SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ?

Check the appropriate box:

x

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

o

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

Definitive Additional Materials

o

Solicitation Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or rule 14a-12

 

 

CopyTele, Inc.ITUS Corporation

 

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x

No fee required.

 

o

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

 

1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:

 

4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

5)

Total fee paid:

 

o

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

o

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

 

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

 

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

(3)

Filing Party:

 

(4)

Date Filed:

1


 


COPYTELE, INC.ITUS CORPORATION 

900 Walt Whitman Road3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250

Melville, New York 11747San Jose, CA 95118

 

June 13, 2014February __, 2018


To the Stockholders of CopyTele, Inc.:ITUS Corporation:

 

You are cordially invited to attend the 2014 AnnualSpecial Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) of the CompanyITUS Corporation (the "MeetingCompany") to be held at 11:10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014,Thursday, March 29, 2018, at the lawCompany’s corporate offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10105,at 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, California 95118, to consider and vote upon the following proposals:

 

1.To elect Lewis H. Titterton Jr., Robert A. Berman, Dr. Amit Kumar, Bruce F. Johnson, Dale Fox and Dr. Andrea Belz as directors (the "Director Nominees") to serve on the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") for a one-year term that expires at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until their successors are elected and qualified;

2.To ratify the appointment by the Board of Haskell & White LLP (the "Auditor") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2014;

3.To consider and vote upon an amendment (the "Reverse Split Amendment") to Article FOURTH of the Company'sCompany’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), to effect a reverse stock splitincrease the number of the Company'sauthorized shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") at a ratio of between one-for-two and one-for-twenty five with such ratio, from 24,000,000 to be determined at the sole discretion of the Board48,000,000 (the "Reverse SplitAmendment Proposal") and with such Reverse Split to be effected at such time and date, if at all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion (the "Reverse Split Proposal");

 

4.2.       To consider and vote upon an amendment (the "Name Change Amendment") to ourArticle FIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation to change the name of the Company from "CopyTele,“ITUS Corporation” to “Anixa Biosciences, Inc." to,” such name as may be determined by the Board in its sole discretion (the "Name Change"), such Name Changechange to occur at such time and date if at all, as determined by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) in its sole discretion (the "Name Change Proposal”);  

3.       To consider and vote upon the adoption of the “ITUS Corporation 2018 Share Incentive Plan” (the “Incentive Plan Proposal"); and

 

5.4.       To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"“FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEESAMENDMENT PROPOSAL, NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL AND OTHER PROPOSALS.INCENTIVE PLAN PROPOSAL.

 

The Board has fixed the close of business on June 2, 2014February 1, 2018 as the record date (the "Record Date") for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. Accordingly, only stockholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of, and shall be entitled to vote at, the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

 

Your vote is important. You are requested to carefully read the Proxy Statement and accompanying Notice of AnnualSpecial Meeting for a more complete statement of matters to be considered at the Meeting.

 

Sincerely yours,

Robert A. Berman

President and Chief Executive Officer

CopyTele, Inc.

 

/s/ Dr. Amit Kumar

Dr. Amit Kumar

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

ITUS Corporation

 

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IMPORTANT

 

WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, please read the proxy statement and promptly vote your proxyPLEASE READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND PROMPTLY VOTE YOUR PROXY VIA the internet, by telephone or, if you received a printed form of proxy in the mail, by completing, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy THE INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE OR, IF YOU RECEIVED A PRINTED FORM OF PROXY IN THE MAIL, BY COMPLETING, DATING, SIGNING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXYIN ORDER TO ASSURE REPRESENTATION OF YOUR SHARES AT THE MEETING.YOUR PROXY, GIVEN THROUGH THE RETURN OF THE PROXY CARD, MAY BE REVOKED PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE BY FILING WITH OUR CORPORATE SECRETARY PRIOR TO THE MEETING A WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION OR A DULY EXECUTED PROXY BEARING A LATER DATE, OR BY ATTENDING THE MEETING AND VOTING IN PERSON.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY VOTED OR DELIVERED YOUR PROXY FOR THE MEETING, YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE YOUR SHARES AGAIN.  IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE, YOU SHOULD REVOTE YOUR SHARES.

 

THE PROXY STATEMENT, OUR FORM OF PROXY CARD OUR QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JANUARY 31, 2014 AND OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AS AMENDED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 20132017 ARE AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT http:HTTP://ir.ctipatents.com/all-sec-filings IR.ITUSCORP.COM/ALL-SEC-FILINGS OR AT THE SEC'SSEC’S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.

 

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COPYTELE, INC.ITUS CORPORATION 

900 Walt Whitman Road3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250

Melville, New York 11747San Jose, CA 95118

 

NOTICE OF ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

To be held on July 23, 2014March 29, 2018

 

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of CopyTele, Inc.ITUS Corporation (the "Company") for use at the 2014 AnnualSpecial Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and at all adjournments and postponements thereof (the "Meeting"). The Meeting will be held at 11:00a.m.10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014,Thursday, March 29, 2018, at the lawCompany’s corporate offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10105,at 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, California 95118, for the following purposes:

 

1.To elect Lewis H. Titterton Jr., Robert A. Berman, Dr. Amit Kumar, Bruce F. Johnson, Dale Fox and Dr. Andrea Belz as directors (the "Director Nominees") to serve on the Company's Board for a one-year term that expires at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until their successors are elected and qualified;

2.To ratify the appointment by the Board of Haskell & White LLP (the "Auditor") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2014;

3.To consider and vote upon an amendment (the "Reverse Split Amendment") to Article FOURTH of the Company'sCompany’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), to effect a reverse stock splitincrease the number of the Company'sauthorized shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") at a ratio of between one-for-two and one-for-twenty five with such ratio, from 24,000,000 to be determined at the sole discretion of the Board48,000,000 (the "Reverse SplitAmendment Proposal") and with such Reverse Split to be effected at such time and date, if at all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion (the "Reverse Split Proposal");

 

4.2.       To consider and vote upon an amendment (the "Name Change Amendment") to ourArticle FIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation to change the name of the Company from "CopyTele,“ITUS Corporation” to “Anixa Biosciences, Inc." to,” such name as may be determined by the Board in its sole discretion (the "Name Change"), such Name Changechange to occur at such time and date if at all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion (the "Name Change Proposal”);

3.       To consider and vote upon the adoption of the “ITUS Corporation 2018 Share Incentive Plan” (the “Incentive Plan Proposal"); and

 

5.4.       To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

The Board unanimously recommends a vote "FOR"“FOR” the approval of each of the directorsAmendment Proposal, Name Change Proposal and proposals to be submitted at the Meeting.Incentive Plan Proposal.

 

Stockholders of record of our Common Stockcommon stock at the close of business on June 2, 2014February 1, 2018 (the "Record Date") will be entitled to notice of, and are cordially invited to, attend this Meeting and to attend any adjournment or postponement thereof. However, to assure your representation at the Meeting, please vote your proxy via the internet, by telephone, or, if you received a printed form of proxy in the mail, by completing, dating, signing and returning the enclosed proxy.Even if you have previously submitted your proxy, you may choose to vote in person at the Meeting. Whether or not you expect to attend the Meeting, please read the Proxy Statement and then promptly vote your proxy in order to ensure your representation at the Meeting.

 

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You may cast your vote by visiting http://www.proxyvote.com. You may also have access to the materials for the Meeting by visiting the website: http://www.ctipatents.com/www.ituscorp.com/.

 

Each share of Common Stockcommon stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote. A complete list of stockholders of record entitled to vote at this Meeting will be available for ten days before this Meeting at the principal executive office of the Company for inspection by stockholders during ordinary business hours for any purpose germane to this Meeting.

 

You are urged to review carefully the information contained in the enclosed proxy statement prior to deciding how to vote your shares.

 

This notice and the attached proxy statement are first being disseminated to stockholders on or about June 13, 2014.February ___, 2018.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Ron Tenio

 /s/ Michael J. Catelani

Michael J. Catelani

Secretary

 

IF YOU RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD WITHOUT AN INDICATION OF HOW YOU WISH TO VOTE, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF EACH OF THE DIRECTORS AND PROPOSALS.PROPOSALS SUBMITTED AT THE MEETING.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Meeting to be Held on July 23, 2014March 29, 2018: This Proxy Statement along with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2013, as amended, is available at: http://www.ctipatents.com/www.ituscorp.com/..

 

  54


 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS

76

THE ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING

10

PROPOSAL 1 – AMENDMENT PROPOSAL

13

PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS2 – NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL

16

PROPOSAL 2 RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR FISCAL 2014

3315

PROPOSAL 3 REVERSE SPLIT– INCENTIVE PLAN PROPOSAL

35

PROPOSAL 4 NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL

4216

OTHER INFORMATION

4319

ANNEX A - CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF ITUS CORPORATION

25

ANNEX B - CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF ITUS CORPORATION

26

ANNEX C - ITUS CORPORATION 2018 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN

27

 

5

ANNEX A       Reverse Split Amendment


 

 6


PROXY STATEMENT

 

COPYTELE, INC.ITUS CORPORATION

ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

to be held at 11:10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014Thursday, March 29, 2018

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10105at 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, California 95118

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS

 

Why am I receiving this Proxy Statement?

 

The Company has made these materials available to you on the Internet or, upon your request, has delivered printed versions of these materials to you by mail, in connection with the Company'sCompany’s solicitation of proxies for use at the Special Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “Meeting”) to be held at 11:10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014,Thursday, March 29, 2018, at the lawCompany’s corporate offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10105,at 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, California 95118, and at any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof. These materials were first sent or given to stockholders on or about June 13, 2014.February ___, 2018. This proxy statement gives you information on these proposals so that you can make an informed decision.

 

In this proxy statement, we refer to CopyTele, Inc.ITUS Corporation as the "Company"“Company”, "we"“we”, "us"“us” or "our"“our” or similar terminology.

 

What is included in these materials?

 

These materials include:

·This Proxy Statement for the Meeting; and

·The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2013, as amended.

include this Proxy Statement for the Meeting. If you requested printed versions of these materials by mail, these materials also include the proxy card or voting instruction form for the Annual Meeting.

 

Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

 

Pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("(“SEC"), the Company has elected to provide access to its proxy materials via the Internet instead of mailing printed copies. Accordingly, the Company is sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Internet Availability Notice") to the Company'sCompany’s stockholders. Most stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. Instead, instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a printed copy may be found with the Internet Availability Notice. All stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the websitereferred to in the Internet Availability Notice or request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. Stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by telephone, mail, by logging on to http://www.proxyvote.comor electronically by email on an ongoing basis. The Company encourages stockholders to take advantage of the availability of the proxy materials on the Internet to help reduce the environmental impact of our annualstockholder meetings.

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How can I get electronic access to the proxy materials?

 

The Internet Availability Notice will provide you with instructions regarding how to:

 

·View the Company’s proxy materials for the Meeting on the Internet; and

·         View the Company's proxy materials for the Meeting on the Internet; and

·Instruct the Company to send future proxy materials to you electronically by email.

 

Choosing to receive future proxy materials by email will save the Company the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of the Company's annualCompany’s stockholder meetings on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email message next year with instructions containing a link to those materials. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it.

 

Who can vote at the annual meeting of stockholders?Meeting?

 

Stockholders who owned shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("(“Common Stock"), on June 2, 2014February 1, 2018 (the "Record Date") may attend and vote at the Meeting. There were 220,357,190______ shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date. All shares of Common Stock have one vote per share and vote together as a single class. Information about the stockholdings of our directors and executive officers is contained in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled "Beneficial“Beneficial Ownership of Principal Stockholders, Officers and Directors"Directors” on page 4420 of this Proxy Statement.

 

What is the proxy card?

 

The proxy card enables you to appoint Robert Berman,Dr. Amit Kumar, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and/or Henry Herms,and Michael Catelani, our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and Vice President - Finance, as your representativerepresentatives at the Meeting. By completing and returning the proxy card or voting online as described herein, you are authorizing these personsDr. Kumar and Mr. Catelani to vote your shares at the Meeting in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card. This way, your shares will be voted whether or not you attend the Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Meeting, we think that it is a good idea to complete and return your proxy card before the Meeting date just in case your plans change. If a proposal comes up for vote at the Meeting that is not on the proxy card, the proxies will vote your shares, under your proxy, according to their best judgment.

 

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What am I voting on?

 

You are being asked to vote:

 

1.To elect Lewis H. Titterton Jr., Robert A. Berman, Dr. Amit Kumar, Bruce F. Johnson, Dale Fox and Dr. Andrea Belz as directors (the "Director Nominees") to serve on the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") for a one-year term that expires at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until their successors are elected and qualified;

2.To ratify the appointment by the Board of Haskell & White LLP (the "Auditor") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2014;

3.To consider and vote uponapprove an amendment (the "Reverse Split Amendment") to Article FOURTH of the Company'sCompany’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), to effect a reverse stock splitincrease the number of the Company'sauthorized shares of Common Stock at a ratio of between one-for-two and one-for-twenty five with such ratiofrom 24,000,000 to be determined at the sole discretion of the Board48,000,000 (the "Reverse SplitAmendment Proposal") and with such Reverse Split to be effected at such time and date, if at all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion (the "Reverse Split Proposal");

 

8


4.2.       To consider and vote uponapprove an amendment (the "Name Change Amendment") to ourArticle FIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation to change the name of the Company from "CopyTele,“ITUS Corporation” to “Anixa Biosciences, Inc." to,” such name as may be determined by the Board in its sole discretion (the "Name Change"), such Name Changechange to occur at such time and date if at all, as determined by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) in its sole discretion (the "Name Change Proposal”);

3.       To adopt the “ITUS Corporation 2018 Share Incentive Plan” (the “Incentive Plan Proposal"); and

 

5.4.       To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

How does the Board recommend that I vote?

 

Our Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote "FOR" “FOR”all of the directorsAmendment Proposal, Name Change Proposal and proposals being put before our stockholders at the Meeting.Incentive Plan Proposal.

 

What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

 

Most of our stockholders hold their shares in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder, rather than holding share certificates in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.

 

Stockholder of Record

 

If, on the Record Date, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, you are a "stockholder“stockholder of record"record” who may vote at the Meeting, and we are sending these proxy materials directly to you. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to direct the voting of your shares by returning the enclosed proxy card to us or to vote in person at the Meeting.as described below. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, please complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted.

 

Beneficial Owner

 

If, on the Record Date, your shares were held in an account at a brokerage firm or at a bank or other nominee holder, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held "in“in street name," and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker or nominee who is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Meeting. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker on how to vote your shares and to attend the Meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the Meeting unless you receive a valid proxy from your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder. To obtain a valid proxy, you must make a special request of your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder. If you do not make this request, you can still vote by using the voting instruction card enclosed with this proxy statement; however, you will not be able to vote in person at the Meeting. 

 

9


If I am a stockholder of record of the Company'sCompany’s Common Stock, howhow do I vote?

 

            There are four ways to vote:

 

(1)1.       Via the Internet. You may vote by proxy via the Internet by following the instructions provided with the Internet Availability Notice.

 

(2)2.       Via telephone. Using a touch-tone telephone, you may transmit your voting instructions to the number provided in the Internet Availability Notice.

 

(3)3.       In person. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the Meeting. The Company will give you a ballot when you arrivearrive.

 

(4)4.       By Mail. If you request printed copies of the proxy materials by mail, you may vote by proxy by filling out the proxy card and sending it back in the envelope provided.

 

7


If I am a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, how do I vote?

 

There are four ways to vote:

 

(1)1.       Via the Internet. You may vote by proxy via the Internet by following the instructions provided by your brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds your shares.

 

(2)2.       Via telephone. Using a touch-tone telephone, you may transmit your voting instructions to the number provided in the Internet Availability Notice.

 

(3)3.       In person. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you wish to vote in person at the Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds your shares. Please contact that organization for instructions regarding obtaining a legal proxyproxy.

 

(4)4.       By Mail. If you request printed copies of the proxy materials by mail, you may vote by proxy by filling out the vote instruction form and sending it back in the envelope provided by your brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds your shares.

 

How do I request a paper copy of the proxy materials?

 

There are four ways to request a paper copy of proxy materials:

 

By mail: You may obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials by writing to us at CopyTele, Inc., 900 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747,

·         By mail. You may obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials by sending a written notice to the Company at 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, CA 95118, Attn: Michael Catelani, Secretary.

 

·         By telephone. You may obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials by calling 1(800) 579-1639 or the Company at (408) 708-9808.

·         Via the Internet. You may obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials by logging on to http://www.proxyvote.com.

·         By Email. You may obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials by calling 1-800-579-1639 or the Company at 631-549-5900.

Via the Internet: You may obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials by logging on to http://www.proxyvote.com.

By Email: You may obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials by email at sendmaterial@proxyvote.com.

 

Please make your request for a paper copy as instructed above on or before July 5, 2014March 15, 2018 to facilitate timely delivery.

 

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

 

You may have multiple accounts at the transfer agent and/or with brokerage firms. Please sign and return all proxy cards to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

 

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What if I change my mind after I return my proxy?

 

You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the polls close at the Meeting. You may do this by:

 

·sending a written notice to Ron Tenio,Michael Catelani, our corporate Secretary, stating that you would like to revoke your proxy of a particular date;

 

·signing another proxy card with a later date and returning it before the polls close at the Meeting; or

 

·attending the Meeting and voting in person.

 

Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, you must instruct your broker, bank or other nominee that you wish to change your vote by following the procedures on the voting form provided to you by the broker, bank or other nominee. If your shares are held in street name, and you wish to attend and vote at the Meeting, you must bring to the Meeting a legal proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares, confirming your beneficial ownership of the shares and giving you the right to vote your shares.

 

Will my shares be voted if I do not sign and return my proxy card?

 

If your shares are held in street name or in your name and you do not sign and return your proxy card, your shares will not be voted unless you vote in person at the Meeting. If you hold your shares in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, your nominee may determine to vote your shares at its own discretion on certain routine matters, such as the Amendment Proposal and Name Change Proposal, absent instructions from you. However, due to voting rules that may prevent your bank or broker from voting your uninstructed shares on a discretionary basis in the Incentive Plan Proposal and other non-routine matters, it is important that you cast your vote.

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How are votes counted?

 

You may vote "for," "against,"“for,” “against” or "abstain"“abstain” on each of the proposals being placed before our stockholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by brokers on behalf of their customers, which may not be voted on certain matters because the brokers have not received specific voting instructions from their customers with respect to such matters) will be counted solely for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the Meeting.

Broker non-votes occur on a matter when a broker is not permitted to vote on that matter without instructions from the beneficial owner and instructions are not given. These matters are referred to as “non-routine” matters. The Incentive Plan Proposal is “non-routine.” Thus, in tabulating the voting result for this proposal, shares that constitute broker non-votes are not considered votes cast on that proposal. The Amendment Proposal and Name Change Proposal are each a “routine” matter and therefore a broker may vote on those matters without instructions from the beneficial owner as long as instructions are not given.

 

How many votes are required to electapprove the Director Nominees as directors of the Company?Amendment Proposal?

 

InThe affirmative vote of the electionholders of directors,a majority of the six persons receiving the highest numberoutstanding shares of affirmative votesCommon Stock entitled to vote on this matter at the Meeting is required for approval of the Amendment Proposal.  With respect to an abstention, the shares will be elected.considered present and entitled to vote at the Meeting and they will have the same effect as a vote against the matter.

How many votes are required to approve the Name Change Proposal?

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on this matter at the Meeting is required for approval of the Name Change Proposal.  With respect to an abstention, the shares will be considered present and entitled to vote at the Meeting and they will have the same effect as a vote against the matter.

 

How many votes are required to ratifyapprove the Company's independent public accountants?Incentive Plan Proposal?

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting by the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote is required to ratify the Auditor as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending October 31, 2014.

How many votes are required to approve the Reverse Split Proposal?Incentive Plan Proposal. With respect to an abstention, t

            The affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstandinghe shares of Common Stockwill be considered present and entitled to vote at the Meeting, voting as one class, is required for approvalbut they will have no effect on the vote of the Reverse Split Proposal.

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Incentive Plan ProposalHow many votes are required to approve the Name Change Proposal?.

            The affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Meeting, voting as one class, is required for approval of the Name Change Proposal.

 

What happens if I don'tdon’t indicate how to vote my proxy?

 

If you just sign your proxy card without providing further instructions, your shares will be counted as a "for"“for” vote for alleach of the Director NomineesAmendment Proposal, Name Change Proposal and proposals being placed before our stockholders at the Meeting.Incentive Plan Proposal.

 

Is my vote kept confidential?

 

Proxies, ballots and voting tabulations identifying stockholders are kept confidential and will not be disclosed except as may be necessary to meet legal requirements.

 

Where do I find the voting results of the Meeting?

 

We will announce voting results at the Meeting and file a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing the voting results of the Meeting.

 

Who can help answer my questions?

 

You can contact our corporate Secretary, Ron Tenio,Michael Catelani, at (631) 549-5900 x112(408) 708-9808 or by sending a letter to Mr. TenioCatelani at the offices of the Company at 900 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 117473150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, CA 95118 with any questions about proposals described in this Proxy Statement or how to execute your vote.

 

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THE ANNUALSPECIAL MEETING

 

General

 

This Proxy Statement is being furnished to you, as a stockholder of CopyTele, Inc.,ITUS Corporation, as part of the solicitation of proxies by our Board for use at the Meeting to be held on July 23, 2014,March 29, 2018, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This Proxy Statement is first being furnished to stockholders on or about June 13, 2014.February ___, 2018.  This Proxy Statement provides you with information you need to know to be able to vote or instruct your proxy how to vote at the Meeting.

 

Date, Time, Place of Meeting

 

            The Meeting will be held on at 11:10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014,Thursday, March 29, 2018, at the lawCompany’s corporate offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10105,at 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, California 95118, or such other date, time and place to which the Meeting may be adjourned or postponed.

 

Purpose of the Meeting

 

At the Meeting, the Company will ask stockholders to consider and vote upon the following proposals:

 

1.To electapprove an amendment to Article FOURTH of the Director NomineesCompany’s Certificate of Incorporation to serve onincrease the Board for a one-year term that expires at the 2015 Annual Meetingnumber of Stockholders, or until their successors are elected and qualified;authorized shares of Common Stock from 24,000,000 to 48,000,000;

 

2.To ratify the appointment by the Boardapprove an amendment to Article FIRST of the Auditor asCertificate of Incorporation to change the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2014;

3.To consider and vote upon the Reverse Split Amendment to effect a reverse stock split of our Common Stock at a ratio of between one-for-two and one-for-twenty five with such ratio to be determined at the sole discretionname of the Board and withCompany from “ITUS Corporation” to “Anixa Biosciences, Inc.,” such Reverse Splitname change to be effectedoccur at such time and date if at all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion;

 

4.3.       To consider and vote uponadopt the Name Change Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to change the name of the Company from "CopyTele, Inc." to such name as may be determined by the Board in its sole discretion (the "Name Change"), such Name Change to occur at such time and date, if at all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion;“ITUS Corporation 2018 Share Incentive Plan”; and

 

5.4.       To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

Recommendations of the Board

 

After careful consideration, of each nominee for director, the Board has unanimously determined to recommend that stockholders vote (i) "FOR"“FOR” each of the Director Nominees, (ii) "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of the Auditor as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2014, (iii) "FOR" the Reverse SplitAmendment Proposal, Name Change Proposal and (iv) "FOR" the Name ChangeIncentive Plan Proposal.

 

Record Date and Voting Power

 

Our Board fixed the close of business on June 2, 2014,February 1, 2018, as the record date for the determination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to notice of, and to vote on, the matters presented at this Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were 220,357,190______ shares of Common Stock outstanding. Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote. Accordingly, a total of 220,357,190______ votes may be cast at this Meeting.

 

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Quorum and Required Vote

 

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present at the meeting if a majority of the Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting is represented in person or by proxy. Abstentions and broker non-votes will count as present for purposes of establishing a quorum.

 

            InThe affirmative vote of the electionholders of directors,a majority of the six persons receiving the highest numberoutstanding shares of affirmative votesCommon Stock entitled to vote on this matter at the Meeting is required for approval of the Amendment Proposal.  With respect to an abstention, the shares will be elected. Abstentions are considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum butand entitled to vote at the Meeting and they will have nothe same effect as a vote against the matter.

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on this matter at the electionMeeting is required for approval of directors.the Name Change Proposal.  With respect to an abstention, the shares will be considered present and entitled to vote at the Meeting and they will have the same effect as a vote against the matter.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the sharesvotes cast at the Meeting by the holders of Common Stock represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote is required to ratifyapprove the Auditor as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending October 31, 2014. Abstentions areIncentive Plan Proposal. With respect to an abstention, the shares will be considered present for purposes of establishing a quorumand entitled to vote at the Meeting, but they will have no effect on the electionvote of directors.the Incentive Plan Proposal.

 

The Reverse Split Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock voting as one class for approval of the Reverse Split Proposal. Abstentions are considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum but will count as a vote against the Reverse Split Proposal.10

            The Name Change Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock voting as one class for approval of the Name Change Proposal. Abstentions are considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum but will count as a vote against the Name Change Proposal.


 

Voting

 

You can vote your shares at the Meeting by proxy or in person.There are four ways to vote:

 

You can vote by proxy by having one or more individuals who will be at1.       Via the Meeting vote your shares for you. These individuals are called "proxies" and using them to cast your ballot at the Meeting is called voting "by proxy."

If you wish to vote by proxy, you must do one of the following:

Internet. Use the Internet to vote by going to the Internet address listed on your proxy card or Internet Availability Notice; have your proxy card or Internet Availability Notice in hand as you will be prompted to enter your control number and to create and submit an electronic vote;vote. If you vote in this manner, your “proxy,” whose name is listed on the proxy card and Internet Availability Notice, will vote your shares as you instruct on the proxy card. If you sign and return the proxy card or submit an electronic vote but do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your shares will be voted as recommended by the Board. If you are not a record holder, you may vote by proxy via the Internet by following the instructions provided by your brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds your shares.

 

Complete2.       Via Telephone.  Using a touch-tone telephone, you may transmit your voting instructions to the enclosed form, callednumber provided in the Internet Availability Notice.

3.       In person.  If you are a "proxystockholder of record, you may vote in person at the Meeting. The Company will give you a ballot when you arrive. If you are a beneficial owner of shares of Common Stock held in street name and you wish to vote in person at the Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds your shares. Please contact that organization for instructions regarding obtaining a legal proxy.

4.       By mail.  You may vote by mail. If you request printed copies of the proxy materials by mail and are a record holder, you may vote by proxy by filling out the proxy card" and mailsending it back in the envelope provided.

If you do onerequest printed copies of the above,proxy materials by mail and are a beneficial holder you will designatemay vote by proxy by filling out the Presidentvote instruction form and Chief Executive Officer ofsending it back in the Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to act asenvelope provided by your proxies at the Meeting. One of them will then votebrokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds your shares at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions you have given them via the internet or on the proxy card with respect to the proposals presented in this Proxy Statement. Proxies will extend to, and be voted at, any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of the meeting.shares.

Alternatively, you can vote your shares in person by attending the Meeting. You will be given a ballot at the meeting.

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While we know of no other matters to be acted upon at this year's Meeting, it is possible that other matters may be presented at the Meeting. If that happens and you have signed and not revoked a proxy card, your proxy will vote on such other matters in accordance with his best judgment.

 

A special note for those who plan to attend the Meeting and vote in person: if your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, you must bring a statement from your brokerage account or a letter from the person or entity in whose name the shares are registered indicating that you are the beneficial owner of those shares as of the record date. In addition, you will not be able to vote at the Meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from the record holder of your shares.

 

Expenses

 

The expense of preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement, exhibits and the proxies solicited hereby will be borne by the Company. In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by officers, directors and regular employees of the Company, without additional remuneration, by personal interviews, telephone, email or facsimile transmission. The Company will also request brokerage firms, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock held of record and will provide reimbursements for the cost of forwarding the material in accordance with customary charges.

 

Revocability of Proxies

 

Proxies given by stockholders of record for use at the Meeting may be revoked at any time prior to the exercise of the powers conferred. In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, stockholders of record giving a proxy may revoke the proxy by an instrument in writing, executed by the stockholder or his attorney authorized in writing or, if the stockholder is a corporation, under its corporate seal, by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized, and deposited either at the corporate headquarters of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournments thereof, at which the proxy is to be used, or with the chairman of such Meeting on the day of the Meeting or adjournments thereof, and upon either of such deposits the proxy is revoked.

 

No Right of Appraisal

 

None of Delaware law, our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws, as amended, provides for appraisal or other similar rights for dissenting stockholders in connection with any of the proposals to be voted upon at this Meeting. Accordingly, our stockholders will have no right to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.

 

Who Can Answer Your Questions About Voting Your Shares

 

            You can contact our corporate Secretary, Ron Tenio,Michael Catelani, at (631) 549-5900(408) 708-9808 or by sending a letter to Mr. TenioCatelani at offices of the Company at 900 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 117473150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, CA 95118 with any questions about proposals described in this Proxy Statement or how to execute your vote.

 

Principal Offices

 

The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 900 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747.3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, CA 95118. The Company'sCompany’s telephone number at such address is (631) 549-5900.(408) 708-9808.

 

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ALL PROXIES RECEIVED WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHOICES SPECIFIED ON SUCH PROXIES. PROXIES WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF A PROPOSAL IF NO CONTRARY SPECIFICATION IS MADE. ALL VALID PROXIES OBTAINED WILL BE VOTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSONS NAMED IN THE PROXY WITH RESPECT TO ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.THEMEETING. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"“FOR” THE APPROVALAMENDMENT PROPOSAL, NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL AND INCENTIVE PLAN PROPOSAL.

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PROPOSAL 1
AMENDMENT PROPOSAL

Description of Proposal

On January 25, 2018, the Board acted by written consent to unanimously approve an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, subject to stockholder approval, to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized by 24,000,000 from 24,000,000 to 48,000,000. The Board directed the Amendment Proposal to be submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders at the Meeting.

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation currently authorizes the issuance of up to 24,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 20,000 shares of preferred stock. The Amendment Proposal will not increase or otherwise affect the Company’s authorized preferred stock.

On the Record Date, the Company had an aggregate __________ shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding. Also on the Record Date, the Company had _________ shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options under the Company’s 2010 Share Incentive Plan, _________ shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options under the Company’s 2003 Share Incentive Plan, ________ shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options not granted under such plans and ________ shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants.

Reasons for the Amendment Proposal

The Board believes it is in the best interest of the Company to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock in order to give the Company greater flexibility in considering and planning for future potential business needs.

The additional shares of Common Stock will be available for issuance by the Board for various corporate purposes, including but not limited to raising capital, providing equity incentives to employees, officers or directors, effecting stock dividends, establishing strategic relationships with other companies and expanding our business through the acquisition of other businesses or products. If the amendment is approved, the additional authorized shares would be available for issuance at the discretion of the Board and without further stockholder approval, except as may be required by law or the rules of the Company’s then-current listing market or exchange.

The additional shares of Common Stock to be authorized by adoption of the Amendment Proposal would have rights identical to the currently issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company. Adoption of the Amendment Proposal would not affect the rights of existing holders of Common Stock and would not have any immediate dilutive effect on the proportionate voting power or other rights of existing stockholders. Like existing holders, holders of shares of Common Stock issued following adoption of the proposed amendment would not be entitled to pre-emptive rights with respect to any future issuances of Common Stock or preferred stock. Any issuance of shares other than in connection with a stock split or combination would reduce the proportionate ownership interest in the Company that each holder had immediately prior to the issuance and, depending on the price at which such shares are issued, could have a negative effect on the market price of the Common Stock.

Anti-Takeover Considerations

The Company has not proposed the increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock with the intention of using the additional authorized shares for anti-takeover purposes, but the Company would be able to use the additional shares to oppose a hostile takeover attempt or delay or prevent changes in control or management of the Company. For example, without further stockholder approval, the Board could sell shares of Common Stock in a private transaction to purchasers who would oppose a takeover and/or favor the current Board. In addition, the Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock with the designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Board. Accordingly, the Board is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our Common Stock. The issuance of preferred stock could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of the Company and also may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company even though the transaction might be economically beneficial to the Company and its stockholders. Although this proposal to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock has been prompted by business and financial considerations and not by the threat of any known or threatened hostile takeover attempt, stockholders should be aware that approval of this proposal could facilitate future efforts by the Company to oppose changes in control of the Company and perpetuate the Company’s management, including transactions in which the stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then-current market prices.

Effecting the Amendment Proposal

If the Amendment Proposal is approved by the stockholders, shortly after the Meeting we will file an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware, such amendment to become effective upon filing. The amendment proposed by the Company to Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation is attached to this Proxy Statement as Annex A. Neither Delaware law, nor the Certificate of Incorporation, nor the Company’s Bylaws, as amended, provides for appraisal or other similar rights for dissenting stockholders in connection with this proposal. Accordingly, the Company’s stockholders will have no right to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.

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Required Vote

Approval of the Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock voting as one class. Abstentions are considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum but will count as a vote against the Amendment Proposal.

Recommendation of the Board

THE BOARD OF EACH OFDIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED AT THE MEETING.Amendment PROPOSAL.

 

 

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         15


 

PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS2

NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL

 

Introduction

 

On January 25, 2018, the Board acted by written consent to unanimously adopt the amendment to Article FIRST of our Certificate of Incorporation to change the Company’s name from “ITUS Corporation” to “Anixa Biosciences, Inc.,” such name change to occur at such time and date, if at all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The Board has nominatedis now asking you to approve this Name Change Amendment.

Effecting the Director NomineesName Change Amendment requires that Article FIRST of our Certificate of Incorporation be amended. The amended text replacing the current Article FIRST is attached as Annex B to stand for electionthis Proxy Statement. If approved, the Name Change Amendment will be effective upon the filing of such amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation in the form attached as Annex B with the Secretary of State of Delaware with such filing to occur, if at all, at the Meeting.  sole discretion of the Board.

Stockholders will not be askedrequired to elect eachexchange outstanding stock certificates for new stock certificates if the Name Change Amendment is adopted and the Board, in its sole discretion, determines to effect the name change.  When the Board effectuates the name change, the Company expects to change its trading symbol from “ITUS” to “ANIX,” it being understood that such symbol may not be available at the time of the Director Nominees,name change and it further being understood that the Board, in its sole discretion, may choose a new symbol, whether or not “ANIX” is available, at the time of the name change.

Reason for the Name Change Proposal

Now that we have fully transitioned our business from the development, acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of patented technologies into a biotechnology company, our Board believes that the Company should better align its corporate name with our current business and mission. The Board believes that “Anixa Biosciences, Inc.” better reflects our current business and mission.

Text of Proposed Amendment; Effectiveness

The proposed Amendment will change Article FIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation to replace the current name of the Company, “ITUS Corporation,” with “Anixa Biosciences, Inc.” The Name Change Amendment will become effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.


Required Vote

Approval of the Name Change Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock voting as one class. Abstentions are considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum but will count as a vote against the Name Change Proposal.

Recommendation of the Board

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL.

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PROPOSAL 3
INCENTIVE PLAN PROPOSAL

Introduction

We are asking our stockholders to approve the “ITUS Corporation 2018 Share Incentive Plan,” pursuant to which 5,000,000 shares of our Common Stock subject to replenishment will be reserved for issuance under the Plan in the form of (a) Stock Options, (b) Stock Appreciation Rights, (c) Stock Awards, (d) Performance Awards and (e) Stock Units (“Awards”).  We will not grant or issue any Awards under the Plan unless at the time of such grant or issuance we have a sufficient number of authorized shares of Common Stock available to make such grant or issuance. On January 25, 2018, our Board adopted the Plan to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentive to officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and to promote the success of the Company’s business.

The following summary describes the material features of the Plan.  The summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of all the provisions of the Plan. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this proposal shall have the same meaning ascribed to them in the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex C. The following description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan.

Description of the Plan

Administration. The Plan will be initially administered by our compensation committee (the "Committee"). The Committee will have the authority to determine the terms and conditions of any agreements evidencing any Awards granted under the Plan and to adopt, alter and repeal rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan. Our Committee will have full discretion to administer and interpret the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations and procedures as it deems necessary or advisable and to determine, among other things, the time or times at which the awards may be exercised and whether and under what circumstances an award may be exercised.

Eligibility. Officers, employees, non-employee directors and consultants to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates are eligible to participate in the Plan. As of the date of this proxy, the Company has two officers, one of which is also a director, four non-officer directors, six employees and five consultants. Our Committee has the sole and complete authority to determine who will be granted an award under the Plan.

A Number of Shares Authorized. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Awards, including Stock Options, granted under the Plan is 5,000,000 shares, subject to certain adjustments. Additionally, commencing on the first business day in January 2019 and on the first business day of each calendar year thereafter while the Plan is in effect, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan will be increased such that, as of such first business day, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will be no less than 2,000,000 shares. Any shares of Common Stock subject to hold office untila Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right which for any reason is cancelled or terminated without having been exercised, any shares subject to Stock Awards, Performance Awards or Stock Units which are forfeited, any shares subject to Performance Awards settled in cash, any shares delivered to the 2015 Annual MeetingCompany as part or full payment for the exercise of Stockholdersa Stock Option or untilStock Appreciation Right or any shares delivered to the Company in satisfaction of any tax withholding arising in connection with any Benefit consisting of shares of Common Stock, as the case may be, shall again be available for Awards under the Plan.

Duration. The Plan will have a term of ten years and no further awards may be granted under the Plan after that date.

Awards Available for Grant. Our Committee may grant awards of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Incentive (qualified) Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Awards, Performance Awards and Stock Units or any combination of the foregoing.

Transferability. Each Award may be exercised during the participant’s lifetime only by the participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the participant’s guardian or legal representative and may not be otherwise transferred or encumbered by a participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Our Committee, however, may permit awards (other than incentive stock options) to be transferred to family members, a trust for the benefit of such family members, a partnership or limited liability company whose partners or stockholders are the participant and his or her successorfamily members or anyone else approved by it.

Amendment. Our Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time; however, shareholder approval to amend the Plan may be necessary if the law or exchange that the company is elected and qualified. The enclosed proxy, if returned, and unless indicatedthen trading on so requires. No amendment, suspension or termination will impair the rights of any participant or recipient of any award without the consent of the participant or recipient.

Change in Control. Except to the contrary,extent otherwise provided in an Award agreement, in the event of a Change in Control as defined in the plan, all outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights issued under the Plan will become fully vested.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the grant and exercise and vesting of awards under the Plan and the disposition of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such awards and is intended to reflect the current provisions of the Code and the regulations thereunder. This summary is not intended to be a complete statement of applicable law, nor does it address foreign, state, local and payroll tax considerations. Moreover, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to any particular participant may differ from those described herein by reason of, among other things, the particular circumstances of such participant.

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Options. There are a number of requirements that must be met for a particular option to be treated as a qualified option. One such requirement is that shares of common stock acquired through the exercise of a qualified option cannot be disposed of before the later of (i) two years from the date of grant of the option, or (ii) one year from the date of exercise. Holders of qualified options will generally incur no federal income tax liability at the time of grant or upon exercise of those options. However, the spread at exercise will be votedan “item of tax preference,” which may give rise to “alternative minimum tax” liability for the election of eachtaxable year in which the exercise occurs. If the holder does not dispose of the Director Nominees.shares before the later of two years following the date of grant and one year following the date of exercise, the difference between the exercise price and the amount realized upon disposition of the shares will constitute long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be. Assuming both holding periods are satisfied, no deduction will be allowed to the company for federal income tax purposes in connection with the grant or exercise of the qualified option. If, within two years following the date of grant or within one year following the date of exercise, the holder of shares acquired through the exercise of a qualified option disposes of those shares, the participant will generally realize taxable compensation at the time of such disposition equal to the difference between the exercise price and the lesser of the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise or the amount realized on the subsequent disposition of the shares, and that amount will generally be deductible by the company for federal income tax purposes, subject to the possible limitations on deductibility under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to executives designated in those Sections. Finally, if an otherwise qualified option becomes first exercisable in any one year for shares having an aggregate value in excess of $100,000 (based on the grant date value), the portion of the qualified option in respect of those excess shares will be treated as a non-qualified stock option for federal income tax purposes.

 

We have been advisedNo income will be realized by eacha participant upon grant of a non-qualified stock option. Upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Director Nominees that they are willingfair market value of the underlying exercised shares over the option exercise price paid at the time of exercise. The company will be able to deduct this same amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

Restricted Stock. A participant will not be subject to tax upon the grant of an award of restricted stock unless the participant otherwise elects to be namedtaxed at the time of grant pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code. On the date an award of restricted stock becomes transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant will recognize taxable compensation equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on that date over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any, unless the participant made an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed at the time of grant. If the participant made an election under Section 83(b), the participant will recognize taxable compensation at the time of grant equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any. (Special rules apply to the receipt and disposition of restricted shares received by officers and directors who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). The company will be able to deduct, at the same time as it is recognized by the participant, the amount of taxable compensation to the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

Restricted Stock Units. A participant will not be subject to tax upon the grant of a restricted stock unit award. Rather, upon the delivery of shares or cash pursuant to a restricted stock unit award, the participant will have taxable compensation equal to the fair market value of the number of shares (or the amount of cash) the participant actually receives with respect to the award. The company will be able to deduct the amount of taxable compensation to the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but the deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

SARs. No income will be realized by a participant upon grant of an SAR. Upon the exercise of an SAR, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the payment received in respect of the SAR. The company will be able to deduct this same amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

Stock Bonus Awards. A participant will have taxable compensation equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date the shares of common stock subject to the award are transferred to the participant over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any. The company will be able to deduct, at the same time as it is recognized by the participant, the amount of taxable compensation to the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.

Section 162(m). In general, Section 162(m) of the Code denies a publicly held corporation a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 per year per person to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and the three other officers (other than the principal executive officer and principal financial officer) whose compensation is disclosed in its proxy statement as a nominee and each are willingresult of their total compensation, subject to continue to serve as a director if elected. If some unexpected occurrence should make necessary, incertain exceptions.

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THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION INTENDED FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS AND NOT AS TAX GUIDANCE TO RECIPIENTS OF AWARDS. THE FOREGOING DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF THE LAW IN THIS AREA. DIFFERENT TAX RULES MAY APPLY TO SPECIFIC RECIPIENTS AND TRANSACTIONS UNDER THE PLAN AND UNDER THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH ANY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL MAY RESIDE.

New Plan Benefits

Future grants under the Plan will be made at the discretion of the Committee and, accordingly, are not yet determinable. In addition, the value of the Awards granted under the Plan will depend on a number of factors, including the fair market value of our shares of common stock on future dates, the exercise decisions made by the participants and/or the extent to which any applicable performance goals necessary for vesting or payment are achieved. Consequently, it is not possible to determine the benefits that might be received by participants receiving discretionary grants under, or having their annual bonus paid pursuant to, the Plan.

Required Vote

Approval of the Plan will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Assuming the presence of a quorum of more than 50% of the shares of our common stock, the failure to vote will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.

Interests of Directors or Officers

Our directors may grant awards under the Incentive Plan to themselves as well as our officers, in addition to granting awards to our other employees.

Recommendation of the Board

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE INCENTIVE PLAN PROPOSAL.

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OTHER INFORMATION

Proxy Solicitation

All costs of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition to solicitation by mail, the Company’s officers and regular employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. The Company does not intend to utilize a paid solicitation agent.

Proxies

A stockholder may revoke his, her or its proxy at any time prior to its use by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company, by executing a revised proxy at a later date or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Proxies in the form enclosed, unless previously revoked, will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the specifications made thereon or, in the absence of such specifications in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.

Securities Outstanding

As of the close of business on the Record Date there were ________ shares of Common Stock outstanding. Stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock owned.

Other Business

Our Board knows of no other matter to be presented at the substitution of some other person forMeeting. If any additional matter should properly come before the nominees,Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote for the election of such other person as may be designated by the Board.

Board Qualifications

            We believe that the collective skills, experiences and qualifications of our directors provide our Boardproxy in accordance with the expertise and experience necessary to advance the interests of our stockholders. In selecting directors, the Board will consider candidates that possess qualifications and expertise that will enhance the composition of the Board, including the considerations set forth below.  The considerations set forth below are not meant as minimum qualifications, but rather as guidelines in weighing all of a candidate's qualifications and expertise. In addition to the individual attributes of each of our current directors described below, we believe that our directors should have the highest professional and personal ethics and values, consistent with our longstanding values and standards. They should have broad experience at the policy-making level in business, exhibit commitment to enhancing stockholder value and have sufficient time to carry out their duties and to provide insight and practical wisdom basedjudgment on their past experience.

            The Board has determined to nominate each of Mr. Fox and Dr. Belz in order to increase the number of "independent" directors on the Board. Each of Mr. Fox and Dr. Belz, as well as Mr. Johnson and Mr. Titterton, qualify as "independent" as defined by the SEC.  The Board's intent in nominating each of Mr. Fox and Dr. Belz is to ensure that the Board is composed of a majority of independent directors so that the Company can more easily meet certain corporate governance requirements that are required for initial listing on both The Nasdaq Capital Market and the NYSE MKT LLC (the Nasdaq Capital Market and the NYSE MKT LLC collectively referred to as the "Exchanges"). If the Company meets all of a particular Exchange's initial listing standards, the Board may, at its sole discretion, apply for initial listing onany such Exchange.matters.

 

Director NomineesDeadline for Submission of Stockholder Proposals for 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

Our Board currently consistsFor any proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of six directors, Messrs. Bruce F. Johnson, Henry P. Herms, Kent B. Williams, Lewis H. Titterton Jr., Robert A. Berman and Dr. Amit Kumar.  At the Meeting, six directors, two of whom will be newproxy for submission to the Board, are to be electedstockholders at the Meeting, each to serve until the nextour 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, it must be submitted in writing and until his successor shallcomply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act. Such proposals must be electedreceived by the Company at its offices at 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, CA 95118 no later than April 10, 2018.

Stockholders may present proposals intended for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders provided that such proposals are received by the Secretary of the Company in accordance with the time schedules set forth in, and shall qualify.  Lewis H. Titterton, Jr., Robert A. Berman, Dr. Amit Kumarotherwise in compliance with, applicable SEC regulations, and Bruce F. Johnson are nominated for reelectionthe Company’s Bylaws, as amended, as applicable. Proposals submitted not in accordance with such regulations will be deemed untimely or otherwise deficient; however, the Company will have discretionary authority to include such proposals in the 2018 Proxy Statement.

Stockholder Communications

Stockholders wishing to communicate with the Board may direct such communications to the Board and Dale Fox andc/o the Company, Attn: Dr. Andrea Belz are being nominatedAmit Kumar. Dr. Kumar will present a summary of all stockholder communications to the Board forat subsequent Board meetings. The directors will have the first time (each ofopportunity to review the nominees, the "Director Nominees").  All of the Director Nominees are available for election as members of the Board.  If for any reason a Director Nominee becomes unavailable for election, the proxies solicited by the Board will be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the Board.

actual communications at their discretion.

 

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The following sets forth the biographical background information for all of our Director Nominees:

Mr. Titterton has served as a director since August 16, 2010, the Chairman of the Board since July 20, 2012 and interim Chief Executive Officer from August 21, 2012 until September 19, 2012.  Mr. Titterton is currently also Chairman of the Board of NYMED, Inc., a diversified health services company.  His background is in high technology with an emphasis on health care and he has been with NYMED, Inc. since 1989.  Mr. Titterton founded MedE America, Inc. in 1986 and was Chief Executive Officer of Management and Planning Services, Inc. from 1978 to 1986.  Mr. Titterton also served as one of our Directors from July 1999 to January 2003.  He holds a M.B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany, and a B.A. degree from Cornell University.

Mr. Berman has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since September 19, 2012 and was elected to our Board on November 30, 2012. Mr. Berman has experience in a broad variety of areas including finance, acquisitions, marketing, and the development, licensing, and monetization of intellectual property.  He was recently the CEO of IP Dispute Resolution Corporation ("IPDR"), a consulting company focused on patent monetization, from March 2007 to September 2012. Prior to IPDR, Mr. Berman was the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Acacia Research Corporation from 2000 to March 2007.   Mr. Berman holds a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law and a B.S. in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Kumar has served on our Board since November 30, 2012 and has been a strategic advisor to the Company since September 19, 2012.  Dr. Kumar has been CEO of Geo Fossil Fuels LLC, an energy company, since December 2010.  From September 2001 to June 2010, Dr. Kumar was President and CEO of CombiMatrix Corporation, a Nasdaq listed biotechnology company and also served as director from September 2000 to June 2012.  Dr. Kumar was Vice President of Life Sciences of Acacia Research Corp., a publicly traded patent monetization company, from July 2000 to August 2007 and also served as a director from January 2003 to August 2007.   Dr. Kumar has served as Chairman of the board of directors of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a publicly-held solar energy company, since June 2007, and as a director of Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since June 2004.  Dr. Kumar holds an A.B. in Chemistry from Occidental College and Ph.D. from Caltech and completed his post doctoral training at Harvard University.

Mr. Johnson has served on our Board since August 29, 2012.  Mr. Johnson has been a commodity trader on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for over 40 years. He has served as a member of the board of directors of CME Group Inc. since 1998. He had previously served as President, Director and part-owner of Packers Trading Company, a former futures commissions merchant/clearing firm at the CME from 1969 to 2003. He also serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Crime Commission. Mr. Johnson holds a B.S. in Marketing from Bradley University and a J.D. from John Marshall Law School.

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Dr. Belz is an expert in technology commercialization, specializing in start-up and emerging companies whose core businesses frequently involve the licensing of patented technologies. Dr. Belz is currently on the faculty of the Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and is the Academic Director of the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program. She has helped initiate spin-up and spinout efforts at some of the world's leading sources of patented technologies, including Caltech, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, BP, Occidental Petroleum, Avery Dennison,  and UCLA. Dr. Belz is the Chairperson of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Licensing Executives Society, the pre-eminent organization for intellectual property professionals with chapters throughout the United States and Canada, and serves as a national trainer for courses on best practices in licensing. Dr. Belz is the President of the Belz Consulting Group, founded in 2002, and has been an Executive Committee Board Member at Caltech spinoff Ondax (privately held) since 2013. Dr. Belz holds a PhD in physics from the California Institute of Technology, an MBA in finance from the Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business, and a BS in physics from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Mr. Fox is an accomplished entrepreneur and innovator who has successfully launched many companies. He is currently the CEO of Tribogenics, a start-up company he co-founded in 2010 that develops portable, powerful X-ray devices based, in part, upon a technology conceived and licensed from the University of California, Los Angeles.  Mr. Fox has raised numerous rounds of capital for many types of companies, including venture capital, strategic investments, and other financings.  A master at networking, Mr. Fox has built world-class executive and advisory teams. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business. Since 2009, Mr. Fox has taught at the Founders Institute where he teaches classes on start-ups and continues to mentor young entrepreneurs.Additional Information

 

We believe that our Board represents a desirable mix of backgrounds, skills, and experiences. Below are somesubject to certain informational requirements of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Director NomineeExchange Act and in addition toaccordance therewith file reports, proxy statements and other information with the biographicalSEC. Such reports, proxy statements and other information provided above that led to the conclusion that each person should serve as one of our directors in light of our business and structure:

Mr. Titterton has been involved with our Company as a director or investor for over nineteen years. Mr. Titterton also has substantial experience with advisingare available on the strategic development of technology companies and over forty years of experienceSEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Stockholders who have questions in various aspectsregard to any aspect of the technology industry.

Mr. Berman has experiencematters discussed in development, licensing, and monetization of intellectual property as well as a broad variety of other areas including finance, acquisitions, and marketing, and has served as an officer of another publicly traded patent monetization company.

Dr. Kumar has experience in development, licensing, and monetization of intellectual property as well as a broad variety of other areas including finance, acquisitions, R&D, and marketing, and has served as a director and officer of another publicly traded patent monetization company.

Mr. Johnson has been involved with the Company as an investor for over 9 years and has over 30 years' experience in the capital markets as a result of his investment background.

Dr. Belz is a trusted advisor of world-class innovators and leading investment firms with a focus on effective management of technology development portfolios and entrepreneurial risk assessment in large organizations.

Mr. Fox is an experienced startup entrepreneur and inventor who has successfully launched a number of companies. As a result, Mr. Fox has gained experience is a broad variety of other areas including finance, research and development and marketing,

Required Vote

            In the election of directors, the six persons receiving the highest number of affirmative votes at the Meeting will be elected.

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Recommendation of the Board

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.

Current Directors and Executive Officers as of the Date of this Proxy Statement

Listed below are the names of the directors and executive officers should contact Michael Catelani, Secretary of the Company, their agesat 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250, San Jose, CA 95118.

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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our common stock beneficially owned as of the Record Date and positions held:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position with the Company

Director and/or Executive Officer Since

Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.

69

Chairman of the Board

2010

Robert A. Berman

51

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

2012

Dr. Amit Kumar

49

Director, Strategic Advisor

2012

Bruce F. Johnson

71

Director

2012

Henry P. Herms

68

Director, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President – Finance

2000

Kent B. Williams

64

Director

2012

Mr. Herms has served asby (a) each person who is known by our Chief Financial Officer and Vice President – Finance since November 2000 and as one of our Directors since August 2001. Mr. Herms was also our Chief Financial Officer from 1982 to 1987. He is also a former audit manager and CPA with the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP. He holds a B.B.A. degree from Adelphi University. Mr. Herms has a deep understanding of the financial aspects of our business. He also has substantial experience as a public accountant, which is important to the Board's ability to review our consolidated financial statements, assess potential financings and strategies and otherwise supervise and evaluate our business decisions.

Mr. Williams has served on our Board since August 21, 2012.  He has the managing member of Vista Asset Management LLC, an investment advisory firm, since 2002. He has more than 40 years' experience in the capital markets, including positions with U.S. Trust, Wood Island Associates and Merrill Lynch. In 2011, he also founded VIA Motors, a clean tech, plug-in electric vehicle company. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of San Francisco and received his M.B.A. from St. Mary's College of California and a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley.  Mr. Williams has been involved with the Company as an investor for over 13 years and has over 40 years' experience in the capital markets.

Except for Dr. Kumar and Mr. Johnson, none of our current directors or executive officers has served as a director of another public company within the past five years.

To the best of the Company's knowledge, there are no arrangements or understandings between any director, Director Nominee or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which any person was selected as a director, Director Nominee or executive officer.  There are no family relationships between any of the Company's directors, Director Nominees or executive officers.  To the Company's knowledge there have been no material legal proceedings as described in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K during the last ten years that are material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of any of the Company's directors, Director Nominees or executive officers.

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             Board of Directors and Corporate Governance

 General 

Our Board oversees the activities of our management in the handling of the business and affairs of our Company. As part of the Board's oversight responsibility, it monitors developments in the area of corporate governance, including new SEC requirements, and periodically reviews and amends, as appropriate, our governance policies and procedures.

We are not currently subject to the listing requirements of any national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system which require that our Board be comprised of a majority of "independent" directors. As described above, Mr. Fox and Dr. Belz, as well as Mr. Johnson and Mr. Titterton meet the definition of "independent" as defined by the SEC.  

Except for the period between August 21, 2012 and November 29, 2012, we have not had, and do not currently have, a separately-designated standing audit, nominating or compensation committee because we believed that, given the size of our Company, separate committees were unnecessary. The Board assumes the functions regularly held by an audit committee, compensation committee and stock option committee. Specifically, the Board oversees management's conduct of our financial reporting process, including the selection of our independent auditors and the review of the financial reports and other financial information provided by us to any governmental or regulatory body, the public or other users thereof, our systems of internal accounting and financial controls, and the annual independent audit of our financial statements. Additionally, the Board has full authority for determination of executive and director compensation.  The Board's processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive and director compensation for fiscal year 2013 are described under the heading "Compensation Discussion and Analysis." Further, the Board administers stock option plans.

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

Although we do not require separation of the offices of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, we currently have a different person serving in each such role — Mr. Titterton is our Chairman of the Board and Mr. Berman is our President and Chief Executive Officer. The decision whether to combine or separate these positions depends on what our Board deems to be in the long term interest of stockholders in light of prevailing circumstances. Mr. Titterton has served as our Chairman since July 20, 2012. Mr. Berman has served as our Chief Executive Officer since September 19, 2012. This arrangement has allowed our Chairman to lead the Board, while our Chief Executive Officer has focused primarily on managing the daily operations of the Company. The separation of duties provides strong leadership for the Board while allowing the Chief Executive Officer to be the leaderbeneficial owner of the Company, focusing on its employees and operations.

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Our Board currently consists of six directors. The Board has not appointed a lead independent director.  Due to the size of the Board, the independent directors are able to closely monitor the activitiesmore than 5% of our Company. In addition, the independentoutstanding common stock, (b) each of our directors are able to meet independently with the Company's independent registered public accounting firm without management to discuss the Company's financial statements and related audits. Therefore, the Board has determined that a lead independent director is not necessary at this time. To the extent the composition of the Board changes and/or grows in the future, the Board may reevaluate the need for a lead independent director.

Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks the Company faces, while the Boardexecutive officers, and (c) all directors and executive officers as a whole has ultimate responsibility for the Company's oversight of risk management. Our Board takes an enterprise-wide approach to risk oversight, designed to support the achievement of organizational objectives, including strategic objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance and enhance stockholder value. A fundamental part of risk oversight is not only understanding the risks a Company faces and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for the Company. As a critical part of this risk management oversight role, our Board encourages full and open communication between management and the Board. Our Board regularly reviews material strategic, operational, financial, compensation and compliance risks with management. In addition our management team regularly reports to the full Board regarding their areas of responsibility and a component of these reports is risk within the area of responsibility and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. Additional review or reporting on risk is conducted as needed or as requested by our Board.

On May 28, 2014, the Board approved the creation of an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board will fill the vacancies in each of these committees following the Meeting.

Attendance

There were 14 meetings, exclusive of action by unanimous written consent, of the Board held during fiscal year 2013. During such year, each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board.  All members of our Board who then were serving as directors attended our 2013 annual meeting of stockholders. We encourage our directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders.

Nominations of Directors

We have not designated a nominating committee or other committee performing a similar function, due to the size of our Company and Board.  Such matters are discussed by our Board as a whole. In selecting directors, the Board will consider candidates that possess qualifications and expertise that will enhance the composition of the Board, including the considerations set forth below. The considerations set forth below are not meant as minimum qualifications, but rather as guidelines in weighing all of a candidate's qualifications and expertise.

·Candidates should be individuals of personal integrity and ethical character.

·Candidates should have background, achievements, and experience that will enhance our Board. This may come from experience in areas important to our business, substantial accomplishments or prior or current associations with institutions noted for their excellence. 

·Candidates should have demonstrated leadership ability, the intelligence and ability to make independent analytical inquiries and the ability to exercise sound business judgment.

·Candidates should be free from conflicts that would impair their ability to discharge the fiduciary duties owed as a director to CopyTele and its stockholders, and we will consider directors' independence from our management and stockholders.

·Candidates should have, and be prepared to devote, adequate time and energy to the Board and its committees to ensure the diligent performance of their duties, including by attending meetings of the Board and its committees.

·Due consideration will be given to the Board's overall balance of diversity of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences, as well as age, gender and ethnicity.

·Consideration will also be given to relevant legal and regulatory requirements.group:

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership

(1)(2)(3)(4)

Percent of Class

(5)

Directors and Officers of the Company

Dr. Amit Kumar

_______

___%

3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250

San Jose, CA 95118

Bruce Johnson

_______

___%

3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250

San Jose, CA 95118

Dr. John Monahan

_______

___%

3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250

San Jose, CA 95118

Lewis H. Titterton

_______

___%

3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250

San Jose, CA 95118

Richard H. Williams

_______

___%

3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250

San Jose, CA 95118

Michael J. Catelani

_______

___%

3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250

San Jose, CA 95118

All Directors and Executive Officers as a
Group (6 persons)

_______

___%

5% Stockholders of the Company

Bruce P. Eames

_______

___%

3 Greenway Plaza, Ste. 200

Houston, TX 77046

* Less than 1%.

 

We are(1)           A beneficial owner of a security includes any person who directly or indirectly has or shares voting power and/or investment power with respect to such security or has the view that the continuing service of qualified incumbents promotes stabilityright to obtain such voting power and/or investment power within sixty (60) days.  Except as otherwise noted, each designated beneficial owner has sole voting power and continuity in the board room, contributinginvestment power with respect to the Board's ability to work as a collective body, while giving us the benefitshares of the familiarity and insight into our affairs that our directors accumulate during their tenure. Accordingly, the process of the Board for identifying nominees for directors will reflect our practice of generally re-nominating incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the Board's criteria for membership on the Board, whom the Board believes continue to make important contributions and who consent to continue their service on the Board. If the Board determines that an incumbent director consenting to re-nomination continues to be qualified and has satisfactorily performed his or her duties as director during the preceding term, and that there exist no reasons, including considerations relating to the composition and functional needs of the Board as a whole, why in the Board's view the incumbent should not be re-nominated, the Board will, absent special circumstances, generally propose the incumbent director for re-election. Although we do not have a formal policy regarding the consideration of diversity in identifying and evaluating potential director candidates, the Board does take into account the personal characteristics (gender, ethnicity and age), skills and experience, qualifications and background of current and prospective directors' diversity as one factor in identifying and evaluating potential director candidates, so that the Board, as a whole, will possess what the Board believes are appropriate skills, talent, expertise and backgrounds necessary to oversee our Company's business.common stock beneficially owned by such person.

 

If the incumbent directors are not nominated for re-election or if there is otherwise a vacancy on the Board, the Board may solicit recommendations for nominees from persons that the Board believes are likely to be familiar with qualified candidates, including from members of the Board(2)           Includes _____ shares, _____  shares, _____  shares, _____  shares, _____  shares, _____  shares and management.  We have not elected any new members to our Board since the 2013 annual meeting, however we are nominating two new board members, Dale Fox and Dr. Andrea Belz at this Meeting in order to add more independent directors to the Board.  Mr. Titterton, our Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Johnson, a non-employee director of the Board, recommended Mr. Fox and Dr. Belz as nominees for election to the Board. While the Board may also engage a professional search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates, the Board did not engage any third party to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying or evaluating the Director Nominees.  We do not have a policy with regard to the consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders.  Due to the size of our Company and Board, the Board does not believe that such a policy is necessary.

Depending on its level of familiarity with the candidates, the Board may choose to interview certain candidates that it believes may possess qualifications and expertise required for membership on the Board.  It may also gather such other information it deems appropriate to develop a well-rounded view of the candidate. Based on reports from those interviews or from Board members with personal knowledge and experience with a candidate, and on all other available information and relevant considerations, the Board will select and nominate candidates who, in its view, are most suited for membership on the Board.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a formal code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. We will provide a copy of our code of ethics to any person without charge, upon request.  For a copy of our code of ethics write to Secretary, CopyTele, Inc., 900 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747.

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), requires our directors, executive officers and ten percent stockholders to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our Common Stock with the SEC.  Directors, executive officers and ten percent stockholders are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file. Based upon a review of these filings, we believe that all required Section 16(a) fillings were made on a timely basis during fiscal year 2013.

Transactions with Related Persons

As more fully disclosed under the heading "Selling Stockholders" in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-188096, filed with the SEC on April 24, 2013, on January 25, 2013, we completed a private placement of $1,765,000 principal amount of 8% Convertible Debentures due 2015 and warrants to purchase 5,882,745_____  shares of Common Stock.  We had the option to pay any interest on the debentures in Common Stock based on the average of the closing prices of our Common Stock for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the interest payment date.  During June and July 2013, $325,000 principal amount of these debentures were converted into 2,166,775 shares of Common Stock.  During 2014, an aggregate of $1,240,000 principal amount of these debentures were converted into 8,267,080 shares of Common Stock.  The principal amount outstanding of these debentures of $200,000 was paid in full during April 2014. Robert A. Berman, the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and a director,which Dr. Amit Kumar, a consultant and director of the Company, and Bruce Johnson, a director of the Company, purchased $50,000, $100,000, and $100,000, respectively, of securities in this offering. Mr. Berman, Dr. Kumar and Mr. Johnson received 333,350 shares, 666,700 shares and 666,700 shares, respectively, upon conversion of the debentures and 21,495 shares, 42,991 shares and 42,991 shares, respectively, in payment of interest on the debentures.  Jeffery Titterton and Christopher Titterton, the adult sons ofJohn Monahan, Lewis H. Titterton, Jr. our ChairmanRichard H. Williams, Michael J. Catelani and all directors and executive officers as a group, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the Board, purchased $25,000 and $25,000, respectively, of securities in this offering.  Jeffery Titterton and Christopher Titterton have received 166,6752010 Share Incentive Plan . 

(3)           Includes _____  shares, _____  shares and 166,675_____ shares respectively, upon conversion of the debentures and 10,748 shares and 8,451 shares, respectively, in payment of interest on the debentures. 

As more fully described in "Executive Compensation - Employment and Consulting Agreements," on September 19, 2012, we entered into employment or consulting agreements with each of Robert A. Berman, the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and a director,that Dr. Amit Kumar, Lewis H. Titterton and all directors and executive officers as a consultant and directorgroup, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days upon exercise of warrants purchased by them in the Company, and John Roop, the Company's Senior Vice President of Engineering and concurrently issued to them options to purchase 16,000,000, 16,000,000 and 8,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, respectively. private placement on July 15, 2014.

 

Related Person Transaction Approval Policy

While we(4)           Includes _____  shares, _____  shares, _____  shares and _____  shares which Dr. Amit Kumar, Bruce Johnson, Lewis H. Titterton and all directors and executive officers as a group, respectively, have no written policy regarding approval of transactions between us and a related person, our Board, as matter of appropriate corporate governance, reviews and approves all such transactions,the right to the extent required by applicable rules and regulations.  Generally, management would presentacquire within 60 days pursuant to the Board for approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting any related person transactions proposed to be entered into by us.  The Board may approve the transaction if it is deemed to be in the best interests of our stockholders andoption agreements with the Company.

 

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

                The following discusses our executive compensation philosophy, decisions and practices for fiscal year 2013.  As a small company with only 7 employees and a small management team, we have implemented a simple and modest compensation structure based(5)           Based on our overall goal to ensure that the total compensation paid to our executives is fair, reasonable and competitive.Our Board deems such a simple, less formula-based compensation structure advisable and consistent with the Company's overall compensation objectives and philosophies.  Accordingly, the method_____  shares of compensation decision-making actually employed by the Company does not lend itself to extensive analytical and quantitative analysis, but rather is based on the business judgmentcommon stock outstanding as of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and our Board, as described in more detail below.

Record Date.

 

2320


 


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Philosophy and Objectives

Our philosophy towards executive compensation is to create both short-term and long-term incentives based on the following principles:

·Total compensation opportunities should be competitive. We believe that our overall compensation program should be competitive so that we can attract, motivate and retain highly qualified executives.

·Total compensation should be related to our performance.  We believe that our executives' total compensation should be linked to achieving specified financial objectives which we believe will create stockholder value.

·Total compensation should be related to executiveperformance. We believe that our executives' total compensation should reward individual performance achievements and encourage individual contributions to achieve better performance.

·Equity awards help executives think like stockholders.  We believe that our executives' total compensation should have an equity component because stock based equity awards help reinforce the executives' long-term interest in our overall performance and thereby align the interests of the executive with the interests of our stockholders.

Role of our Board of Directors

Our Board is primarily responsible for determining executive compensation and employee benefit plans for fiscal year 2013.  Our Board evaluates the performance of our Chief Executive Officer directly.  The Chief Executive Officer is not present during the Board deliberations as to his compensation.

With respect to senior management other than the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Berman, our current Chief Executive Officer, participates in the decision-making by making recommendations to the Board. After informal discussion regarding such recommendations, the Board votes on any recommended compensation changes.  Our Board does not utilize any particular formula in determining any compensation changes but instead exercises its business judgment in view of our overall compensation philosophy and objectives.

Elements of Executive Compensation

Our executive compensation consists primarily of two elements: (1) base salary and (2) stock options under our stock equity incentive plans and, when appropriate, (3) performance based bonus.  Our Board does not follow a specific set of guidelines or formulas in determining the amount and mix of compensation elements.  We seek to reward shorter-term performance through base salary and, when appropriate, performance based bonus and longer-term performance through stock options granted under our stock equity incentive plans.

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Base Salary

In setting salaries for fiscal year 2013, the Board considered several factors to help evaluate the reasonableness and competitiveness of the Company's base salaries. The Board initially determines base salary for each executive based on the executive's salary for the prior fiscal year.  In light of our transition to a company whose primary business is Patent Monetization and Patent Assertion, in considering the base salary for our new management team, we considered (a) the executive's role in such transition, (b) his level of job responsibilities, (c) the executive's experience and tenure with other companies in that business, (d) the executive's performance in helping in the (x)  monetization and assertion of the Company's existing patent portfolios, and (y) acquisition of patents and patent enforcement rights from third parties.  The Board gives no specific weight to any of the above factors so it is not possible to provide a complete qualitative and quantitative discussion linking the Company's compensation objectives and policies with the actual salaries paid to our executives.

Because the market for talented executives is extremely competitive, the Board also considers, from time to time, the form and amount of compensation paid to executives of other companies, compiled from publicly available information.  While the Company takes into account competitive market data, it does not target a specific benchmark for compensation from the other companies whose compensation it reviews. To maintain flexibility, the Company also does not target base salary at any particular percent of total compensation.  While the Board can engage compensation consultants to assist with this task, the Board did not retain any third party consultants or engaged in any formal comparison of compensation of the Company to compensation at other companies during fiscal year 2013.  Individual base salaries are reviewed annually.

Equity Based Incentives

Our use of equity compensation is driven by our goal of aligning the long-term interests of our executives with our overall performance and the interests of our stockholders. The Board believes it is important to provide our senior management with stock-based incentive compensation that increases in value in direct correlation with improvement in the performance of our Common Stock. The fundamental philosophy is to link the amount of compensation for an executive to his or her contribution to the Company's success in achieving financial and other objectives.  Equity incentives are not set at any particular percentage of total compensation.

In general, we grant stock options under stock equity incentive plans to directors, officers, and other employees upon commencement of their employment with us and periodically thereafter.We generally grant stock options at regularly scheduled Board meetings.  The option awards are granted at an exercise price equal to the closing price of Common Stock on the grant date (the date the grant is approved.)  Options for directors and officers generally vest on the date of grant or after a period ranging from 6 months to 3 years following the grant date, provided the directors or officers remain employed on the vesting date, so that such compensation is at risk of forfeiture based on the directors or officers' continued service with us. 

As with other elements of executive compensation, the determination of stock options granted were not based on complex or extensive quantitative or qualitative factors that lend themselves to substantive disclosure.  Instead, the awards granted in fiscal year 2013 were based primarily on the business judgment of the Board.

The stock equity incentive plans also provide for the award of restricted stock, although such awards have not been used in any material respect. No restricted stock was awarded during fiscal year 2013. However, the Company may issue restricted stock in the future. 

25


Shareholder Advisory Vote

At the Company's 2013 annual meeting, the stockholders approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers and further approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, that such advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company's named executive officers should occur every three years.

Other Benefits

We provide our executives with customary, broad-based benefits that are provided to all employees, including medical insurance, life, and disability insurance.  We also provide our executives with certain perquisites which are not a significant element of executive compensation.

Policy on Ownership of Stock and Options

We do not have any policy regarding levels of equity ownership (stock or options) by our executive officers or directors.

Policy on Deductibility of Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the deductibility of compensation in excess of $1 million paid to certain executive officers named in the proxy statement, unless certain requirements are met.  To maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in a manner designed to aid in retention and promote varying corporate performance objectives, the Board has not adopted a policy of meeting the Section 162(m) requirements.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Board is primarily responsible for overseeing our compensation and employee benefit plans and practices.  We do not have a compensation committee or other Board committee that performs equivalent functions.  During the last fiscal year, no officer or employee of the Company (other than officers who are also directors of the Company), nor any former officer of the Company, participated in deliberations of the Company's Board concerning executive compensation.

Executive Compensation

The following table sets forth certain information for the fiscal yearyears ended October 31, 2013,2017 and 2016, with respect to compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our currentChairman of the Board, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our former interim Chief ExecutiveOperating Officer our former Chief Executive Officer, ourand Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Engineering (the "NamedNamed Executive Officers"Officers).  No other executive officer received total compensation in excess of $100,000 during fiscal year 2013. 2017. 

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name and

Principal Position

 

 

Year

 

Salary

($)

 

Bonus

($)

Option Awards

($) (2)

All Other

Compensation

($) (3)

Total

Compensation

($)

Robert A. Berman (1)

Chief Executive Officer and Director

2013

2012

$290,000

$ 32,223

$ 50,000

$         -

$ -

$2,882,667

$         -

$         -

$ 340,000

$2,914,890

Henry P. Herms

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President- Finance and Director

2013

2012

2011

$150,000

$150,000

$129,167

$         -

$         -

$ 12,500

$         -

$ 69,219

$ 29,893

$ 16,665

$ 15,033

$ 18,508

$ 166,665

$ 234,252

$ 190,068

John Roop (1)

Senior Vice President of Engineering

2013

2012

$225,000

$ 25,000

$ 50,000

$         -

$         -

$1,441,333

$         -

$         -

$ 275,000

$1,466,333

 26


SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name and

Principal Position

 

 

Year

 

Salary

($)

 

Bonus

($)

Option Awards

($) (2)

All Other

Compensation

($) (3)

Total

Compensation

($)

Dr. Amit Kumar (1)

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

2017

2016

 

  $ 300,000

  $ 300,000

  $            -

  $ 200,000

  $ 141,938

  $ 566,896

  $   12,000

  $   12,000

  $    453,938

  $ 1,078,896

Robert A. Berman (4)

Chief Executive Officer and Director

2017

2016

  $ 228,077

  $ 300,000

  $            -

  $ 200,000

  $            -

  $ 566,896

  $ 300,000

  $            -

  $    528,077

  $ 1,066,896

Michael J. Catelani (5)

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

2017

  $ 174,561

  $           -

  $ 385,859

  $            -

  $    560,420

(1)           A portionDr. Kumar has served as the Company’s Executive Chairman of Robert A. Berman'sthe Board since August 2016.  On July 6, 2017 Dr. Kumar was appointed President and John Roop's salary and bonus, which has been earned and accrued, has been deferred.Chief Executive Officer of the Company. 

(2)           Amounts in the Option Awards column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option awards made during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2013, 20122017 and 20112016 for each Named Executive Officer in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"(“ASC) 718 and also reflects the repricing of certainoutstanding options for Dr. Kumar and Mr. Catelani on September 5, 2012. A discussion of assumptions used in6, 2017. For more information pertaining the valuation of option awards may be found in Note 2and the repricing of our options, please refer to our Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal year ended October 31, 2013 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2017.

(3)           Amounts in the All Other Compensation column reflect, for each Named Executive Officer, the sum of the incremental cost to us of all perquisites and personal benefits, which for Dr. Kumar consisted solely of auto allowancecompensation for use of a home office, and for Mr. Berman consisted solely of severance obligations related expenses for fiscal years ended October 31, 2013, 2012to his resignation on July 6, 2017.

(4)           Mr. Berman resigned his position as Chief Executive Officer and 2011.director on July 6, 2017.

(5)           Mr. Catelani has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since November 1, 2016.  On July 6, 2017, Mr. Catelani was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Company.

Employment Agreements

 

EmploymentConsulting Agreement with Dr. Amit Kumar

On September 19, 2012, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with Dr. Amit Kumar (the “Kumar Agreement”) pursuant to which Dr. Kumar agreed to provide business consulting services for an initial annual consulting fee of $120,000.  On June 15, 2015, Dr. Kumar was appointed Vice Chairman of the Company and Consulting AgreementsExecutive Chairman of Anixa Diagnostics Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.  As a result of this appointment, Dr. Kumar’s cash compensation was increased to $300,000 by the Board.  On August 23, 2016, Dr. Kumar was appointed Executive Chairman of the Company, and on July 6, 2017 Dr. Kumar was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  The terms of the Kumar Agreement still remain in effect.

If Dr. Kumar’s services are terminated by the Company or he terminates his services for any reason or no reason, the Company shall be obligated to pay to Dr. Kumar only any earned compensation and/or bonus due under the Kumar Agreement and any unpaid reasonable and necessary expenses, due to him through the date of termination.  All such payments shall be made in a lump sum immediately following termination.

 

Employment Agreement with Robert Berman

 

On September 19, 2012, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. Berman (the "Berman Agreement"“Berman Agreement”) to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  Pursuant to the Berman Agreement, Mr. Berman was to receiveinitially received an annual base salary of $290,000, provided, however that payment of his salarywhich was increased to be deferred until the Cash Milestone (as described below) was achieved. In February 2013,$300,000 by the Board elected to commence paying Mr. Berman his salary effective FebruaryNovember 1, 2013, but his deferred salary, which has been earned and accrued, has not yet been paid.  In August 2013, the Cash Milestone was achieved.2013.

 

In addition to his base salary, Mr. Berman was entitled to a cash bonus of $50,000, if the Company generates aggregate cash payments in excess of a specified amount (the "Cash Milestone") prior to September 19, 2013.  The Cash Milestone bonus, which has been earned and accrued, has not yet been paid.  Mr. Berman was also entitled to two additional cash bonuses of $50,000 if the average trading price of the Company's Common Stock exceeds two separate price targets (the "Stock Price Targets") prior to September 19, 2013, which Stock Price Targets were not achieved prior to September 19, 2013. 21

The Company also granted Mr. Berman options to purchase 16,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, with an exercise price equal $0.2175 (the average of the high and the low sales price of the Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the approval of such options by the Board). Half of the options vest in 36 equal monthly installments commencing on October 31, 2012, provided that if the Berman Agreement is terminated or constructively terminated by the Company without cause (as defined below), an additional 12 months of vesting will be accelerated and such accelerated options will become immediately exercisable. The balance of the options vest in three equal installments upon achievement of the Cash Milestone (which Cash Milestone has been achieved) and the Stock Price Targets (without regard to the 12 month period). The vesting conditions of the Stock Price Target options have been amended as described below. The options otherwise have the same terms and conditions as options granted under the Company's 2010 Share Incentive Plan (as defined below).

27


 

If Mr. Berman's employment is terminated by the Company or he terminates his employment for any reason or no reason, the Company shall be obligated to pay to Mr. Berman only any earned compensation and/or bonus due under the Berman Agreement, any unpaid reasonable and necessary expenses, and any accrued and unpaid benefits due to him in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company's benefit plans and policies including any accrued but unpaid vacation up to the cap of 20 days through the date of termination.  All such payments shall be made in a lump sum immediately following termination as required by law.

"Cause" means (i) commission of or entrance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony; (ii) conviction for engaging or having engaged in fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, a crime of moral turpitude, dishonesty, or other acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with the business affairs of the Company or its affiliates; (iii) a conviction for theft, embezzlement, or other intentional misappropriation of funds by employee from the Company or its affiliates; (iv) a conviction in connection with the willful engaging by employee in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its affiliates, monetarily or otherwise.

Employment Agreement with John Roop

 

On September 19, 2012, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement withJuly 6, 2017, Mr. Roop (the "Roop Agreement") to serveBerman resigned as Senior Vice President of Engineering of the Company.and Chief Executive Officer and as a director.  Pursuant to the Roop Agreement,terms of a separation agreement entered into on August 16, 2017 between Mr. Roop wasBerman and the Company, Mr. Berman is entitled to receive severance payments in an annual base salaryaggregate amount of $225,000, provided, however that payment of his salary was$300,000 to be deferred untilpaid in four separate tranches with the Cash Milestone (as described below) was achieved.  In February 2013, the Board elected to commence paying Mr. Roop his salary effective Februaryfinal payment occurring on June 1, 2013, but his deferred salary, which has been earned and accrued, has not yet been paid.  In August 2013, the Cash Milestone was achieved.2018.

 

In addition to his base salary, Mr. Roop was entitled to a cash bonus of $50,000, if the Company generates aggregate cash payments in excess of a specified amount (the "Cash Milestone") prior to September 19, 2013.  The Cash Milestone bonus, which has been earned and accrued, has not yet been paid.  Mr. Roop was also entitled to two additional cash bonuses of $50,000 if the average trading price of the Company's Common Stock exceeds two separate price targets (the "Stock Price Targets") prior to September 19, 2013, which Stock Price Targets were not achieved prior to September 19, 2013.

The Company also granted Mr. Roop options to purchase 8,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, with an exercise price equal $0.2175 (the average of the high and the low sales price of the Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the approval of such options by the Board).  Half of the options vest in 36 equal monthly installments commencing on October 31, 2012, provided that if the Roop Agreement is terminated or constructively terminated by the Company without cause (as defined below), an additional 12 months of vesting will be accelerated and such accelerated options will become immediately exercisable.  The balance of the options vest in three equal installments upon achievement of the Cash Milestone (which Cash Milestone has been achieved) and the Stock Price Targets (without regard to the 12 month period).  The vesting conditions of the Stock Price Target options have been amended as described below.  The options otherwise have the same terms and conditions as options granted under the Company's 2010 Share Incentive Plan (as defined below).

If Mr. Roop's employment is terminated by the Company or he terminates his employment for any reason or no reason, the Company shall be obligated to pay to Mr. Roop only any earned compensation and/or bonus due under the Roop Agreement, any unpaid reasonable and necessary expenses, and any accrued and unpaid benefits due to him in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company's benefit plans and policies including any accrued but unpaid vacation up to the cap of 20 days through the date of termination.  All such payments shall be made in a lump sum immediately following termination as required by law.

28


"Cause" means (i) commission of or entrance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony; (ii) conviction for engaging or having engaged in fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, a crime of moral turpitude, dishonesty, or other acts of willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with the business affairs of the Company or its affiliates; (iii) a conviction for theft, embezzlement, or other intentional misappropriation of funds by employee from the Company or its affiliates; (iv) a conviction in connection with the willful engaging by employee in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its affiliates, monetarily or otherwise.

Amendment to Employment, Consulting and Stock Option Agreements

Robert A. Berman's and John Roop's employment agreements include the grant of certain stock options.  On November 8, 2013, in light of the cost and expense of valuing the unvested portion of the options on a quarterly basis for financial reporting purposes, the Board approved an amendment to the Stock Price Target stock options awarded on September 19, 2012 (the "Option Awards") to Messrs. Berman and Roop.  The amendment modifies the Option Awards' vesting conditions to provide that the unvested portion of the stock options will vest in 23 consecutive monthly installments, commencing on November 30, 2013 through September 30, 2015.  Prior to the amendment, the Option Awards had provided that the stock options would vest if certain milestone targets were met.  All the other terms and conditions of the Option Awards remain unchanged.

Stock Options

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to unexercised stock options held by the Named Executive Officers outstanding on October 31, 2013:2017: 

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END TABLE

Option Awards

Name

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)


Exercisable

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)

Un -Exercisable
Un-Exercisable

Option Exercise Price


($)

Option Expiration Date

Robert A. BermanDr. Amit Kumar

2,888,894(1)    320,000

2,666,667(2)    106,667

    213,333

          40,000(1)

        111,111(2)

5,111,106(1)

 

5,333,333(3)

   88,889(2)

$0.21750.67

$0.21750.67

$0.21750.67

$0.67

$0.67

9/19/2022

9/19/2022

9/19/2022

11/8/2023

2/18/2026

Henry P. HermsRobert A. Berman

5,000    320,000

45,000    106,667

70,000    213,333

100,000          40,000(1)

100,000

50,000

50,000

75,000

100,000

100,000

108,341(4)        200,000(3)

 

 

 

 

 

$2.575

$2.575

$2.575

$2.575

191,659(4)$2.920

$0.1457/6/2022

$0.8107/6/2022

$0.1457/6/2022

$0.6507/6/2022

$0.520

$0.145

$0.700

$0.145

$0.145

$0.370

$0.235

5/10/2014

5/10/2014

10/25/2014

2/17/2015

10/30/2015

5/31/2016

11/20/2016

11/11/2017

10/7/2019

6/01/2021

9/19/2022

John RoopMichael J. Catelani

1,444,447(5)

1,333,334(6)

2,555,553(5)  50,000(4)

200,000(5)

 

2,666,666(7)

$0.21750.67

$0.2175

$0.21750.67

9/19/202211/15/2026

9/19/2022

9/19/20227/6/2027

29


 

(1)           Options vestvested and became exercisable in 36 consecutive monthly installments, beginning OctoberDecember 31, 20122013 and continuing through SeptemberNovember 30, 2015.2016.

(2)           Options vested upon achievement of the Cash Milestone.

(3)        Options were to vest in two equal installments upon achievement of the Stock Price Targets.  On November 8, 2013, the vesting conditions were modified by the Board to provide that the unvested portion of the stock options will vest in 23 consecutive monthly installments, commencing on November 30, 2013 through September 30, 2015. 

(4)        Options vest and becamebecome exercisable in 36 consecutive monthly installments, beginning OctoberMarch 31, 20122016 and continuing through September 30, 2015.February 28, 2019.

(5)

(3)           Options were to vest and becamebecome exercisable in 36 consecutive monthly installments, beginning OctoberMarch 31, 20122016 and continuing through February 28, 2019.  However, pursuant to a separation agreement between the Company and Mr. Berman, the options vested and became exercisable upon Mr. Berman’s resignation on July 6, 2017.

(4)           Options vest and become exercisable in one installment of 16,666 on November 1, 2017 and the remainder in eight consecutive quarterly installments, beginning January 31, 2018 and continuing through October 31, 2019.

(5)           Options vest and become exercisable in one installment of 50,000 on July 6, 2018 and the remainder in twelve consecutive quarterly installments, beginning October 31, 2018 and continuing through July 31, 2021.

The following table summarizes stock option grants during fiscal year 2017.

GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS TABLE

Name

Grant Date

All Other Option

Awards: Number

of Securities

Underlying

Options

(#)

Exercise

Price of

Option

Awards

($)

Grant Date Fair

Value (1)

($)

Michael J. Catelani

11/15/16

50,000

$0.67

$237,125

 

7/6/17

200,000

$0.67

$187,571

(1)           Grant date fair value reflects the repricing of options on September 30, 2015.6, 2017

(6)        Options vested upon achievement

No stock options were exercised by Named Officers during fiscal 2017.

22


Option Re-Pricing

On September 6, 2017, the compensation committee of the Cash Milestone.

(7)        Options wereCompany re-priced certain issued and outstanding stock options to vestpurchase in two equal installments upon achievementthe aggregate 2,029,600 shares of Common Stock for all of the Stock Price Targets.  On November 8, 2013,current officers, directors and employees of the vesting conditions were modifiedCompany (the “Re-Priced Options”) pursuant to the authority granted to the compensation committee by the Board to provide that the unvested portionBoard.  The new exercise price of the Re-Priced Options is $0.67, the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock options will vest in 23 consecutive monthly installments, commencing on November 30, 2013 through September 30, 2015.6, 2017. 

 

There were noAll other terms of the previously granted Re-Priced Options remain the same, including without limitation, the number of shares underlying the options granted, the vesting periods of the options, and the expiration dates of the options.  

The Company recorded additional stock-based compensation expense resulting from the incremental value of the fair value of the Re-Priced Options compared to the fair value of the original options immediately prior to the re-pricing of approximately $261,000 in fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

The following stock option grants ofand related stock optionsoption agreements issued to the Company’s Named Executive Officers during fiscal year 2013.and directors were affected by the re-pricing:

 

There were no stock options exercised during fiscal year 2013 by Named Executive Officers.

Name

# of Shares

Old Option
 Price

New Option Price

Expiration
 Date

Dr. Amit Kumar

320,000

106,667

213,333

  40,000

200,000

$2.575

$2.575

$2.575

$2.575

$2.92

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

9/19/22

9/19/22

9/19/22

11/8/23

2/18/26

Dr. John Monahan

    6,000

  12,000

$3.13

$5.30

$0.67

$0.67

8/23/26

1/3/27

Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.

    2,400

  30,000

  16,000

  40,000

120,000

  16,000

  16,000

  16,000

    6,000

$2.575

$2.575

$2.575

$2.575

$2.575

$2.575

$2.575

$2.92

$0.82

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

11/30/17

9/19/22

12/31/22

2/15/23

11/8/23

12/31/23

1/2/25

1/14/26

7/17/27

Dr. Arnold Baskies

    6,000

  12,000

$3.13

$5.30

$0.67

$0.67

8/23/26

1/3/27

Dale Fox

    6,000

  12,000

  12,000

  12,000

$2.575

$2.575

$2.92

$5.30

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

$0.67

8/8/24

1/2/25

1/14/26

1/3/27

Michael J. Catelani

  50,000

200,000

$4.85

$0.96

$0.67

$0.67

11/15/26

7/6/27

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

 

Robert A. BermanDr. Amit Kumar

 

As more fully described in "Employment Agreement with Robert Berman," if Mr. Berman is terminated without cause, an additional 12 monthsOptions granted Dr. Kumar on February 18, 2016 provide for the vesting of vestingthe unvested portion of his options willto be accelerated and such accelerated options willto become immediately exercisable.  The intrinsic value of such options would be $-0-, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 2,666,664 options (being the number of options granted to him on September 19, 2012 that would be accelerated) (b) an amount equal to the excess of the (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2013 of $0.195 and (y) the options' exercise price of $0.2175 per share. 

In addition to the acceleration of the options,exercisable if Mr. Berman's employment is terminated by the Company or he terminates his employment for any reason or no reason, the Company shall be obligated to pay to Mr. Berman only any earned compensation and/or bonus due under the Berman Agreement, any unpaid reasonable and necessary expenses, and any accrued and unpaid benefits due to him in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company's benefit plans and policies including any accrued but unpaid vacation up to the cap of 20 days through the date of termination (which accrued and unpaid benefits would have a maximum value of $23,077).

John Roop

As more fully described in "Employment Agreement with John Roop," if Mr. RoopDr. Kumar is terminated without cause an additional 12 months of vesting of his options will be accelerated and such accelerated options will become immediately exercisable.  The intrinsic value of such options would be $-0-, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 1,333,332 options (being the number of options granted to him on September 19, 2012 that would be accelerated options by (b) an amount equal to the excess of the (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2013 of $0.195 and (y) the options' exercise price of $0.2175 per share. 

   30


In addition to the acceleration of the options, if Mr. Roop's employment is terminated by the Company or he terminates his employment for any reason or no reason, the Company shall be obligated to pay to Mr. Roop only any earned compensation and/or bonus due under the Roop Agreement, any unpaid reasonable and necessary expenses, and any accrued and unpaid benefits due to him in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company's benefit plans and policies including any accrued but unpaid vacation up to the cap of 20 days through the date of termination (which accrued and unpaid benefits would have a maximum value of $ 17,654)

Henry P. Herms

            Mr. Herms' outstanding unvested stock option awards granted under the 2010 Share Incentive Plan would immediately vest and become exercisable upon a change in control as defined below.  The intrinsic value of Mr. Herms' outstanding options granted on February 18, 2016 would be $-0-,$122,667, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 191,65988,889 options (being the unvested portionnumber of options granted to him on September 19, 2012February 18, 2016 that he held on October 31, 2013)would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of the (x) our closing share price on October 31, 20132017 of $0.195$2.05 and (y) the options'options’ exercise price of $0.235$0.67 per share.

Michael J. Catelani

Options granted Mr. Catelani on July 6, 2017 provide for the vesting of the unvested portion of his options to be accelerated and such accelerated options to become immediately exercisable if Mr. Catelani is terminated without cause or upon a change in control as defined below.  The intrinsic value of options granted on July 6, 2017 would be $276,000, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 200,000 options (being the number of options granted to him on July 6, 2017 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2017 of $2.05 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $0.67 per share.

23


 

Under the 2010 Share Incentive Plan, "change“change in control"control” means:

 

·Change in Ownership:  A change in ownership of the Company occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, excluding the acquisition of additional stock by a person or more than one person acting as a group who is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company.

 

·Change in Effective Control:  A change in effective control of the Company occurs on the date that either:

o Any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; or

 

o   A·         a majority of the members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board before the date of the appointment or election; provided, that this paragraph will apply only to the Company if no other corporation is a majority shareholder.

 

·Change in Ownership of Substantial Assets:  A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company'sCompany’s assets occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of the assets of the Company immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions.  For this purpose, "gross“gross fair market value"value” means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

  31

 


It is the intent that this definition be construed consistent with the definition of "Change“Change of Control"Control” as defined under Code Section 409A and the applicable treasury regulations, as amended from time to time.

Director'sDirector’s Compensation

 

There is no present arrangement for cash compensation of directors for services in that capacity.�� Under the CopyTele, Inc. 2010 Share Incentive Plan (the "2010 Share Incentive Plan"), each non-employee director was entitled to receive nonqualified stock options to purchase 60,000 shares of Common Stock upon their election to the Board and 60,000 shares of Common Stock at the time of each annual meeting of our stockholders at which they are elected to the Board.  Accordingly, each of Messrs. Lewis H. Titterton Jr., Bruce F. Johnson and Kent B. Williams received such an award upon re-election to our Board at our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders on November 30, 2012.  In addition, the Board awarded Mr. Williams an option to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock on November 30, 2012 in recognition of his efforts to identify and bring on the new management team and on February 15, 2013, the Board approved a grant to Mr. Titterton Jr. of a stock option to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock in compensation for his service as Chairman of the Board.

On March 28, 2013, the Board approved an increase in the annual stock option grant to non-employee directors and granted Messrs. Titterton Jr., Johnson and Williams non-qualified stock options to purchase 400,000, 300,000 and 300,000 shares of our Common Stock, respectively. These stock options (i) vested in four equal installments on March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013, September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, (ii) will terminate on December 31, 2022 and (iii) have an exercise price of $0.195.

Consistent with the non-employee director compensation approved on March 28, 2013 for calendar year 2013, on November 8, 2013, the Board approved an amendment to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan to provide that on January 1st of each year commencing on January 1, 2014, each non-employee director (a "Director Participant"Director Participant) of the Company at that time shall automatically be granted a 10 year nonqualified stock option to purchase 300,00012,000 shares of Common Stockcommon stock (or 400,00016,000 in the case of the Chairman of the Board to the extent he qualifies as a Director Participant), with an exercise price equal to the closing price on the date of grant, that will vest in four equal quarterly installments in the year of grant.  In addition, each person who is a Director Participant and joins the Board after January 1 of any year, shall be granted on the date such person joins the Board, a nonqualified stock option to purchase 300,00012,000 shares of Common Stockcommon stock (or 400,00016,000 in the case of the Chairman of the Board) pro-rated based upon the number of calendar quarters remaining in the calendar year in which such person joins the Board (rounded up for partial quarters).  In addition to the foregoing, Dr. Monahan and Mr. Titterton, and in lieu of the foregoing, Messrs. Johnson and Williams, were each granted a nonqualified stock option to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock on September 22, 2017.  Further, on September 22, 2017, Mr. Williams was granted an additional nonqualified stock option to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock. 

 

Our employee directors, Dr. Amit Kumar and Robert A. Berman, and Henry P. Herms, did not receive any additional compensation for services provided as a director during fiscal year 2013.2017.  The following table sets forth compensation of Messrs.Bruce F. Johnson, Dr. John Monahan, Lewis H. Titterton, JohnsonJr., and Richard H. Williams, our non-employee directors, and Dr. Arnold Baskies and Dale Fox, our former non-employee directors, for fiscal year 2013:2017:

 

DIRECTORS COMPENSATION

Name

Option Awards

($) (1)

DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION

 

 

Name

Option Awards

($) (1)

All Other

Compensation

($) (2)

Total

Compensation

($)

Bruce F. Johnson (3)     

$   94,722

$ 113,500

$ 208,222

Dr. John Monahan

$ 150,195

$ 113,500

$ 263,695

Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.

$ 137,255

$ 113,500

$ 250,755

Richard H. Williams (3)

$ 189,444

$ 113,500

$ 302,944

Dr. Arnold Baskies (3)

$   79,109

$            -

$   79,109

Dale Fox (3)

$   58,739

$            -

$   58,739

 

Bonus

($)

All Other

Compensation

($)

Lewis H. Titterton Jr.

$268,572

-

-

Bruce F. Johnson

$ 56,562

-

-

Kent B. Williams

$230,562

-

-

(1)           Amounts in the Option Awards column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option awards made during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013,2017, in accordance with ASC 718. 718 and also reflects the repricing of outstanding options for Drs. Monahan and Baskies and Messrs. Titterton and Fox on September 6, 2017.  See the section entitled “Option Re-Pricing” above.  A discussion of assumptions used in valuation of option awards may be found in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal year ended October 31, 20132017, included elsewhere in ourthis Annual Report on Form 10-K.  At October 31, 2013, Messrs.Titterton Jr.,2017, Bruce Johnson, Dr. John Monahan, Lewis Titterton and Richard Williams held unexercised stock options to purchase 2,210,000, 420,000100,400, 68,000, 310,000 and 2,170,000100,000 shares respectively, of our Common Stock.

  32

PROPOSAL 2 common stock.
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE
COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR FISCAL 2014

Introduction

On May 28, 2014, the Board appointed the firm of Haskell & White LLP to serve as the Company's independent auditors for our fiscal year ending October 31, 2014. Stockholders will be asked to ratify Board's appointment of the Auditor to serve as our independent auditors. The Board is directly responsible for appointing the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. The Board is not bound by the outcome of this vote but will consider these voting results when selecting the Company's independent auditor for fiscal year 2015.

The Auditor has been our auditor since May 6, 2013. Prior to their appointment as the Auditor, KPMG LLP ("KPMG") served as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG served as the Company's auditor for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 until KPMG was dismissed by the Board. During the years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 and through the subsequent interim period to May 6, 2013, there were no (1) disagreements with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports, and (2) reportable events. KPMG's audit reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except that KPMG's report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 contained a separate paragraph stating that the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations, has negative working capital, and has a shareholders' deficiency that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

 

During(2)           On September 22, 2017, each non-employee director was awarded 50,000 shares of common stock under the years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 and through2010 Share Incentive Plan.  The closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date hereof, neitherof the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has consultedaward was $2.27.  Amounts in the Auditor with respect to (i)All Other Compensation column represent the applicationmarket value of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be renderedshares on the Company's financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that the Auditor concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to an accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event (each as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) and (v) of Regulation S-K.date they were awarded.

 

Neither a representative of the Auditor nor a representative from KPMG is expected to be present at the Meeting.(3)           Dr. Baskies and Mr. Fox resigned as directors, and Messrs. Johnson and Williams became directors, on September 22, 2017.

 

Fees24


 

Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed by the Auditor for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements during the years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012 and review of the financial information included in our Forms 10-Q for the respective periods amounted to $109,330 and $0, respectively. The above amounts include interim procedures and audit fees, as well as attendance at audit committee meetings.

 33


Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed by the Auditor for audit-related services rendered during the year ended October 31, 2013 were $109,330.  The aggregate fees billed by KPMG for audit-related services rendered during the years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012 were $291,000 and $270,000, respectively.ANNEX A

 

Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed by the Auditor for professional services rendered for tax compliance during the year ended October 31, 2013 were $0. The aggregate fees billed by KPMG for professional services rendered for tax compliance during the years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012 were $0 and $0, respectively.CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

All Other Fees. The aggregate fees billed by the Auditor for all other fees, including Auditors review and consent on registration statements filed with the SEC as well as other relevant services, during the year ended October 31, 2013 were $0. The aggregate fees billed by KPMG for all other fees, including KPMG's review and consent on registration statements filed with the SEC as well as other relevant services during the years ended October 31, 2013 and 2012 were $79,000 and $0, respectively. The KPMG fees during fiscal year 2013 represent fees for services rendered in connection with our registration statement on Form S-1.

Our Board has determined that the services provided by the Auditor are compatible with maintaining the independence of the Auditor as our independent registered public accounting firm.OF ITUS CORPORATION

 

The Board has established pre-approval policiesundersigned, for the purposes of amending the Certificate of Incorporation of ITUS Corporation (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and procedures pursuant to which the Board approved the foregoing audit, taxexisting under and non-audit services provided by the Auditor in 2013. Consistent with the Audit Committee's responsibility for engaging our independent auditors, all audit and permitted non-audit services require pre-approval by the full Board. Fee estimates for these services are approved by the Chairmanvirtue of the Board based on information provided by our management.General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify that:

 

Required VoteFIRST: The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) duly adopted in accordance with Section 141(f) of the DCGL on January 25, 2018, a resolution proposing and declaring advisable the following amendment to replace Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation of said Corporation:

 

Ratification“FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty eight million twenty thousand (48,020,000), of which forty eight million (48,000,000) shall be Common Stock of the appointmentpar value of $0.01 per share and twenty thousand (20,000) shall be Preferred Stock of the par value of $100 per share. The 20,000 shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of such series to have such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications and limitations or restrictions as are stated and expressed in the resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided. Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Auditor asBoard of Directors to establish and designate one or more series of Preferred Stock and to fix the Company's independent registered public accounting firmrelative rights, preferences and limitations of each series, including without limitation:

1.    The number of shares to constitute such series and the distinctive designations thereof;

2.    The dividend rate to which such shares shall be entitled and the restrictions, limitations and conditions upon the payment of such dividends, whether dividends shall be cumulative, the date or dates from which dividends (if cumulative) shall accumulate and the dates on which dividends (if declared) shall be payable;

3.    Whether or not the shares of such series shall be redeemable and, if so, the terms, limitations and restrictions with respect to such redemption, including without limitation the manner of selecting shares for redemption if less than all shares are to be redeemed, and the fiscal year ending October 31, 2014 requiresamount, if any, in addition to any accrued dividends thereon, which the affirmative voteholders of shares of such series shall be entitled to receive upon the redemption thereof, which amount may vary at different redemption dates and may be different with respect to shares redeemed through the operation of any purchase, retirement or sinking fund and with respect to shares otherwise redeemed;

4.    The amount in addition to any accrued dividends thereon which the holders of shares of such series shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, which amount may vary at different dates and may vary depending on whether such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is voluntary or involuntary;

5.    Whether or not the shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a majoritypurchase, retirement or sinking fund and, if so, the terms, limitations and restrictions with respect thereto, including without limitation whether such purchase, retirement or sinking fund shall be cumulative or non—cumulative, the extent to and the manner in which such fund shall be applied to the purchase, retirement or redemption of the shares of Common Stock voted in personsuch series for retirement or by proxy at this Meeting.to other corporate purposes and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

 

Recommendation of the Board

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT BY THE BOARD OF HASKELL & WHITE LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2014.

34


PROPOSAL 3
Reverse stock split proposal

Introduction

On May 28, 2014, at a meeting of our Board, the Board acted unanimously to adopt the Reverse Split Amendment to Article FOURTH of our Certificate of Incorporation effecting a Reverse Split of our Common Stock at a ratio of between one-for-two and one-for-twenty five with such ratio to be determined at the sole discretion of the Board and with such Reverse Split to be effected at such time and date, if at all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The Board is now asking you to approve this Reverse Split Amendment.

Effecting the Reverse Split requires that Article FOURTH of our Certificate of Incorporation be amended to include a reference to the Reverse Split. The additional text added to Article FOURTH is attached as Annex A to this Proxy Statement. If approved, the Reverse Split Amendment will be effective upon the filing of such amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation in the form attached as Annex A with the Secretary of State of Delaware with such filing to occur, if at all, at the sole discretion of the Board.

If the Board determines to effect the Reverse Split, the intent is to increase the stock price of our Common Stock, which is currently trading on the OTCQB, to a level sufficiently above the minimum bid price requirement that is required for initial listing on the Exchanges such that the Board, at its sole discretion, may apply for initial listing on either of the Exchanges. Upon determination by the Board that it will pursue initial listing on either Exchange and the stock price of our Common Stock is trading below such minimum bid price requirement, the Board will file the Reverse Split Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware.

One principal effect of the Reverse Split would be to decrease the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock. Except for de minimus adjustments that may result from the treatment of fractional shares as described below, the Reverse Split will6.    Whether or not have any dilutive effect on our stockholders since each stockholder would hold the same percentage of our Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Reverse Split as such stockholder held immediately prior to the Reverse Split. The relative voting and other rights that accompany the shares of Common Stock wouldsuch series shall have conversion privileges and, if so, prices or rates of conversion and the method, if any, of adjusting the same;

7.    The voting powers, if any, of such series; and

8.    Any other relative rights, preferences and limitations thereof as shall not be affected by the Reverse Split. The table below sets forth the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding before and after the Reverse Split based on 220,357,190 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date.

 

Prior to the
Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
two Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
five Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
ten Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
fifteen Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
twenty Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
twenty five Reverse Split

Aggregate Number of Shares of Common Stock

220,357,190

110,178,595

44,071,438

22,035,719

14,690,479

11,017,860

8,814,288

Although the Reverse Split will not have any dilutive effect on our stockholders, the proportion of shares owned by our stockholders relative to the number of shares authorized for issuance will decrease because the Reverse Split does not change the current authorized number of shares of Common Stock (600,000,000 shares). The remaining authorized shares may be used for various purposes, including, without limitation, raising capital, providing equity incentives to employees, officers or directors, effecting stock dividends, establishing strategic relationshipsinconsistent with other companies and expanding our business through the acquisition of other businesses or products. We do not currently have any plans, proposals or arrangements to issue any of the newly available authorized shares that result from the Reverse Split for any purposes. In order to support our projected need for additional equity capital and to provide flexibility to raise the capital as necessary, our Board believes the number of shares of Common Stock should be maintained at 600,000,000 shares.this Article.”

 

SECOND: The Reverse Split is not part of a broader plan to take us private.

  35


Reasons for the Reverse Split

The Board of Director's primary objective in proposing the Reverse Split is to enable the Board, if necessary or if the Board otherwise desires, to raise the per share trading price of our Common Stock, which is currently trading only on the OTCQB, to allow for a listing of our Common Stock on one of the Exchanges. Upon receiving stockholder approval, the Board may, at its own discretion, file the Reverse Split Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware. Thereafter, the Board may, at its sole discretion, begin the initial listing application process on either Exchange.

Our Board has determined that by increasing the market price per share of our Common Stock, we would meet the stock price element of the initial listing requirements of each of the Exchanges and our Common Stock could be initially listed on one of the Exchanges. Our Board concluded that the liquidity and marketability of our Common Stock may be adversely affected if it is not quoted on a national securities exchange as investors can find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of, our Common Stock. Our Board believes that current and prospective investors may view an investment in our Common Stock more favorably if our Common Stock is quoted on one of the Exchanges.

Our Board also has confidence that the Reverse Split and any resulting increase in the per share price of our Common Stock should enhance the acceptability and marketability of our Common Stock to the financial community and investing public. Many institutional investors have policies prohibiting them from holding lower-priced stocks in their portfolios, which reduces the number of potential buyers of our Common Stock, although we have not been told by them that is the reason for not investing in our Common Stock. Additionally, analysts at many brokerage firms are reluctant to recommend lower-priced stocks to their clients or monitor the activity of lower-priced stocks. Brokerage houses frequently have internal practices and policies that discourage individual brokers from dealing in lower-priced stocks. Further, because brokers' commissions on lower-priced stock generally represent a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions on higher priced stock, investors in lower-priced stocks pay transaction costs which are a higher percentage of their total share value, which may limit the willingness of individual investors and institutions to purchase our Common Stock.

We cannot assure you that the Board will ultimately determine to effect the Reverse Split or if effected, that the Reverse Split will have any of the desired effects described above. More specifically, we cannot assure you that after the Reverse Split the market price of our Common Stock will increase proportionately to reflect the ratio for the Reverse Split, that the market price of our Common Stock will not decrease to its pre-split level, that our market capitalization will be equal to the market capitalization before the Reverse Split, or that we will be initially listed on one of the Exchanges, or once initially listed, that we will be able to maintain such listing.

Requirements for Listing on Exchanges

In order to initially list our Common Stock on either of the Exchanges, among other requirements which have or will all be satisfied, our Common Stock must maintain a minimum bid price of at least $3.00 (or at least $2.00 if certain listing standards are met). Our Board has considered the potential advantages to us if our Common Stock is listed on one of the Exchanges and has concluded that even though the desired effects cannot be assured, it is in the best interests of our Company and our stockholders to effect the Reverse Split to help attain a $3.00 (or $2.00 if certain listing standards are met) bid price and ensure compliance with the listing requirements of the Exchanges.

 36


Potential Disadvantages of the Reverse Split

As noted above, the principal purpose of the Reverse Split would be to help increase the per share market price of our Common Stock by up to a factor of twenty five. We cannot assure you, however, that the Reverse Split will accomplish this objective for any meaningful period of time. While we expect that the reduction in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock will increase the market price of our Common Stock, we cannot assure you that the Reverse Split will increase the market price of our Common Stock by an equivalent multiple, or result in any permanent increase in the market price of our Common Stock. The price of our Common Stock is dependent upon many factors, including our business and financial performance, general market conditions and prospects for future success. If the per share market price does not increase proportionately as a result of the Reverse Split, then the value of our Company as measured by our stock capitalization will be reduced, perhaps significantly.

The number of shares held by each individual stockholder would be reduced if the Reverse Split is implemented. This will increase the number of stockholders who hold less than a "round lot," or 100 shares. This has two disadvantages. First, each of the Exchanges requires that we have a certain number of round lot stockholders to be initially listed (the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules require that we have 300 round lot stockholders and the NYSE MKT LLC requires that we have 400 round lot stockholders). Second, the transaction costs to stockholders selling "odd lots" are typically higher on a per share basis. Consequently, the Reverse Split could increase the transaction costs to existing stockholders in the event they wish to sell all or a portion of their position.

Although our Board believes that the decrease in the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as a consequence of the Reverse Split and the anticipated increase in the market price of our Common Stock could encourage interest in our Common Stock and possibly promote greater liquidity for our stockholders, such liquidity could also be adversely affected by the reduced number of shares outstanding after the Reverse Split.

Effecting the Reverse Split

Upon receipt of stockholder approval for the Reverse Split Amendment, if our Board concludes that it is in the best interests of our Company and our stockholders to effect the Reverse Split, the Reverse Split Amendment will be filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware. The actual timing of the filing of the Reverse Split Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware to effect the Reverse Split will be determined by our Board. In addition, if for any reason our Board deems it advisable to do so, the Reverse Split may be abandoned at any time prior to the filing of the Reverse Split Amendment, without further action by our stockholders. In addition, our Board may deem it advisable to effect the Reverse Split even if the price of our Common Stock is above $3.00 at the time the Reverse Split is to be effected. The Reverse Split will be effective as of the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware (the "Effective Time"). 

Upon the filing of the Reverse Split Amendment, without further action on our part or our stockholders, the outstanding shares of Common Stock held by stockholders of record as of the Effective Time would be converted into a lesser number of shares of Common Stock based on a Reverse Split ratio as determined by the Board. For example, if you presently hold 1,500 shares of our Common Stock, you would hold 750 shares of our Common Stock following the Reverse Split if the ratio is one-for-two or you would hold 60 shares of our Common Stock if the ratio is one-for-twenty five.

37


Effect on Outstanding Shares, Options and Certain Other Securities

If the Reverse Split is implemented, the number of shares our Common Stock owned by each stockholder will be reduced in the same proportion as the reduction in the total number of shares outstanding, such that the percentage of our Common Stock owned by each stockholder will remain unchanged except for any de minimus change resulting from rounding up to the nearest number of whole shares so that we are not obligated to issue cash in lieu of any fractional shares that such stockholder would have received as a result of the Reverse Split. The number of shares of our Common Stock that may be purchased upon exercise of outstanding options or other securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of our Common Stock, and the exercise or conversion prices for these securities, will also be ratably adjusted in accordance with their terms as of the Effective Time.

 

Prior to the
Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
two Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
five Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
ten Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
fifteen Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
twenty Reverse Split

Assuming a one-for-
twenty five Reverse Split

Warrants

18,628,281

9,314,141

3,725,656

1,862,829

1,241,885

931,414

745,131

Plan Options

26,827,845

13,413,923

5,365,569

2,682,785

1,788,523

1,341,392

1,073,114

Non-Plan Options

44,500,000

22,250,000

8,900,000

4,450,000

2,966,667

2,225,000

1,780,000

Convertible Debentures

18,498,943

9,249,472

3,699,789

1,849,895

1,233,263

924,947

739,958

Effect on Registration and Stock Trading

Our Common Stock is currently registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and we are subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act. The proposed Reverse Split will not affect the registration of our Common Stock.

If the proposed Reverse Split is implemented and our application for initial listing is otherwise accepted on either of the Exchanges, we will request that our Common Stock be initially listed under the symbol "COPY," however we cannot guarantee that the Exchanges will permit our use of "COPY." If "COPY" is not available to us, we will announce our new symbol as soon as practicable.

Fractional Shares; Exchange of Stock Certificates

Our Board does not currently intend to issue fractional shares in connection with the Reverse Split. Therefore, we do not expect to issue certificates representing fractional shares. In lieu of any fractional shares, we will issue to stockholders of record who would otherwise hold a fractional share because the number of shares of Common Stock they hold before the Reverse Split is not evenly divisible by the Reverse Split ratio that number of shares of Common Stock as rounded up to the nearest whole share. For example, if a stockholder holds 150.25 shares of Common Stock following the Reverse Split, that stockholder will receive certificate representing 151 shares of Common Stock. No stockholders will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares.

As of the Record Date, we had 1,151 holders of record of our Common Stock (although we have significantly more beneficial holders). We do not expect the Reverse Split and the rounding up of fractional shares to whole shares to result in a significant reduction in the number of record holders. We presently do not intend to seek any change in our status as a reporting company for federal securities law purposes, either before or after the Reverse Split.

38


            On or after the Effective Time, we will mail a letter of transmittal to each stockholder. Each stockholder will be able to obtain a certificate evidencing his, her or its post-Reverse Split shares only by sending the exchange agent (who will be the Company's transfer agent) the stockholder's old stock certificate(s), together with the properly executed and completed letter of transmittal and such evidence of ownership of the shares as we may require. Stockholders will not receive certificates for post-Reverse Split shares unless and until their old certificates are surrendered. Stockholders should not forward their certificates to the exchange agent until they receive the letter of transmittal, and they should only send in their certificates with the letter of transmittal. The exchange agent will send each stockholder, if elected in the letter of transmittal, a new stock certificate after receipt of that stockholder's properly completed letter of transmittal and old stock certificate(s). A stockholder that surrenders his, her or its old stock certificate(s) but does not elect to receive a new stock certificate in the letter of transmittal will be deemed to have requested to hold that stockholder's shares electronically in book-entry form with our transfer agent.

Certain of our registered holders of Common Stock hold some or all of their shares electronically in book-entry form with our transfer agent. These stockholders do not have stock certificates evidencing their ownership of our Common Stock. They are, however, provided with a statement reflecting the number of shares registered in their accounts. If a stockholder holds registered shares in book-entry form with our transfer agent, the stockholder may return a properly executed and completed letter of transmittal.

Stockholders who hold shares in street name through a nominee (such as a bank or broker) will be treated in the same manner as stockholders whose shares are registered in their names, and nominees will be instructed to effect the Reverse Split for their beneficial holders. However, nominees may have different procedures and stockholders holding shares in street name should contact their nominees.

Stockholders will not have to pay any service charges in connection with the exchange of their certificates.

Authorized Shares

If and when our Board elects to effect the Reverse Split, the authorized number of shares of our Common Stock will remain at 600,000,000. Accordingly, there will be no reduction in the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock in proportion to the Reverse Split ratio. As a result, the proportion of shares owned by our stockholders relative to the number of shares authorized for issuance will decrease and the additional authorized shares of Common Stock will be available for issuance at such times and for such purposes as our Board may deem advisable without further action by our stockholders, except as required by applicable laws and regulations. If our Common Stock are initially listed on one of the Exchanges, stockholder approval must be obtained, under applicable Nasdaq and NYSE MKT rules, prior to the issuance of shares for certain purposes, including the issuance of Common Stock equal to or greater than 20% of our then outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with a private refinancing or an acquisition or merger, unless an exemption is available from such approval. Such an exemption would be available if our Audit Committee authorized the filing of a prior written application with Nasdaq or the NYSEMKT to waive the stockholder vote requirement if it believed the delay associated with securing such vote would seriously jeopardize our financial viability and Nasdaq or the NYSE MKT granted us such an exemption.

The Reverse Split will have no effect on our authorized preferred stock because there are no shares of preferred stock currently outstanding.

In accordance with our Certificate of Incorporation and Delaware law, our shareholders do not have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any of our unissued or treasury shares.

    39


Anti-Takeover and Dilutive Effects

The purpose of maintaining our authorized Common Stock at 600,000,000 after the Reverse Split is to facilitate our ability to be listed and raise additional capital to support our operations, not to establish any barriers to a change of control or acquisition of our Company. The shares of Common Stock that are authorized but unissued provide our Board with flexibility to effect, among other transactions, public or private refinancings, acquisitions, stock dividends, stock splits and the granting of equity incentive awards. However, these authorized but unissued shares may also be used by our Board, consistent with and subject to its fiduciary duties, to deter future attempts to gain control of us or make such actions more expensive and less desirable. The Reverse Split would give our Board authority to issue additional shares from time to time without delay or further action by the stockholders except as may be required by applicable law or the rules of the Exchanges. The Reverse Split is not being recommended in response to any specific effort of which we are aware to obtain control of us, nor does our Board have any present intent to use the authorized but unissued Common Stock to impede a takeover attempt. There are no plans or proposals to adopt other provisions or enter into any arrangements that have material anti-takeover effects.

In addition, the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock for any of the corporate purposes listed above could have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and the book or market value of our outstanding Common Stock, depending on the circumstances, and would likely dilute a stockholder's percentage voting power in us. Holders of our Common Stock are not entitled to preemptive rights or other protections against dilution. Our Board intends to take these factors into account before authorizing any new issuance of shares.

Accounting Consequences

As of the Effective Time, the stated capital attributable to Common Stock on our balance sheet will be reduced proportionately based on the Reverse Split ratio (including a retroactive adjustment of prior periods), and the additional paid-in capital account will be credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Reported per share net income or loss will be higher because there will be fewer shares of our Common Stock outstanding.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following summary describes certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Split to holders of our Common Stock. This summary addresses the tax consequences only to a beneficial owner of our Common Stock that is a citizen or individual resident of the United States, a corporation organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or otherwise subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of our Common Stock (a "U.S. holder"). This summary does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to any particular stockholder, including tax considerations that arise from rules of general application to all taxpayers or to certain classes of taxpayers or that are generally assumed to be known by investors. This summary also does not address the tax consequences to persons that may be subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law or persons that do not hold our Common Stock as "capital assets" (generally, property held for investment). This summary is based on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial authority, all as in effect as of the date hereof. Subsequent developments in U.S. federal income tax law, including changes in law or differing interpretations, which may be applied retroactively, could have a material effect on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

 40


           If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our Common Stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships that hold our Common Stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Split.

Each stockholder should consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

The Reverse Split should be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, no gain or loss should be recognized by a U.S. holder upon the Reverse Split. Accordingly, the aggregate tax basis in the Common Stock received pursuant to the Reverse Split should equal the aggregate tax basis in the Common Stock surrendered and the holding period for the Common Stock received should include the holding period for the Common Stock surrendered.

Relationship to Other Proposals

            The Board does not anticipate effectuating the Reverse Split Proposal except in connection with the Company's Common Stock being approved for listing and trading on one of the Exchanges. However, the Board, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to file the Reverse Split Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware and effectuate the Reverse Split at any time if this proposal is approved even not in connection with an Exchange listing.

Text of Proposed Reverse Split Amendment; Effectiveness

The text of the proposed Reverse Split Amendment is set forth in Annex A to this Proxy Statement. If and when effected by our Board, the Reverse Split Amendment will become effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.

Required Vote

Approval of the Reverse Split Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding sharesvoting stock of Common Stock voting as one class. Abstentions are considered present for purposesthe Corporation have voted in favor of establishingsaid amendment at a quorum but will count as a vote againstduly convened meeting of the Reverse Split Proposal.stockholders of the Corporation.

 

RecommendationTHIRD: The aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the Board

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE Reverse Split PROPOSAL.

  41


PROPOSAL 4
NAME CHANGE PROPOSALDGCL.

 

IntroductionFOURTH: The aforesaid amendment shall be effective as of _____ A.M. Eastern Standard Time on _____, 20__.

 

On May 28, 2014, at a meeting of our Board,IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Board unanimously adopted the Name ChangeCorporation has caused this Amendment to Article FIRST of our Certificate of Incorporation to change the Company's name from "CopyTele, Inc." to "such name as may be determined by the Board in its sole discretion," such Name Change to occur at such time and date, if at all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The Board is now asking you to approve this Name Change Amendment.

Effecting the Name Change Amendment requires that Article FIRST of our Certificate of Incorporation be amended. If approved, the Name Change Amendment will be effective upon the filing of such amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware with such filing to occur, if at all, at the sole discretion of the Board.

Stockholders will notCorporation to be required to exchange outstanding stock certificates for new stock certificates if the Name Change Amendment is adopted and the Board, in its sole discretion, determines to effect the Name Change.  In the event that the Board effectuates the Name Change, the Company expects to change its trading symbol from "COPY" to a symbol that better reflects the Company's new name.

Reason for the Name Change Proposal

From our inception through the end of our 2012 fiscal year, our primary operations involved licensing in connection with the development, manufacturing, and marketing of products based on our patented display and encryption technologies only. However, since then, our primary operations include the development, acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of patented technologies in several different fields that are either owned or controlledduly executed by the Company or oneundersigned this ____ day of our wholly owned subsidiaries. Accordingly, our Board believes that the Company should better align its corporate name with our current business and mission to develop, acquire, license and enforce of patented technologies that are either owned or controlled by the Company or one of our wholly owned subsidiaries. The new name that will be chosen by the Board in its sole discretion will be a name that better reflects our current business and mission. When determining the new name, the Board will consider, among other factors, whether the new name is available in the State of Delaware and in the states where we will be required to qualify to do business, whether the Company will be able to obtain a domain name that reflects the name and whether the Company will be able to get trademark protection for the new name.

Text of Proposed Amendment; Effectiveness

The proposed Amendment will change Article FIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation to replace the current name of the Company, "CopyTele, Inc.," with the new name of the Company that has been selected by the Board. The Name Change Amendment will become effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.


Required Vote

Approval of the Name Change Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock voting as one class. Abstentions are considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum but will count as a vote against the Name Change Proposal.

Recommendation of the Board

THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL.  

 42


OTHER INFORMATION

Proxy Solicitation

All costs of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition to solicitation by mail, the Company's officers and regular employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. The Company does not intend to utilize a paid solicitation agent.

Proxies

A stockholder may revoke his, her or its proxy at any time prior to its use by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company, by executing a revised proxy at a later date or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Proxies in the form enclosed, unless previously revoked, will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the specifications made thereon or, in the absence of such specifications in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.

Securities Outstanding; Votes Required

As of the close of business on the Record Date there were 220,357,190 shares of Common Stock outstanding. As of the Record Date, no shares of preferred stock were issued or outstanding. Stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock owned. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, is required for approval of the proposals. Shares of the Common Stock represented by executed proxies received by the Company will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum at the Meeting, regardless of how or whether such shares are voted on any specific proposal.

Other Business

Our Board knows of no other matter to be presented at the Meeting. If any additional matter should properly come before the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their judgment on any such matters.

  43


Beneficial Ownership of Principal Stockholders, Officers and Directors

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of June 2, 2014, by (i) each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock; (ii) each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of commons stock; each of our named executive officers and directors; and all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

 

 

 

 

Amount and Nature of Beneficial

 

Percent of Class (6)

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

Ownership (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)

Mars Overseas Limited (7)

20,000,000

9.08%

P.O. Box 309, GI Ugland House

 

 

South Church Street, George Town

 

 

Grand Cayman, Cayman Island

 

 

Lewis H. Titterton Jr.

12,837,368

5.76%

900 Walt Whitman Road

 

 

Melville, NY 11747

 

 

Robert A. Berman

10,560,032

4.58%

900 Walt Whitman Road

 

 

Melville, NY 11747

 

 

Dr. Amit Kumar

11,487,723

4.98%

900 Walt Whitman Road

 

 

Melville, NY 11747

 

 

Bruce F. Johnson

8,450,615

3.82%

900 Walt Whitman Road

 

 

Melville, NY 11747

 

 

Kent B. Williams

2,510,577

1.13%

900 Walt Whitman Road

 

 

Melville, NY 11747

 

 

Henry P. Herms

1,478,679

*

900 Walt Whitman Road

 

 

Melville, NY 11747

 

 

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (6 persons)

47,324,994

19.16%

 

 

 

*

Less than 1%.

 

(1)        A beneficial owner of a security includes any person who directly or indirectly has or shares voting power and/or investment power with respect to such security or has the right to obtain such voting power and/or investment power within sixty (60) days.  Except as otherwise noted, each designated beneficial owner in this proxy statement has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person.

   44


(2)        Includes 926,676 shares, 222,216 shares, 222,216 shares, 570,000 shares, 270,000 shares, 995,554 shares and 111,108 shares which Lewis H. Titterton Jr., Robert A. Berman, Dr. Amit Kumar, Kent B. Williams, Bruce F. Johnson, Henry P. Herms and all directors and executive officers as a group, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan and/or the 2010 Share Incentive Plan.   

(3)        Includes 99,540 shares indirectly owned through the Vista Asset Management 401(k) plan, of which Kent B. Williams and his wife are the sole trustees, 47,700 shares owned by Mr. Williams' wife and 215,460 shares indirectly owned by Mr. Williams' wife through the Vista Asset Management 401(k) plan.  Mr. Williams disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by his wife.

(4)        Includes 166,650 shares, 333,300 shares, 333,300 shares and 833,250 shares that Robert A. Berman, Dr. Amit Kumar, Bruce F. Johnson and all directors and executive officers as a group, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days upon conversion of debentures and exercise of warrants purchased by them in the private placement on January 25, 2013.

(5)        Includes 1,566,667 shares, 9,642,516 shares, 9,642,516 shares, 300,000 shares, 1,466,667 shares and 4,821,258 shares which Lewis H. Titterton Jr., Robert A. Berman, Dr. Amit Kumar, Bruce F. Johnson, Kent B. Williams and all directors and executive officers as a group, respectively, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to option agreements with the Company.

(6)        Based on 220,357,190 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of June 2, 2014.

(7)        The Company has relied solely on information provided in Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13G which Mars Overseas Limited ("Mars Overseas") filed with the SEC on May 17, 2010.  As reported in the Schedule 13G/A, Mars Overseas is a joint venture controlled by six entities. The governing documents of Mars Overseas require majority voting of the six entities that are party to the joint venture with respect to the 20,000,000 CopyTele shares owned by Mars Overseas.  Four of these six entities are controlled by members of the Dhoot family, which include Messrs. Venugopal N. Dhoot, Rajkumar N. Dhoot and Pradipkumar N. Dhoot. The remaining two entities are publicly traded corporations outside of the United States, of which the above-mentioned members of the Dhoot family hold a significant percentage, although less than 50% of such publicly traded companies. Messrs. Venugopal N. Dhoot, Rajkumar N. Dhoot and Pradipkumar N. Dhoot all disclaim beneficial ownership in the shares held by Mars Overseas except to the extent of their pecuniary interest, and disclaim membership as a group._________, 20__.

 

 

Deadline for Submission of Stockholder Proposals for 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

ITUS CORPORATION

By:

Name: Dr. Amit Kumar

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

For any proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for submission to the stockholders at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, it must be submitted in writing and comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act. Such proposals must be received by the Company at its offices at 900 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747 no later than March 21, 2015.25


 

Stockholders may present proposals intended for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders provided that such proposals are received by the Secretary of the Company in accordance with the time schedules set forth in, and otherwise in compliance with, applicable SEC regulations, and the Company's Bylaws, as applicable. Proposals submitted not in accordance with such regulations will be deemed untimely or otherwise deficient; however, the Company will have

discretionary authority to include such proposals in the 2015 Proxy Statement.
Stockholder Communications

Stockholders wishing to communicate with the Board may direct such communications to the Board c/o the Company, Attn: Robert Berman. Mr. Berman will present a summary of all stockholder communications to the Board at subsequent Board meetings. The directors will have the opportunity to review the actual communications at their discretion.

Additional Information

Accompanying this Proxy Statement is a copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2013. Such Report includes the Company's audited financial statements for the 2013 fiscal year and certain other financial information, which is incorporated by reference herein.

In addition, we are subject to certain informational requirements of the Exchange Act and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such reports, proxy statements and other information are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Stockholders who have questions in regard to any aspect of the matters discussed in this Proxy Statement should contact Ron Tenio, Secretary of the Company, at 900 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747.

45


ANNEX AB

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF COPYTELE, INC.ITUS CORPORATION

 

The undersigned, for the purposes of amending the Certificate of Incorporation of CopyTele, Inc.ITUS Corporation (the "Corporation"“Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify that:

 

FIRST: The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board"“Board”) duly adopted in accordance with Section 141(f)141 of the DCGL at a meeting of the Board on May 28, 2014,January 25, 2018, a resolution proposing and declaring advisable the following amendment to be added following the last sentence of Article FOURTHFIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation of said Corporation:

 

"Upon the effectivenessFIRST:   The name of the amendment tocorporation is “Anixa Biosciences, Inc.” (hereinafter called the certificate of incorporation containing this sentence (the "Split Effective Time"“Corporation”) each share of the Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date and time of the filing hereof with the Secretary of State of Delaware shall be automatically changed and reclassified into a smaller number of shares such that each
[    ] shares of issued Common Stock immediately prior to the Split Effective Time is reclassified into one share of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, there shall be no fractional shares issued and, in lieu thereof, a holder of Common Stock on the Split Effective Time who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share as a result of the reclassification, following the Split Effective Time, shall receive a full share of Common Stock upon the surrender of such stockholders' old stock certificate. No stockholders will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares."
.

 

SECOND: The holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the Corporation have voted in favor of said amendment at a duly convened meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

THIRD: The aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the DGCL.

FOURTH: The aforesaid amendment shall be effective as of ___ A.M. Eastern Standard Time on ___________, 2018.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation to be duly executed by the undersigned this ___ day of , 2014._________, 20__.

 

COPYTELE, INC.ITUS CORPORATION

By:

 

Name: Dr. Amit Kumar

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

4626


 

PROXYANNEX C

 

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSITUS CORPORATION

2018 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN

 

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY APPOINTS ROBERT BERMAN AND HENRY HERMS, AND EACH OF THEM, AS PROXIES OF THE UNDERSIGNED, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION, TO VOTE ALL THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF COPYTELE, INC. HELD OF RECORD BY THE UNDERSIGNED ON JUNE 2, 2014, AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JULY 23, 2014, OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.

1.                   Election of Lewis H. Titterton Jr., Robert A. Berman, Dr. Amit Kumar, Bruce F. Johnson, Dale Fox and Dr. Andrea Belz, to hold office until the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or their successors are elected and qualified.

[    ]      FOR ALL THE NOMINEES

[    ]      WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR THE NOMINEES

[    ]      FOR ALL EXCEPT (see instructions)

[    ]      Lewis H. Titterton Jr.

[    ]      Robert A. Berman

[    ]      Dr. Amit Kumar

[    ]      Bruce F. Johnson

[    ]      Dale Fox

[    ]      Dr. Andrea Belz

Instructions:Purpose. The ITUS Corporation 2018 Share Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is intended to withhold authority for any individual nominee, mark "FOR ALL EXCEPT"provide incentives which will attract, retain and fill in the circle nextmotivate highly competent persons as officers, employees and non-employee directors ("Director Participants"), of, and consultants to, the nominee you wishITUS Corporation (the "Company") and its subsidiaries and affiliates, by providing them opportunities to withhold for.

2.         To ratify the appointment by the Board of Haskell & White LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2014:

                        [    ] FOR           [    ] AGAINST                      [    ] ABSTAIN

3.         To consider and vote upon an amendment to Article FOURTH of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to effect a reverse stock splitacquire shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01$.01 per share at(the "Common Stock"), or to receive monetary payments based on the value of such shares pursuant to the Benefits (as defined below) described herein. Additionally, the Plan is intended to assist in further aligning the interests of the Company's officers, employees and consultants to those of its other stockholders.

2.                   Administration.

a.                   The Plan will be administered by a ratiocommittee (the "Committee") appointed by the Board of between one-for-twoDirectors of the Company from among its members (which may be the Compensation Committee) and one-for-twenty fiveshall be comprised, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, solely of not less than two members who shall be (i) "Non-Employee Directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b 3(b)(3) (or any successor rule) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and (ii) "outside directors" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(3) under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Committee is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan and to make such determinations and interpretations and to take such action in connection with the Plan and any Benefits granted hereunder as it deems necessary or advisable. All determinations and interpretations made by the Committee shall be binding and conclusive on all participants and their legal representatives. No member of the Committee and no employee of the Company shall be liable for any act or failure to act hereunder, except in circumstances involving his or her bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct, or for any act or failure to act hereunder by any other member or employee or by any agent to whom duties in connection with the administration of this Plan have been delegated. The Company shall indemnify members of the Committee and any agent of the Committee who is an employee of the Company, a subsidiary or an affiliate against any and all liabilities or expenses to which they may be subjected by reason of any act or failure to act with respect to their duties on behalf of the Plan, except in circumstances involving such ratioperson's bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

b.                   The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members, or to one or more agents, such administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the Committee, or any person to whom it has delegated duties as aforesaid, may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such person may have under the Plan. The Committee may employ such legal or other counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion or computation received from any such counsel, consultant or agent. Expenses incurred by the Committee in the engagement of such counsel, consultant or agent shall be paid by the Company, or the subsidiary or affiliate whose employees have benefited from the Plan, as determined by the Committee.

3.                   Participants. Participants will consist of such officers, employees and Director Participants of, and such consultants to, the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates as the Committee in its sole discretion determines to be significantly responsible for the success and future growth and profitability of the Company and whom the Committee may designate from time to time to receive Benefits under the Plan. Designation of a participant in any year shall not require the Committee to designate such person to receive a Benefit in any other year or, once designated, to receive the same type or amount of Benefit as granted to the participant in any other year. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems pertinent in selecting participants and in determining the type and amount of their respective Benefits.

4.                   Type of Benefits. Benefits under the Plan may be granted in any one or a combination of (a) Stock Options, (b) Stock Appreciation Rights, (c) Stock Awards, (d) Performance Awards and (e) Stock Units (each as described below, and collectively, the "Benefits"). Stock Awards, Performance Awards, and Stock Units may, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, constitute Performance-Based Awards, as described in Section 11 hereof. Benefits shall be evidenced by agreements (which need not be identical) in such forms as the Committee may from time to time approve; provided, however, that in the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan and any such agreements, the provisions of the Plan shall prevail.

5.                   Common Stock Available Under the Plan. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to Benefits, including Stock Options, granted under this Plan shall be 5,000,000 shares, which may be authorized and unissued or treasury shares, subject to any adjustments in accordance with Section 14 hereof. Additionally, commencing on the first business day in January 2019 and on the first business day of each calendar year thereafter while the Plan is in effect, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan shall be increased such that, as of such first business day, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan shall be no less than 2,000,000 shares. Any shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right which for any reason is cancelled or terminated without having been exercised, any shares subject to Stock Awards, Performance Awards or Stock Units which are forfeited, any shares subject to Performance Awards settled in cash, any shares delivered to the Company as part or full payment for the exercise of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right or any shares delivered to the Company in satisfaction of any tax withholding arising in connection with any Benefit consisting of shares of Common Stock, as the case may be, shall again be available for Benefits under the Plan.

27


6.                   Stock Options. Stock Options will consist of awards from the Company that will enable the holder to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock, at set terms. Stock Options may be "incentive stock options", within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code ("Incentive Stock Options"), or Stock Options which do not constitute Incentive Stock Options ("Nonqualified Stock Options"); provided, however, that grants of Incentive Stock Options may only be made to employees of the Company, a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation and that Incentive Stock Option grants made prior to approval of the grant of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan by stockholders of the Company shall be subject to such approval and provided, further, that if stockholder approval of the grant of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan is not obtained within twelve months of adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors, any Stock Option granted during the twelve month period after adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors that is designated as an Incentive Stock Option shall be treated thereafter as Nonqualified Stock Option. The Committee will have the authority to grant to any participant, including officers, employees, Director Participants, and consultants, Nonqualified Stock Options, or, for those participants who are employees of the Company, a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation both types of Stock Options (in each case with or without Stock Appreciation Rights). Each Stock Option shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as the Committee may impose from time to time, subject to the following limitations:

a.                   Exercise Price. Each Stock Option granted hereunder shall have such per-share exercise price as the Committee may determine at the soledate of grant provided that such per share exercise price shall be at least equal to the Fair Market Value; subject to subsection (d), below.

b.                   Payment of Exercise Price. The option exercise price may be paid in cash or, in the discretion of the BoardCommittee, by the delivery of shares of Common Stock of the Company then owned by the participant, or by delivery to the Company of (x) irrevocable instructions to deliver directly to a broker the stock certificates representing the shares for which the Stock Option is being exercised, and (y) irrevocable instructions to such broker to sell such shares for which the Stock Option is being exercised, and promptly deliver to the Company the portion of the proceeds equal to the Stock Option exercise price and any amount necessary to satisfy the Company's obligation for withholding taxes, or any combination thereof. For purposes of making payment in shares of Common Stock, such shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date of exercise of the Stock Option and shall have been held by the participant for at least six months. To facilitate the foregoing, the Company may enter into agreements for coordinated procedures with such reverse splitone or more brokerage firms. The Committee may prescribe any other method of paying the exercise price that it determines to be effectedconsistent with applicable law and the purpose of the Plan, including, without limitation, in lieu of the exercise of a Stock Option by delivery of shares of Common Stock of the Company then owned by a participant, providing the Company with a notarized statement attesting to the number of shares owned, where upon verification by the Company, the Company would issue to the participant only the number of incremental shares to which the participant is entitled upon exercise of the Stock Option. The Committee may, at the time of grant, provide for the grant of a subsequent Restoration Stock Option if the exercise price is paid for by delivering previously owned shares of Common Stock of the Company. Restoration Stock Options (i) may be granted in respect of no more than the number of shares of Common Stock tendered in exercising the predecessor Stock Option, (ii) shall have an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value on the date the Restoration Stock Option is granted, and (iii) may have an exercise period that does not extend beyond the remaining term of the predecessor Stock Option. In determining which methods a participant may utilize to pay the exercise price, the Committee may consider such factors as it determines are appropriate.

c.                    Exercise Period. Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that no Stock Option shall be exercisable later than ten years after the date it is granted. All Stock Options shall terminate at such earlier times and upon such conditions or circumstances as the Committee shall in its discretion set forth in such option agreement at the date of grant; provided, however, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, later waive any such condition.

d.                   Limitations on Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to participants who are employees of the Company or one of its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code) at the date of grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Stock Option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year (under all option plans of the Company and of any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation (as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively)) shall not exceed $100,000. For purposes of the preceding sentence, Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they are granted. The per-share exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, and no Incentive Stock Option may be exercised later than ten years after the date it is granted; provided, however, Incentive Stock Options may not be granted to any participant who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing (after the application of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company, unless the exercise price is fixed at not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and the exercise of such option is prohibited by its terms after the expiration of five years from the date of grant of such option.

e.                    Post-Severance Exercises. Upon termination of employment of any employee, termination of service on the Board of Directors of a Director Participant or of the continuing services of any consultant with the Company and all subsidiary corporations and parent corporations of the Company, any Stock Option previously granted to the employee, Director Participant or consultant, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the Stock Option agreement, shall, to the extent not theretofore exercised, terminate and become null and void; provided, however, that:

                                                                     i.                        if the employee, Director Participant or consultant shall die while in the employ or service of such corporation or at a time when such employee, Director Participant or consultant was entitled to exercise a Stock Option as herein provided, the legal representative of such employee, Director Participant or consultant, or such person who acquired such Stock Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death of the employee, Director Participant or consultant, may, not later than one (1) year from the date of death, exercise such Stock Option, to the extent not theretofore exercised, in respect of any or all of such number of shares of Common Stock as specified by the Committee in such Stock Option; and

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                                                                    ii.                        if the employment of any employee or the continuing services of any Director Participant or consultant to whom such Stock Option shall have been granted shall terminate by reason of the employee's, Director Participant's or consultant's retirement (at such age or upon such conditions as shall be specified by the Committee), disability (as described in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) or dismissal by the employer other than for cause (as defined below), and while such employee, Director Participant or consultant is entitled to exercise such Stock Option as herein provided, such employee, Director Participant or consultant shall have the right to exercise such Stock Option so granted in respect of any or all of such number of shares as specified by the Committee in such Stock Option, at any time up to and including ninety (90) days after the date of such termination.

In no event, however, shall any person be entitled to exercise any Stock Option after the expiration of the period of exercisability of such Stock Option or Right, as specified in such option agreement at the date of grant.

If an employee, Director Participant or consultant voluntarily terminates his or her employment or continuing services, or is discharged "for cause", any Stock Option granted hereunder shall, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the option agreement, forthwith terminate with respect to any unexercised portion thereof.

If a Stock Option granted hereunder shall be exercised by the legal representative of a deceased grantee or by a person who acquired a Stock Option granted hereunder by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death of any employee, Director Participant or consultant or former employee, former Director Participant or former consultant, written notice of such exercise shall be accompanied by a certified copy of letters testamentary or equivalent proof of the right of such legal representative or other person to exercise such Stock Option.

For the purposes of the Plan, the term "for cause" shall mean (a) with respect to an employee, Director Participant or consultant who is a party to a written service agreement with, or, alternatively, participates in a compensation or benefit plan of the Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company, which agreement or plan contains a definition of "for cause" or "cause" (or words of like import) for purposes of termination of employment or services thereunder by the Company or such subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company, "for cause" or "cause" as defined therein; or (b) in all other cases, as determined by the Committee or the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, (i) the willful commission by an employee, Director Participant or consultant of an act that causes or may cause substantial damage to the Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company; (ii) the commission by an employee, Director Participant or consultant of an act of fraud in the performance of such employee's or consultant's duties on behalf of the Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company; (iii) conviction of the employee, Director Participant or consultant for commission of a felony in connection with the performance of his duties on behalf of the Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company; or (iv) the continuing failure of an employee, Director Participant or consultant to perform the duties of such employee, Director Participant or consultant to the Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company after written notice thereof and a reasonable opportunity to be heard and cure such failure are given to the employee, Director Participant or consultant by the Committee.

For the purposes of the Plan, an employment relationship shall be deemed to exist between an individual and a corporation if, at the time of the determination, the individual was an "employee" of such corporation for purposes of Section 422(a) of the Code. If an individual is on leave of absence taken with the consent of the corporation by which such individual was employed, or is on active military service, and is determined to be an "employee" for purposes of the exercise of a Stock Option, such individual shall not be entitled to exercise such Stock Option during such period unless such individual shall have obtained the prior written consent of such corporation, which consent shall be signed by the chairman of the board of directors, the president, a senior vice-president or other duly authorized officer of such corporation.

A termination of employment or services shall not be deemed to occur by reason of (i) the transfer of an employee or consultant from employment or retention by the Company to employment or retention by a subsidiary corporation or a parent corporation of the Company or (ii) the transfer of an employee or consultant from employment or retention by a subsidiary corporation or a parent corporation of the Company to employment or retention by the Company or by another subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company. Termination of a consultant's services shall be considered to occur when he ceases to perform services on a regular basis; provided, however, termination of a consultant's services shall not be deemed to occur where the termination of services is due to such consultant becoming an employee of the Company or a subsidiary corporation or a parent corporation.

In the event an employee changes status to a consultant, all Stock Option grants shall continue for the remainder of the exercise period, provided, however, any Incentive Stock Options shall, three (3) months after termination of employment, be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option for the remainder of the exercise period.

In the event of the complete liquidation or dissolution of a subsidiary corporation, or if such corporation ceases to be a subsidiary corporation, any unexercised Stock Options theretofore granted to any person employed by or rendering consulting services to such subsidiary corporation will be deemed cancelled unless such person is employed by or renders continuing services to the Company or by any parent corporation or another subsidiary corporation after the occurrence of such event. If a Stock Option is to be cancelled pursuant to the provisions of the previous sentence, notice of such cancellation will be given to each employee or consultant holding unexercised Stock Options, and such holder will have the right to exercise such Stock Options in full during the thirty (30) day period following notice of such cancellation.

f.                    Each Stock Option issued under this Section 6 shall be fully vested and exercisable, unless otherwise specified in the grant agreement.

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7.                   Stock Appreciation Rights.

a.                   The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Stock Appreciation Rights to the holders of any Stock Options granted hereunder. In addition, Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted independently of, and without relation to, Stock Options. A Stock Appreciation Right means a right to receive a payment in cash, Common Stock or a combination thereof, in an amount equal to the excess of (x) the Fair Market Value, or other specified valuation, of a specified number of shares of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over (y) the Fair Market Value, or other specified valuation (which shall be no less than the Fair Market Value) of such shares of Common Stock on the date the right is granted, all as determined by the BoardCommittee; provided, however, that if a Stock Appreciation Right is granted in substitution for a Stock Option, the designated Fair Market Value in the award agreement may be the Fair Market Value on the date such Stock Option was granted. Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be fully vested unless otherwise specified in the grant agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall impose from time to time.

b.                   Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that no Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable later than ten years after the date it is granted. All Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate at such earlier times and upon such conditions or circumstances as the Committee shall in its sole discretion:discretion set forth in such right at the date of grant.

 

                        [    ] FOR           [    ] AGAINST                      [    ] ABSTAIN30


 

4.         To consider and vote upon an amendment to c.                    The Company's Certificateexercise of Incorporation to changeany Stock Appreciation Right after termination of employment of a participant with the nameCompany, a subsidiary of the Company from "CopyTele, Inc."or with any company providing consulting services to the Company shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as set forth in Section 6(e) above.

8.                   Stock Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Stock Awards (which may include mandatory payment of bonus incentive compensation in stock) consisting of Common Stock issued or transferred to participants with or without other payments therefor. Stock Awards may be subject to such nameterms and conditions as the Committee determines appropriate, including, without limitation, restrictions on the sale or other disposition of such shares, the right of the Company to reacquire such shares for no consideration upon termination of the participant's employment, and may constitute Performance-Based Awards, as described in Section 11 hereof. Each Stock Award shall be fully vested unless otherwise specified in the grant agreement. The Committee may require the participant to deliver a duly signed stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such an Award. The Committee may also require that the stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody or bear restrictive legends until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed. The Stock Award shall specify whether the participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Award, all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company, including the right to receive dividends and to vote the shares.

9.                Performance Awards.

a.                   Performance Awards may be granted to participants at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. Performance Awards may constitute Performance-Based Awards, as described in Section 11 hereof. The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number, amount and timing of awards granted to each participant. Such Performance Awards may be in the form of shares of Common Stock or Stock Units. Performance Awards may be awarded as short-term or long-term incentives. Performance targets may be based upon, without limitation, Company-wide, divisional and/or individual performance.

b.                   With respect to those Performance Awards that are not intended to constitute Performance-Based Awards, the Committee shall have the authority at any time to make adjustments to performance targets for any outstanding Performance Awards which the Committee deems necessary or desirable unless at the time of establishment of such targets the Committee shall have precluded its authority to make such adjustments.

c.                    Payment of earned Performance Awards shall be made in accordance with terms and conditions prescribed or authorized by the Committee. The participant may elect to defer, or the Committee may require or permit the deferral of, the receipt of Performance Awards upon such terms as the Committee deems appropriate.

10.                Stock Units.

a.                   The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Stock Units to participants hereunder. The Committee shall determine the criteria for the vesting of Stock Units. Stock Units may constitute Performance Based Awards, as described in Section 11 hereof. A Stock Unit granted by the Committee shall provide payment at such time as the award agreement shall specify. Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Section 10 may be issued with or without other payments therefor as may be required by applicable law or such other consideration as may be determined by the BoardCommittee. The Committee shall determine whether a participant granted a Stock Unit shall be entitled to a Dividend Equivalent Right (as defined below).

b.                   Upon vesting of a Stock Unit, unless the participant has elected to defer payment under subsection (c) below, shares of Common Stock representing the Stock Units shall be distributed to the participant unless the Committee provides for the payment of the Stock Units in cash or partly in cash and partly in shares of Common Stock equal to the value of the shares of Common Stock which would otherwise be distributed to the participant.

c.                    A participant may elect not to receive a distribution upon the vesting of such Stock Unit and for the Company to continue to maintain the Stock Unit on its books of account. Any such election shall be in conformity with Code Section 409A and in such event, the value of a Stock Unit shall be payable in shares of Common Stock pursuant to the agreement of deferral.

d.                   A "Stock Unit" means a notional account representing one share of Common Stock. A "Dividend Equivalent Right" means the right to receive the amount of any dividend paid on the share of Common Stock underlying a Stock Unit, which shall be payable in cash or in the form of additional Stock Units.

11.                Performance-Based Awards. Certain Benefits granted under the Plan may be granted in a manner such that the Benefits qualify for the performance-based compensation exemption of Section 162(m) of the Code ("Performance-Based Awards"). As determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, either the granting or vesting of such name changePerformance-Based Awards shall be based on achievement of hurdle rates and/or growth rates in one or more business criteria that apply to occur atthe individual participant, one or more business units or the Company as a whole. The business criteria shall be as follows, individually or in combination: (i) net earnings; (ii) earnings per share; (iii) net sales growth; (iv) market share; (v) net operating profit; (vi) expense targets; (vii) working capital targets relating to inventory and/or accounts receivable; (viii) operating margin; (ix) return on equity; (x) return on assets; (xi) planning accuracy (as measured by comparing planned results to actual results); (xii) market price per share; and (xiii) total return to stockholders. In addition, Performance Based Awards may include comparisons to the performance of other companies, such timeperformance to be measured by one or more of the foregoing business criteria. With respect to Performance-Based Awards, (i) the Committee shall establish in writing (x) the performance goals applicable to a given period, and date,such performance goals shall state, in terms of an objective formula or standard, the method for computing the amount of compensation payable to the participant if at all,such performance goals are obtained and (y) the individual employees or class of employees to which such performance goals apply no later than 90 days after the commencement of such period (but in no event after 25% of such period has elapsed) and (ii) no Performance-Based Awards shall be payable to or vest with respect to, as the case may be, any participant for a given period until the Committee certifies in writing that the objective performance goals (and any other material terms) applicable to such period have been satisfied. With respect to any Benefits intended to qualify as Performance-Based Awards, after establishment of a performance goal, the Committee shall not revise such performance goal or increase the amount of compensation payable thereunder (as determined in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code) upon the attainment of such performance goal. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Committee may reduce or eliminate Benefits payable upon the attainment of such performance goal.

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12.                Securities Laws. The Committee shall have the power to make each grant under the Plan subject to such conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate to comply with the then-existing requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, including Rule 16b-3 (or any similar rule) of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or an option document to the contrary, if the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that issuance of Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option should be delayed pending registration or qualification under federal or state securities laws or the receipt of a legal opinion that an appropriate exemption from the application of federal or state securities laws is available, the Committee may defer exercise of any Stock Option until such Shares are appropriately registered or qualified or an appropriate legal opinion has been received, as applicable.

13.                Foreign Laws. The Committee may grant Benefits to individual participants who are subject to the tax laws of nations other than the United States, which Benefits may have terms and conditions as determined by the BoardCommittee as necessary to comply with applicable foreign laws. The Committee may take any action which it deems advisable to obtain approval of such Benefits by the appropriate foreign governmental entity; provided, however, that no such Benefits may be granted pursuant to this Section 13 and no action may be taken which would result in a violation of the Exchange Act, the Code or any other applicable law.

14.                Adjustment Provisions; Change in Control.

a.                   If there shall be any change in the Common Stock of the Company or the capitalization of the Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, dividend in kind or other like change in capital structure or distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to stockholders of the Company in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants' rights under the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion:discretion, shall adjust, in an equitable manner, as applicable, the number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan, the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Benefits, the exercise price applicable to outstanding Benefits, and the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock and other value determinations applicable to outstanding Benefits; provided, however, that any such arithmetic adjustment to a Performance-Based Award shall not cause the amount of compensation payable thereunder to be increased from what otherwise would have been due upon attainment of the unadjusted award. Appropriate adjustments may also be made by the Committee in the terms of any Benefits under the Plan to reflect such changes or distributions and to modify any other terms of outstanding Benefits on an equitable basis, including modifications of performance targets and changes in the length of performance periods; provided, however, that any such arithmetic adjustment to a Performance-Based Award shall not cause the amount of compensation payable thereunder to be increased from what otherwise would have been due upon attainment of the unadjusted award. In addition, other than with respect to Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Awards, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments to the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Benefits in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) each such adjustment with respect to an Incentive Stock Option shall comply with the rules of Section 424(a) of the Code, and (ii) in no event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder other than an incentive stock option for purposes of Section 422 of the Code. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on participants under the Plan.

 

                        [    ] FOR           [    ] AGAINST                      [    ] ABSTAIN

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The shares represented byb.                   Notwithstanding any other provision of this proxy, when properly executed, will be voted as specified by the undersigned stockholder(s). If this card contains no specific voting instructions, the shares will be voted FOR eachPlan, if there is a Change in Control of the directorsCompany, all then outstanding Stock Options and proposals described onStock Appreciation Rights shall immediately vest and become exercisable. For purposes of this card.Section 14(b), a "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred upon the earliest of the following events:

 

                                                                     i.                        Change in Ownership: A change in ownership of the Company occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, excluding the acquisition of additional stock by a person or more than one person acting as a group who is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company.

                                                                    ii.                        Change in Effective Control: A change in effective control of the Company occurs on the date that either:

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1.                   Any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; or

2.                   A majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the board of directors before the date of the appointment or election; provided, that this paragraph (B) will apply only to the Company if no other corporation is a majority shareholder.

                                                                  iii.                        Change in Ownership of Substantial Assets: A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company's assets occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of the assets of the Company immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, "gross fair market value" means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

It is the intent that this definition be construed consistent with the definition of "Change of Control" as defined under Code Section 409A and the applicable treasury regulations, as amended from time to time. The Committee, in its discretion, may determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company or the other events specified in Section 14(a), each Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right outstanding hereunder shall terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the holder, and such holder shall receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control over the exercise price per share of such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right; such amount to be payable in cash, in one or more kinds of property (including the property, if any, payable in the transaction) or in a combination thereof, as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine. The provisions contained in the preceding sentence shall be inapplicable to a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted within six (6) months before the occurrence of a Change in Control if the holder of such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and no exception from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act is otherwise available to such holder.

15.                Nontransferability. Each Benefit granted under the Plan to a participant shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable, during the participant's lifetime, only by the participant. In theirthe event of the death of a participant, each Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right theretofore granted to him or her shall be exercisable during such period after his or her death as the Committee shall in its discretion set forth in such option or right at the date of grant and then only by the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased participant or the person or persons to whom the deceased participant's rights under the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the discretion of the Committee, an award of a Benefit, other than an Incentive Stock Option, to any director, officer or employee of the Company with at least 15 years of service may permit the transferability of a Benefit by such participant solely to the participant's spouse, siblings, parents, children and grandchildren or trusts for the benefit of such persons or partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies or other entities owned solely by such persons, including trusts for such persons, subject to any restriction included in the award of the Benefit.

16.                Other Provisions. The award of any Benefit under the Plan may also be subject to such other provisions (whether or not applicable to the Benefit awarded to any other participant) as the Committee determines appropriate, including, without limitation, for the installment purchase of Common Stock under Stock Options, for the installment exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights, to assist the participant in financing the acquisition of Common Stock, for the forfeiture of, or restrictions on resale or other disposition of, Common Stock acquired under any form of Benefit, for the acceleration of exercisability or vesting of Benefits in the event of a change in control of the Company, for the payment of the value of Benefits to participants in the event of a change in control of the Company, or understandings or conditions as to the participant's employment in addition to those specifically provided for under the Plan. In addition, the Committee shall have the right to accelerate, in whole or in part, from time to time, conditionally or unconditionally, rights to exercise any Stock Option granted hereunder. The provisions in this Section 16 may be exercised even if such exercise causes an earlier recognition of income to the Participant due to Code Section 409A or otherwise.

17.                Fair Market Value. For purposes of this Plan and any Benefits awarded hereunder, Fair Market Value shall be (i) the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the date of calculation (or on the last preceding trading date if Common Stock was not traded on such date) if the Company's Common Stock is readily tradeable on a national securities exchange or other market system, (ii) if the Company's Common Stock is not readily tradeable, Fair Market Value shall mean the amount determined in good faith by the Committee as the fair market value of the Common Stock of the Company and (iii) in connection with a Change in Control of the Company or an event specified in Section 14(a), the value of the consideration paid to stockholders in connection with such Change in Control or event or if no consideration is paid in respect thereof, the amount determined pursuant to clause (i) or (ii), above.

18.                Withholding. All payments or distributions of Benefits made pursuant to the Plan shall be net of any amounts required to be withheld pursuant to applicable federal, state and local tax withholding requirements. If the Company proposes or is required to distribute Common Stock pursuant to the Plan, it may require the recipient to remit to it or to the corporation that employs such recipient an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax withholding requirements prior to the delivery of any certificates for such Common Stock. In lieu thereof, the Company or the employing corporation shall have the right to withhold the amount of such taxes from any other sums due or to become due from such corporation to the recipient as the Committee shall prescribe. The Committee may, in its discretion and subject to such rules as it may adopt (including any as may be required to satisfy applicable tax and/or non-tax regulatory requirements), permit an optionee or award or right holder to pay all or a portion of the federal, state and local withholding taxes arising in connection with any Benefit consisting of shares of Common Stock by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of tax to be withheld, such tax calculated at rates required by statute or regulation.

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19.                Tenure. A participant's right, if any, to continue to serve the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates as an officer, employee, or otherwise, shall not be enlarged or otherwise affected by his or her designation as a participant under the Plan.

20.                Unfunded Plan. Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any investments which the Company may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any participant, beneficiary, legal representative or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in the Plan. The Plan is not intended to be subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

21.                No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Benefit. The Committee shall determine whether cash, or Benefits, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

22.                Duration, Amendment and Termination. No Benefit shall be granted more than ten years after the Effective Date. The Committee may amend the Plan from time to time or suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Nevertheless, if the Plan has been previously approved by the Company's stockholders, the Committee may not, without obtaining approval within twelve months before or after such action by such vote of the Company's stockholders as may be required, amend the Plan if such amendment would: (i) disqualify any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan; (ii) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered through Stock Options under the Plan; (iii) increase either of the maximum amounts which can be paid to an individual participant under the Plan as set forth in Section 5 hereof; (iv) change the types of business criteria on which Performance-Based Awards are to be based under the Plan; or (v) modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan. The Committee may amend the terms of any Benefit theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment shall impair the rights of any participant without his consent. In its sole discretion, the proxies are authorizedCommittee may reduce the exercise price for any or all outstanding Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, by repricing or replacing or offering to vote uponreplace such other business as may properly come beforeBenefits, at any time and on any basis it believes is appropriate and consistent with the meeting.Plan's purposes.

 

23.                Please mark, sign,Governing Law. This Plan, Benefits granted hereunder and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable Delaware principles of conflict of laws).

24.                Effective Date.

a.                   The Plan shall be effective as of ______, 2018, the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors and return this proxy promptly using the accompanying postage pre-paid envelope. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COPYTELE, INC.Company’s stockholders (the "Effective Date").

b.                   This Plan shall terminate on ______, 2028 (unless sooner terminated by the Committee).

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Signature of Stockholder(s)

Date

 

 

When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign the corporate name by the president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in the partnership name by an authorized person.

 

VOTE BY INTERNET— You may cast your vote by visiting http://www.proxyvote.com


Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

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