports furnished by it to shareholders of the Company, (ii) all information,
documents and reports filed by it with the Commission, any securities exchange
on which any securities of the Company are then listed, Nasdaq or its National
Market System or the National


                                       -16-

<PAGE>


Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (iii) all press releases and material
news items or articles in respect of the Company or its affairs released or
prepared by the Company (other than promotional and marketing materials
disseminated solely to customers and potential customers of the Company in the
ordinary course of business) and (iv) any additional information concerning the
Company which the Representative may reasonably request.

          (g)  As soon as practicable, but not later than the 45th day following
the end of the fiscal quarter first ending after the first anniversary of the
Effective Date, the Company will make generally available to its securities
holders and furnish to the Representative an earnings statement or statements in
accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules
and Regulations.

           (h)  The Company intends to apply the net proceeds from the offering
of the Stock in the manner set forth under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in the
Prospectus.

          (i)  The Company will comply with all provisions of all undertakings
contained in the Registration Statement.

          (j)  The Company will, and at all times for a period of at least 
five years after the date of this Agreement, make every reasonable effort to 
cause the Common Stock (including the Stock) to be listed on the Nasdaq 
National Market, and the Company will comply with all registration, filing, 
reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act and the Nasdaq National 
Market which may from time to time be applicable to the Company.

          (k)  The Company will make every best effort to maintain insurance of
the types and in the amounts which it deems adequate for its business consistent
with insurance coverage maintained by companies of similar size and engaged in
similar businesses, including, but not limited to, product liability insurance
and general liability insurance covering all real and personal property owned or
leased by the Company against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and
all other risks customarily insured against.

          (l)  The Company will issue no press release prior to the Closing 
Date with respect to the offering without providing the Representative a 
reasonable opportunity to review it.

                                       -17-

<PAGE>



     4.   FEES AND EXPENSES.

          (a)  The Company agrees with each Underwriter that:

               (i)  The Company will pay and bear all costs and expenses in
connection with: the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration
Statement (including financial statements, schedules and exhibits), Preliminary
Prospectuses and the Prospectus, any drafts of each of them and any amendments
or supplements to any of them; the duplication or, if applicable, printing
(including all drafts thereof) of this Agreement, the Agreement Among
Underwriters, any Selected Dealer Agreements, the Preliminary Blue Sky Survey
and any Supplemental Blue Sky Survey, the Underwriters' Questionnaire and the
Power of Attorney and the duplication and printing (including of drafts thereof)
of any other underwriting documents and material (including but not limited to
marketing memoranda and other marketing material) in connection with the
offering, purchase, sale and deliver of the Stock; the issuance and delivery of
the Stock under this Agreement to the several Underwriters, including all
expenses, taxes and duties on the purchase and sale of the Stock and stock
exchange brokerage and transaction levies with respect to the purchase and, if
applicable, the sale of the Stock (x) incident to the sale and delivery of the
Stock by the Company to the Underwriters and (y) incident to the sale and
delivery of the Stock by the Underwriters to the initial purchasers thereof; the
cost of printing the certificates for the Stock; the Transfer Agents' and
Registrars' fees; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; all
fees and other charges of the Company's independent public accountants and any
other experts named in the Prospectus; the cost of furnishing to the several
Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement (including appropriate
exhibits), Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the agreements and other
documents and instruments referred to above and any amendments or supplements to
any of the foregoing; the NASD filing fees; the cost of qualifying or
registering the Stock (or obtaining exemptions from qualification or
registration) under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may
designate (including filing fees and fees and costs/disbursements of
Underwriters' counsel in connection with such NASD filings and state securities
or Blue Sky qualifications, registrations and exemptions and in preparing the
preliminary and any final Blue Sky Memorandum); all fees and expenses in
connection with listing of the Stock on the Nasdaq National Market; all
Company marketing expenses; and all other expenses incurred by the Company in 
connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder.  In addition, 
the Company will pay the Representatives on the Closing Date and, if 
applicable, on the date on which Option Stock is purchased a non-accountable 
expense allowance of one percent (1%) of the gross proceeds (prior to 
deducting underwriting discounts and commissions) of the offering of the 
Stock.  Except as provided in

                                       -18-

<PAGE>


this Section 4(a), Section 4(d) and Section 7, the Underwriters shall pay all of
their own expenses, including the fees of and disbursements to their counsel.

               (ii) In addition to its obligations under Section 7(a) of this
Agreement, the Company agrees that, as an interim measure during the pendency of
any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or
based upon any loss, claim, damage or liability described in Section 7(a) of
this Agreement, it will reimburse or advance to or for the benefit of the
Underwriters, and each of them, on a quarterly basis for all legal and other
expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim,
action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the absence
of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the
Company's obligation to reimburse or advance for the benefit of the Underwriters
for such expenses or the possibility that such payments might later be held to
have been improper by a court of competent jurisdiction.  To the extent that any
portion, or all, of any such interim reimbursement payments or advances are so
held to have been improper, the Underwriters receiving the same shall promptly
return such amounts to the Company together with interest, compounded daily, at
the prime rate (or other commercial lending rate for borrowers of the highest
credit standing) announced from time to time by Bank of America, NT&SA, San
Francisco, California (the "Prime Rate"), but not in excess of the maximum rate
permitted by applicable law.  Any such interim reimbursement payments or
advances that are not made to or for the Underwriters within 30 days of a
request for reimbursement or for an advance shall bear interest at the Prime
Rate, compounded daily, but not in excess of the maximum rate permitted by
applicable law, from the date of such request until the date paid.

          (b)  In addition to their obligations under Section 7(b) of this
Agreement, the Underwriters severally and in proportion to their obligation to
purchase Firm Stock as set forth on Schedule I hereto, agree that, as an interim
measure during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or
other proceeding arising out of or based upon any loss, claim, damage or
liability described in Section 7(b) of this Agreement, they will reimburse or
advance to or for the benefit of the Company on a quarterly basis for all legal
and other expenses incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or
defending any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding,
notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety or
enforceability of the Underwriters' obligation to reimburse or advance for the
benefit of the Company for such expenses and the possibility that such payments
or advances might later be held to have been improper by a court of competent
jurisdiction.  To the extent that any portion, or all, of any such interim
reimbursement payments or


                                       -19-

<PAGE>


advances are so held to have been improper, the Company shall promptly return
such amounts to the Underwriters together with interest, compounded daily, at
the Prime Rate, but not in excess of the maximum rate permitted by applicable
law.  Any such interim reimbursement payments or advances that are not made to
the Company within 30 days of a request for reimbursement or for an advance
shall bear interest at the Prime Rate, compounded daily, but not in excess of
the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, from the date of such request
until the date paid.

          (c)  Any controversy arising out of the operation of the interim
reimbursement and advance arrangements set forth in Sections 4(a)(ii) and 4(b)
above, including the amounts of any requested reimbursement payments or advance,
the method of determining such amounts and the basis on which such amounts shall
be apportioned among the indemnifying parties, shall be settled by arbitration
conducted under the provisions of the Code of Arbitration Procedure of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.  Any such arbitration must be
commenced by service of a written demand for arbitration or a written notice of
intention to arbitrate, therein electing the arbitration tribunal.  If the party
demanding arbitration does not make such designation of an arbitration tribunal
in such demand or notice, then the party responding to the demand or notice is
authorized to do so.  Any such arbitration will be limited to the interpretation
and obligations of the parties under the interim reimbursement and advance
provisions contained in Sections 4(a)(ii) and 4(b) above and will not resolve
the ultimate propriety or enforceability of the obligation to indemnify for or
contribute to expenses that is created by the provisions of Section 7 of this
Agreement.

          (d)  If the sale of the Stock provided for herein is not consummated
because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in
Section 5 of this Agreement is not satisfied, or because of any termination
pursuant to Section 9(b) of this Agreement, or because of any refusal, inability
or failure on the part of the Company to perform any covenant or agreement set
forth in this Agreement or to comply with any provision of this Agreement other
than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company agrees to
reimburse the several Underwriters upon demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket
accountable expenses actually incurred (including fees and disbursements of
counsel) that shall have been incurred by any or all of them in connection with
investigating, preparing to market or marketing the Stock or otherwise in
connection with this Agreement.

     5.   CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS.  The several obligations of
the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Stock shall be subject, in the sole
discretion of the Representative,


                                       -20-

<PAGE>

to the accuracy as of the date of execution of this Agreement, the Closing Date
and the date and time at which the Option Stock is to be purchased, as the case
may be, of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this
Agreement, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company and its officers
made in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement, to the performance
by the Company of all of its obligations to be performed under this Agreement at
or prior to the Closing Date or any later date on which Option Stock is to be
purchased, as the case may be, to the satisfaction of all conditions to be
satisfied or performed by the Company at or prior to that date and to the
following additional conditions:

          (a)  The Registration Statement shall have become effective (or, if a
post-effective amendment is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 430A under the
Act, such post-effective amendment shall become effective and the Company shall
have provided evidence satisfactory to the Representative of such filing and
effectiveness) not later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of this
Agreement or at such later date and time as the Representative may approve in
writing and, at the Closing Date or, with respect to the Option Stock, the date
on which such Option Stock is to be purchased, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any qualification, registration
or exemption from qualification or registration for the sale of the Stock in any
jurisdiction shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall
have been instituted or threatened; and any request for additional information
on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Representative and its counsel.

          (b)  The Representative shall have received from Heller Ehrman White &
McAuliffe, counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion, on and dated as of the
Closing Date or, if applicable, the date on which Option Stock is to be
purchased, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Stock and such other
related matters as the Representative may reasonably require, and the Company
shall have furnished such counsel with all documents which they may request for
the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

          (c)  The Representative shall have received on the Closing Date or, if
applicable, the later date on which Option Stock is purchased the opinions of
Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison and of Woodbury & Wedge, counsel for the Company,
addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Closing Date or such later date,
with reproduced copies or signed counterparts thereof for each of the
Underwriters, covering the matters set forth in Annex A and Annex B,
respectively, to this Agreement and in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representative.



                                       -21-

<PAGE>



          (d)  The Representative shall be satisfied that there has not been any
material change in the market for securities in general or in political,
financial or economic conditions as to render it impracticable in the
Representative's judgment to make a public offering of the Stock.

          (e)  The Representative shall have received on the Closing Date and on
any later date on which Option Stock is purchased a certificate, dated the
Closing Date or such later date, as the case may be, and signed by the President
and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company stating that:

               (i)  the representations and warranties of the Company set forth
in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and
effect as if expressly made at and as of the Closing Date or such later date,
and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing
Date or such later date;

               (ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued, and to the best of such officer's
knowledge no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or
are threatened under the Securities Act;

               (iii) the Stock has been approved for listing on the Nasdaq
National Market, subject only to notice of issuance, and the outstanding shares
of the Common Stock of the Company are listed on the Nasdaq National Market; and

               (iv)  all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock of the Company
shall automatically convert into Common Stock of the Company upon the Closing as
described in the Prospectus; and

               (v)  (A) each of the respective signers of such certificate have
carefully examined the Registration Statement in the form in which it originally
became effective and the Prospectus and any supplements or amendments to any of
them and, as of the Effective Date, in his opinion and to the best of his
knowledge after making necessary investigations the statements made in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus were true and correct in all material
respects and neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus omitted to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) since the effective
date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred that should have been
set forth in an amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement or
amendment to the Prospectus that has not been set forth in such an amendment or
supplement, (C) since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement in the form in


                                       -22-

<PAGE>


which it originally became effective and the Prospectus, there has not been any
material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change in or affecting the business, properties, condition (financial or
otherwise), results of operations or to the best of the Company's knowledge
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and, since such
dates, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any
material transaction not referred to in the Registration Statement in the form
in which it originally became effective and the Prospectus contained therein,
(D) there are not any pending or known threatened legal proceedings to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which property of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which are material and which
are not disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and (E) there
are not any license agreements, contracts, leases or other documents that are
required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not
been filed as required.

          (f)  The Representative shall have received from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
a letter or letters, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Closing Date
and any later date on which Option Stock is purchased, confirming that they are
independent accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations thereunder and, based
upon the procedures described in their letter delivered to the Representative
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the "Original Letter"), but
carried out to a date not more than five business days prior to the Closing Date
or such later date on which Option Stock is purchased, (i) confirming, to the
extent true, that the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original
Letter are accurate as of the Closing Date or such later date,, as the case may
be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and additions to the statements and
conclusions set forth in the Original Letter that are necessary to reflect any
changes in the facts described in the Original Letter since the date of the
Original Letter or to reflect the availability of more recent financial
statements, data or information.  Such letters shall not disclose any change, or
any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business,
properties or condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or
prospects of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which, in the
Representative's sole judgment, makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed
with the public offering of the Stock or the purchase of the Option Stock as
contemplated by the Prospectus.  In addition, the Representative shall have
received from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, on or prior to the Closing Date, a letter
addressed to the Company and made available to the Representative for the use of
the Underwriters stating that their review of the Company's system of internal
controls, to the extent they deemed necessary in establishing the scope of their
examination of the Company's


                                       -23-

<PAGE>


consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 1995 or in delivering their
Original Letter, did not disclose any weaknesses in internal controls that they
considered to be material weaknesses.

          (g)  Prior to the Closing Date, the Stock shall have been approved for
listing on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of
issuance and the outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company shall be
listed on the Nasdaq National Market.

          (h)  On or prior to the Closing Date, the Representative shall have
received from all Material Holders executed agreements covering the matters
described in Section 1(r) of this Agreement.

          (i)  The Representative shall have received from the State of Hawaii
as of the Closing Date an estoppel certificate relating to the real property
leased by the Company in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Representative.

          (j)  On the Closing Date all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
Stock of the Company shall have converted into Common Stock as described in the
Prospectus.

          (k)  The Company shall have furnished to the Representative such
further certificates and documents as the Representative shall reasonably
request (including certificates of officers of the Company) as to the accuracy
of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this
Agreement, the performance by the Company of its obligations under this
Agreement and such other matters as the Representative may have then requested.

          All the agreements, opinions, certificates and letters mentioned above
or elsewhere in this Agreement will be in compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement only if they are satisfactory to the Representative.  The Company will
furnish the Representative with such number of conformed copies of such
opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representative shall
reasonably request.

          If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not have
been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement,
time being of the essence, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned
above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects
satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and its counsel, this
Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled by
the Representative at or at any time prior to, the Closing Date or, with respect
to the Option Stock, prior to the date which the Option Stock is to be
purchased, as


                                       -24-

<PAGE>


the case may be.  Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company
in writing or by telephone, telecopy or telegraph confirmed in writing.  Any
such termination shall be without liability of the Company to the Underwriters
(except as provided in Section 4 or Section 7 of this Agreement) and without
liability of the Underwriters to the Company (except as provided in Section 4 or
7 of this Agreement).

     6.   CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY.  The obligations of the
Company to sell and deliver the Stock required to be delivered as and when
specified in this Agreement shall be subject to the condition that, at the
Closing Date or, with respect to the Option Stock, the date and time at which
the Option Stock is to be purchased, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings therefor
shall be pending or threatened by the Commission.

     7.   INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

          (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person (including each partner or officer thereto) who
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which such indemnified parties or any of them may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statute,
law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, specifically including but not
limited to losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or action in respect thereof)
related to negligence on the part of any Underwriter, and the Company agrees to
reimburse each such Underwriter and controlling person for any legal or other
expenses (including, except as otherwise provided below, settlement expenses and
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the respective
indemnified parties in connection with defending against any such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities or in connection with any investigation or
inquiry of, or other proceeding that may be brought against, the respective
indemnified parties, in each case insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon, in
whole or in part, (i) any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement of the Company in this Agreement, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
(including the Prospectus as part thereof) or any post-effective amendment 
thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact 
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not 
misleading or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a 
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (as 
amended or as supplemented if

                                       -25-

<PAGE>

the Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading or (iv) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any application or other document, or any amendment
or supplement thereto, executed by the Company or based upon written information
furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to
qualify or register the Stock under the securities or Blue Sky laws thereof or
to obtain an exception from such qualification or registration or filed with the
Commission, any securities association or the Nasdaq National Market, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
provided, however, that (1) the indemnity agreements of the Company contained in
this Section 7(a) shall not apply to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf
of any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use in any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any
such amendment thereof or supplement thereto and (2) the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 7(a) with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses purchased the Stock that
is the subject thereof (or to the benefit of any person controlling such
Underwriter) if the Company can demonstrate that at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of such Stock a copy of the Prospectus (or the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented) or, for this purpose, if applicable, a
copy of the then most recent Preliminary Prospectus was not sent or delivered to
such person and the untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in
such Preliminary Prospectus or, if applicable, prior Preliminary Prospectus was
corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented) or,
if applicable, the then most recent Preliminary Prospectus, unless the failure
is the result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 3 of this Agreement. 
The indemnity agreements of the Company contained in this Section 7(a) and the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 of this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the
delivery of and payment for the Stock.  This indemnity agreement shall be in
addition to any liabilities which the Company may otherwise have.

          (b)  Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, each of its


                                       -26-

<PAGE>


officers who signs the Registration Statement, each of its directors, each other
Underwriter and each person (including each partner or officer thereof) who
controls the Company or any such other Underwriter within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which such indemnified parties or any of them
may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal
or state statute, law or regulation or at common law or otherwise and to
reimburse each of them for any legal or other expenses (including, except as
otherwise hereinafter provided, settlement expenses and reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred by the respective indemnified parties in
connection with defending against any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities or in connection with any investigation or inquiry of, or other
proceeding that may be brought against, the respective indemnified parties, in
each case arising out of or based upon (i) any breach of any covenant or
agreement of the indemnifying Underwriter in this Agreement, (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as part thereof) or any
post-effective amendment thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, not misleading or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus (as amended or as supplemented if the Company shall have filed
with the Commission any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) or the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case
under clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, as the case may be, only if such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in connection with
information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such
indemnifying Underwriter specifically for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or
supplement thereto.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that the matters
described in Section 2(g) of this Agreement constitute the only information
furnished in writing by or on behalf of any of the several Underwriters for
inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any Preliminary
Prospectus.  The several indemnity agreement of each Underwriter contained in
this Section 7(b) shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless
of any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall
survive the delivery of and payment for the Stock.  This indemnity agreement
shall be in addition to any liabilities which each Underwriter may otherwise
have.



                                       -27-

<PAGE>



          (c)  Each person or entity indemnified under the provisions of
Sections 7(a) and 7(b) above agrees that, upon the service of a summons or other
initial legal process upon it in any action or suit instituted against it or
upon its receipt of written notification of the commencement of any
investigation or inquiry of, or proceeding against, it in respect of which
indemnity may be sought on account of any indemnity agreement contained in such
Sections, it will, if a claim in respect thereunder is to be made against the
indemnifying party or parties under this Section 7, promptly give written notice
(the "Notice") of such service or notification to the party or parties from whom
indemnification may be sought hereunder.  No indemnification provided for in
Sections 7(a) or 7(b) above shall be available to any person who fails to so
give the Notice if the party to whom such Notice was not given was unaware of
the action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding to which the Notice would
have related, but only to the extent such party was materially prejudiced by the
failure to receive the Notice, and the omission to so notify such indemnifying
party or parties shall not relieve such indemnifying party or parties from any
liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or
otherwise than on account of Sections 7(a) and 7(b).  Any indemnifying party
shall be entitled at its own expense to participate in the defense of any
action, suit or proceeding against, or investigation or inquiry of, an
indemnified party.  Any indemnifying party shall be entitled, if it so elects
within a reasonable time after receipt of the Notice by giving written notice
(the "Notice of Defense") to the indemnified party, to assume (alone or in
conjunction with any other indemnifying party or parties) the entire defense of
such action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding, in which event such
defense shall be conducted, at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties,
by counsel chosen by such indemnifying, party or parties and reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party or parties; provided, however, that (i) if
the indemnified party or parties reasonably determine that there may be a
conflict between the positions of the indemnifying party or parties and of the
indemnified party or parties in conducting the defense of such action, suit,
investigation, inquiry or proceeding or that there may be legal defenses or
rights available to such indemnified party or parties different from or in
addition to those available to the indemnifying party or parties, then separate
counsel for and selected by the indemnified party or parties shall be entitled,
at the expense of the indemnifying parties, to conduct the defense of the
indemnified parties to the extent determined by counsel to the indemnified
parties to be necessary to protect the interests of the indemnified party or
parties and (ii) in any event, the indemnified party or parties shall be
entitled to have counsel selected by such indemnified party or parties
participate in, but not conduct, the defense.  If, within a reasonable time
after receipt of the Notice, an indemnifying party gives a Notice of


                                       -28-

<PAGE>


Defense and, unless separate counsel is to be chosen by the indemnified party or
parties as provided above, the counsel chosen by the indemnifying party or
parties is reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or parties, the
indemnifying party or parties will not be liable under Sections 7(a) through
7(c) for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified
party or parties in connection with the defense of the action, suit,
investigation, inquiry or proceeding, except that (A) the indemnifying party or
parties shall bear and pay the legal and other expenses incurred in connection
with the conduct of the defense as referred to in clause (i) of the "provided,
however" clause in the preceding sentence and (B) the indemnifying party or
parties shall bear and pay such other expenses as it or they have authorized to
be incurred by the indemnified party or parties.  If, within a reasonable time
after receipt of the Notice, no Notice of Defense has been given, the
indemnifying party or parties shall be responsible for any legal or other
expenses incurred by the indemnified party or parties in connection with the
defense of the action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding.  In no event
shall any indemnifying party be liable with respect to any amounts paid in
settlement of any claim or action unless the indemnifying party shall have
approved the terms of such settlement, such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld.

          (d)  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in any
action in which a claim for indemnification is made pursuant to this Section 7
but is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a
court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the
denial of the last right to appeal) that such indemnification may not be
enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 7 provides for
indemnification in such case, each indemnifying party shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to in Section 7(a) or 7(b)
above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by each indemnifying party from the offering of the Stock or (ii) if
the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law,
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of each indemnifying
party in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, or actions in respect thereof, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received
by the Company and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportion as the total proceeds from the offering of the Stock, net of the
underwriting discounts, received by the Company and the total underwriting
discount retained by the Underwriters bear to the aggregate public offering
price of the Stock.  Relative fault shall be


                                       -29-

<PAGE>


determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by each indemnifying party and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.

          The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were to be determined by pro rata
allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations
referred to in the first sentence of the first paragraph of this Section 7(d)
and to the considerations referred to in the third sentence of the first
paragraph of this Section 7(d).  The amount paid by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities, or actions in respect
thereof, referred to in the first sentence of the first paragraph of this
Section 7(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or
defending against any action or claim which is the subject of this Section 7(d).
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discount
applicable to the Stock purchased by that Underwriter.  For purposes of this
Section 7(d), each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter,
and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities
Act, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each
director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company; provided, however, in each case that no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters' obligations to contribute in
this Section 7(d) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.

          Each party or other entity entitled to contribution agrees that upon
the service of a summons or other initial legal process upon it in any action
instituted against it in respect of which contribution may be sought, it will
promptly give written notice of such service to the party or parties from whom
contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify such party or parties
of any such service shall not relieve the party from whom contribution may be
sought from any obligation it may have hereunder or otherwise (except as
specifically provided in Section 7(c) above).

          (e)  No indemnifying party will, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment in any pending or threatened


                                       -30-

<PAGE>


claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or
contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not such indemnified party or
any person who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act is a party to such claim, action, suit or proceeding)
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release
of each such indemnified party and each such controlling person from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

          (f)  The parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge that they are
sophisticated business persons who were represented by counsel during the
negotiations regarding the provisions of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the provisions of Sections 4(a)(ii), 4(b) and 4(c) and this Section
7 of this Agreement and that they are fully informed regarding all such
provisions.  They further acknowledge that the provisions of Sections 4(a)(ii),
4(b) and 4(c) and this Section 7 of this Agreement fairly allocate the risks in
light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company and its business
in order to assure that adequate disclosure is made in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and
Regulations.  The parties are advised that federal or state policy, as
interpreted by the courts in certain jurisdictions, may be contrary to certain
provisions of Sections 4(a)(ii), 4(b) and 4(c) and this Section 7 of this
Agreement and, to the extent permitted by law, the parties hereto hereby
expressly waive and relinquish any right or ability to assert such public policy
as a defense to a claim under Sections 4(a)(ii), 4(b) or 4(c) or this Section 7
of this Agreement and further agree not to attempt to assert any such defense.

     8.   SUBSTITUTION OF UNDERWRITERS.  If for any reason one or more of the
Underwriters fails or refuses (otherwise than for a reason sufficient to justify
the termination of this Agreement under the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9
of this Agreement) to purchase and pay for the number of shares of Firm Stock
agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters, the Representative
shall immediately give notice thereof to the Company and the non-defaulting
Underwriters shall have the right within 24 hours after the receipt by the
Company of such notice to purchase, or procure one or more other Underwriters to
purchase, in such proportions as may be agreed upon among the Representative and
such purchasing Underwriter or Underwriters and upon the terms set forth herein,
all or any part of the Firm Stock that such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed to purchase.  If the non-defaulting Underwriters fail to
make such arrangements with respect to all such Stock, the number of shares of
Firm Stock that each non- defaulting Underwriter is otherwise obligated to
purchase under this Agreement shall be automatically increased on a pro rata
basis to absorb the remaining shares of Stock that the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed to


                                       -31-

<PAGE>


purchase; provided, however, that the non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be
obligated to purchase the Stock that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed to purchase if the aggregate amount of such Stock exceeds 10% of the
aggregate amount of Firm Stock that all Underwriters agreed to purchase under
this Agreement.  If the total number of shares of Firm Stock that the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase shall not be purchased or
absorbed in accordance with the two preceding sentences, the Company shall have
the right, within 24 hours next succeeding the first 24-hour period above
referred to, to make arrangements with other underwriters or purchasers
reasonably satisfactory to the Representative for purchase of such Stock on the
terms set forth in this Agreement.  In any such case, either the Representative
or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date determined as
provided in Section 2(c) of this Agreement for not more than seven business days
after the date originally fixed as the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2(c) in
order that any necessary changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
or any other documents or arrangements may be made.

          If neither the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the Company shall make
arrangements within the time periods set forth above for the purchase of all the
Firm Stock that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase
hereunder, this Agreement shall be terminated without further act or deed and
without any liability on the part of the Company to any non-defaulting
Underwriter (except as provided in Section 4 or Section 7 of this Agreement) and
without any liability on the part of any nondefaulting Underwriters to the
Company (except to the extent provided in Section 4 or 7 of this Agreement). 
Nothing in this Section 8, and no action taken hereunder, shall relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability, if any, to the Company or any
nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default under this
Agreement.  The term "Underwriter" in this Agreement shall include any persons
substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 8.

     9.   EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT AND TERMINATION.

          (a)  If the Registration Statement has not been declared effective
prior to the date of this Agreement, this Agreement shall become effective at
such time, after notification of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
has been released by the Commission, as the Representative and the Company shall
agree upon the public offering price and the purchase price of the Stock.  If
the public offering price and other terms and the purchase price of the Stock
shall not have been determined prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the fifth
full business day after the Registration Statement has become effective, this
Agreement shall thereupon terminate without liability on the part of the Company
or the Underwriters (except as provided in Section


                                       -32-

<PAGE>


4 or Section 7 of this Agreement).  By giving notice as set forth in Section 12
of this Agreement before the time this Agreement becomes effective, the
Representative, as Representative of the several Underwriters, may prevent this
Agreement from becoming effective without liability of any party to the other
party, except that the Company shall remain obligated to pay costs and expenses
to the extent provided in Section 4 and Section 7 of this Agreement.  If the
Registration Statement has been declared effective prior to the date of this
Agreement, this Agreement shall become effective upon execution and delivery by
the Representative and the Company.

          (b)  This Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by giving
written notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date or,
with respect to the purchase of the Option Stock, on or prior to any later date
on which the Option Stock is to be purchased, as the case may be, if prior to
such time any of the following has occurred: (i) after the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
any material adverse change or development involving a prospective material
adverse change in or affecting materially the business, properties, condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole, which would, in the Representative's sole
judgment, make the offering or the delivery of the Stock impracticable or
inadvisable; or (ii) if trading in securities of the Company has been suspended
by the Commission or if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange,
American Stock Exchange or over-the-counter market has been suspended or minimum
or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for
securities have been required, by either of such exchanges, by the NASD or by
the Commission; or (iii) if there shall have been the enactment, publication,
decree or other promulgation of any federal or state statute, regulation, rule
or order of, or commencement of any proceeding or investigation by, court,
legislative body, agency or other governmental authority which in the
Representative's sole judgment materially affects or may materially affect the
business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations
or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (iv) if there
shall have been the declaration of a banking moratorium by federal, New York or
California authorities; (v) existing international monetary conditions shall
have undergone a material change which, in the Representative's sole judgment,
makes the offering or delivery of the Stock impracticable or inadvisable; or
(vi) if there has occurred any material change in the financial markets in the
United States or internationally or any outbreak of hostilities or escalation of
existing hostilities or other crisis, the effect of which in the
Representative's sole judgment make the offering or delivery of the Stock
impracticable or inadvisable.  If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to
this Section 9, there


                                       -33-

<PAGE>


shall be no liability of the Company to the Underwriters (except pursuant to
Section 4 and Section 7 of this Agreement) and no liability of the Underwriters
to the Company (except pursuant to Sections 4a and 7 of this Agreement).

     10.  NOTICES.  Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications
hereunder shall be in writing or by either telecopier or telegraph and, if to
the Underwriters, shall be mailed, telecopied or telegraphed or delivered to Van
Kasper & Company, 11661 San Vincente Boulevard, Suite 709, Los Angeles,
California 90049, Attention: Bruce P. Emmeluth (telecopier: (310) 820-5032); and
if to the Company, shall be mailed, telecopied, telegraphed or delivered to it
at its office at 73-4460 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy., Suite 102, Keahole Point, Kailua
- - Kona, Hawaii 96740 (telecopier: (808) 395-1353) Attention: Gerald R. Cysewski.
All notices given by telecopy or telegraph shall be promptly confirmed by
letter.

     11.  PERSONS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFIT OF THIS AGREEMENT.  This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of the Company and the several Underwriters and, with
respect to the provisions of Section 4 and Section 7 of this Agreement, the
several parties (in addition to the Company and the several Underwriters)
indemnified under the provisions of Section 4 and Section 7.  Nothing in this
Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or
corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this
Agreement or any provision contained herein.  The term "successors and assigns"
as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such, of any of the Stock
from the several Underwriters.

     12.  GENERAL.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements
contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of
(a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person thereof or by or on behalf of
the Company or their respective directors or officers and (c) delivery and
payment for the Stock under this Agreement; provided, however, that if this
Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing Date, the provisions of Sections
2(r), 3(f), 3(g), 3(h), 3(i) and 3(j) of this Agreement shall be of no further
force or effect.

     This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall constitute an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.

     THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INTERNAL LAWS, AND NOT THE LAWS PERTAINING TO CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAWS, OF THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA.




                                       -34-

<PAGE>


     13.  AUTHORITY OF THE REPRESENTATIVE.  In connection with this Agreement,
the Representative will act for and on behalf of the several Underwriters, and
any action taken under this Agreement by the Representative, as representative
of the several Underwriters, will be binding on all of the Underwriters.

          If the foregoing correctly sets forth your understanding, please so
indicate by signing in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this
letter shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company and the several
Underwriters.

                              Very truly yours,

                              CYANOTECH CORPORATION



                              By:  Gerald R. Cysewski, Ph.D.
                              Its: President and Chief Executive Officer

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.

VAN KASPER & COMPANY



By:
    --------------------------
     Bruce P. Emmeluth
     Managing Director

On its behalf and on behalf of
each of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto



                                       -35-

<PAGE>



                                     SCHEDULE I

                                   UNDERWRITERS

                                             Shares of Firm Stock
     Underwriters                              to be Purchased
- -----------------------------------   -----------------------------------

Van Kasper & Company
                                                  ---------
Total                                 
                                                  ---------
                                                  ---------





                                       -36-

<PAGE>


 
                                     ANNEX A

                       Matters to be Covered in the Opinion of
                             Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison


     (i)  The shares of capital stock of the Company and its subsidiaries 
that have been issued in the previous three years have not been issued in 
violation of any applicable federal securities laws, provided that in 
rendering their opinion as to applicable federal securities laws, such 
counsel may assume, unless counsel has knowledge of facts that may render 
such assumption unreasonable, that any purchasers had, to the extent relevant 
and represented by such purchasers in writing, any required investment intent,

     (ii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
issuance and sale of the Stock do not (A) conflict with, violate, result in a
breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of
time, or both, would constitute a default) under any agreement (including,
without limitation, an agreement with respect to registration rights) to which
the Company is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets is
bound and which is filed as an exhibit to, or incorporated by reference in, 
the Registration Statement or (B) result in violation of any material federal 
or California law, rule or regulation or, to the best knowledge of such 
counsel, any writ, judgment, order, injunction or decree of any government, 
governmental body, agency or court or any arbitration tribunal having 
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties,

     (iii) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company, and has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company,


<PAGE>


     (iv) Except for the order of the Commission making the Registration
Statement effective and similar authorizations required under the securities or
"Blue Sky" laws of certain jurisdictions (as to which such counsel need express
no opinion), no consent, approval, authorization or other order of any federal
or California governmental body or, to the knowledge of such counsel, other
person is required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale and
delivery of the Stock and the execution, delivery and performance by the Company
of the Underwriting Agreement;

     (v)  The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities
Act and, to the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the
Securities Act;

     (vi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each amendment or
supplement thereto (other than the financial statements, financial data and
supporting schedules included therein, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion), as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, complied as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the applicable Rules and Regulations.  The Company satisfies the requirements
for filing a registration statement on Form SB-2;

     (vii)  The description in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of
the Company's contracts is accurate in all material respects and fairly presents
in all material respects the information required to be presented by the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations; 

     (viii)  To the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no agreements,
contracts, licenses, leases or documents of a character required to be described
or referred to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as an
exhibit


                                       -38-

<PAGE>


to the Registration Statement that are not described or referred to therein and
filed as required; 

     (ix)  To the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no legal or
governmental proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of a character which are required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus by the Securities Act or the applicable
Rules and Regulations, other than those described therein;

     (x)  To the best knowledge of such counsel, neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries are presently in breach of, or in default under, any bond,
debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or any contract, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or, without limitation,
other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
a party or by which any of their properties are bound and that is filed 
as an exhibit to, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement 
and that, individually or in the aggregate, is material to the business, 
properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or 
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and

     (xi)  To the best knowledge of such counsel, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, no holders of Common Stock or other
securities of the Company have registration rights with respect to any
securities of the Company.

          In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the
Company, the independent public accountants of the Company, the Representative
and counsel to the Underwriters, at which conferences the contents of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed
and, although they have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that caused them
to believe that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective, the
Registration Statement (except as to financial statement, financial data and
supporting schedules contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or at the Closing Date or any later date on which the
Option Stock is to be purchased, as the case may be, the Prospectus contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.



                                       -39-

<PAGE>



 
                                     ANNEX B

                       Matters to be Covered in the Opinion of
                                  Nevada Counsel


     (i)  Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation;

     (ii) Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries has the corporate
power to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus;

     (iii) Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in all
jurisdictions in which the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct
of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure so to
qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the business, properties,
condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

     (iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is
as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" as of the
dates stated therein; all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the
Company shall automatically convert into shares of Common Stock as of the
Closing as described in the Prospectus; the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company and its subsidiaries have been duly and validly
authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have not been issued
in violation of any preemptive right or other rights to subscribe for or
purchase securities; and the Company directly or indirectly owns all of the
issued and outstanding equity securities of each of its subsidiaries and there
are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to acquire any equity
securities of any such subsidiary;

     (v)  The Company has corporate power and authority to enter into the
Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver the Stock to the Underwriters;

     (vi) The execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement and the
issuance and sale of the Stock do not (A) conflict with, violate, result in a
breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of
time, or both, would constitute a default) under the Articles of Incorporation
or By-laws of the Company or (B) result in violation of any material federal or
Nevada law, rule or regulation or, to the


                                       -40-

<PAGE>


best knowledge of such counsel, any writ, judgment, order, injunction or decree
of any government, governmental body, agency or court or any arbitration
tribunal having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties,

     (vii)  The Stock is duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against
payment in full therefor, will be validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable,
and free of preemptive rights;

     (viii) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company and has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company; 

     (ix) Except for the order of the Commission making the Registration
Statement effective and similar authorizations required under the securities or
"Blue Sky" laws of certain jurisdictions (as to which such counsel need express
no opinion), no consent, approval, authorization or other order of any federal
or Nevada governmental body or, to the knowledge of such counsel, other person
is required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of
the Stock and the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the
Underwriting Agreement;

     (x)  The terms and provisions of the capital stock of the Company conform
in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, and the information in the Prospectus
under the caption "Description of Capital Stock," to the extent it constitutes
matters of law or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is
correct and the form of certificate for the Stock complies with Nevada law; and

     (xi)  The description in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of
the charter and bylaws of the Company is accurate in all material respects.



                                       -41-
 

<PAGE>


                                                         Exhibit 10.16

                              CYANOTECH CORPORATION

          PREFERRED STOCK CONVERSION AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


     THIS PREFERRED STOCK CONVERSION AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this 
"Agreement") is made as of February 20, 1996, by and between Cyanotech 
Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and Firemen's Insurance 
Company of Newark, New Jersey, a New Jersey insurance company ("Firemen's 
Insurance").  National-Ben Franklin Co. of Illinois, an Illinois corporation 
("National-Ben"), has executed this Agreement for purposes of Article IV 
hereof only.

     WHEREAS, Firemen's Insurance holds 1,250,000 shares (the "Series A Shares")
of the Company's 12% Cumulative, Convertible Preferred Shares -- Series A, par
value $.001 per share, constituting all the shares of such series of the Company
currently issued and outstanding;

     WHEREAS, Firemen's Insurance purchased the Series A Shares pursuant to 
the Venture Capital Unit Purchase Agreement dated as of April 18, 1985 between 
The Continental Corporation (the successor in interest to Firemen's Insurance) 
and the Company (the "Series A Agreement");

     WHEREAS, Firemen's Insurance holds 595,031 shares (the "Series C Shares")
of the Company's 8% Cumulative, Convertible Preferred Shares -- Series C, par
value $.001 per share;

     WHEREAS, the 1,250,000 outstanding Series A Shares were convertible by
their terms into 250,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.005
per share (all shares of the Company's common stock referred to herein as the
"Common Stock"), until February 28, 1995;

     WHEREAS, the Company is contemplating an underwritten public offering of
its Common Stock (the "Contemplated Public Offering"), registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), which Contemplated
Public Offering is expected to occur in late March or early April 1996;

     WHEREAS, the underwriters of the Contemplated Public Offering have advised
the Company that for marketing reasons, among other factors, the success of the
Contemplated Public Offering is partially dependent, among other factors, upon
agreement of Fireman's Insurance to convert the outstanding Series A Shares into
Common Stock of the Company;

                                       1.


<PAGE>

     WHEREAS, Firemen's Insurance will benefit from the success of the
Contemplated Public Offering;

     WHEREAS, Firemen's Insurance desires to convert, and the Company desires
Firemen's Insurance to convert, the Series A Shares into shares of Common Stock,
on the terms and subject to the terms set forth herein; and

     WHEREAS, to further induce Firemen's Insurance to convert the Series A
Shares and the Series C Shares, the Company has agreed to grant certain "piggy-
back" registration rights to Firemen's Insurance with respect to its resale of
the shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of the Series A Shares and the
Series C Shares.

     NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE AS FOLLOWS:


                                    ARTICLE I
                           CONVERSION OF SERIES A SHARES

          1.1  CONVERSION OF SERIES A SHARES.  Subject to the terms and 
conditions of this Agreement, Firemen's Insurance shall convert the Series A 
Shares into 250,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to appropriate adjustments 
for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, other recapitalizations and 
similar events), which conversion ratio has been determined in accordance with 
the independent valuation attached hereto as EXHIBIT A and the Company shall 
issue to Firemen's Insurance 250,000 shares of Common Stock in respect thereof 
(subject to appropriate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, 
combinations, other recapitalizations and similar events).  The aggregate 
250,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued to Firemen's Insurance shall 
herein be referred to as the "Common Shares."

          1.2  TERMINATION OF RIGHTS UNDER OTHER AGREEMENTS.  All rights of
Firemen's Insurance to cause the Company to register the resale of any of the
Company's securities existing prior to the date hereof under the Securities Act
or any state securities laws shall terminate as of the date hereof.  All rights
of Firemen's Insurance under the Series A Agreement, and any other agreement to
which the Company and Firemen's Insurance is a party relating to the Series A
Shares and the Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall terminate as
of the date hereof.  All rights of Firemen's Insurance incident to ownership of
Series A Shares, including, without limitation, the ability of the holders of
the Series A Shares to elect one director of the Company, shall terminate as of
the Closing (as defined below).

          1.3  CLOSING.  The conversion of the Series A Shares and the issuance
of the Common Shares in respect thereof shall take place at such time and place
as the closing of the Contemplated Public Offering (which time and place are
designated as the "Closing").  At the Closing, Firemen's Insurance shall deliver
to the Company the certificates representing the Series A Shares and the Company
shall deliver to Firemen's Insurance certificates representing the Common Shares
as set forth in Section 1.1 hereof.  This Agreement shall terminate in its
entirety and be of no further force and effect, and any

                                       2.


<PAGE>

rights terminated pursuant to Section 1.2 shall be reinstated, if the Closing
does not occur by September 30, 1996, or such later date as all parties hereto
shall agree.


                                   ARTICLE II
              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FIREMEN'S INSURANCE

          Firemen's Insurance hereby represents and warrants to the Company
that:

          2.1  TITLE TO STOCK.  Firemen's Insurance has good and valid title to
the Series A Shares held by it, free and clear of any lien, pledge, security
interest, or other encumbrance with full right and power to convert such shares
as set forth herein.

          2.2  AUTHORIZATION.  This Agreement constitutes a valid and legally
binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy and other laws of general application affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors, and rules of law governing specific performance,
injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.

          2.3  RESTRICTED SECURITIES.  Firemen's Insurance understands that the
Common Shares are characterized as "restricted securities" under the federal
securities laws inasmuch as they were initially acquired from the Company in a
transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and
applicable regulations, such securities may be resold without registration under
the Securities Act, only in certain limited circumstances.  In this connection,
Firemen's Insurance represents that it is familiar with Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") Rule 144 as presently in effect and it understands the resale
limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act.  Firemen's Insurance
understands that it may be deemed an "affiliate" of the Company as that term is
defined in Rule 144.

          2.4  DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.  Firemen's Insurance believes that it
has received all the information that it considers necessary or appropriate for
deciding whether to enter into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and to acquire the Common Shares.  Firemen's Insurance has had an opportunity to
ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and
conditions of the Common Shares.  The Company has not made any representations
to Firemen's Insurance regarding the Company, its business, prospects, financial
condition, or any other matter.

          2.5  LEGENDS.  It is understood that the certificates evidencing the
Common Shares, when reissued in the name of Firemen's Insurance, may bear the
following legend, or a legend substantially similar to such legend:

               "These securities have not been registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.  They may not be sold, offered for sale, pledged or
hypothecated in the absence of a registration statement in effect with respect
to the securities under such Act

                                       3.


<PAGE>

or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the company that such registration is
not required or unless sold pursuant to Rule 144 of such Act."


                                   ARTICLE III
                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS

          The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

          3.1  DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of this Article III:

               (a)  The term "register," "registered," and "registration" refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or
similar document in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or
ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement or document;

               (b)  The term "Registrable Securities" means (1) the Common
Shares issued to Firemen's Insurance pursuant to this Agreement, (2) the shares
of Common Stock of the Company issuable or issued upon conversion of the
Series C Shares, and (3) any Common Stock of the Company issued as (or issuable
upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, or other security which
is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange
for or in replacement of, such Common Shares or such Common Stock, excluding in
all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a person in a transaction
in which his/her rights under this Article III are not assigned;

               (c)  The number of shares of "Registrable Securities then
outstanding" shall be determined by the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding which are, and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
pursuant to then exercisable or convertible securities which are, Registrable
Securities;

               (d)  The term "Holder" means any person owning or having the
right to acquire Registrable Securities or any assignee thereof in accordance
with Section 3.10 hereof; and

               (e)  The term "Form S-3" means such form under the Securities Act
as in effect on the date hereof or any comparable or successor form under the
Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC which permits inclusion or
incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed
by the Company with the SEC.

          3.2  COMPANY REGISTRATION.  If (but without any obligation to do so
under this Agreement), at any time after the closing of the Contemplated Public
Offering, the Company proposes to register any of its stock or other securities
under the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of such
securities solely for cash (other than a registration relating solely to the
sale of securities to participants in a Company stock plan,

                                       4.


<PAGE>

or a registration on any form which does not include substantially the same
information as would be required to be included in a registration statement
covering the sale of the Registrable Securities), the Company shall, at such
time, give each Holder written notice of such registration at least 20 days
prior to the proposed date to file any registration statement. Upon the written
request of each Holder given within twenty (20) days after mailing of such
notice by the Company in accordance with Section 4.5, the Company shall, subject
to the provisions of Section 3.6, cause to be registered under the Securities
Act all of the Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be
registered.

          3.3  OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.  Whenever required under this
Article III to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the
Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

               (a)  Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with
respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective and to remain effective
for a period of not less than 90 days or such shorter period which will
terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement
have been sold..

               (b)  Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act and other applicable laws and regulations with
respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration
statement.

               (c)  Furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of a
prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus including all supplements
thereto, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such
other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them.

               (d)  Use its reasonable best efforts to register and qualify the
securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the
Holders, PROVIDED that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith
or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent
to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.

               (e)  Use its reasonable best efforts to list for quotation on the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("Nasdaq")
(or such other national exchange or national quotation system on which the
Company's Common Stock is then listed) such Registrable Securities.

               (f)  In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into
and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and
customary form, with the

                                       5.


<PAGE>

managing underwriter of such offering.  Each Holder participating in such
underwriting shall also enter into and perform its obligations under such an
agreement.  In addition, all shares registered shall be distributed
substantially in accordance with the plan of distribution as set forth in the
registration statement.

               (g)  Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event
as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as
then in effect, includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
existing and notice of any stop order issued or threatened by the SEC and to
take all reasonable actions to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove
it if it is entered.

               (h)  If any Registrable Securities are offered for sale, on the
date that the Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters, if any,
and if such Registrable Securities are not being sold through underwriters, then
on the date the registration statement becomes effective, the Company shall
furnish the Holder with (A) a signed opinion, dated as of the date of such
delivery, of the legal counsel of the Company addressed to the underwriters, if
any, and if such Registrable Securities are not being sold through underwriters,
then to the Holder covering such matters as are customarily addressed in
opinions rendered to underwriters on such transactions, and (B) a letter, dated
as of the date of such delivery, of the Company's independent public accountants
addressed to the underwriters, and if such Registrable Securities are not being
sold through underwriters, then to the Holder and, if such accountants refuse to
deliver such letter to the Holder, then to the Company (x) stating that they are
independent certified public accountants within the meaning of the Securities
Act and that, in the opinion of such accountants, the financial statements and
other financial data of the Company included in the registration statement or
the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities
Act, and (y) covering such other financial matters (including information as to
the period ending not more than five (5) business days prior to the date of such
letter) with respect to the registration in respect of which such letter is
being given as the Holder may reasonably request and as would be customary in
such a transaction.

          3.4  FURNISH INFORMATION.  It shall be a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Article III with
respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities
as shall be required by law or otherwise to effect the registration of such
Holder's Registrable Securities.

          3.5  EXPENSES OF COMPANY REGISTRATION.  The Company shall bear and pay
all expenses incurred in connection with any registration, filing, or
qualification of

                                       6.


<PAGE>

Registrable Securities with respect to the registrations pursuant to Section 3.2
for each Holder (which right may be assigned as provided in Section 3.10),
including (without limitation) all registration, filing, and qualification fees,
printer's and accounting fees relating thereto, and fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company, but excluding the fees and disbursements of legal
counsel for the selling Holders if separate legal counsel is employed and
underwriting discounts and commissions relating to Registrable Securities.

          3.6  (a)  UNDERWRITING REQUIREMENTS.  In connection with any offering
involving an underwriting of shares of the Company's capital stock, the Company
shall not be required under Section 3.2 to include any of the Holders'
securities in such underwriting unless they accept the terms of the underwriting
as agreed upon between the Company and the underwriters selected by it (or by
other persons entitled to select the underwriters), and then subject to the
terms set forth below only in such quantity as will not, in the opinion of the
underwriters, jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company.  If the
total amount of securities, including Registrable Securities, requested by
stockholders to be included in such offering exceeds the amount of securities
sold other than by the Company that the underwriters reasonably believe
compatible with the success of the offering, then the Company shall be required
to include in the offering only that number of such securities, including
Registrable Securities, which the underwriters believe will not jeopardize the
success of the offering (the securities so included to be apportioned pro-rata
among the selling stockholders according to the total amount of securities
entitled to be included therein owned by each selling stockholder or in such
other proportions as shall mutually be agreed to by such selling stockholders);
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the amount of Registrable Securities and other
securities excluded from the offering may not be reduced to less than forty
percent (40%) of such offering; and further PROVIDED, HOWEVER that Firemen's
Insurance will be entitled to include in each public offering, if it shall so
elect, no fewer than 507,000 shares of Registrable Securities (subject to
appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, other
recapitalizations and similar events).  For purposes of the parenthetical in the
preceding sentence concerning apportionment, for any selling stockholder which
is a Holder of Registrable Securities and which is a partnership or corporation,
the partners, retired partners and stockholders of such Holder, or the estates
and family members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for
the benefit of any of the foregoing persons shall be deemed to be a single
"selling stockholder," and any pro-rata reduction with respect to such "selling
stockholder" shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying
registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such
"selling stockholder," as defined in this sentence.

               (b)  WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS.  Each Holder shall be permitted to
withdraw up to 507,000 shares (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock
splits, stock dividends, combinations, other recapitalizations and similar
events) of such Holder's Registrable Securities included in a registration at
any time prior to the effective date of such registration.  In addition, to the
extent the number of Registrable Securities being sold by the Holder is greater
than 507,000 shares (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock
dividends, combinations, other recapitalizations and similar events) the Holder
can

                                       7.


<PAGE>

withdraw any such portion above 507,000 shares if, on the date of such
withdrawal, the last reported sale price of the Company's Common Stock on Nasdaq
(or such other national exchange or national quotation system on which the
Company's Common Stock is then listed) was less than 85% of the proposed maximum
offering price per share listed on the "Calculation of Registration Fee" section
on the cover of the registration statement filed with respect to the Registrable
Securities.

          3.7  DELAY OF REGISTRATION.  No Holder shall have any right to obtain
or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as
the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the
interpretation or implementation of this Article III.  This Section 3.7 shall
not affect any remedies at law available to the Holder for breaches of Section
3.6(a) by the Company.

          3.8  INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.  In the event any Registrable
Securities are included in a registration statement under this Article III:

               (a)  To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities
Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), against any losses, claims, damages,
or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the
Securities Act or the 1934 Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions, or
violations (collectively a "Violation"): (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement,
including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or
any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the 1934 Act, any state
securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act or
the 1934 Act or any state securities law; and the Company will pay to each such
Holder, underwriter, or controlling person, as incurred, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 3.8(a) shall not apply
to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or
action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in
any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action to the
extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for
use in connection with such registration by any such Holder, underwriter, or
controlling person.

                                       8.


<PAGE>

               (b)  To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who has signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter,
any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement and any
controlling person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any losses,
claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing
persons may become subject, under the Securities Act or the 1934 Act or other
federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in
each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such
Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such
Holder will pay, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this subsection 3.8(b), in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, or action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the indemnity agreement contained
in this subsection 3.8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected
without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

               (c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 3.8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 3.8, deliver to
the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the
indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent
the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually
satisfactory to the parties; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that an indemnified party
(together with all other indemnified parties which may be represented without
conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain separate counsel in each
jurisdiction where separate representation would be appropriate in the judgment
of the indemnified party, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the
indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel
retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party
represented by such counsel in such proceeding.  The failure to deliver written
notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of
any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall
relieve such indemnifying party to the extent of such prejudice of any liability
to the indemnified party under this Section 3.8, but the omission so to deliver
written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability
that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 3.8.

               (d)  No indemnifying party, in the defense of any claim arising
out of a Violation shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party,
consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff
to such indemnified party of a release from

                                       9.


<PAGE>

all liability in respect to such claim or litigation and, in the event the terms
of such judgment or settlement include any term other than the payment by the
indemnifying party of money damages, the indemnifying party shall not so consent
or enter into such a settlement without the consent of each indemnified party
(which will not be unreasonably withheld) whether or not the terms thereof
include such a release.

               (e)  CONTRIBUTION.  If for any reason the indemnity provided for
in this Section 3.8 is unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an
indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand
and the indemnified party on the other, or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, or provides a lesser sum to
the indemnified party than the amount hereinafter calculated, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the
indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other but
also the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such
indemnifying party and indemnified parties shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by,
such indemnifying party or indemnified parties; and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such action.  The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3.8(d), any legal or
other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any
investigation or proceeding.

          The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 3.8(e) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

               (f)  The obligations of the Company and Holders under this
Section 3.8 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable
Securities in a registration statement under this Article III, and otherwise.

          3.9  REPORTS UNDER SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.  With a view to
making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the
Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time
permit a Holder to

                                       10.


<PAGE>

sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to
a registration on Form S-3, the Company agrees and covenants to:

               (a)  make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144;

               (b)  file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the 1934 Act;

               (c)  furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any
Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144,
the Securities Act and the 1934 Act, or that it qualifies as a registrant whose
securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after it so
qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the
Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company with the
SEC or any securities exchange, and (iii) such other information as may be
reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC
which permits the selling of any such securities without registration or
pursuant to such form; and

               (d)  provide the Holder with prompt notice of any failure by the
Company to comply with the requirements of Rule 144.

          3.10 ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  The rights to cause the
Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Article III may be
assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or
assignee of such securities who, after such assignment or transfer, holds (i) at
least 1% of the Registrable Securities then outstanding (subject to appropriate
adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, other
recapitalizations and similar events), or (ii) all of the shares of Registrable
Securities initially issued to such Holder, PROVIDED that, within a reasonable
time after such transfer, the Company is furnished with written notice of the
name and address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect
to which such registration rights are being assigned; and PROVIDED, FURTHER,
that such assignment shall be effective only if immediately following such
transfer the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or
assignee is restricted under the Securities Act and/or not otherwise eligible
for sale under Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act or similar exemption.  For the
purposes of determining the number of shares of Registrable Securities held by a
transferee or assignee, the holdings of transferees and assignees of a
partnership who are partners or retired partners of such partnership (including
spouses and ancestors, lineal descendants, and siblings of such partners or
spouses who acquire Registrable Securities by gift, will, or intestate
succession) shall be aggregated together and with the partnership; PROVIDED that
all assignees and transferees who would not qualify individually for assignment
of registration rights shall have a single attorney-in-fact for the purpose of
exercising any rights, receiving notices, or taking any action under this
Article III.

                                       11.


<PAGE>

          3.11 AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  Any provision of this
Article III may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either
generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding.  Any amendment or
waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each
Holder of any Registrable Securities then outstanding, each future holder of all
such Registrable Securities and the Company.

          3.12 TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  No Holder shall be entitled
to exercise any right provided for in this Article III after February 3, 2005.


                                   ARTICLE IV
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

          4.1  MARKET STAND-OFF.  Firemen's Insurance and National-Ben hereby
covenant that they will not, except for the conversion of the Series A Shares
contemplated by this Agreement, without the prior written consent of Van Kasper
& Company (or such other investment bank that serves as the lead managing
underwriter in the Company's Contemplated Public Offering, which person is
referred to herein as the "Lead Managing Underwriter"), offer, sell, or
otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of the Company's Common
Stock, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or
any rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock owned by it (otherwise than as a
bona fide gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing
to be bound by the terms of this Section 4.1) for the period beginning on the
date hereof and ending on the date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the
date of the closing of the Contemplated Public Offering.  If requested by the
Lead Managing Underwriter, Firemen's Insurance and National-Ben each agree to
execute an agreement similar to that set forth in this Section 4.1 addressed to
the Lead Managing Underwriter.  The Company shall be expressly entitled to
enforce the provisions of this Section 4.1 on behalf of the Lead Managing
Underwriter.  This Section 4.1 shall be effective only upon the execution of a
similar provision by American Cyanamid Company.

          4.2  SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES.  The warranties, representations, and
covenants of Firemen's Insurance, National-Ben and the Company contained in or
made pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and shall in no way be affected by any investigation of the subject
matter thereof made by or on behalf of Firemen's Insurance or the Company.

          4.3  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties.  Nothing in
this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other
than the parties hereto or their

                                       12.


<PAGE>

respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or
liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided
in this Agreement.

          4.4  EXPENSES.  Except as otherwise provided in Article III hereof,
irrespective of whether the Closing is effected, each party shall pay its own
costs and expenses that such party incurs with respect to the negotiation,
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement.

          4.5  NOTICES.  Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or
permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed
effectively given upon personal delivery to the party to be notified or three
days after deposit with the United States Post Office, by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid and addressed to the party to be notified at the
address indicated for such party on the signature page hereof, or by facsimile
confirmed by such certified or registered mail or at such other address as such
party may designate by ten (10) days' advance written notice to the other
parties.

          4.6  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the State of Nevada.

          4.7  TITLES AND SUBTITLES.  The titles and subtitles used in this
Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.

          4.8  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.  This writing, together
with any exhibits annexed hereto, constitutes the entire Agreement of the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior
understandings and writings with respect thereto.  Any term of this Agreement
may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived
(either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of all the parties hereto.

          4.9  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       13.


<PAGE>

          4.10 SEVERABILITY.  If one or more provisions of this Agreement are
held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded
from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if
such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.


                              Cyanotech Corporation

                              By: /s/  GERALD R. CYSEWSKI
                                  ______________________________________
                              Name:  Gerald R. Cysewski
                              Title: President & CEO

                              Address: 73-4460 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy.,
                                       Suite 102
                                       Kailua-Kona, HI  96740



                              Firemen's Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey

                              By:  /s/ RICHARD W. DUBBERKE
                                   ______________________________________
                              Name:  Richard W. Dubberke
                              Title: Vice President

                              Address: CNA Plaza
                                       Chicago, IL  60685



                              FOR PURPOSES OF ARTICLE IV ONLY:


                              National-Ben Franklin Co. of Illinois

                              By:  /s/ RICHARD W. DUBBERKE
                                   ______________________________________
                              Name:  Richard W. Dubberke
                              Title: Vice President

                              Address: CNA Plaza
                                       Chicago, IL  60685

                                       14.


<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A

                                       TO


                              CYANOTECH CORPORATION
                      PREFERRED STOCK CONVERSION AGREEMENT


<PAGE>


                           [ALAN R HOEFER LETTERHEAD]


January 30, 1996

The Board of Directors
Cyanotech Corporation
73-4460 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy., Suite 102
Kailua-Kona, HI   96740

Re:  Fairness Opinion re Exchange of 12% Cumulative Preferred Stock - Series A
of Cyanotech Corporation

Dear Board Members:

In response to your request of January 15, 1996, I have examined the
advisability of a voluntary, negotiated exchange of the Common Stock of
Cyanotech Corporation (Cyanotech) or (the Company) for the 1,250,000 outstanding
shares of the 12% Cumulative Preferred Stock - Series A (Series A Preferred) or
(Series A) and I have considered an appropriate exchange rate.  I have
considered each question based upon the benefit and fairness, from a financial
standpoint, to the holders of the Common Stock of Cyanotech.

In recognition of your need to promptly commence negotiations, should I have
found such negotiations advisable, I have previously submitted to you on January
17, 1996, a written summary of my preliminary opinion endorsing such action.
The opinion letter herewith provided to you confirms and replaces the summary
findings and contains supporting information that we have discussed and that you
will wish to include in the record.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ADVISOR

A summary of my background and experience relevant to this assignment is
attached as Exhibit A.

NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST

I have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Series A Preferred Stock
nor in any other security of Cyanotech.  I have had no past business or
financial relationship with the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock, nor have
I any such present or expected future relationship.  I have been referred to you
for this assignment by your corporate counsel, Messrs. Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn
& Stifel, with whom I have had past professional contact, but with whom I have
no financial links.

DATABASE

For my analysis, I have reviewed the following documents:  (1) the Cyanotech
annual report and SEC Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended 3/31/95; (2) the
Cyanotech SEC Forms 10-QSB for the fiscal


<PAGE>


quarters ended 6/30/95 and 9/30/95; (3) the shareholders' Proxy Statement dated
6/26/95; (4) a financial summary of the Cyanotech FYs 1996-2000 business plan,
as prepared 11/15/95; (5) Draft, preliminary SEC Forms SB-2 dated 12/28/95 and
1/12/96, as prepared for the prospective public sale of up to 1,380,000 shares
of Cyanotech Common Stock; (6) the Restated Articles of Incorporation of
Cyanotech Corporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Nevada on 4/23/91; and (7) news releases pertaining to Cyanotech issued during
the course of FY 1996, including the news release of 1/24/96 regarding FY 1996
third quarter and nine months' sales and earnings.

In addition, I discussed certain legal matters pertaining to the Series A
Preferred with the Company's counsel, Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, and I
tracked the daily trading prices, volumes, and other market attributes of the
Cyanotech Common Stock during the course of this assignment.

Without independent verification, I have relied upon the essential accuracy of
financial information contained in the foregoing documents, except that I viewed
the financial business plan from FY 1997 onward more as a set of goals than as a
forecast, in common with the plans of most small businesses pursuing a course of
rapid growth.

SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

The Series A Preferred Stock is described in the attached Exhibit B.

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS

The following is a summary of the benefits to the holders of the Common Stock to
be obtained from an exchange of Common Stock for all of the outstanding shares
of the Series A Preferred Stock:

(1)  Elimination of the $500,000 liquidation preference, a factor potentially of
     value to the common shareholders in event of the sale or liquidation of
     Cyanotech;
(2)  Elimination of the $655,000 cumulative preferred dividend arrearage (as of
     3/31/96), a cash payout requirement preceding payment of dividends to the
     holders of the Common Stock and any prospective repurchase of Common Stock;
(3)  Elimination of the after-tax $60,000 per annum perpetual future cumulative
     dividend requirement, increasing earnings attributable to the Common Stock
     by a like annual amount and prospectively increasing near term earnings per
     share.
(4)  Elimination of the perpetual right of the Series A stockholders to elect
     one director, which right can, by operation of certain other provisions
     applicable to the Series A stock, carry over to any successor corporation;
(5)  Elimination of "Consent" requirements, which give holders of the Series A
     the ability to impede, delay or block (a) the sale or merger of Cyanotech,
     or (b) the entrance by the Company into certain joint ventures, whether or
     not any such action would be in the interest of the holders of the Common
     Stock.

The costs of the contemplated exchange to Cyanotech and to the holders of the
Common Stock are the following:

(1)  Exchange of Common Stock valued at approximately $2,500,000, based upon an
     assumed current market price of $10.00 per share (1/30/96 price range:
     $10.25-$8.25; last sale: $8.25; closing bid and ask: $8.375 @ $8.75;
     trading volume: 107,400 shares; previous day last sale: $10.25.) and an
     exchange rate of 1 share of Common Stock for 5 shares of Series A
     Preferred.
(2)  A potential long term small percentage dilution in the earnings per share
     attributable to the Common Stock.  (The current breakeven point on dilution
     is $0.24 per share, compared with the proforma earnings per share for FY
     1996 of $0.18 contained in the Company's business plan.)


<PAGE>


The potential dilution of earnings per share is not a material factor as (a) the
number of common shares to be exchanged will not exceed 1.58% of the total
outstanding prior to the exchange, and (b) there are no assurances with respect
to future earnings of Cyanotech.

The significant cost is therefore the market value of the Common Stock
exchanged.  This cost can be compared with the benefits obtained.  Benefits can
be partially quantified.  Subject to variations in the beholders' perception of
values, with such variations based in part upon reasonably different points of
view as to the timing of the realization of the benefits, discount rates applied
and other considerations, the nominal value to Cyanotech and its Common
Stockholders of eliminating the Series A Preferred may be as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                            <C>
Elimination of the Series A liquidation preference               $500,000
Elimination of the dividend arrearage                             655,000
Elimination of the $60,000 per annum Series A dividend,
   discounted to present value @ 12% for 25 years                 470,580

Total Nominal Value                                            $1,625,580

Difference between Total Nominal Value of Quantifiable
Benefits and the current market value of the Common Stock
   to be exchanged                                              ($874,420)
</TABLE>

In my opinion, of far greater value to the Common Stockholders than the
quantifiable benefits, are the benefits summarized above as items (4) and (5).

The perpetual right of representation through the election of one director by
the Series A Preferred, which may, as a class, have substantially different
interests and objectives than the holders of the Common Stock, is a right
disproportionate to the small economic stake of the Series A class, (as compared
with an assumed $2,500,000 exchange value of the Series A, the Common Stock
represents a proforma market value of approximately $158,750,000.)  Through
operation of certain other provisions of the Series A, this right carries over
to any successor to Cyanotech.  In the event of a prospective merger or sale of
Cyanotech, the right, with its carryover attribute, could be an impediment to a
transaction otherwise in the interest of the Common Stockholders, or it could be
a deal breaker.  Value can be justifiably relinquished by the Common
Stockholders to the Series A holders today, in order to forestall prospectively
far greater cost in the future.

"Consent" requirements, as a whole, also potentially separate the interests of
the Series A and Common Stock, with unknown and unknowable prospective future
cost to the Common.  The ramifications of these provisions are complex and need
not be dealt with in depth in this letter.  For an example, reference is made to
Exhibit B, CONSENT OF HOLDERS REQUIRED, item (v).  This restriction (a) gives
the Series A holders effective veto power over the sale or merger of Cyanotech
to, with or into any other entity, (b) may provide similar power over the sale
of any division or subsidiary of Cyanotech, owned now or in the future, and (c)
would preclude most conceivable joint ventures without Series A consent.

Other than by a transaction such as is contemplated and which is the subject of
this opinion, or by such other transaction voluntarily acceptable to the holders
of the Series A, Cyanotech has no method by which it can eliminate the non-
redeemable, "perpetual" Series A Preferred Stock.


<PAGE>


In the final analysis, as the prospective future perils to the economic
interests of the holders of the Common Stock, represented by potentially
conflicting rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, while real
and severe, are nonetheless not quantifiable, the benefit and fairness of the
exchange to the holders of the Common Stock is a matter of business judgment.
In my opinion, based upon the information at hand, an exchange of Common stock
for all of the 1,250,000 Series A Preferred Stock is advisable.  In my opinion
also, a negotiated exchange rate of up to and including one share of Common
Stock for each five shares of Series A Preferred Stock is appropriate.  In my
opinion, the exchange, as advised herein, is both fair and beneficial, from a
financial point of view, to the holders of the Common Stock of Cyanotech
Corporation.


Sincerely,



/s/ Alan R Hoefer
Alan R Hoefer


<PAGE>


EXHIBIT A

Summary: Background and Experience

Education

B.S. University of California at Davis  1955
M.B.A. Harvard Business School  1962

Occupation

Independent investment banker.  Investment banking since 1962.  Served as
partner or officer of Dean Witter, Smith Barney, Halsey Stuart, and Bache Halsey
Stuart Shields.  Founded and managed Hoefer & Arnett, Inc. and two other
specialty broker/dealers engaged in investment banking, research and
institutional brokerage.  Presently semi-retired, providing occasional advice
and counsel on matters pertaining to corporate finance, securities and business
strategies.

Transactions

As the sole or primary investment banking professional, participated and advised
in more than one hundred corporate financings, mergers, acquisitions, and sales.
Participated with others in the largest equity financing, the largest tax-exempt
industrial revenue bond financing, and the second largest Chapter XI corporate
reorganization in history at the times of such transactions.  Dealt with
virtually all categories of corporate securities, including common and preferred
stocks, convertible securities, secured and unsecured debt and securities
ranging from the highest investment ratings to securities in default.

Fiduciary Responsibility

Served as a director of five public and four closely held corporations (two
currently).  Served as a trustee of three non-profit organizations (one
currently).


<PAGE>


CYANOTEK CORPORATION

EXHIBIT B


SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

Of the 5,000,000 shares of stock authorized to be issued as special or preferred
shares, 1,250,000 shares are Series A Shares.  On February 28, 1995, the right
of holders of the Series A Shares to exchange such shares for the Common Stock
of Cyanotek Corporation expired.  On that same date, such holder's preemptive
rights also expired.  Certain other rights, voting power, preferences,
restrictions and qualifications of the Series A Shares, as defined in the
Restated Articles of Incorporation of Cyanotek Corporation, are as follows:

VOTING POWER.  The holders of Series A Shares are entitled to one vote to be
case at stockholder meetings in the election of the one member of the board of
directors that is elected by the holders of the Series A Shares.  Holders of
Series A Shares are also entitled to cumulative voting.

DIVIDENDS.  The holders of Series A Shares are entitled to an annual dividend
when and as declared by the Company's board of directors if there is surplus or
net profits legally available for dividends and payable quarterly on the first
business day of April, July, October and January of each year.  When and if
declared, dividends are at the rate of 12% of the initial issue price of $0.40
per share (that is, $0.048 per share per annum or $0.012 per share per quarter)
and are cumulative.  Dividends may be paid to the Series A Shares only when, if
and on the same basis as dividends are paid to the holders of 12% Cumulative,
Convertible Preferred Shares-Series B Shares.  Dividends may not be paid in any
year to holders of Common Stock until after the Company shall have paid or
provided for the payment of dividends on all of the Series A Shares including
any amounts that may have been accumulated but undeclared and unpaid for each
year from the date of issuance to and including the year in question.

RIGHTS IN DISSOLUTION AND DISTRIBUTIONS OF ASSETS.  Upon liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up of the Company, holders of the Series A Shares are
entitled to receive prior to any distribution to the holders of the Common Stock
a liquidation preference of $0.40 per share plus all dividends declared on such
shares but unpaid less any distribution of assets before any amount shall be
paid in liquidation, dissolution or winding up to the holders of Common Stock.
The Series A Shares are not entitled to any further payment as dividends in
liquidation or otherwise.  In the event assets as opposed to cash are
distributed to stockholders, the Series A Shares shall be entitled to receive
prior to any distribution to holders of Common Stock, a liquidation preference
in assets equal to $0.40 per share in distributions of assets and in
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

CONSENT OF HOLDERS REQUIRED.  So long as the Series A Shares are outstanding,
the Company may not without the prior written consent of the holders of a
majority of the Series A Shares do any of the following:  (i) issue or propose
to issue any other shares of the Series A Shares, (ii) sell all or substantially
all of the assets of the corporation or consolidate or merge the Company with
any other corporation (an Acquisition Transaction) unless any securities
exchange for the Series A Shares shall be cumulative, convertible preferred
stock the terms of which are identical in all material respects to the Series A
Shares of the Company; (iii) alter or change the powers, preferences or rights
given the Series A Shares; (iv) enter into any transaction in which the holders
of the Series A Shares would be required to accept cash in exchange for their
shares; or (v) enter into any transaction in which the Company's trade secrets
or proprietary technical information or know how is assigned, sold or made
available to any other entity; however, the Company is not prevented from
entering into contracts to provide research and development to other entities,
on an arms length basis, in the ordinary course of business.


<PAGE>


CYANOTEK CORPORATION


EXHIBIT C


Common Stock

For the purpose of this analysis, the following tabulation of issued and
proforma outstanding Common Stock has been used:

Common Stock outstanding as of 12/31/95                9,807,575 shares

Conversion of Series C Preferred Stock (Proforma)      3,674,885

In-the-money Warrants (Unexercised)                      997,000

Proposed New Common Stock Issuance and Sale
 including "Green Shoe"                                1,380,000

Current Total Proforma Common Shares                  15,859,460

Proposed Series A Exchange                               250,000

Adjusted Total Proforma Common Shares                  16,109,460


<PAGE>
                              CYANOTECH CORPORATION

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


     THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of
February 20, 1996, by and between Cyanotech Corporation, a Nevada corporation
(the "Company"), and American Cyanamid Company, a Maine corporation and wholly-
owned subsidiary of American Home Products Corporation ("American Cyanamid").

     WHEREAS, American Cyanamid holds 139,946 shares (the "Series C Shares") of
the Company's 8% Cumulative, Convertible Preferred Shares -- Series C, par value
$.001 per share;

     WHEREAS, the 139,946 Series C Shares are currently convertible by their
terms into 699,730 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.005 per
share ("Common Stock");

     WHEREAS, the Company is contemplating an underwritten public offering (the
"Contemplated Public Offering") of its common stock (all shares of the Company's
common stock referred to herein as the "Common Stock"), registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), which Contemplated
Public Offering is expected to occur in late March or early April 1996;

     WHEREAS, in connection with the Contemplated Public Offering, American
Cyanamid has agreed to the market stand-off provisions contained herein; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to grant certain "piggy-back" registration
rights to American Cyanamid with respect to its resale of the shares of Common
Stock issuable on conversion of the Series C Shares.

     NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE AS FOLLOWS:


                                    ARTICLE I
                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS

          The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

          1.1  DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of this Article I:

               (a)  The term "register," "registered," and "registration" refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or
similar document in

                                       1.

<PAGE>

compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities 
Act"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration 
statement or document;

               (b)  The term "Registrable Securities" means (1) the shares of
Common Stock of the Company issuable or issued upon conversion of the Series C
Shares and (2) any Common Stock of the Company issued as (or issuable upon the
conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, or other security which is issued
as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in
replacement of, such shares of Common Stock, excluding in all cases, however,
any Registrable Securities sold by a person in a transaction in which his/her
rights under this Article I are not assigned;

               (c)  The number of shares of "Registrable Securities then
outstanding" shall be determined by the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding which are, and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
pursuant to then exercisable or convertible securities which are, Registrable
Securities;

               (d)  The term "Holder" means any person owning or having the
right to acquire Registrable Securities or any assignee thereof in accordance
with Section 1.10 hereof; and

               (e)  The term "Form S-3" means such form under the Securities Act
as in effect on the date hereof or any comparable or successor form under the
Securities Act subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") which permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by
reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

          1.2  COMPANY REGISTRATION.  If (but without any obligation to do so
under this Agreement), at any time after the closing of the Contemplated Public
Offering, the Company proposes to register any of its stock or other securities
under the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of such
securities solely for cash (other than a registration relating solely to the
sale of securities to participants in a Company stock plan, or a registration on
any form which does not include substantially the same information as would be
required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the
Registrable Securities), the Company shall, at such time, give each Holder
written notice of such registration at least 20 days prior to the proposed date
to file any registration statement.  Upon the written request of each Holder
given within twenty (20) days after mailing of such notice by the Company in
accordance with Section 2.5, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of
Section 1.6, cause to be registered under the Securities Act all of the
Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be registered.

          1.3  OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.  Whenever required under this
Article I to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company
shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

                                       2.

<PAGE>

               (a)  Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with
respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective and to remain effective
for a period of not less than 90 days or such shorter period which will
terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement
have been sold.

               (b)  Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act and other applicable laws and regulations with
respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration
statement.

               (c)  Furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of a
prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus including all supplements
thereto, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such
other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them.

               (d)  Use its reasonable best efforts to register and qualify the
securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the
Holders, PROVIDED that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith
or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent
to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.

               (e)  Use its reasonable best efforts to list for quotation on the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("Nasdaq")
(or such other national exchange or national quotation system on which the
Company's Common Stock is then listed) such Registrable Securities.

               (f)  In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into
and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and
customary form, with the managing underwriter of such offering.  Each Holder
participating in such underwriting shall also enter into and perform its
obligations under such an agreement.  In addition, all shares registered shall
be distributed substantially in accordance with the plan of distribution as set
forth in the registration statement.

               (g)  Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event
as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as
then in effect, includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
existing and notice of any stop order issued or threatened by the SEC and to
take all reasonable actions to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove
it if it is entered.

                                       3.

<PAGE>

               (h)  If any Registrable Securities are offered for sale, on the
date that the Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters, if any,
and if such Registrable Securities are not being sold through underwriters, then
on the date the registration statement becomes effective, the Company shall
furnish the Holder with (A) a signed opinion, dated as of the date of such
delivery, of the legal counsel of the Company addressed to the underwriters, if
any, and if such Registrable Securities are not being sold through underwriters,
then to the Holder covering such matters as are customarily addressed in
opinions rendered to underwriters on such transactions, and (B) a letter, dated
as of the date of such delivery, of the Company's independent public accountants
addressed to the underwriters, and if such Registrable Securities are not being
sold through underwriters, then to the Holder and, if such accountants refuse to
deliver such letter to the Holder, then to the Company (x) stating that they are
independent certified public accountants within the meaning of the Securities
Act and that, in the opinion of such accountants, the financial statements and
other financial data of the Company included in the registration statement or
the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities
Act, and (y) covering such other financial matters (including information as to
the period ending not more than five (5) business days prior to the date of such
letter) with respect to the registration in respect of which such letter is
being given as the Holder may reasonably request and as would be customary in
such a transaction.

          1.4  FURNISH INFORMATION.  It shall be a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Article I with
respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities
as shall be required by law or otherwise to effect the registration of such
Holder's Registrable Securities.

          1.5  EXPENSES OF COMPANY REGISTRATION.  The Company shall bear and pay
all expenses incurred in connection with any registration, filing, or
qualification of Registrable Securities with respect to the registrations
pursuant to Section 1.2 for each Holder (which right may be assigned as provided
in Section 1.10), including (without limitation) all registration, filing, and
qualification fees, printer's and accounting fees relating thereto, and fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, but excluding the fees and
disbursements of legal counsel for the selling Holders if separate legal counsel
is employed and underwriting discounts and commissions relating to Registrable
Securities.

          1.6  (a)  UNDERWRITING REQUIREMENTS.  In connection with any offering
involving an underwriting of shares of the Company's capital stock, the Company
shall not be required under Section 1.2 to include any of the Holders'
securities in such underwriting unless they accept the terms of the underwriting
as agreed upon between the Company and the underwriters selected by it (or by
other persons entitled to select the underwriters), and then subject to the
terms set forth below only in such quantity as will not, in the opinion of the
underwriters, jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company.  If the
total amount

                                       4.

<PAGE>

of securities, including Registrable Securities, requested by stockholders to 
be included in such offering exceeds the amount of securities sold other than 
by the Company that the underwriters reasonably believe compatible with the 
success of the offering, then the Company shall be required to include in the 
offering only that number of such securities, including Registrable 
Securities, which the underwriters believe will not jeopardize the success of 
the offering (the securities so included to be apportioned pro-rata among the 
selling stockholders according to the total amount of securities entitled to 
be included therein owned by each selling stockholder or in such other 
proportions as shall mutually be agreed to by such selling stockholders); 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the amount of Registrable Securities and other 
securities excluded from the offering may not be reduced to less than forty 
percent (40%) of such offering; and further PROVIDED, HOWEVER that American 
Cyanamid will be entitled to include in each public offering, if it shall so 
elect, no fewer than 110,000 shares of Registrable Securities (subject to 
appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, other 
recapitalizations and similar events).  For purposes of the parenthetical in 
the preceding sentence concerning apportionment, for any selling stockholder 
which is a Holder of Registrable Securities and which is a partnership or 
corporation, the partners, retired partners and stockholders of such Holder, 
or the estates and family members of any such partners and retired partners 
and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing persons shall be 
deemed to be a single "selling stockholder," and any pro-rata reduction with 
respect to such "selling stockholder" shall be based upon the aggregate 
amount of shares carrying registration rights owned by all entities and 
individuals included in such "selling stockholder," as defined in this 
sentence.

               (b)  WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS.  Each Holder shall be permitted to
withdraw up to 110,000 shares (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock
splits, stock dividends, combinations, other recapitalizations and similar
events) of such Holder's Registrable Securities included in a registration at
any time prior to the effective date of such registration.  In addition, to the
extent the number of Registrable Securities being sold by the Holder is greater
than 110,000 shares (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock
dividends, combinations, other recapitalizations and similar events) the Holder
can withdraw any such portion above 110,000 shares if, on the date of such
withdrawal, the last reported sale price of the Company's Common Stock on Nasdaq
(or such other national exchange or national quotation system on which the
Company's Common Stock is then listed) was less than 85% of the proposed maximum
offering price per share listed on the "Calculation of Registration Fee" section
on the cover of the registration statement filed with respect to the Registrable
Securities.

          1.7  DELAY OF REGISTRATION.  No Holder shall have any right to obtain
or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as
the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the
interpretation or implementation of this Article I.  This Section 1.7 shall not
affect any remedies at law available to the Holder for breaches of Section
1.6(a) by the Company.

                                       5.

<PAGE>

          1.8  INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.  In the event any Registrable
Securities are included in a registration statement under this Article I:

               (a)  To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities
Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), against any losses, claims, damages,
or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the
Securities Act or the 1934 Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions, or
violations (collectively a "Violation"): (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement,
including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or
any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the 1934 Act, any state
securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act or
the 1934 Act or any state securities law; and the Company will pay to each such
Holder, underwriter, or controlling person, as incurred, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 1.8(a) shall not apply
to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or
action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in
any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action to the
extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for
use in connection with such registration by any such Holder, underwriter, or
controlling person.

               (b)  To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who has signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter,
any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement and any
controlling person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any losses,
claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing
persons may become subject, under the Securities Act or the 1934 Act or other
federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in
each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such
Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such
Holder will pay, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this subsection 1.8(b), in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability,

                                       6.

<PAGE>

or action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the indemnity agreement contained
in this subsection 1.8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected
without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. 

               (c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 1.8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 1.8, deliver to
the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the
indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent
the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually
satisfactory to the parties; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that an indemnified party
(together with all other indemnified parties which may be represented without
conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain separate counsel in each
jurisdiction where separate representation would be appropriate in the judgment
of the indemnified party, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the
indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel
retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party
represented by such counsel in such proceeding.  The failure to deliver written
notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of
any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall
relieve such indemnifying party to the extent of such prejudice of any liability
to the indemnified party under this Section 1.8, but the omission so to deliver
written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability
that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 1.8.

               (d)  No indemnifying party, in the defense of any claim arising
out of a Violation shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party,
consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff
to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such
claim or litigation and, in the event the terms of such judgment or settlement
include any term other than the payment by the indemnifying party of money
damages, the indemnifying party shall not so consent or enter into such a
settlement without the consent of each indemnified party (which will not be
unreasonably withheld) whether or not the terms thereof include such a release.

               (e)  CONTRIBUTION.  If for any reason the indemnity provided for
in this Section 1.8 is unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an
indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand
and the indemnified party on the other, or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, or provides a lesser sum to
the indemnified party than the amount hereinafter calculated, in such proportion
as is

                                       7.

<PAGE>

appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the 
indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other but 
also the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party 
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault 
of such indemnifying party and indemnified parties shall be determined by 
reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including 
any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or 
alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to 
information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified parties; and 
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and 
opportunity to correct or prevent such action.  The amount paid or payable by 
a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses 
referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set 
forth in Section 1.8(d), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably 
incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding.

          The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 1.8(e) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

               (f)  The obligations of the Company and Holders under this
Section 1.8 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable
Securities in a registration statement under this Article I, and otherwise.

          1.9  REPORTS UNDER SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.  With a view to
making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the
Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time
permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without
registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the Company agrees and
covenants to:

               (a)  make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144;

               (b)  file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the 1934 Act;

               (c)  furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any
Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144,
the Securities Act and the 1934 Act, or that it qualifies as a registrant whose
securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after it so
qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the
Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the

                                       8.

<PAGE>

Company with the SEC or any securities exchange, and (iii) such other 
information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule 
or regulation of the SEC which permits the selling of any such securities 
without registration or pursuant to such form; and

               (d)  provide the Holder with prompt notice of any failure by the
Company to comply with the requirements of Rule 144.

          1.10 ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  The rights to cause the
Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Article I may be
assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or
assignee of such securities who, after such assignment or transfer, holds (i) at
least 1% of the Registrable Securities then outstanding (subject to appropriate
adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, other
recapitalizations and similar events), or (ii) all of the shares of Registrable
Securities initially issued to such Holder, PROVIDED that, within a reasonable
time after such transfer, the Company is furnished with written notice of the
name and address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect
to which such registration rights are being assigned; and PROVIDED, FURTHER,
that such assignment shall be effective only if immediately following such
transfer the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or
assignee is restricted under the Securities Act and/or not otherwise eligible
for sale under Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act or similar exemption.  For the
purposes of determining the number of shares of Registrable Securities held by a
transferee or assignee, the holdings of transferees and assignees of a
partnership who are partners or retired partners of such partnership (including
spouses and ancestors, lineal descendants, and siblings of such partners or
spouses who acquire Registrable Securities by gift, will, or intestate
succession) shall be aggregated together and with the partnership; PROVIDED that
all assignees and transferees who would not qualify individually for assignment
of registration rights shall have a single attorney-in-fact for the purpose of
exercising any rights, receiving notices, or taking any action under this
Article I.

          1.11 AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  Any provision of this
Article I may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either
generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding.  Any amendment or
waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each
Holder of any Registrable Securities then outstanding, each future holder of all
such Registrable Securities and the Company.

          1.12 TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  No Holder shall be entitled
to exercise any right provided for in this Article I after February 3, 2005.

                                       9.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

          2.1  MARKET STAND-OFF.  American Cyanamid hereby covenants that it
will not, without the prior written consent of Van Kasper & Company (or such
other investment bank that serves as the lead managing underwriter in the
Company's Contemplated Public Offering, which person is referred to herein as
the "Lead Managing Underwriter"), offer, sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly
or indirectly, any shares of the Company's Common Stock, or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or any rights to purchase
or acquire, Common Stock owned by it (otherwise than as a bona fide gift or
gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound by the
terms of this Section 2.1) for the period beginning on the date hereof and
ending on the date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the date of the
closing of the Contemplated Public Offering.  If requested by the Lead Managing
Underwriter, American Cyanamid agrees to execute an agreement similar to that
set forth in this Section 2.1 addressed to the Lead Managing Underwriter.  The
Company shall be expressly entitled to enforce the provisions of this
Section 2.1 on behalf of the Lead Managing Underwriter.  This Section 2.1 shall
be effective only upon the execution of a similar provision by Firemen's
Insurance Company of Newark, NJ.

          2.2  SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES.  The warranties, representations, and
covenants of American Cyanamid and the Company contained in or made pursuant to
this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
shall in no way be affected by any investigation of the subject matter thereof
made by or on behalf of American Cyanamid or the Company.

          2.3  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties.  Nothing in
this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other
than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights,
remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement,
except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

          2.4  EXPENSES.  Except as otherwise provided in Article I hereof,
irrespective of whether the Closing is effected, each party shall pay its own
costs and expenses that such party incurs with respect to the negotiation,
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement.

          2.5  NOTICES.  Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or
permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed
effectively given upon personal delivery to the party to be notified or three
days after deposit with the United States Post Office, by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid and addressed to the party to be notified at the
address indicated for such party on the signature page hereof, or

                                       10.

<PAGE>

by facsimile confirmed by such certified or registered mail or at such other 
address as such party may designate by ten (10) days' advance written notice 
to the other parties.

          2.6  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

          2.7  TITLES AND SUBTITLES.  The titles and subtitles used in this
Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.

          2.8  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.  This writing, together
with any exhibits annexed hereto, constitutes the entire Agreement of the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior
understandings and writings with respect thereto.  Any term of this Agreement
may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived
(either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of all the parties hereto.

          2.9  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       11.

<PAGE>

          2.10 SEVERABILITY.  If one or more provisions of this Agreement are
held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded
from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if
such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the 
date first above written.


                              Cyanotech Corporation

                              By:    /s/ GERALD R. CYSEWSKI                     
                                  -----------------------------------------
                              Name:  Gerald R. Cysewski
                              Title:  President & CEO

                              Address:  73-4460 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy.,
                                        Suite 102
                                        Kailua-Kona, HI  96740
                              Phone:  (808) 326-1353
                              Fax:    (808) 329-3597



                              American Cyanamid Company

                              By:    /s/ JOHN R. CONSIDINE                    
                                  -----------------------------------------
                              Name:  John R. Considine
                              Title:  Vice President

                              Address:  Five Giralda Farms 
                                        Madison, New Jersey  07940
                                        Attn.:      Senior Vice President and
                                                  General Counsel
                              Phone:  (201) 660-5000
                              Fax:    (201) 660-7155
 

                                       12.



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