FORM 10-K

On December 29, 2014, the Company and AU Optronics Corporation (“AUO”) entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “AUO Settlement Agreement”) and a Patent Assignment Agreement (the “AUO Patent Assignment Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company received an aggregate of $9,000,000 from AUO (the “AUO Settlement”).  The AUO Settlement Agreement and the AUO Patent Assignment Agreement were entered into to resolve a lawsuit filed by the Company against AUO in January of 2013, relating to joint development projects in connection with the Company’s ePaper® Electrophoretic Display, and Nano Field Emission Display (“nFED”) technologies.  As part of the AUO Settlement, the Company terminated AUO’s license to the Company’s patented Nano Field Emissions Display technology. A more detailed description of the AUO lawsuit and settlement can be found in the section entitled “AU Optronics Corporation Lawsuit and Settlement” below.

As a result of the Videocon Termination and the AUO Settlement, the Company’s Nano Field Emissions Display technology is now unencumbered and ready for continued development.

Patented Technologies

The Company’s business model is to generate revenue from the development and licensing of patented technologies. In certain instances, the Company may seek to collect royalties from the unauthorized manufacture, sale, and use of patented products and services. We currently own or control 8 patented technologies including: (i) Encrypted Cellular Communication; (ii) Internet Telephonic Gateway; (iii) J-Channel Window Frame Construction; (iv) Key Based Web Conferencing Encryption; (v) Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Display; (vi) Nano Field Emission Display; (vii) VPN Multicast Communications; and (vii) Enhanced Auction Technologies.

ITUS’s Patented Technologies

Encrypted Cellular Communications

The Encrypted Cellular Communications technology includes hardware and software used to encrypt cellular phone calls and other mobile communications.  With the increased use of mobile devices, and the increased concerns regarding privacy and the protection of personal information, we believe the demand for secure mobile communications is increasing for both businesses and consumers.

Internet Telephonic Gateway

The internet telephonic gateway technology includes the integration of telephonic participation in web-based audio/video conferences by creating a gateway between the Internet, and cellular or traditional landline telephones. The end result is that participants can join and participate in online, audio/video conferences via a cellular or conventional telephone. This internet telephonic gateway technology is commonly used for web based audio/video events with broad based audience participation such as earnings calls, webinars, and virtual town hall meetings.

J-Channel Window Frame Construction

The J-Channel Window Frame Construction technology includes vinyl windows with an integrated frame, known in the industry as a “J-Channel”. Such windows are commonly used in modular buildings, mobile homes, and conventional, new home construction, resulting in easier and faster window installation.

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Key Based Web Conferencing Encryption

The Key Based Web Conferencing Encryption technology includes the generation and management of encryption keys.  This type of encryption technology is commonly used to encrypt web-based conferencing, email for regulatory compliance purposes, and personal information such as contracts. 

Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Display

The Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Display technology includes vanadium dioxide coated pixels that electrically modulate light at extremely high speeds to form an image, as well as the use of electrostatic force to move pixel sized membranes that create a color image. These are emerging, low voltage, display technologies with numerous potential commercial applications.

Nano Field Emission Display

The Nano Field Emission Display technology includes a new type of flat panel display consisting of low voltage color phosphors, specially coated carbon nanotubes, nano materials to generate secondary electrons, and ionized noble gas, resulting in a bright, sharp, high contrast color image.  This emerging technology could result in a flat panel display utilizing less power, with better picture quality and lower manufacturing costs than is currently found in the flat panel display industry.

VPN Multicast Communications

The VPN Multicast Communications technology includes the multicast, internet delivery of streaming data, media, and other content to large numbers of recipients, within the confines of specialized virtual private networks (“VPN’s). Multicasting is a commonly used content delivery protocol that enables several recipients to simultaneous receive content from a single internet transmission, greatly reducing Internet bandwidth costs. When combined with specialized VPN’s, the content and communications are protected from unwanted disclosure and piracy. Applications for these live, VPN multicast communications include videoconferences, online training and e-learning classes, internet television, web-based corporate events and strategy sessions, and other live transmissions of sensitive or protected content.

Enhanced Auction Technologies

           The Enhanced Auction Technologies includes tools for the enhanced presentation and cross selling used by some of the world’s leading auction sites. The enhanced presentation tools covered by these patents enable auction sellers to cross sell and upsell additional items to interested buyers, resulting in incremental sales and higher yields per transaction.

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Patent Acquisition and Monetization Activities

In April of 2013, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, ITUS Patent Acquisition Corporation (“IPAC”), acquired the exclusive rights to license and enforce a patent portfolio relating to vinyl windows with integrated J-Channels, commonly used in modular buildings, mobile homes, and conventional, new home construction.  Additionally, in April 2013 IPAC  acquired rights to license and enforce a patent portfolio relating to loyalty awards programs commonly provided by airlines, credit card companies, hotels, retailers, casinos, and others (“Loyalty Conversion Systems”). In November 2013, IPAC acquired two patent portfolios in the area of unified communications relating to (i) the multicast delivery of streaming data, media, and other content, within the confines of specialized virtual private networks, and (ii) the integration of telephonic participation in web-based audio/video conferences by creating a gateway between the internet and cellular or traditional landline telephones.  In June 2014, IPAC acquired the exclusive rights to license and enforce a patent portfolio covering enhanced presentation and cross selling technologies used by some of the world’s leading auction sites. We have obtained and will continue to obtain the rights to develop and license additional technologies from third parties, and when necessary, will assist such parties in the further development of their patent portfolios through the filing of additional patent applications.

On May 6, 2014, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Encrypted Cellular Communications Corporation, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against AT&T in connection with its patented Encrypted Cellular Communications technology. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.

On September 3, 2014, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas invalidated two of our Loyalty Conversion Systems patents by ruling that they did not cover patentable subject matter, resulting in the dismissal of 7 of our Loyalty Conversion Systems’ lawsuits.  On October 18, 2014, the Company terminated its Loyalty Conversion Systems patent assertion campaign. 

On September 8, 2014, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Auction Acceleration Corporation, filed patent infringement lawsuits against Ebay, Vendio, and Auctiva, in connection with its Enhanced Auction Technologies patents. Vendio and Auctiva are part of Alibaba Group, one of the largest online and mobile commerce companies in the world. The patents cover presentation and cross selling technologies enabling auction sellers to cross-sell and upsell additional items to interested buyers, resulting in incremental sales, and higher yields per transaction. The lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Competition

The Company expects to encounter competition in the areas of development and acquisitions of patented technologies from both private and publicly traded companies. This includes competition from companies that are primarily engaged in patent enforcement that may be seeking to acquire the same patents and patent rights that we may seek to acquire.  Entities such as Acacia Research Corporation, Intellectual Ventures, Wi-LAN, MOSAID, Round Rock Research LLC, IPvalue Management Inc., Vringo Inc., Pendrell Corporation, and others derive all or a substantial portion of their revenue from Patent Assertion.

We also compete with venture capital firms, strategic corporate buyers and various industry leaders in connection with the development and acquisition of patented technologies and licensing opportunities.  Many of these competitors have more financial and human resources than our company.  

Research and Development

We did not incur any research and development expenses during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2013.

Employees

As of October 31, 2014, we had nine full-time employees.

Other

On September 2, 2014, the Company changed its name from CopyTele, Inc. to ITUS Corporation.  The name change was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on May 28, 2014 and was subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on August 8, 2014.  

On October 11, 2013, our stockholders’ approved an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of shares of common stock we are authorized to issue from 300 million to 600 million.

We were incorporated on November 5, 1982 under the laws of the State of Delaware.  From inception through end of fiscal year 2012, our primary operations involved licensing in connection with the development of patented technologies.  Since that date, our primary operations include the development, acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of patented technologies that are either owned or controlled by the Company or one of our wholly owned subsidiaries.  Our principal executive offices are located at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1275, Los Angeles, California 90025, our telephone number is 310-484-5200 and our Internet website address is www.ITUScorp.com.  We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements on Schedule 14A, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  Alternatively, you may also access our reports at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room.

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Financial Information About Segments and Geographical Areas

If we encounter unforeseen difficulties with our business or operations in the future that require us to obtain additional working capital, and we cannot obtain additional working capital on favorable terms, or at all, our business will suffer. 

Our revenues are unpredictable, may come from a small number of licensees, and may harm our financial condition and the market price of our stock.

We may obtain the rights to patents and may spend a significant amount of resources to enforce those patents. If new legislation, regulations or rules are implemented either by Congress, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), or the courts, that impact the patent enforcement process or the rights of patent holders, these changes could negatively affect our expenses and revenue. For example, new rules regarding the burden of proof in patent enforcement actions could significantly increase the cost of our enforcement actions, new standards or limitations on liability for patent infringement could negatively impact our revenue derived from such enforcement actions, and potential new rules requiring that the losing party pay legal fees of the prevailing party could also significantly increase the cost of our enforcement actions.

United States patent laws were recently amended with the enactment of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the America Invents Act, which took effect on March 16, 2013. The America Invents Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. In general, the legislation attempts to address issues surrounding the enforceability of patents and the increase in patent litigation by, among other things, establishing new procedures for patent litigation. For example, the America Invents Act changes the way that parties may be joined in patent infringement actions, increasing the likelihood that such actions will need to be brought against individual parties allegedly infringing by their respective individual actions or activities. The America Invents Act and its implementation increases the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement of our patented technologies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has conducted reviews of the patent system to evaluate the impact of patent assertion entities on industries in which those patents relate. It is possible that the findings and recommendations of the DOJ could impact the ability to effectively license and enforce standards-essential patents and could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement of any such patented technologies.

Further, in various pending litigation and appeals in the United States Federal courts, various arguments and legal theories are being advanced to potentially limit the scope of damages a patent licensing company such as the Company might be entitled to.  Any one of these pending cases could result in new legal doctrines that could make our existing or future patent portfolios less valuable or more costly to enforce.

More patent applications are filed each year resulting in longer delays in getting patents issued by the USPTO.

We hold a number of pending patents. We have identified a trend of increasing patent applications each year, which we believe is resulting in longer delays in obtaining approval of pending patent applications. The application delays could cause delays in recognizing revenue, if any, from these patents and could cause us to miss opportunities to license patents before other competing technologies are developed or introduced into the market.

U.S. Federal courts are becoming more crowded, and as a result, patent enforcement litigation is taking longer.

Patent enforcement actions are almost exclusively prosecuted in U.S. Federal court. Federal trial courts that hear patent enforcement actions also hear criminal cases. Criminal cases always take priority over patent enforcement actions. As a result, it is difficult to predict the length of time it will take to complete an enforcement action. Moreover, we believe there is a trend in increasing numbers of civil lawsuits and criminal proceedings before United States Judges, and as a result, we believe that the risk of delays in patent enforcement actions will have a significant effect on our business in the future unless this trend changes.

·         fluctuations in the sales results or other royalty-per-unit activities of our licensees that impact the calculation of license fees due; 

·         the timing of the receipt of periodic license fee payments and/or reports from licensees; 

·         fluctuations in the net number of active licensees period to period; 

·         costs related to acquisitions, alliances, licenses and other efforts to expand our operations;

·         the timing of payments under the terms of any customer or license agreements into which we may enter;

·         expenses related to, and the timing and results of, patent filings and other enforcement proceedings relating to intellectual property rights, as more fully described in this section; and

·         the outcome of any of our patent infringement lawsuits.

Technology company stock prices are especially volatile, and this volatility may depress the price of our common stock. 

The stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations, and the market prices of technology companies have been highly volatile. We believe that various factors may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate, perhaps substantially, including, among others, the following:

·         announcements of developments in our patent enforcement actions;

·         developments or disputes concerning our patents;

·         our or our competitors' technological innovations;

·         developments in relationships with licensees;

·         variations in our quarterly operating results;

·         our failure to meet or exceed securities analysts' expectations of our financial results;

·         a change in financial estimates or securities analysts' recommendations;

·         changes in management's or securities analysts' estimates of our financial performance;

·         changes in market valuations of similar companies;

·         the current sovereign debt crises affecting several countries in the European Union and concerns about sovereign debt of the United States;

·         announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, capital commitments, new technologies, or patents; and

·         the timing of or our failure to complete significant transactions.

Market Information

Our common stock trades on the OTCQB under the symbol “ITUS”.  The high and low sales prices as reported by the OTCQB for each quarterly fiscal period during our fiscal years ended October 31, 2014 and 2013 have been as follows: 

Holders

As of January 23, 2015, the approximate number of record holders of our common stock was 1,078 and the closing price of our common stock was $0.1079 per share.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

See “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.”

Dividend Policy

No cash dividends have been paid on our common stock since our inception.  We have no present intention to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014, the Company issued an aggregate of 310,000 shares of our common stock to various companies in payment of public relations and investor relations services and 1,200,000 shares of our common stock to inventors in connection with the acquisition of patents. The common stock was issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as they were issued to accredited investors, without a view to distribution, and were not issued through any general solicitation or advertisement.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

None.

The following selected financial data has been derived from our audited Consolidated Financial Statements and should be read in conjunction with those statements, and the notes related thereto, which are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

General

In reviewing Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, you should refer to our Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes related thereto.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Year ended October 31, 2014 compared with Fiscal Year ended October 31, 2013

Revenue from Patent Assertion Activities

In fiscal year 2014, we recorded revenue from patent assertion activities of $2,480,000, from 27 license agreements in connection with our J-Channel Window Frame Construction and Key Based Web Conferencing Encryption patent portfolios.  In fiscal year 2013, we recorded revenue from patent assertion activities of approximately $389,000, from 4 license agreements in connection with our J-Channel Window Frame Construction and Loyalty Conversion Systems patent portfolios.  The license agreements provided for one-time, non-recurring, lump sum payments in exchange for non-exclusive retroactive and future licenses, or covenants not to sue.  Accordingly, the earning process from these licenses was complete and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon execution of the license agreements. 

Display Technology Development and License Fees

Based on our assessment during fiscal 2014 that we have no further performance obligations under the AUO License Agreements, we recorded approximately $1,187,000 of display technology development and license fees revenue, representing the balance of the initial $3 million payment received from AUO in fiscal year 2011.  We did not record any display technology development and license fees during the fiscal year ended 2013. On December 29, 2014, we settled our lawsuit against AUO and received gross proceeds of $9 million.

Inventor Royalties and Contingent Legal Fees

Inventor royalties and contingent legal fees increased by approximately $1,205,000 in fiscal year 2014, to approximately $1,413,000, from approximately $208,000 in fiscal year 2013.  The increase was due to the increase in revenue from patent assertion activities.  Inventor royalties and contingent legal fees are expensed in the period that the related revenues are recognized.  The economic terms of patent agreements and contingent legal fee arrangements vary across the patent portfolios owned or controlled by our operating subsidiaries. 

Amortization of Patents

Amortization of patents of approximately $314,000 in fiscal year 2014 is related to patent portfolios acquired in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. We capitalize patent and patent rights acquisition costs and amortize the cost over the estimated economic useful life.  We did not incur any patent amortization expense in fiscal year 2013. 

Litigation and Licensing Expenses

Litigation and licensing expenses increased by approximately $466,000 in fiscal year 2014, to approximately $575,000 in fiscal year 2014, from approximately $109,000 in fiscal year 2013, resulting from the increase in our patent assertion activities and additional expenses related to the  AUO/EInk Lawsuit initiated in January 2013. 

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Interest Income

Interest income increased to approximately $9,000 in fiscal year 2014 compared to approximately $-0- the fiscal year 2013, due to the increase of short-term investments during the current period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents and short term investments on hand generated from our operating activities and proceeds from previous financing.

Based on currently available information as of January 29, 2015, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and expected cash flows from patent licensing and enforcement, and other potential sources of cash flows will be sufficient to enable us to continue our business activities for at least 12 months.  However, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from actual results. If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short term investments, accounts receivable and cash that may be generated from our business operations are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may seek to sell equity securities or obtain loans from various financial institutions where possible.  The sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt could result in dilution to our stockholders. We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future (through licensing and enforcement of patents, or otherwise) to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available, if needed, on favorable terms or at all.  If we cannot obtain such funding if needed or if we cannot sufficiently reduce operating expenses, we would need to curtail or cease some or all of our operations. 

         During fiscal year 2014, cash used in operating activities was approximately $2,379,000.  Cash used in investing activities was approximately $2,507,000, which principally resulted from the purchase of certificates of deposit totaling $5,200,000 which was partially offset by the proceeds on maturity of certificates of deposit totaling $2,700,000.  Our cash provided by financing activities was approximately $7,349,000, which resulted from the net proceeds from the sale of 16,000,000 shares of the company’s common stock for approximately $3,673,000, the sale of convertible debentures in a private placement for $3,500,000, the proceeds from exercise of warrants to purchase common stock of approximately $300,000, and the proceeds from exercise of stock options of approximately $76,000 offset by the payment to redeem convertible debentures of $200,000.   As a result, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at October 31, 2014 increased approximately $4,963,000 to approximately $5,861,000 from approximately $898,000 at the end of fiscal year 2013.

Accounts receivable at October 31, 2014 of $400,000 were collected in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.  Approximately $136,000 of royalties and contingent legal fees payable at October 31, 2014 of approximately $297,000, are scheduled to be paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. On December 29, 2014, we settled our lawsuit against AUO and received gross proceeds of $9 million.

In April 2013, the Company entered into the Stock Purchase Agreement with Aspire Capital, which provides that Aspire Capital is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $10 million of shares of the Company’s common stock over the two-year term of the agreement.  In order to sell shares under the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company was required to have a registration statement covering the shares issued to Aspire Capital declared effective by the SEC.  Such registration statement was declared effective by the SEC in June 2013 and a post-effective amendment was declared effective by the SEC in February 2014.  Under the Stock Purchase Agreement there are two ways that the Company can elect to sell shares of common stock to Aspire Capital.  On any business day the Company can select: (1) through a regular purchase of up to 200,000 shares (but not to exceed $200,000) at a known price based on the market price of the Company’s common stock prior to the time of each sale, and (2) through a volume-weighted average price, or VWAP, purchase of a number of shares up to 30% of the volume traded on the purchase date at a price equal to the lesser of (i) the closing sale price on the purchase date or (ii) 95% of the VWAP for such purchase date.  The Company can only require a VWAP purchase if the closing sale price for our Common Stock on the notice day for the VWAP purchase is higher than $0.50.  The number of shares covered by and the timing of, each purchase notice are determined by the Company at its sole discretion.  The Company cannot execute any sales under the Stock Purchase Agreement when the closing for our common stock is less than $0.15.  Aspire Capital has no right to require any sales from us, but is obligated to make purchases as directed in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement.  During fiscal year 2013, the Company sold 5,380,000 shares of our common stock to Aspire Capital for approximately $1,092,000.   No shares of our common stock were sold to Aspire Capital during fiscal year 2014.

On July 15, 2014, the Company, raised $4,000,000 of gross proceeds via a registered direct offering of its common stock to certain investors (the “Investors”) (the “Offering”). The Company sold an aggregate of 16,000,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 8,000,000 shares of common stock. The purchase price of the common stock was $0.25 per share. The warrants are exercisable immediately as of the date of issuance at an exercise price of $0.40 per share and expire five years from the date of issuance. The exercise price of the warrants is subject to customary adjustment in the case of stock splits, stock dividends, combinations of shares and similar recapitalization transactions.  Under certain circumstances, the Company has the right to call for cancellation all or any portion of each warrant for which a notice of exercise has not yet been delivered for consideration equal to $.001 per share.  The Offering was effected as a takedown off the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which became effective on April 25, 2014, pursuant to a prospectus supplement filed with the SEC.

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Investment Securities

We classify our investment securities as available-for-sale.  Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value.  Unrealized gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized.  Realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities are determined on a specific identification basis.  Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned.

We monitor the value of our investments for indicators of impairment, including changes in market conditions and the operating results of the underlying investment that may result in the inability to recover the carrying value of the investment. In evaluating our investment in Videocon GDR’s at October 31, 2013, we determined that based on both the duration and continuing magnitude of the market price decline compared to the carrying cost basis of approximately $5,382,000, and the uncertainty of its recovery we recorded a write-down of the investment of approximately of $1,185,000 and established a new cost basis of approximately $4,197,000.   On August 29, 2014, the Company ended its relationship with Videocon Industries Limited and exchanged its 1,495,845 Videocon GDR’s for 20,000,000 shares of Company common stock. Accordingly, on August 29, 2014, we recorded a further write-down of approximately $63,000 to reflect our investment in Videocon GDR’s at fair value.

Stock-Based Compensation

We account for stock options granted to employees and directors using the accounting guidance in ASC 718.  We recognize compensation expense for stock option awards over the requisite or implied service period of the grant.  We recorded stock-based compensation expense, related to stock options granted to employees and directors, of approximately $2,128,000 and $2,693,000 during the years ended October 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  We account for stock options granted to consultants using the accounting guidance under ASC 505-50.  We recognized stock-based compensation expense for stock options granted to non-employee consultants during the years ended October 31, 2014 and 2013, of approximately $1,022,000 and $1,105,000, respectively. 

Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based awards requires judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, forfeiture rates and expected term.  If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of ASC 718 and ASC 505-50 in future periods, the compensation expense that we record may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.  See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Convertible Instruments

The Company accounts for hybrid contracts that feature conversion options in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  ASC  815 “Derivatives and Hedging Activities,” (“ASC 815”) requires companies to bifurcate conversion options from their host instruments and account for them as free standing derivative financial instruments according to certain criteria. The criteria includes circumstances in which (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (b) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under otherwise applicable generally accepted accounting principles with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur and (c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument. 

            Conversion options that contain variable settlement features such as provisions to adjust the conversion price upon subsequent issuances of equity or equity linked securities at exercise prices more favorable than that featured in the hybrid contract generally result in their bifurcation from the host instrument.

            The Company accounts for convertible instruments, when the Company has determined that the embedded conversion options should not be bifurcated from their host instruments, in accordance with ASC 470-20 “Debt with Conversion and Other Options” (“ASC 470-20”). Under ASC 470-20 the Company records, when necessary, discounts to convertible notes for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in debt instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the note transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the note. The Company accounts for convertible instruments (when the Company has determined that the embedded conversion options should be bifurcated from their host instruments) in accordance with ASC 815.  Under ASC 815, a portion of the proceeds received upon the issuance of the hybrid contract are allocated to the fair value of the derivative. The derivative is subsequently marked to market at each reporting date based on current fair value, with the changes in fair value reported in results of operations.

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None.

Robert A. Berman, 51, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Berman has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since September 19, 2012 and was elected to our Board on November 30, 2012. Mr. Berman has experience in a broad variety of areas including finance, acquisitions, marketing, and the development, licensing, and monetization of intellectual property.  He was recently the CEO of IP Dispute Resolution Corporation (“IPDR”), a consulting company focused on patent monetization, from March 2007 to September 2012. Prior to IPDR, Mr. Berman was the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Acacia Research Corporation from 2000 to March 2007.   Mr. Berman holds a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law and a B.S. in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Amit Kumar, 50, Director, Strategic Advisor. Dr. Kumar has served on our Board since November 30, 2012 and has been a strategic advisor to the Company since September 19, 2012.  Dr. Kumar has been CEO of Geo Fossil Fuels LLC, an energy company, since December 2010.  From September 2001 to June 2010, Dr. Kumar was President and CEO of CombiMatrix Corporation, a NASDAQ listed biotechnology company and also served as director from September 2000 to June 2012.  Dr. Kumar was Vice President of Life Sciences of Acacia Research Corp., a publicly traded patent monetization company, from July 2000 to August 2007 and also served as a director from January 2003 to August 2007.   Dr. Kumar has served as Chairman of the board of directors of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a publicly-held solar energy company, since June 2007, and as a director of Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since June 2004.  Dr. Kumar holds an A.B. in Chemistry from Occidental College and Ph.D. from Caltech and completed his post-doctoral training at Harvard University.

Bruce F. Johnson, 72, Director. Mr. Johnson has served on our Board since August 29, 2012.  Mr. Johnson has been a commodity trader on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for over 40 years. He has served as a member of the board of directors of CME Group Inc. since 1998. He had previously served as President, Director and part-owner of Packers Trading Company, a former futures commissions merchant/clearing firm at the CME from 1969 to 2003. He also serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Crime Commission. Mr. Johnson holds a B.S. in Marketing from Bradley University and a J.D. from John Marshall Law School.

Dr. Andrea Belz, 42, Director. Dr. Belz is an advisor in technology commercialization, specializing in start-up and emerging companies whose core businesses frequently involve the licensing of patented technologies. Dr. Belz is currently on the faculty of the Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and is the Academic Director of the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program.  She has helped initiate spin-up and spinout efforts at some of the world’s leading sources of patented technologies, including Caltech, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, BP, Occidental Petroleum, Avery Dennison,  and UCLA.   Dr. Belz is the Chairperson of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Licensing Executives Society, an organization for intellectual property professionals with chapters throughout the United States and Canada, and serves as a national trainer for courses on best practices in licensing. Dr. Belz is the President of the Belz Consulting Group, founded in 2002, and has been an Executive Committee Board Member at Caltech spinoff Ondax (privately held) since 2013. Dr. Belz holds a PhD in physics from the California Institute of Technology, an MBA in finance from the Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business, and a BS in physics from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Dale Fox, 49, Director. Mr. Fox is an entrepreneur and innovator who has launched many companies. He is currently the CEO of Tribogenics, a start-up company he co-founded in 2010 that develops portable, powerful X-ray devices based, in part, upon a technology conceived and licensed from the University of California, Los Angeles.  Mr. Fox has raised numerous rounds of capital for many types of companies, including venture capital, strategic investments, and other financings.  Mr. Fox has built executive and advisory teams. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. Since 2009, Mr. Fox has taught at the Founders Institute where he teaches classes on start-ups and continues to mentor young entrepreneurs.

Tisha Stender, 42, Chief Operating Officer and Legal Counsel. Prior to Ms. Stender’s employment with the Company, Ms. Stender served as Senior Vice president of Licensing of Acacia Research Corporation, a company involved in the monetization of patented inventions, from June 2005 through May 2014. At Acacia Research Corporation, Ms. Stender oversaw the licensing and enforcement of certain patent portfolios controlled by the subsidiaries of Acacia Research Corporation. Ms. Stender holds a J.D. and a Master’s of Science in Human Resources and Organizational Development from Loyola University Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Henry P. Herms, 69, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President – Finance. Mr. Herms has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Vice President – Finance since November 2000 and as one of our Directors since August 2001. Mr. Herms was also our Chief Financial Officer from 1982 to 1987. He is also a former audit manager and CPA with the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP. He holds a B.B.A. degree from Adelphi University. Mr. Herms has a deep understanding of the financial aspects of our business. He also has substantial experience as a public accountant, which is important to the Board’s ability to review our consolidated financial statements, assess potential financings and strategies and otherwise supervise and evaluate our business decisions.

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

There are no family relationships between or among the directors, executive officers or persons nominated or chosen by the Company to become directors or executive officers.

(c)        Our Significant Employees

We have no significant employees other than our executive management team.

(d)       Family Relationships

There are no family relationships between or among the directors, executive officers or persons nominated or chosen by the Company to become directors or executive officers.

(e)        Involvement of Certain Legal Proceedings

To the best of our knowledge, during the past ten years, none of the following occurred with respect to a present or former director or executive officer of the Company: (1) any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time; (2) any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (3) being subject to any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his or her involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities; (4) being found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Commission or the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended or vacated; (5) being subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree or finding relating to an alleged violation of the federal or state securities, commodities, banking or insurance laws or regulations or any settlement thereof or involvement in mail or wire fraud in connection with any business entity not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated and (6) being subject of, or a party to, any disciplinary sanctions or orders imposed by a stock, commodities or derivatives exchange or other self-regulatory organization.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and ten percent stockholders to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock with the Commission. Directors, executive officers and ten percent stockholders are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file.  Based upon a review of these filings, we believe that all required Section 16(a) reports were made on a timely basis during fiscal year 2014.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a formal code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions.  We will provide a copy of our code of ethics to any person without charge, upon request.  For a copy of our code of ethics write to Secretary, ITUS Corporation, 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1275, Los Angeles, California.

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Employment Agreements

Employment Agreement with Robert Berman

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

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

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

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

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

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Stock Options

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to grants of stock options to the Named Executive Officers during fiscal year 2014:

Henry P. Herms

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

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Related Person Transaction Approval Policy

While we have no written policy regarding approval of transactions between us and a related person, our Board, as matter of appropriate corporate governance, reviews and approves all such transactions, to the extent required by applicable rules and regulations.  Generally, management would present to the Board for approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting any related person transactions proposed to be entered into by us.  The Board may approve the transaction if it is deemed to be in the best interests of our stockholders and the Company.

Director Independence

Our Board oversees the activities of our management in the handling of the business and affairs of our company.  We are not subject to listing requirements of any national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system which require that our be Board comprised of a majority of “independent” directors.  Notwithstanding, Lewis H. Titterton, Bruce F. Johnson, Dr. Andrea Belz and Dale Fox currently meet the definition of “independent” as defined by the SEC.  The Board of Directors does not have separately designated audit, nominating or compensation committees. Our directors, Robert A. Berman and Dr. Amit Kumar, are employees of, or consultants to, the Company and as such do not qualify as “independent” directors. 

 The following table describes fees for professional audit services rendered and billed by Haskell & White LLP, our present independent registered public accounting firm and principal accountant, from May 2013 through October 31, 2014, for the audit of our fiscal year 2014 and 2013 consolidated financial statements, the re-audit of our fiscal year 2012 consolidated financial statements and for other services during the fiscal years 2014 and 2013 and KPMG LLP, from November 1, 2012 through May 2013, for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and for other services during fiscal 2013.

       (1)   Audit fees for fiscal year 2013 represent fees billed for services rendered during fiscal 2013 by Haskell & White LLP and KPMG LLP of $109,330 and $291,000, respectively, for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and review of our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, including Haskell & White LLP’s re-audit of our fiscal year 2012 consolidated financial statements.  Audit fees for fiscal year 2014 represent fees billed for services rendered during fiscal 2014 by Haskell & White LLP for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and review of our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

        (2)    Audit related fees for fiscal year 2013 represent fees billed for services rendered during fiscal 2013 by KPMG LLP in connection with our Form S-1 Registration Statement filed during fiscal 2013. Audit related fees for fiscal year 2014 represent fees billed for services rendered during fiscal 2014 by Haskell & White in connection with our Form S-3 Registration Statements filed during fiscal 2014.

Procedures For Board of Directors Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditor

Our Board is responsible for reviewing and approving, in advance, any audit and any permissible non-audit engagement or relationship between us and our independent registered public accounting firm.  Haskell & White LLP’s engagement to conduct our fiscal year 2014 audit was approved by our Board on May 28, 2014.  We did not enter into any non-audit engagement or relationship with Haskell & White LLP during fiscal year 2014. 

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(a)(1)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

See accompanying “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

(b)       Exhibits 

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

ITUS Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ITUS Corporation (the “Company”) as of October 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, shareholders’ equity (deficiency), and cash flows for each of the years ended October 31, 2014 and 2013. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Company has determined that it is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of October 31, 2014 and 2013, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years ended October 31, 2014 and 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. 

/s/ Haskell & White LLP

HASKELL & WHITE LLP

Irvine, California
January 29, 2015

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.