UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
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Mitek Systems,
Inc.
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MITEK
SYSTEMS, INC.
8911
BALBOA AVE., SUITE B
SAN
DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92123
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD FEBRUARY 24, 2010
TO
ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF MITEK SYSTEMS, INC.
The
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Mitek Systems, Inc., will be held at
9:00 a.m., local time, Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at Mitek's
executive offices located at 8911 Balboa Ave., Suite B, San Diego,
California 92123, for the following purposes:
1.
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To
elect a board of seven directors to hold the office during the ensuing
year or until their respective successors are elected and
qualified.
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2.
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To
adopt the Mitek Systems, Inc. 2010 Stock Option
Plan.
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3.
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To
ratify the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C. as our independent
registered public accounting firm for our 2010 fiscal
year.
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4.
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To
transact such business as may properly come before the meeting and any
adjournments thereof.
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Our Board
of Directors has fixed the close of business on January 11, 2010 as the
record date for determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at the Annual Meeting and all adjournments thereof. A list of these
stockholders will be open to examination by any stockholder at the meeting and
for ten days prior thereto during normal business hours at our executive
offices, 8911 Balboa Ave., Suite B, San Diego, California
92123.
Enclosed
for your convenience is a form of proxy which may be used at the Annual Meeting
and which, unless otherwise marked, authorizes the holders of the proxy to vote
for the proposed slate of directors, to adopt the Mitek Systems, Inc. 2010 Stock
Option Plan, to ratify the appointment of Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C. as our
independent registered public accounting firm for our 2010 fiscal year, and as
the proxy holder deems appropriate on any other matter brought before the Annual
Meeting.
You
are invited to attend the meeting in person. Even if you expect to
attend, it is important that you sign, date and return the enclosed proxy
promptly in the business reply envelope which requires no postage if mailed in
the United States. It is important that your shares be represented at
the meeting to assure the presence of a quorum. If you sign and send
in a proxy, you may revoke it before it is exercised (1) by executing a new
proxy bearing a later date, (2) by filing with our Corporate Secretary an
instrument revoking your proxy, or (3) by attending the meeting and voting in
person.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder
Meeting
This proxy statement, along with our
2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K and proxy card, are available online at
www.proxyvote.com.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors
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San
Diego, California
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John
M. Thornton
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January
21, 2010
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Chairman
of the Board
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MITEK
SYSTEMS, INC.
8911
BALBOA AVE., SUITE B
SAN
DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92123
PROXY
STATEMENT
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
February 24,
2010
This
proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by
the Board of Directors of Mitek Systems, Inc. ("we," "us," "our," "Mitek," or
the "Company") for use at its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual
Meeting") to be held at 9:00 a.m., local time, Wednesday, February 24,
2010, at the Company's executive offices at 8911 Balboa Ave., Suite B, San
Diego, CA 92123, and at any adjournments thereof.
We will
pay the expenses of soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting including the cost
of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy materials. Proxies may
be solicited personally, by mail, by telephone, by facsimile, or by telegram, by
our regularly employed officers and employees. Our officers and
employees will not receive additional compensation for soliciting
proxies. We may request persons holding stock in their names for
others, such as brokers and nominees, to forward proxy materials to their
principals and request authority to execute the proxy. We will
reimburse any such brokers and nominees for their expenses in connection
therewith.
Our 2009
Annual Report to Stockholders is included in this Proxy Statement, but is not
incorporated in, and is not part of, this Proxy Statement and is not
proxy-soliciting material. We intend to mail this Proxy Statement and
the accompanying material to stockholders of record on or about January 21,
2010.
VOTING
The
holders of at least a majority of the voting power of our common stock
outstanding on the record date must be present in person or by proxy at the
Annual Meeting in order to obtain a quorum for the Annual
Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted in determining
whether at least a majority of the voting power of the common stock outstanding
on the record date are present at the Annual Meeting.
As of the
close of business on January 11, 2010, the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, we had a
total of 16,751,137 shares of common stock issued and
outstanding. Each stockholder of record on the record date is
entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to come before the
Annual Meeting.
To ensure
that your vote is recorded promptly, please vote as soon as possible, even if
you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Most stockholders
have three options for submitting their votes: (i) via the Internet at the
website address set forth on the accompanying ballot, (ii) by telephone at the
phone number set forth on the accompanying ballot or (iii) by
mail. If you have Internet access, we encourage you to record your vote
on the Internet. It is convenient, and it saves us significant
postage and processing costs. In addition, when you vote via the
Internet or by phone prior to the Annual Meeting date, your vote is recorded
immediately and there is no risk that postal delays will cause your vote to
arrive late and therefore not be counted. If you attend the Annual
Meeting and are a registered holder, you may also submit your vote in person,
and any previous votes that you submitted, whether by Internet, telephone or
mail, will be superseded by the vote that you cast at the Annual
Meeting. The Annual Meeting’s polls will close shortly after 9:00
a.m., local time, and no further votes will be accepted after that
time. If you have any questions about submitting your vote, please
call our Corporate Secretary, at (858) 503-7810.
Most
beneficial owners whose stock is held in street name will receive instructions
for voting their shares from their broker, bank or other nominee, rather than
our proxy card. A number of brokers and banks participate in a
program provided through Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. that allows
stockholders to grant their proxy to vote shares by means of the telephone or
Internet. If your shares are held in an account with a broker or bank
participating in the Broadridge program, then you may be able to vote your
shares telephonically by calling the telephone number shown on the instruction
form received from your broker or bank, or over the Internet at Broadridge’s web
site at http://www.proxyvote.com. If you hold your stock in street
name and wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, then you must obtain a
legal proxy issued in your name from the broker, bank or other nominee that
holds your shares of record.
You may
revoke your proxy at any time prior to the close of the polls at the Annual
Meeting by: (i) submitting a later-dated proxy, in person at the Annual Meeting,
via the Internet, by telephone or by mail, (ii) voting in person at the Annual
Meeting or (iii) delivering instructions to our Corporate Secretary, prior to
the Annual Meeting by mail to Mitek Systems, Inc. at 8911 Balboa Avenue, Suite
B, San Diego, CA 92123. If you hold shares through a bank or
brokerage firm, you must contact that firm to revoke any prior voting
instructions. Unless revoked, the proxy will be voted as
specified.
The
election of directors is decided by a plurality of the votes cast by holders of
all shares represented and entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. The adoption of the Mitek Systems, Inc. 2010 Stock Option
Plan requires the approval by a majority of the votes cast by holders of all
shares represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
With
respect to the election of directors, the enclosed form of proxy provides a
method for stockholders to withhold authority to vote for any one or more of the
nominees for director while granting authority to vote for the remaining
nominees. The names of all nominees are listed on the proxy
card. If you wish to grant authority to vote for all nominees, check
the box marked "FOR." If you wish to withhold authority to vote for
all nominees, check the
box marked "WITHHOLD." If you wish your shares to be voted for some
nominees and not for one or more of the others, check the box marked "FOR" and
indicate the nominee(s) for whom you are withholding the authority to vote by
listing such nominee(s) in the space provided. If you check the box
marked "WITHHOLD" your vote will be treated as an abstention and accordingly,
your shares will neither be voted for nor against a director but will be counted
for quorum purposes. Accordingly, withheld votes will not affect the
outcome of the election of directors.
The
enclosed form of proxy also provides a method for stockholders to vote for or
against or to abstain from voting with respect to the adoption of the Mitek
Systems, Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan and the ratification of the appointment of
Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm
for our 2010 fiscal year. By abstaining from voting for such matters,
shares would not be voted either for or against, but would be counted for quorum
purposes. While there may be instances in which a stockholder will
wish to abstain, our Board of Directors encourages all stockholders to vote
their shares in their best judgment and to participate in the voting process to
the fullest extent possible.
Brokers
who hold shares in street name for customers who are beneficial owners of such
shares are prohibited from giving a proxy to vote such customers' shares on
"non-routine" matters in the absence of specific instructions from such
customers. Proposals 1 and 2 are "non-routine"
matters. Accordingly, if your broker holds shares that you own in
“street name,” the broker may not vote your shares on either Proposal 1 or 2
without receiving receive instructions from you. The broker may vote
your shares on Proposal 3 even if the broker does not receive instructions from
you. If your broker does not vote on one or more of the proposals,
this is commonly referred to as a "broker non-vote." A broker
non-vote will be treated in the same manner as an abstention for voting and
quorum purposes. Accordingly, a broker non-vote will not be counted
as having voted in person or by proxy and will have no effect on the outcome of
the election of directors or the ratification of the appointment of our
independent registered public accounting firm.
The
shares represented by proxies that are returned properly signed will be voted in
accordance with the stockholder's directions. If the proxy card is
signed and returned without direction as to how the shares are to be voted, the
shares will be voted as recommended by our Board of Directors. The
persons named as proxies were selected by our Board of Directors.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1
TO
ELECT SEVEN DIRECTORS
Generally
Pursuant
to our Bylaws, our Board of Directors has fixed the number of authorized
directors at seven. All seven directors are to be elected at the
Annual Meeting, to hold office until the next annual meeting or until their
successors are duly elected and qualified. The seven nominees
receiving the highest number of votes will be elected.
Unless
authorization to do so is withheld, it is intended that the persons named in the
enclosed proxy will vote for the election of the nominees proposed by our Board
of Directors, all of whom are presently members of our Board of
Directors. If any of the nominees should become unavailable for
election before the Annual Meeting, the proxy will be voted for a substitute
nominee or nominees, if any, designated by our Board of Directors.
The
following table includes the names and certain information about our
directors. All of the nominees named below have consented to being
named herein and to serve, if elected.
Name
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Age
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Position
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John
M. Thornton
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77
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Chairman
of the Board
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James
B. DeBello
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51
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Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director
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Michael
W. Bealmear (1) (2) (3)
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62
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Director
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Vinton
P. Cunningham (2)
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73
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Director
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Gerald
I. Farmer, Ph. D. (1) (2) (3)
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75
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Director
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Sally
B. Thornton
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75
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Director
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William
P. Tudor (1)
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64
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Director
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(1)
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Member
of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors
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(2)
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Member
of the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors
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(3)
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Member
of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee of the Board
of Directors
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John M. Thornton - Mr.
Thornton has been a director of Mitek since March 1986. He was
appointed Chairman of the Board as of October 1, 1987 and served as President
from May 1991 to July 1991, as Chief Executive Officer from May 1991 to February
1992 and again as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer from
September 1998 to May 2003, when he resigned from his positions as President and
Chief Executive Officer. He resigned from his position as Chief
Financial Officer in May 2005. He continues to serve as Chairman of
the Board. From 1976 through 1988, Mr. Thornton served as Chairman
and Vice Chairman of the Board at Micom Systems, Inc. Mr. Thornton is
also Chairman of the Board of Thornton Winery Corporation in Temecula,
California.
James B. DeBello - Mr. DeBello
has been a director of Mitek since November 1994. He has been
President and Chief Executive Officer of Mitek since May 2003. In
January 2009, Mr. DeBello was appointed Mitek’s Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary, in addition to his other positions. Prior to joining
Mitek, he was Chief Executive Officer of AsiaCorp Communications, Inc., a
wireless data infrastructure and software company, from July 2001 to May
2003. He was Venture Chief Executive Officer for IdeaEdge Ventures,
Inc., a venture capital company, from June 2000 to June 2001. From
May 1999 to May 2000 he was President, Chief Operating Officer and a member of
the Board of Directors of CollegeClub.com, an Internet company. From
November 1998 to April 1999 he was Chief Operating Officer of WirelessKnowledge,
Inc., a joint venture company formed between Microsoft and Qualcomm,
Inc. Before that, from November 1996 to November 1998, Mr. DeBello
held positions as Vice President, Assistant General Manager and General Manager
of Qualcomm, Inc.'s Eudora Internet Software Division, and Vice President of
Product Management of Qualcomm, Inc.'s Subscriber Equipment
Division. Mr. DeBello holds a B.A., magna cum laude and MBA from
Harvard Business School and was a Rotary Scholar at the University of Singapore
where he studied economics and Chinese.
Michael W. Bealmear - Mr.
Bealmear has been a director of Mitek since April 2004. He has been
President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyperroll since 2004. He was
EVP and President of Worldwide Operations at Sybase, Inc. from 2002 to
2004. From 2001 to 2000 he was CEO at Convansys, Inc., from 1999 to
2000 he was CEO at Spear Technologies, and from 1997 to 1998 he was EVP at
Cadence Design Systems.
Vinton P. Cunningham - Mr.
Cunningham has been a director of Mitek since May 2005. Retired since
2002, he served as Sr. Vice-President-Finance of EdVision Corporation from 1993
to 2002. Mr. Cunningham was Chief Operating Officer and Chief
Financial Officer of Founders Club Golf Company from 1990 to 1993. He
was Vice President-Finance of Amcor Capital, Inc. from 1985 to
1990. Mr. Cunningham was Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of
Superior Farming Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Superior Oil Company,
from 1981 to 1985.
Gerald I. Farmer - Dr. Farmer
has been a director of Mitek since May 1994. He was Executive Vice
President of Mitek from November 1992 until June 1997. Before joining
Mitek, from January 1987 to November 1992, Dr. Farmer was Executive Vice
President of HNC Software, Inc. He has held senior management
positions with IBM Corporation, Xerox, SAIC and Gould Imaging and
Graphics.
Sally B. Thornton - Ms.
Thornton has been a director of Mitek since April 1988. She has been
a private investor for more than 40 years. She served as a director
of Micom Systems, Inc. from 1976 to 1988. From 1987 until 1996 she
served as Chairman of Medical Materials, Inc, a composite plastics
manufacturer. Ms. Thornton is on the Board of Directors of Thornton
Winery Corporation in Temecula, California. She has been a Trustee of
the Sjorgren's Syndrome Foundation in New York and Stephens College in
Missouri. Ms. Thornton is also a Life Trustee of the San Diego Museum
of Art. Ms. Thornton is the spouse of John M. Thornton, Chairman of
the Board.
William P. Tudor - Mr. Tudor
has been a director of Mitek since September 2004. He is President of
International Learning Corporation. Prior to that, he was Executive
Vice President of Scantron Corporation from July 2002 to July
2005. He was Chief Executive Officer of EdVision from June 1990 to
July 2002.
Required
Vote
The
election of directors is decided by a plurality of the votes cast by holders of
all shares represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As
a result, abstentions and broker non-votes will not have any effect on this
proposal.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE
NOMINEES DISCUSSED ABOVE TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
PROPOSAL
NO. 2
ADOPTION
OF THE MITEK SYSTEMS, INC. 2010 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Our Board
of Directors believes that attracting and retaining highly qualified key
employees and directors is essential to our growth and success. In
this regard, stock options have been and will continue to be an important
element of our compensation program because options enable our directors,
employees and providers of services to acquire or increase their proprietary
interest in Mitek, thereby promoting a close identity of interests between such
individuals and our stockholders. Options also provide an increased
incentive to option holders to expend their maximum efforts for the success of
our business.
Our Board
of Directors believes it is in the interests our company and our stockholders
that we continue to have the ability to grant stock option
awards. Accordingly, on November 11, 2009, our Board of Directors
adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the Mitek Systems, Inc. 2010 Stock
Option Plan (the "2010 Plan").
Summary
of Material Terms
The
following discussion of the material features of the 2010 Plan is qualified by
reference to the text of the 2010 Plan, a copy of which is set forth in Appendix
A hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Administration. The
2010 Plan will be administered by our Board of Directors, or a committee of two
or more members appointed by our Board of Directors (the "Committee") who are
Non-Employee Directors as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and an outside director as defined in
Treasury Regulation § 1.162-27(e)(3). For purposes of this summary of
the 2010 Plan, our Board of Directors or the Committee, if one is appointed,
shall be referred to as the "Administrator."
Subject
to the terms and conditions of the 2010 Plan, the Administrator is authorized to
designate participants who are employees, directors or consultants of the
Company and its subsidiaries, determine the number of options to be granted, set
terms and conditions of such options, interpret the 2010 Plan, specify rules and
regulations relating to the 2010 Plan, and make all other determinations which
may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2010
Plan.
Stock Options. The
Administrator is authorized to grant stock options, including both incentive
stock options ("ISOs"), which can result in potentially favorable tax treatment
to the participant, and nonstatutory stock options (“NSOs”). Except
as provided in the 2010 Plan, generally the exercise price per share of common
stock subject to an option is determined by the Administrator, provided that the
exercise price of an ISO may not be less than the fair market value of the
common stock on the date of grant. The term of each such option and
the times at which each such option shall be exercisable generally will be fixed
by the Administrator, except no option will have a term exceeding 10
years. Upon the termination of an option holder's employment with us
other than for cause, all the unvested options will immediately expire and the
vested options will expire three months after the occurrence giving rise to
termination. Upon the termination of an option holder's employment
for cause, all of his options will expire on the date of the occurrence giving
rise to the termination. Options may be exercised by payment of the
exercise price in cash, stock or promissory note, or as the Administrator may
determine from time to time in accordance with applicable law.
Shares Subject to the
Plan. Under the 2010 Plan, 2,000,000 shares of our common
stock will be available for issuance of options. The maximum number
of shares of common stock which may be granted to any individual under the 2010
Plan in any one-year period shall not exceed 500,000 shares, subject to the
adjustments described in the next paragraph.
Adjustments Upon Changes in
Capitalization. The 2010 Plan provides that, in the event of
any change in our capital structure that effects an increase or decrease in the
number of outstanding shares of our common stock without receipt of
consideration, the number of shares of common stock covered by each outstanding
option, and the exercise price thereof, shall be proportionately adjusted by the
Administrator. The 2010 Plan provides that, in the event of certain
capital transactions, all outstanding options will terminate upon such capital
transaction unless they are assumed by a successor corporation, provided that
all vested options may be exercised during the 15 days prior to the capital
transaction. The Administrator may choose to accelerate the vesting
of any option.
Eligibility. Any
officer, director or employee of, and certain persons rendering services to
Mitek or its subsidiaries is eligible to receive awards under the 2010
Plan. Only employees may receive ISO's under the 2010
Plan.
Other Terms of
Options. The flexible terms of the 2010 Plan will permit the
Administrator to impose performance conditions with respect to any
option. Performance conditions may require that an option be
forfeited, in whole or in part, if performance objectives are not met, or
require that the time of exercisability of an option be linked to achievement of
performance conditions.
In the
event that the fair market value of the price of our common stock declines below
the price at which the option is granted, the Administrator has the discretion
and authority to cancel, reduce, or otherwise modify the price of any
unexercised option, including, but not limited to, a regrant of the option at a
new price more commensurate with the fair market value of our common stock,
subject, in each case, to approval of our Board of Directors before any such
action is taken.
No
options may be granted under the 2010 Plan after November 11, 2019.
The
exercise of an option is conditioned on the withholding of
taxes. Options granted under the 2010 Plan may not be pledged or
otherwise encumbered and are not transferable except by will or by the laws of
intestate succession.
Our Board
of Directors may, subject to any stockholder approval required by applicable
law, amend the 2010 Plan with respect to any shares of common stock at that time
not subject to options.
Federal Tax Consequences of the 2010
Plan. The following is a general summary as of January 2010 of
the federal income tax consequences to us and to U.S. participants to awards
granted under the 2010 Plan and does not attempt to describe all possible
federal or other tax consequences of such participation or tax consequences
based on particular circumstances. The federal tax laws may change
and the federal, state and local tax consequences for any participant will
depend upon his or her individual circumstances. Tax consequences for any
particular individual may be different. This summary is not intended to be
exhaustive and does not discuss the tax consequences of a participant’s death or
provisions of income tax laws of any municipality, state or other
country. Each participant is advised to consult his or her individual
tax advisor concerning their personal tax consequences.
Incentive Stock Options. For
federal income tax purposes, the holder of an ISO has no taxable income at the
time of the grant or exercise of the ISO. If such person retains the common
stock for a period of at least two years after the stock option is granted and
one year after the stock option is exercised, any gain upon the subsequent sale
of the common stock will be taxed as a long-term capital gain. A participant who
disposes of shares acquired by exercise of an ISO prior to the expiration of two
years after the stock option is granted or before one year after the stock
option is exercised will realize ordinary income as of the date of exercise
equal to the difference between the exercise price and fair market value of the
stock. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon any later disposition of the
shares would be short or long term capital gain or loss depending on whether the
shares had been held by the participant for one year or more. The difference
between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the
exercise date of an ISO is an adjustment in computing the holder’s alternative
minimum taxable income and may be subject to an alternative minimum tax which is
paid if such tax exceeds the participant’s regular income tax for the
year.
Nonstatutory Stock Options. A
participant who receives an NSO generally will not realize taxable income on the
grant of such option, but will realize ordinary income at the time of exercise
of the stock option equal to the difference between the option exercise price
and the fair market value of the stock on the date of
exercise. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon any later
disposition of the shares would be short or long term capital gain or loss
depending on whether the shares had been held by the participant for one year or
more.
Income Tax Effects for our
Company. We generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection
with an award under the 2010 Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income
realized by a participant at the time the participant recognizes such income
(for example, upon the exercise of an NSO).
New
Benefit Plans
All
awards under the 2010 Plan will be granted at the Administrator's discretion.
Therefore, the benefits and amounts that will be received or allocated under the
2010 Plan are not presently determinable. The following table sets forth the
number of shares subject to awards granted under our 1999 Stock Option Plan,
2000 Stock Option Plan, 2002 Stock Option Plan and 2006 Stock Option Plan to the
below individuals and groups during fiscal year 2009. However, this is not
necessarily indicative of future grants under the 2010 Plan.
Name
and Position
|
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Dollar
Value ($)
|
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|
Number
of Units
|
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James
B. DeBello, CEO and CFO
|
|
Not
applicable
|
|
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Options
for 249,000 shares
|
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Tesfaye
Hailemichael, Former CFO (1)
|
|
—
|
|
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—
|
|
Executive
Group
|
|
Not
applicable
|
|
|
Options
for 249,000 shares
|
|
Non-Executive
Director Group
|
|
Not
applicable
|
|
|
Options
for 150,000 shares
|
|
Non-Executive
Officer Employee Group
|
|
Not
applicable
|
|
|
Options
for 540,000 shares
|
|
(1) On
January 13, 2009, Tesfaye Hailemichael tendered his resignation from all offices
with the Company to pursue other interests, effective January 14,
2009.
Required
Vote
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be required
to adopt the 2010 Plan. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be
counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on this proposal and will have the
same effect as negative votes.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE ADOPTION OF THE MITEK
SYSTEMS, INC. 2010 STOCK OPTION PLAN.
PROPOSAL
NO. 3
RATIFICATION
OF SELECTION OF AUDITORS
The Audit
Committee of our Board of Directors has selected the firm of Mayer Hoffman
McCann, P.C ("Mayer Hoffman"), independent certified public accountants, to
serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2010. Representatives of Mayer Hoffman have
been invited to attend the Annual Meeting and, if they attend, will have the
opportunity to make a statement and respond to appropriate
questions.
During
our two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent interim period prior to the
engagement of Mayer Hoffman, we did not consult with Mayer Hoffman with respect
to any of the matters enumerated in Item 304(a)(2)(i) or Item 304(a)(2)(ii) of
Regulation S-K.
Neither
our Bylaws nor other governing documents or law require stockholder ratification
of the selection of Mayer Hoffman as our independent registered public
accounting firm. However, the Audit Committee of our Board of
Directors is submitting the appointment of Mayer Hoffman to our stockholders for
ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If our
stockholders fail to ratify the appointment of Mayer Hoffman, the Audit
Committee of our Board of Directors will reconsider whether or not to retain
Mayer Hoffman. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee
of our Board of Directors in its discretion may direct the appointment of
different independent auditors at any time during the year if they determine
that such a change would be in the best interests of our company and our
stockholders.
During
our two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent interim period, there were
no disagreements on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if
not resolved to the satisfaction of Mayer Hoffman, would have caused it to make
reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its
report and there occurred no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v)
of Regulation S-K as promulgated by the SEC.
Audit
Fees
The fees
for professional services rendered for the audit of our financial statements for
each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008, and
the reviews of our interim financial statements included in our Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q (or 10-QSB) or services normally provided by Mayer Hoffman,
in connection with statutory or regulatory filings or engagements were
approximately $129,300 and $140,500 for the fiscal years ended September 30,
2009 and 2008, respectively.
Audit
Related Fees
There
were no audit related fees for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 or
September 30, 2008.
Tax
Fees
There
were no fees for tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning billed or expected
to be billed by our independent auditors for the fiscal years ended
September 30, 2009 or September 30, 2008.
All
Other Fees
Other
than described above, there were no other fees paid to our independent
auditors.
Independence
The Audit
Committee of our Board of Directors believes there were no services provided by
our Mayer Hoffman which would affect their independence.
Pre-Approval
Policies
In
accordance with the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee of our Board of
Directors has established policies and procedures by which it approves in
advance any audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by our
independent auditors. Under these procedures, prior to the engagement
of the independent auditor for pre-approved services, requests or applications
for the auditors to provide services must be submitted to the Audit Committee
and must include a detailed description of the services to be
rendered. Our chief financial officer and the independent auditors
must ensure that the independent auditors are not engaged to perform the
proposed services unless those services are within the list of services that
have received the Audit Committee's pre-approval and must cause the Audit
Committee to be informed in a timely manner of all services rendered by the
independent auditors and the related fees.
Each
request or application must include:
|
·
|
a
recommendation by our chief financial officer as to whether the Audit
Committee should approve the request or application;
and
|
|
·
|
a
joint statement of our chief financial officer and the independent
auditors as to whether, in their view, the request or application is
consistent with the SEC's and the requirements for auditor independence of
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
("PCAOB").
|
The Audit
Committee also will not permit the independent auditors to be engaged to provide
any services to the extent that the SEC has prohibited the provision of those
services by independent auditors, which generally include:
|
·
|
bookkeeping
or other services related to accounting records or financial
statements;
|
|
·
|
financial
information systems design and
implementation;
|
|
·
|
appraisal
or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind
reports;
|
|
·
|
internal
audit outsourcing services;
|
|
·
|
broker-dealer,
investment adviser or investment banking
services;
|
|
·
|
expert
services unrelated to the audit;
and
|
|
·
|
any service that the PCAOB
determines is not
permissible.
|
The
ratification of Mayer Hoffman as our independent registered public accounting
firm requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
casting votes in person or by proxy on this proposal. Abstentions will be
counted towards the tabulation of votes cast on this proposal. Broker non-votes
are counted towards a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining
whether this matter has been approved.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF MAYER HOFFMAN TO SERVE AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR OUR 2010 FISCAL YEAR
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit
Committee of our Board of Directors has furnished the following report to
stockholders of the Company in accordance with rules adopted by the
SEC.
As
described in its charter, the Audit Committee meets with the independent
auditors and our officers or other personnel responsible for our financial
reports. The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing the scope
of the auditors' examination of the Company and the audited results of the
examination. The Audit Committee is also responsible for discussing
with the auditors the scope, reasonableness and adequacy of internal accounting
controls. The Audit Committee is not responsible for the planning or
conduct of the audits or the determination that our financial statements are
complete and accurate and in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. Among other matters, the Audit Committee considers and
selects a certified public accounting firm as our independent
auditor. The Audit Committee held four meetings during fiscal
2009.
In
accordance with rules adopted by the SEC, the Audit Committee states
that:
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management our audited
financial statements for the fiscal year
2009.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee has discussed with Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C., our
independent registered public accountants, the matters required to be
discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as modified and
supplemented.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from
Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C., required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1 ("Independence Discussions with Audit Committees"), as
modified and supplemented, and has discussed with the independent
registered public accountants, its
independence.
|
Based
upon the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee
recommended to our Board of Directors that our audited financial statements be
included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2009, for filing with the SEC.
|
Audit
Committee
|
|
|
|
Vinton
Cunningham
|
|
Michael
Bealmear
|
|
Gerald
I. Farmer
|
INFORMATION
ABOUT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meetings
of our Board of Directors
Our Board
of Directors schedules approximately four meetings during the fiscal year of
which one is held immediately following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and
at the same location. Additional meetings may be called as the need
arises. During the 2009 fiscal year, there were four meetings of the
Board of Directors. No director attended fewer than 75 percent of the
aggregate number of meetings held by the Board of Directors and the committees
on which such director served during the 2009 fiscal year.
Board
Committees
Our Board
of Directors has appointed from among its members three committees, the Audit
Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the
Compensation Committee, to advise it on matters of special importance to the
Company. Each of the committees of the Board of Directors acts under
a written charter. Copies of the Audit Committee Charter, Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, and
Code of Ethics are available on our website at www.miteksystems.com by selecting
"About Us" and "Investor Relations."
Our
directors have a critical role in guiding our strategic direction and overseeing
our management. Board candidates are considered based upon various
criteria, such as their broad-based business and professional skills and
experiences, a global business and social perspective, concern for the long-term
interests of the stockholders, and personal integrity and
judgment. In addition, directors must have time available to devote
to board activities and to enhance their knowledge of our business.
Accordingly,
we seek to attract and retain highly qualified directors who have sufficient
time to attend to their substantial duties and responsibilities to the
Company. Developments in corporate governance and financial reporting
have resulted in an increased demand for such highly qualified and productive
public company directors.
Audit
Committee
Our Board
of Directors has appointed a standing Audit Committee which, during the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2009, held four meetings. The Audit
Committee is responsible for overseeing our accounting and financial reporting
processes and the audits of our financial statements, monitoring the integrity
of our financial reporting process and systems of internal controls regarding
finance, accounting and legal compliance, and reviewing the independence and
performance of our independent registered public accountants. The
members of the Audit Committee during fiscal year 2009 were Messrs. Cunningham
and Bealmear and Dr. Farmer. Our Board of Directors has determined
that Mr. Cunningham is an "audit committee financial expert", as such term is
defined pursuant to rules promulgated by the SEC. Each of the members
of the Audit Committee is an "independent" director as defined by applicable SEC
and Nasdaq Stock Market rules and meets the other qualifications under the
regulations adopted by the SEC pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and
making recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding the composition and
structure of our Board of Directors, establishing criteria for board membership
and corporate policies relating to the recruitment of board members, and
establishing, implementing and monitoring policies and processes regarding
principles of corporate governance. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee will consider suggestions by stockholders for
names of possible future nominees delivered in writing and received 120 days in
advance of the annual meeting of stockholders. Such recommendations
should provide all information relating to such person that the stockholder
desires to nominate that is required to be disclosed in solicitation of proxies
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee did not hold
any meetings during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. The
members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee during fiscal year
2009 were Dr. Farmer and Mr. Bealmear, each of whom is an "independent" director
as defined by applicable SEC and Nasdaq Stock Market rules.
Compensation
Committee
Our Board
of Directors also has appointed a Compensation Committee which reviews executive
compensation, establishes executive compensation levels, recommends employee
compensation programs and administers our stock option plans. During
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, the Compensation Committee held two
meetings. The members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal
year 2009 were Messrs. Tudor and Bealmear and Dr. Farmer, each of whom is an
"independent" director as defined by applicable SEC and Nasdaq Stock Market
rules.
Stockholder
Communications to the Board
Stockholders
may contact an individual director, our Board of Directors as a group, or a
specified committee or group of our Board of Directors, including the
non-employee directors as a group, at the following address: Corporate
Secretary, Mitek Systems, Inc. 8911 Balboa Ave, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92123,
Attn: Board of Directors. We will receive and process communications
before forwarding them to the addressee. Directors generally will not
be forwarded stockholder communications that are primarily commercial in nature,
relate to improper or irrelevant topics, or request general information about
the Company.
Director
Attendance at Annual Meetings
Although
we do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of our Board of
Directors at our annual meeting, we encourage all of our directors to
attend. With the exception of Mr. Michael Bealmear, each director
nominated for election at our 2010 annual stockholder meeting attended our 2009
annual stockholder meeting.
Director
Compensation
Our
Chairman receives $2,250 and all of our other non-employee directors received
$1,500 for each regularly scheduled Board meeting attended in person and $500
per meeting attended by phone. In addition, they received $500 for
each regularly scheduled committee meeting. We reimbursed our
directors for their reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of our
Board of Directors. The members of the Board are eligible for
reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with their service on the
Board.
The
following table provides director compensation information for the year ended
September 30, 2009.
2009 Director Compensation
|
|
Name
|
|
Fees Earned or Paid
in Cash ($)
|
|
|
Option Awards
($)(1)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation ($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
John
M. Thornton(2)
|
|
$ |
12,960 |
|
|
$ |
2,073 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
15,033 |
|
Michael
W. Bealmear(2)
|
|
$ |
8,500 |
|
|
$ |
2,073 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
10,573 |
|
Vinton
P. Cunningham(2)
|
|
$ |
8,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,073 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
10,073 |
|
Gerald
I. Farmer(2)
|
|
$ |
9,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,073 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
11,073 |
|
Sally
B. Thornton(2)
|
|
$ |
6,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,073 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
8,073 |
|
William
P. Tudor(2)
|
|
$ |
7,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,073 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
9,073 |
|
(1)
|
Represents
the dollar amount recognized for financial statement report purposes with
respect to the fiscal year in accordance with ASC 718. Please
see "NOTE 3. ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK BASED COMPENSATION," to our financial
statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2009 filed with the SEC for the relevant
assumptions used to determine the valuation of our option
awards.
|
(2)
|
The
outstanding equity awards held by each of our directors as of
September 30, 2009 are as
follows:
|
|
John
M. Thornton: options to acquire 90,000 shares of our common
stock;
|
|
Michael
W. Bealmear: options to acquire 65,000 shares of our common
stock;
|
|
Vinton
P. Cunningham: options to acquire 65,000 shares of our common
stock;
|
|
Gerald
I. Farmer: options to acquire 65,000 shares of our common
stock;
|
|
Sally
B. Thornton: options to acquire 65,000 shares of our common stock;
and
|
|
William
P. Tudor: options to acquire 65,000 shares of our common
stock.
|
INFORMATION
ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Currently,
our sole executive officer is Mr. James B. DeBello. Mr. DeBello has
served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2003 and as our
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since January 2009. Mr. DeBello
is also a member of our Board of Directors. Please see "PROPOSAL NO.
1—TO ELECT SEVEN DIRECTORS" for more information regarding Mr.
DeBello
There are
no arrangements or understandings between any executive officer and any other
person pursuant to which such executive officer was or is to be selected as an
executive officer.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table shows the compensation we paid to our chief executive officer
and other executive officers who served as such at the end of fiscal 2009 and
received annual compensation over $100,000. We may refer to our
executive officers identified in the table below as our "named executive
officers" elsewhere in this report.
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
Name
and Principal Position
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)(1)
|
|
|
Total
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
B. DeBello
|
2009
|
|
$ |
318,683 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
47,890 |
|
|
$ |
366,573 |
|
President,
CEO and CFO
|
2008
|
|
$ |
333,497 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
70,325 |
|
|
$ |
403,822 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tesfaye
Hailemichael (2)
|
2009
|
|
$ |
43,960 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
43,960 |
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
186,915 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
27,483 |
|
|
$ |
214,398 |
|
(1)
|
Represents
the dollar amount recognized for financial statement report purposes with
respect to the fiscal year in accordance with ASC 718. Please
see "NOTE 3. ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK BASED COMPENSATION," to our financial
statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2009 filed with the
SEC.
|
(2)
|
On
January 13, 2009, Tesfaye Hailemichael tendered his resignation from all
offices with the Company to pursue other interests, effective January 14,
2009.
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The
following table presents the outstanding equity awards held by each of the named
executive officers as of the September 30, 2009. The only
outstanding equity awards are stock options. All options we granted
to our named executive officers during our fiscal year ended September 30,
2009, vest monthly over a three-year period and have ten-year terms, subject to
earlier termination on the occurrence of certain events related to termination
of employment. In addition, the full vesting of options is
accelerated if there is a change in control of the Company.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2009 Fiscal Year-End
|
Name
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
|
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
|
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
James
B. DeBello
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
1.06 |
|
05/19/13
|
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.50 |
|
11/17/14
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.80 |
|
10/19/15
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
11/18/15
|
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
1.10 |
|
07/10/16
|
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
12/04/17
|
Tesfaye
Hailemichael
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
-
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested at Fiscal Year End
During
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, no stock options were exercised by any
named executive officer.
Pension
Benefits
We do not
have any defined benefit plans at this time.
Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation
None of
our named executive officers participate in or have account balances in
non-qualified defined contribution plans or other deferred compensation
plans.
Employment
Arrangements and Change in Control Arrangements
The stock
option agreements of our named executive officers provide that, generally, in
case of a change of control, the option will be assumed or an equivalent option
or right substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of
the successor corporation. If the successor corporation refuses to
assume or substitute for the option, then immediately before and contingent on
the consummation of the change in control, the optionee will fully vest in and
have the right to exercise his or her options.
As of
September 30, 2009, the value of the unvested, in-the-money options of our
named executive officers that would accelerate upon a change of control, based
on the difference between the closing bid price on the last trading day of our
fiscal year of $0.98 per share and the exercise price of the respective options,
was as follows:
Name
|
|
Option Value as of
September 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
$ |
288,773 |
|
Tesfaye
Hailemichael
|
|
|
- |
|
Processes
and Procedures for the Consideration and Determination of Executive and Director
Compensation
One of
the duties of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is to monitor
the performance and compensation of executive officers and other key employees,
to review compensation plans and to administer our stock option
plans. The Company's executive and key employee compensation programs
are designed to attract, motivate and retain the executive talent needed to
enhance stockholder value in a competitive environment. Our
fundamental philosophy is to relate the amount of compensation "at risk" for an
executive directly to his or her contribution to our success in achieving
superior performance goals and to the overall success of the
Company. The Company's executive and key employee compensation
program consists of a base salary component, a component providing the potential
for an annual bonus based on overall Company performance as well as individual
performance, and a component providing the opportunity to earn stock options
that focus the executives and key employees on building stockholder value
through meeting longer-term financial and strategic goals.
In
designing and administering its executive compensation program, the Company
tries to strike an appropriate balance among these various elements, each of
which is discussed in greater detail below.
In
applying these elements to arrive at specific amounts or awards, the members of
the Compensation Committee apply their subjective evaluation of these various
factors and arrive at consensus through discussion. While specific
numerical criteria may be used in evaluating achievement of individual or
Company goals, the extent of achieving such goals is then factored in with other
more subjective criteria to arrive at the final compensation or award
decision.
Base Salary. Our
salary program is designed to reflect individual performance related to our
overall financial performance as well as competitive practice. Salary
reviews are typically performed annually in conjunction with a performance
review. Salary increases are dependent on the achievement of
individual and corporate performance goals.
The Executive and Key Employee Bonus
Plan. The Executive and Key Employee Bonus Plan is designed to
reward our executives and other key employees for their contributions to
corporate goals. Corporate goals are established as part of the
annual operating plan process. Overall corporate goals include target
levels of pre-tax, pre-bonus profit and net revenue.
Bonus
achievement is dependent upon meeting or exceeding our minimum goals for
pre-tax, pre-bonus and net revenue. For fiscal 2009, no bonus award
for any participant was payable as we did not achieve our goals.
Stock Option
Plans. We currently have four stock option plans that have
been approved by our stockholders that allow us to grant options to purchase
common stock to our directors, executive officers and key individuals who make,
or are expected to make, significant contributions to the Company.
Our stock
option plans are designed to:
|
·
|
Encourage
and create ownership and retention of our
stock;
|
|
·
|
Balance
long-term with short-term decision
making;
|
|
·
|
Link
the officers' or key employees' financial success to that of the
stockholders;
|
|
·
|
Focus
attention on building stockholder value through meeting longer-term
financial and strategic goals; and
|
|
·
|
Ensure
broad-based participation of key employees (all employees currently
participate in the Stock Option
Plans).
|
Under the
terms of each of our stock option plans, the exercise price of options granted
to persons owning more than 10% of the total combined voting power of our stock
is not to be less than 110% of the fair market value of our common stock as
determined on the date of the grant of the options.
In
addition, each of our stock option plans provides for the grant of incentive and
non-qualified options. Incentive stock options are granted with an
exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock at the grant
date and for a term of not more than ten years. Non-qualified stock
options may be granted with an exercise price of not less than 85% of fair
market value of our common stock at the grant date and for a term of not more
than five years. To date, the Company has elected to grant
non-qualified stock options under these plans with a three year
term.
The 1999
Stock Option Plan (the “1999 Plan”) provides for the purchase of up to 1,000,000
shares of the Company's common stock. The 1999 Plan terminated on
June 10, 2009; however options granted under the plan that were outstanding
at such date remain in effect until such options are exercised or
expire. As of September 30, 2009, options to purchase 724,750
shares of the Company's common stock were outstanding and no options were
available for grant under the 1999 Plan.
The 2000
Stock Option Plan (the “2000 Plan”) provides for the purchase of up to 1,000,000
shares of the Company's common stock. As of September 30, 2009,
options to purchase 633,200 shares of the Company's common stock were
outstanding and options to purchase up to 204,916 shares of the Company's common
stock were available for grant under the 2000 Plan.
The 2002
Stock Option Plan (the “2002 Plan”) provides for the purchase of up to 1,000,000
shares of the Company's common stock. As of September 30, 2009,
options to purchase 907,150 shares of the Company's common stock were
outstanding and options to purchase up to 59,795 shares of the Company's common
stock were available for grant under the 2002 Plan.
The 2006
Stock Option Plan (the “2006 Plan”) provides for the purchase of up to 1,000,000
shares of the Company's common stock. As of September 30, 2009,
options to purchase 867,900 shares of the Company's common stock were
outstanding and options to purchase up to 132,100 shares of the Company's common
stock were available for grant under the 2006 Plan.
Additionally,
under a compensation agreement with Mr. DeBello, in 2003 he was granted options
to purchase 400,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.06 per
share.
401(k) Savings
Plan. In 1990, we established an Employee Savings Plan (the
"Savings Plan") intended to qualify under Section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the "Code"), which is available to all
employees who satisfy specified age and service requirement. The
Savings Plan allows an employee to defer up to 15% of such employee's
compensation for the pay period elected in his or her salary deferral agreement
on a pre-tax basis pursuant to a cash or deferred arrangement under
Section 401(k) of the Code (subject to maximums permitted under
federal law). This contribution will generally not be subject to
federal tax until it is distributed from the Savings Plan. In
addition these contributions are fully vested and
non-forfeitable. Contributions to the Savings Plan are deposited in a
trust fund established in connection with the Savings Plan. We may
make discretionary contributions to the Savings Plan at the end of each fiscal
year as deemed appropriate by our Board of Directors. Vested amounts
allocated to each participating employee are distributed in the event of
retirement, death, disability or other termination of employment. For
fiscal 2009 the Compensation Committee determined that participants would not
receive a matching contribution.
Other Compensation
Plans. We have adopted certain broad-based employee benefit
plans in which executive officers have been permitted to
participate. The incremental cost to us of benefits provided to
executive officers under these life and health insurance plans is less than 10%
of the base salaries for executive officers for fiscal 2009. Benefits
under these broad-based plans are not directly or indirectly tied to company
performance.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The
following table presents information concerning the beneficial ownership of the
shares of our common stock as of December 31, 2009, by:
|
·
|
each
person we know to be the beneficial owner of 5% of more of our outstanding
shares of common stock,
|
|
·
|
each
of our named executive officers and current directors,
and
|
|
·
|
all
of our current executive officers and directors as a
group.
|
We have
determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Except
as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on the information
furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have
sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock that
they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property
laws.
Applicable
percentage ownership is based on 16,751,137 shares of common stock outstanding
on December 31, 2009. In computing the number of shares of common
stock beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that
person, we deemed as outstanding shares of common stock subject to options or
warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days of December 31, 2009. We did not deem these shares
outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of
any other person.
Except as
indicated by the footnotes below, the business address for each of these
stockholders is c/o Mitek Systems, Inc., 8911 Balboa Ave., Suite B,
San Diego, CA 92123.
Name of Beneficial Owner or Identify of Group
|
|
Number of shares of
common stock
Beneficially Owned
|
|
|
Percent
of Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and Executive
Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
M. and Sally B. Thornton (1)
|
|
|
2,869,959 |
|
|
|
16.98 |
% |
James
B. DeBello (2)
|
|
|
1,570,492 |
|
|
|
8.57 |
% |
William
P. Tudor (3)
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Michael
W. Bealmear (4)
|
|
|
65,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Vinton
P. Cunningham (5)
|
|
|
65,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Gerald
I. Farmer (6)
|
|
|
65,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Tesfaye
Hailemichael
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
* |
|
Directors
and Executive Officers as a Group (seven individuals)(7)
|
|
|
4,735,451 |
|
|
|
25.27 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Five Percent Stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
M. and Sally B. Thornton (1)
|
|
|
2,869,959 |
|
|
|
16.98 |
% |
John
Harland Company (8)
|
|
|
2,464,284 |
|
|
|
14.43 |
% |
Prescott
Group Capital Management LLC (9)
|
|
|
1,666,985 |
|
|
|
9.95 |
% |
White
Pine Capital, LLC (10)
|
|
|
1,265,766 |
|
|
|
7.37 |
% |
Isaac
and Frieda Schlesinger (11)
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
|
5.97 |
% |
Laurus
Master Fund Ltd. (12)
|
|
|
1,061,000 |
|
|
|
5.96 |
% |
(1)
|
John
M. Thornton and Sally B. Thornton, husband and wife, are trustees of a
family trust, and are each directors of the Company. Includes
155,000 shares of common stock subject to
options.
|
(2)
|
Consists
of 1,570,492 shares of common stock subject to
options.
|
(3)
|
Includes
65,000 shares of common stock subject to
options.
|
(4)
|
Consists
of 65,000 shares of common stock subject to
options.
|
(5)
|
Consists
of 65,000 shares of common stock subject to
options.
|
(6)
|
Consists
of 65,000 shares of common stock subject to
options.
|
(7)
|
Includes
1,985,492 shares of common stock subject to
options.
|
(8)
|
Based
solely on Schedule 13G filed by the beneficial owner with the SEC on
May 13, 2005. The stockholder's address is 2939 Miller Road, Decatur,
Georgia 30035.
|
(9)
|
Based
solely on Schedule 13G/A filed by the beneficial owner with the SEC
on February 14, 2008. This stockholder's address is 1924
South Utica, Suite 1120, Tulsa, OK
74104-6529.
|
(10)
|
Consists
of (i) 849,100 shares of common stock outstanding, (ii) 83,333 shares of
common stock issuable upon exercise of a warrant, and (iii) 333,333 shares
of common stock issuable upon conversion of a convertible debenture in the
principal amount of $250,000. This stockholder's address is 60
South 6th
Street, Suite 2530 Minneapolis,
MN 55402.
|
(11)
|
Based
solely on Schedule 13G/A filed by the beneficial owner with the SEC on
March 6, 2008. Consists of 1,000,000 shares of common stock as
to which Isaac Schlesinger and Frieda Schlesinger have shared voting and
dispositive power. This stockholder's address is c/o Bishop, Rosen &
Co, Inc., 100 Broadway 16th Floor, New York, NY
10005.
|
(12)
|
Consists
of 1,061,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
warrants.
|
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The table
below sets forth information as of September 30, 2009, with respect to
compensation plans under which our common stock is authorized for
issuance. The figures related to the equity compensation plan
approved by security holders relate to our 1999 Stock Option Plan, 2000 Stock
Option Plan, 2002 Stock Option Plan and 2006 Stock Option Plan. We do
not have any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by security
holders.
|
|
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
|
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
|
|
|
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)
|
|
Equity
Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders
|
|
|
3,533,000 |
|
|
$ |
0.56 |
|
|
|
396,811 |
|
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Review
of Related Party Transactions
It is our
policy and procedure to have all transactions with a value above $120,000,
including loans, between us and our officers, directors and principal
stockholders and their affiliates, reviewed and approved by a majority of our
board of directors, including a majority of the independent and disinterested
members of our board of directors, and that such transactions be on terms no
less favorable to us than those that we could obtain from unaffiliated third
parties. We believe that all of the transactions described below were reviewed
and approved under the foregoing policies and procedures.
Related
Party Transactions
Except as
noted below, there have been no related party transactions with any of our
directors, executive officers or five percent stockholders in the last three
fiscal years:
John H.
Harland Company beneficially owns more than five percent of our outstanding
common stock. The following table summarizes revenue realized from
John Harland during the twelve months ended September 30, 2009 and
2008:
|
|
Twelve Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Software
licenses
|
|
$ |
6,237 |
|
|
$ |
227,812 |
|
Maintenance
and professional services
|
|
|
60,385 |
|
|
|
56,792 |
|
Total
Revenue
|
|
$ |
66,622 |
|
|
$ |
284,604 |
|
At
September 30, 2009, there was an outstanding accounts receivable balance of
approximately $10,000 due from John Harland, compared to a balance of
approximately $5,000 at September 30, 2008.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers and directors and
persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to
file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the
SEC. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are
required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on a review of
Forms, 3, 4, and 5 and amendments thereto furnished to us, we are not aware of
any director, officer or beneficial owner of 10% of our common stock that failed
to file on a timely basis as disclosed on the above forms, reports required by
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
during fiscal year 2009.
HOUSEHOLDING
OF PROXY MATERIALS
Some
banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the
practice of "householding" proxy statements and annual reports. This means that
only one copy of our proxy statement or annual report to stockholders may have
been sent to multiple stockholders in each household. We will promptly deliver a
separate copy of either document to any stockholder upon written or oral
request, free of charge. To make such a request, please contact us at Mitek
Systems, Inc., Corporate Secretary, 8911 Balboa Ave., Suite B, San Diego, CA
92123 or contact us at (858) 503-7810. Any stockholder who wants to receive
separate copies of our proxy statement or annual report in the future, or any
stockholder who is receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one
copy per household, should contact the stockholder's bank, broker, or other
nominee record holder, or the stockholder may contact us at the above address
and phone number.
PROPOSALS
OF STOCKHOLDERS
For
proposals of stockholders to be included in our proxy materials to be
distributed in connection with our 2011 annual meeting of stockholders,
anticipated to be held in February 2011, we must receive such proposals at our
principal executive offices in writing no later than September 24,
2010. The acceptance of such proposals is subject to Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") guidelines. Any stockholder proposal
submitted with respect to our 2011 annual meeting of stockholders which is
received by us after December 7, 2010 will be considered untimely for purposes
of Rule 14a-4 and Rule 14a-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and our
Board of Directors may vote against such proposal using its discretionary voting
authority as authorized by proxy.
OTHER
BUSINESS
The
Annual Meeting is called for the purposes set forth in the attached Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We are not aware of any matters for
action by stockholders at this meeting other than those described in the
Notice. The enclosed proxy, however, will confer discretionary
authority with respect to matters that are not known at the date of printing
hereof and which may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment
thereof. The proxy holders intend to vote in accordance with their
best judgment on any such matters.
PLEASE
COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
San
Diego, California
January
21, 2010
|
John
M. Thornton
Chairman
of the Board
|
APPENDIX
A
MITEK
SYSTEMS, INC.
2010
STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSE. The
Mitek Systems, Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan ("Plan") is intended to serve as
an incentive to, and to encourage stock ownership by certain eligible
participants rendering services to Mitek Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and
certain affiliates as set forth below, so that they may acquire or increase
their proprietary interest in the Company and to encourage them to remain in the
service of the Company or its affiliates.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
2.1 Committee. This
Plan shall be administered by the board of directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors"), or a
committee of two or more members appointed by the Board of Directors (the "Committee") who are
Non-Employee Directors as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and an outside director as defined in
Treasury Regulation § 1.162-27(e)(3). If a Committee is appointed, it
shall select one of its members as Chairman and shall appoint a Secretary, who
need not be a member of the Committee. The Committee shall hold
meetings at such times and places as it may determine and minutes of such
meetings shall be recorded. Acts by a majority of the Committee in a
meeting at which a quorum is present and acts approved in writing by a majority
of the members of the Committee shall be valid acts of the
Committee.
2.2 Term. If
the Board of Directors appoints a Committee, the members of the Committee shall
serve on the Committee for the period of time determined by the Board of
Directors and shall be subject to removal by the Board of Directors at any
time. The Board of Directors may terminate the function of the
Committee at any time and resume all powers and authority previously delegated
to the Committee.
2.3 Authority. For
purposes of this Plan, the Board of Directors or the Committee, if one is
appointed, shall be referred to as the "Administrator". The
Administrator shall have sole discretion and authority to grant options under
this Plan to eligible participants rendering services to the Company or any
"parent" or "subsidiary" of the Company ("Parent or Subsidiary"), as
defined in Section 424 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), at such times,
under such terms and in such amounts as it may decide. For purposes
of this Plan and any Stock Option Agreement (as defined below), the term "Corporation" shall include the
Company and any Parent or Subsidiary, if applicable. Subject to the
express provisions of this Plan, the Administrator shall have complete authority
to interpret this Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind the rules and
regulations relating to this Plan, to determine the details and provisions of
any Stock Option Agreement, to accelerate any options granted under this Plan
and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Plan.
2.4 Type of
Option. The Administrator shall have full authority and
discretion to determine, and shall specify, whether the eligible individual will
be granted options intended to qualify as incentive options under Section 422 of
the Code ("Incentive
Options") or options which are not intended to qualify under Section 422
of the Code ("Non-Qualified
Options"); provided, however, that Incentive Options shall only be
granted to employees of the Company, or a Parent or Subsidiary thereof, and
shall be subject to the special limitations set forth herein attributable to
Incentive Options.
2.5 Interpretation. The
interpretation and construction by the Administrator of any provisions of this
Plan or of any option granted under this Plan shall be final and binding on all
parties having an interest in this Plan or any option granted
hereunder. No member of the Committee or the Board of Directors shall
be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to
this Plan or any option granted under this Plan.
3. ELIGIBILITY.
3.1 General. All
directors, officers, employees of and consultants to the Corporation shall be
eligible to receive options under this Plan. The selection of
recipients of options shall be within the sole and absolute discretion of the
Administrator. No person shall be granted an Incentive Option under
this Plan unless such person is an employee of the Corporation on the date of
grant. No person shall be granted an option under this Plan unless
such person has executed, if requested by the Administrator, the grant
representation letter set forth on Exhibit "A," as such Exhibit may be amended
by the Administrator from time to time. No person shall be granted
options to purchase more than 500,000 shares of common stock in any one-year
period.
3.2 Termination of
Eligibility.
3.2.1 If
an optionee ceases to be employed by the Corporation, is no longer an officer or
member of the Board of Directors, or no longer performs services for the
Corporation, for any reason (other than for "cause," as hereinafter defined, or
such optionee's death), any option granted hereunder to such optionee shall
expire three months after the occurrence giving rise to such termination of
eligibility (or one year in the event an optionee is "disabled," as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) or upon the date it expires by its terms,
whichever is earlier. Any option that has not vested in the optionee
as of the date of such termination shall immediately expire and shall be null
and void. The Administrator shall, in its sole and absolute
discretion, decide, utilizing the provisions set forth in Treasury Regulations §
1.421-7(h), whether an authorized leave of absence or absence for military or
governmental service, or absence for any other reason, shall constitute
termination of eligibility for purposes of this Section 3.2.1.
3.2.2 If
an optionee ceases to be employed by the Company, or its Parent or Subsidiary,
is no longer an officer or member of the Board of Directors of the Company, or
no longer performs services for the Company, or its Parent or Subsidiary, and
such termination is as a result of "cause," as hereinafter defined, then all
options granted hereunder to such optionee shall expire on the date of the
occurrence giving rise to such termination of eligibility or upon the date it
expires by its terms, whichever is earlier, and such optionee shall have no
rights with respect to any unexercised options. For purposes of this
Plan, "cause" shall mean an optionee's personal dishonesty, misconduct, breach
of fiduciary duty, incompetence, intentional failure to perform stated
obligations, willful violation of any law, rule, regulation or final cease and
desist order, or any material breach of any provision of this Plan, any Stock
Option Agreement or any employment agreement.
3.3 Death of Optionee and
Transfer of Option. In the event an optionee shall die, an
option may be exercised (subject to the condition that no option shall be
exercisable after its expiration and only to the extent that the optionee's
right to exercise such option had accrued at the time of the optionee's death)
at any time within six months after the optionee's death by the executors or
administrators of the optionee or by any person or persons who shall have
acquired the option directly from the optionee by bequest or
inheritance. Any option that has not vested in the optionee as of the
date of death or termination of employment, whichever is earlier, shall
immediately expire and shall be null and void. No option shall be
transferable by the optionee other than by will or the laws of intestate
succession.
3.4 Limitation on Incentive
Options. No person shall be granted any Incentive Option to
the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the Stock (as defined below)
to which such options are exercisable for the first time by the optionee during
any calendar year (under all plans of the Company as determined under Section
422(d) of the Code) exceeds $100,000.
4. IDENTIFICATION OF
STOCK. The stock subject to the options granted under this
Plan shall be shares of the Company's authorized but unissued or acquired or
reacquired common stock (the "Stock"). The
aggregate number of shares subject to outstanding options shall not exceed
2,000,000 shares of Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section
6). If any option granted hereunder shall expire or terminate for any
reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased shares subject
thereto shall again be available for purposes of this
Plan. Notwithstanding the above, at no time shall the total number of
shares of Stock issuable upon exercise of all outstanding options and the total
number of shares of Stock provided for under any stock bonus or similar plan of
the Corporation exceed 30% as calculated in accordance with the conditions and
exclusions of §260.140.45 of Title 10, California Code of Regulations, based on
the shares of the issuer which are outstanding at the time the calculation is
made.
5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
OPTIONS. Any option granted pursuant to this Plan shall be
evidenced by an agreement ("Stock Option Agreement") in
such form as the Administrator shall from time to time determine, which
agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
5.1 Number of
Shares. Each option shall state the number of shares of Stock
to which it pertains.
5.2 Option Exercise
Price. Each option shall state the option exercise price,
which shall be determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that (i) the
exercise price of any Incentive Option shall not be less than the fair market
value of the Stock, as determined by the Administrator, on the date of grant of
such option, (ii) the exercise price of any option granted to any person who
owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the
Company's stock, as determined for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, shall
not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the Stock, as determined by
the Administrator, on the date of grant of such option, and (iii) the exercise
price of any Non-Qualified Option shall not be less than 85% of the fair market
value of the Stock, as determined by the Administrator, on the date of grant of
such option. In the event that the fair market value of the price of
the common stock declines below the price at which the option is granted, the
Administrator shall have the discretion and authority to cancel, reduce, or
otherwise modify the price of any unexercised option, including, but not limited
to, a regrant of the option at a new price more commensurate with the fair
market value of the stock, in each case without approval of the affected
optionee or any other person provided, however, that the Administrator must
receive the approval of the Board of Directors before any action is taken in
accordance with this provision.
5.3 Term of
Option. The term of an option granted hereunder shall be
determined by the Administrator at the time of grant, but shall not exceed 10
years from the date of the grant. The term of any Incentive Option
granted to an employee who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power
of all classes of the Company's stock, as determined for purposes of Section 422
of the Code, shall in no event exceed five years from the date of
grant. All options shall be subject to early termination as set forth
in this Plan. In no event shall any option be exercisable after the
expiration of its term.
5.4 Method of
Exercise. An option shall be exercised by written notice to
the Company by the optionee (or successor in the event of death) and execution
by the optionee of an exercise representation letter in the form set forth on
Exhibit "B," as such letter may be amended by the Administrator from time to
time. Such written notice shall state the number of shares with
respect to which the option is being exercised and designate a time, during
normal business hours of the Company, for the delivery thereof ("Exercise Date"), which time
shall be at least 30 days after the giving of such notice unless an earlier date
shall have been mutually agreed upon by the optionee and the
Administrator. At the time specified in the written notice, the
Company shall deliver to the optionee at the principal office of the Company, or
such other appropriate place as may be determined by the Administrator, a
certificate or certificates for such shares. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company may postpone delivery of any certificate or certificates
after notice of exercise for such reasonable period as may be required to comply
with any applicable listing requirements of any securities
exchange. In the event an option shall be exercisable by any person
other than the optionee, the required notice under this Section shall be
accompanied by appropriate proof of the right of such person to exercise the
option.
5.5 Medium and Time of
Payment. The option exercise price shall be payable in full on
or before the Exercise Date in any one of the following alternative
forms:
5.5.1 Full
payment in cash or certified bank or cashier's check;
5.5.2 Subject
to Section 5.5.7, a Promissory Note (as defined below);
5.5.3 Full
payment in shares of Stock having a fair market value on the Exercise Date in
the amount equal to the option exercise price;
5.5.4 Subject
to Section 5.5.7, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to
which the optionee shall concurrently provide irrevocable written instruction to
(a) a Company-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the
purchased shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on
the settlement date pursuant to an irrevocable assignment by the optionee,
sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased
shares plus all applicable Federal, state and local income and employment taxes
required to be withheld by the Company by reason of such exercise and (b) the
Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such
brokerage firm in order to complete the sale.
5.5.5 A
combination of the consideration set forth in Sections 5.5.1, through 5.5.4
equal to the option exercise price; or
5.5.6 Any
other method of payment complying with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code
with respect to Incentive Options, provided the terms of payment are established
by the Administrator at the time of grant and any other method of payment
established by the Administrator with respect to Non-Qualified
Options.
5.5.7 Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the methods of payment described in Section 5.5.2 and Section
5.5.4 shall not be available to any optionee classified as "a director or
executive officer (or equivalent thereof)" within the meaning of Section 402 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ("Sarbanes-Oxley") at the time of the exercise,
unless such optionee provides to the Company a written opinion of counsel
satisfactory to the Company that the proposed medium of payment is not
prohibited by Sarbanes-Oxley or any other applicable law.
5.6 Fair Market
Value. The fair market value of a share of Stock on any
relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following
provisions:
5.6.1 If
the Stock at the time is neither listed nor admitted to trading on any stock
exchange nor traded in the over-the-counter market, then the fair market value
shall be determined by the Administrator after taking into account the factors
found in § 260.140.50 of Title 10, California Code of Regulations and such other
factors as the Administrator shall deem appropriate.
5.6.2 If
the Stock is not at the time listed or admitted to trading on any stock exchange
but is traded in the over-the-counter market, the fair market value shall be the
mean between the highest bid and lowest asked prices (or, if such information is
available, the closing selling price) of one share of Stock on the date in
question in the over-the-counter market, as such prices are reported by the
National Association of Securities Dealers through its OTCBB system or any
successor system. If there are no reported bid and asked prices (or
closing selling price) for the Stock on the date in question, then the mean
between the highest bid and lowest asked prices (or the closing selling price)
on the last preceding date for which such quotations exist shall be
determinative of fair market value.
5.6.3 If
the Stock is at the time listed or admitted to trading on any stock exchange,
then the fair market value shall be the closing selling price of one share of
Stock on the date in question on the stock exchange determined by the
Administrator to be the primary market for the Stock, as such price is
officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such
exchange. If there is no sale of Stock on such exchange on the date
in question, then the fair market value shall be the closing selling price on
the exchange on the last preceding date for which such quotation
exists.
5.7 Promissory
Note. Subject to the requirements of applicable state or
Federal law or margin requirements, payment of all or part of the exercise price
of an option may be made by delivery of a full recourse promissory note ("Promissory
Note"). The Promissory Note shall be executed by the optionee,
made payable to the Company and bear interest at such rate as the Administrator
shall determine, but in no case less than the minimum rate which will not cause
under the Code (i) interest to be imputed, (ii) original issue discount to
exist, or (iii) any other similar results to occur. Unless otherwise
determined by the Administrator, interest on the Note shall be payable in
quarterly installments on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of
each year. A Promissory Note shall contain such other terms and
conditions as may be determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that
the full principal amount of the Promissory Note and all unpaid interest accrued
thereon shall be due not later than five years from the date of exercise of the
option in respect of which the Promissory Note is delivered. The
Company may obtain from the optionee a security interest in all shares of Stock
issued to the optionee under this Plan for the purpose of securing payment under
the Promissory Note and may retain possession of the stock certificates
representing such shares in order to perfect its security interest.
5.8 Rights as a
Shareholder. An optionee or successor shall have no rights as
a shareholder with respect to any Stock underlying any option until the date of
the issuance to such optionee of a certificate for such Stock. No
adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in
cash, securities or other property) or distributions or other rights for which
the record date is prior to the date such Stock certificate is issued, except as
provided in Section 6.
5.9 Modification, Extension and
Renewal of Options. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Plan, the Administrator may modify, extend or renew outstanding options
granted under this Plan, or accept the surrender of outstanding options (to the
extent not exercised) and authorize the granting of new options in substitution
therefore.
5.10 Vesting and
Restrictions. The Administrator shall have complete authority
and discretion to set the terms, conditions, restrictions, vesting schedules and
other provisions of any option in the applicable Stock Option Agreement and
shall have complete authority to require conditions and restrictions on any
Stock issued pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that except with respect
to options granted to officers or directors of the Company, options granted
pursuant to this Plan shall be exercisable or "vest" at the rate of at least 20%
per year over the 5-year period beginning on the date the option is
granted. Options granted to officers and directors shall become
exercisable or "vest," subject to subject to the condition of continued
employment and/or continued service on the Board of Directors, as
appropriate. The maximum vesting period for options granted to
officers or directors will be 10 years from the date of grant.
5.11 Other
Provisions. The Stock Option Agreements shall contain such
other provisions, including without limitation, restrictions or conditions upon
the exercise of options, as the Administrator shall deem advisable.
6. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN
CAPITALIZATION.
6.1 Subdivision or
Consolidation. Subject to any required action by shareholders
of the Company, the number of shares of Stock covered by each outstanding
option, and the exercise price thereof, shall be proportionately adjusted for
any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock of the Company
resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares, including, but not
limited to, a stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, continuation
or reclassification, or the payment of a stock dividend (but only on the Stock)
or any other increase or decrease in the number of such shares effected without
receipt of consideration by the Company. Any fraction of a share
subject to option that would otherwise result from an adjustment pursuant to
this Section shall be rounded downward to the next full number of shares without
other compensation or consideration to the holder of such
option.
6.2 Capital
Transactions. Upon a sale or exchange of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company, a merger or consolidation in which the Company
is not the surviving corporation, a merger, reorganization or consolidation in
which the Company is the surviving corporation and shareholders of the Company
exchange their stock for securities or property, a liquidation of the Company,
or similar transaction as determined by the Administrator ("Capital Transaction"), this
Plan and each option issued under this Plan, whether vested or unvested, shall
terminate, unless such options are assumed by a successor corporation in a
merger or consolidation, immediately prior to such Capital Transaction;
provided, however, that unless the outstanding options are assumed by a
successor corporation in a merger or consolidation, subject to terms approved by
the Administrator, all optionees will have the right, during the 15 days prior
to such Capital Transaction, to exercise all vested options. The
Company shall, subject to any nondisclosure provisions, attempt to provide
optionees at least 15 days notice of the option termination date. The
Administrator may (but shall not be obligated to) (i) accelerate the vesting of
any option or (ii) apply the foregoing provisions, including but not limited to
termination of this Plan and options granted pursuant to this Plan, in the event
there is a sale of 51% or more of the stock of the Company in any two year
period or a transaction similar to a Capital Transaction.
6.3 Adjustments. To
the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to stock or securities of the
Company, such adjustments shall be made by the Administrator, whose
determination in that respect shall be final, binding and
conclusive.
6.4 Ability to
Adjust. The grant of an option pursuant to this Plan shall not
affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments,
reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business
structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or
any part of its business or assets.
6.5 Notice of
Adjustment. Whenever the Company shall take any action
resulting in any adjustment provided for in this Section, the Company shall
forthwith deliver notice of such action to each optionee, which notice shall set
forth the number of shares subject to the option and the exercise price thereof
resulting from such adjustment.
6.6 Limitation on
Adjustments. Any adjustment, assumption or substitution of an
Incentive Option shall comply with Section 425 of the Code, if
applicable.
7. NONASSIGNABILITY. Options
granted under this Plan may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any
manner other than by will or by the laws of intestate succession, and may be
exercised during the lifetime of an optionee only by such
optionee. Any transfer in violation of this Section shall void such
option, and any Stock Option Agreement entered into by the optionee and the
Company regarding such transferred option shall be void and have no further
force or effect. No option shall be pledged or hypothecated in any
way, nor shall any option be subject to execution, attachment or similar
process.
8. NO RIGHT OF
EMPLOYMENT. Neither the grant nor exercise of any option nor
anything in this Plan shall impose upon the Company or any other corporation any
obligation to employ or continue to employ any optionee. The right of
the Company and any other corporation to terminate any employee shall not be
diminished or affected because an option has been granted to such
employee.
9. TERM OF
PLAN. This Plan is effective on the date this Plan is adopted
by the Board of Directors and options may be granted pursuant to this Plan from
time to time within a period of 10 years from such date, or the date of any
required shareholder approval required under this Plan, if
earlier. Termination of this Plan shall not affect any option
theretofore granted.
10. AMENDMENT OF THE
PLAN. The Board of Directors of the Company may, subject to
any required shareholder approval, suspend, discontinue or terminate this Plan,
or revise or amend it in any respect whatsoever with respect to any shares of
Stock at that time not subject to options.
11. APPLICATION OF
FUNDS. The proceeds received by the Company from the issuance
of Stock pursuant to the exercise of options may be used for general corporate
purposes.
12. RESERVATION OF
SHARES. The Company, during the term of this Plan, shall at
all times reserve and keep available such number of shares of Stock as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Plan.
13. NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE
OPTION. The granting of an option shall not impose any
obligation upon the optionee to exercise such option.
14. APPROVAL OF BOARD OF
DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS. This Plan shall not take effect
until approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. This Plan
shall be approved by a vote of the shareholders within 12 months from the date
of approval by the Board of Directors. In the event such shareholder
vote is not obtained, all options granted hereunder, whether vested or unvested,
shall be null and void. Further, any stock acquired pursuant to the
exercise of any options under this Agreement may not count for purposes of
determining whether shareholder approval has been obtained.
15. WITHHOLDING
TAXES. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this
Plan or any Stock Option Agreement, the exercise of any option shall be
conditioned upon payment by such optionee in cash, or other provisions
satisfactory to the Administrator, of all local, state, federal or other
withholding taxes applicable, in the Administrator's judgment, to the exercise
or to later disposition of shares acquired upon exercise of an
option.
16. PARACHUTE
PAYMENTS. Any outstanding option under this Plan may not be
accelerated to the extent any such acceleration of such option would, when added
to the present value of other payments in the nature of compensation which
becomes due and payable to the optionee would result in the payment to such
optionee of an excess parachute payment under Section 280G of the
Code. The existence of any such excess parachute payment shall be
determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the
Administrator.
17. SECURITIES LAWS
COMPLIANCE. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the
Company shall not be obligated to grant any option under this Plan or to sell,
issue or effect any transfer of any Stock unless such grant, sale, issuance or
transfer is at such time effectively (i) registered or exempt from registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and (ii) qualified or
exempt from qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968
and any other applicable state securities laws. As a condition to
exercise of any option, each optionee shall make such representations as may be
deemed appropriate by counsel to the Company for the Company to use any
available exemption from registration under the Act or qualification under any
applicable state securities law.
18. RESTRICTIVE
LEGENDS. The certificates representing the Stock issued upon
exercise of options granted pursuant to this Plan will bear any legends required
by applicable securities laws as determined by the Administrator.
19. NOTICES. Any
notice to be given under the terms of this Plan shall be addressed to the
Company in care of its Secretary at its principal office, and any notice to be
given to an optionee shall be addressed to such optionee at the address
maintained by the Company for such person or at such other address as the
optionee may specify in writing to the Company.
20. INFORMATION TO
PARTICIPANTS. The Company shall make available to all holders
of options the information required pursuant to § 260.140.46 of the California
Code of Regulations.
As
adopted by the Board of Directors on November 11, 2009.
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MITEK
SYSTEMS, INC, a Delaware corporation
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By:
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/s/ James B. DeBello
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James
B. DeBello
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President
and Chief Executive
Officer
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