UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.      )

 

 

Filed by the Registrant x   Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨  Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

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

 

x  Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨  Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨  Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

 

 

COPYTELE, INC.


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x  No fee required.

 

¨  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

  (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 
  (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 
  (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 
  (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 
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¨  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

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

 

  (1)  Amount Previously Paid:

 

 
  (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 
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  (4)  Date Filed:

 

 

 


COPYTELE, INC.

 


 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

OCTOBER 28, 2004

 


 

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF COPYTELE, INC.

 

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of CopyTele, Inc., a Delaware corporation, to be held at the Fox Hollow, Woodbury, New York, on Thursday, October 28, 2004, at 10:30 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

 

  1. To elect four directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

 

  2. To ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as CopyTele’s independent auditors for fiscal year 2004; and

 

  3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

The Board of Directors of CopyTele has fixed the close of business on September 28, 2004, as the record date for the Annual Meeting. This means that only holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on that date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting.

 

Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please read the accompanying proxy statement and promptly complete, date, sign and mail the enclosed proxy so that your shares may be represented at the Annual Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote in person even if you have previously returned your proxy.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ ANNE ROTONDO


ANNE ROTONDO
Secretary

 

Melville, New York

September 29, 2004


COPYTELE, INC.

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

 


 

PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

OCTOBER 28, 2004

 


 

The Board of Directors of CopyTele, Inc. (“CopyTele”, “we” or “us”) is furnishing you this Proxy Statement to solicit proxies on its behalf to be voted at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, October 28, 2004, at 10:30 a.m., local time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. We are first sending this Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy to stockholders on or about October 1, 2004.

 

VOTING

 

General

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 28, 2004 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Each stockholder will be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held on all matters to come before the Annual Meeting and may vote in person or by proxy authorized in writing. As of September 28, 2004, there were 84,903,278 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.

 

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider and vote upon:

 

  the election of four directors; and

 

  the ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as our independent auditors for fiscal year 2004.

 

Stockholders may also consider and act upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

 

Quorum and Required Votes

 

To carry on the business of the Annual Meeting, we must have a quorum. This means that at least a majority of the outstanding shares eligible to vote must be present at the Annual Meeting, either by proxy or in person. Shares of Common Stock represented by a properly signed and returned proxy are considered present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present at the Annual Meeting for determining whether we have a quorum. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker returns a proxy but does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

 

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Election of directors will be determined by a plurality vote of the combined voting power of all shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and voting at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, votes “withheld” from director-nominee(s), abstentions and broker non-votes will not count against the election of such nominee(s).

 

Approval of the proposal to ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent auditors for fiscal year 2004, or any other matter that may come before the Annual Meeting, will be determined by the vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting on such matters. With respect to an abstention, the shares will be considered present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and they will have the same effect as votes against the matter. With respect to broker non-votes, the shares will not be considered entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting for such matter and the broker non-votes will have the practical effect of reducing the number of affirmative votes required to achieve a majority vote for such matter by reducing the total number of shares from which the majority is calculated.

 

Voting and Revocation of Proxies

 

Your vote is important. We encourage you to promptly complete, date, sign and return the accompanying form of proxy in the enclosed envelope. The way you vote now does not limit your right to change your vote at the Annual Meeting if you attend in person.

 

Common Stock represented by properly executed proxies received by us and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions contained therein. If instructions are not given, proxies will be voted FOR the election of each nominee for election as a director named herein and FOR the ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as CopyTele’s independent auditors for fiscal year 2004. The Board of Directors has not received timely notice (and does not know) of any matters that are to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than as set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy or their substitutes will vote in accordance with their best judgement on such matters.

 

Any proxy signed and returned by a stockholder may be revoked at any time before it is voted by filing with the Secretary of CopyTele written notice of such revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in and of itself constitute revocation of a proxy.

 

Proxy Solicitation

 

We will bear the costs of solicitations of proxies for the Annual Meeting. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and regular employees may solicit proxies from stockholders by telephone, telegram, personal interview or otherwise. Such directors, officers and employees will not receive additional compensation, but may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such solicitation. We have requested brokers, nominees, fiduciaries and other custodians to forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of Common Stock held of record by them, and such custodians will be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses.

 

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PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to Common Stock beneficially owned as of September 28, 2004 by: (a) each person who is known by our management to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock; (b) each director, director nominee and executive officer of CopyTele; and (c) all directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group:

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner


   Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership(1)(2)


   Percent of Class

 

Denis A. Krusos

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

   6,677,600    7.4 %

Frank J. DiSanto

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

   3,909,505    4.4 %

Henry P. Herms

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

   525,000      *

George P. Larounis

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

   270,000      *

All Directors, Director Nominees and Executive

Officers as a Group

(4 persons)

   11,382,105    12.1 %

 * Less than 1%.
(1) A beneficial owner of a security includes any person who directly or indirectly has or shares voting power and/or investment power with respect to such security or has the right to obtain such voting power and/or investment power within sixty (60) days. Except as otherwise noted, each designated beneficial owner in this Proxy Statement has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person.
(2) Includes 4,778,290 shares, 3,266,290 shares, 500,000 shares, 270,000 shares and 8,814,580 shares as to which Denis A. Krusos, Frank J. DiSanto, Henry P. Herms, George P. Larounis, and all directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the CopyTele, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan (the “1993 Plan”), the CopyTele, Inc. 2000 Share Incentive Plan (the “2000 Plan”) and the CopyTele, Inc. 2003 Share Incentive Plan (the “2003 Plan”).

 

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

(Item 1)

 

Four directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting by the holders of Common Stock, each to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify. All of the nominees at present are available for election as members of the Board of Directors. If for any reason a nominee becomes unavailable for election, the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the Board of Directors. Information regarding the nominees is as follows:

 

Name


   Age

  

Position with the Company


Denis A. Krusos

   76    Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Frank J. DiSanto

   80    Director and President

Henry P. Herms

   59    Director, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President – Finance

George P. Larounis

   76    Director

 

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Mr. Krusos has served as one of our Directors and as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since November 1982. He holds an M.S.E.E. degree from Newark College of Engineering, a B.E.E. degree from City College of New York and a J.D. degree from St. John’s University.

 

Mr. DiSanto has served as one of our Directors and as our President since November 1982. He holds a B.E.E. degree from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and an M.E.E. degree from New York University.

 

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. Prior to joining CopyTele, Mr. Herms was employed by takeoutmusic.com Holding Corp. as Chief Financial Officer, from May 2000 to November 2000. Prior to that, for approximately 12 years, Mr. Herms was a Principal, Director and Chief Financial Officer of a group of affiliated, privately held companies operating under the Ultratan trade name. Mr. Herms was also CopyTele’s Chief Financial Officer from 1982 to 1987. He is also a former audit manager with the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP and a CPA. He holds a B.B.A. degree from Adelphi University.

 

Mr. Larounis has served as one of our Directors since September 1997, prior to which he served as a consultant to us. Mr. Larounis is currently retired. From 1960 to 1993, he held numerous positions as a senior international executive of The Bendix Corporation and AlliedSignal Inc., which is now known as Honeywell International, Inc. He has also served on the Boards of Directors of numerous affiliates of AlliedSignal in Europe, Asia and Australia. He holds a B.E.E. degree from the University of Michigan and a J.D. degree from New York University.

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each nominee as a Director to hold office until the next Annual Meeting. Proxies received by the Board of Directors will be so voted unless stockholders specify in their proxy a contrary choice.

 

Board of Directors and Corporate Governance

 

General

 

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

 

On March 30, 2004, Richard J. Salute resigned as a member of our Board of Directors and on June 29, 2004, Anthony Bowers resigned as a member of our Board of Directors. Since Mr. Bowers’ resignation, our only director who is “independent” under the rules applicable to the Nasdaq Stock Market is George P. Larounis.

 

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Board Committees

 

Until the resignation of Mr. Bowers, the Board of Directors had two standing committees — the Audit Committee and the Stock Option Committee. These committees consisted of our independent directors. We did not have a standing nominating or compensation committee. Since the resignation of Mr. Bowers, our full Board of Directors has assumed the functions of the Audit Committee and Stock Option Committee. The following are descriptions of the functions of the Audit Committee and Stock Option Committee during fiscal 2003 and thereafter until the resignation of Mr. Bowers.

 

The Audit Committee assisted the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibility to oversee management’s conduct of our financial reporting process, including the selection of our independent auditors and the review of the financial reports and other financial information provided by us to any governmental or regulatory body, the public or other users thereof, our systems of internal accounting and financial controls, and the annual independent audit of our financial statements. During fiscal 2003 and thereafter until the resignation of Mr. Bowers, all members of the Audit Committee were “independent” under the rules applicable to the Nasdaq Stock Market

 

The Stock Option Committee administered the 1993 Plan, the 2000 Plan, and the 2003 Plan. We have discontinued granting options under the 1993 Plan.

 

Attendance

 

One meeting, exclusive of action by unanimous written consent, of the Board of Directors, four meetings of the Audit Committee and twenty-nine meetings of the Stock Option Committee were held during fiscal year 2003. During such year, each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and committees on which he served while a member thereof. All members of our Board of Directors attended our 2002 annual meeting of stockholders. We encourage our directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Nominations of Directors

 

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

 

  Candidates should be individuals of personal integrity and ethical character.

 

  Candidates should have background, achievements, and experience that will enhance our Board. This may come from experience in areas important to our business, substantial accomplishments or prior or current associations with institutions noted for their excellence. Candidates should have demonstrated leadership ability, the intelligence and ability to make independent analytical inquiries and the ability to exercise sound business judgment.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

We are of the view that the continuing service of qualified incumbents promotes stability and continuity in the board room, contributing to the Board’s ability to work as a collective body, while giving us the benefit of the familiarity and insight into our affairs that our directors accumulate during their tenure. Accordingly, the process of the Board for identifying nominees for directors will reflect our practice of generally re-nominating incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the Board’s criteria for membership on the Board, whom the Board believes continue to make important contributions and who consent to continue their service on the Board. If the Board determines that an incumbent director consenting to re-nomination continues to be qualified and has satisfactorily performed his or her duties as director during the preceding term, and that there exist no reasons, including considerations relating to the composition and functional needs of the Board as a whole, why in the Board’s view the incumbent should not be re-nominated, the Board will, absent special circumstances, generally propose the incumbent director for re-election.

 

If the incumbent directors are not nominated for re-election or if there is otherwise a vacancy on the Board, the Board may solicit recommendations for nominees from persons that the Board believes are likely to be familiar with qualified candidates, including from members of the Board and management. The Board may also determine to engage a professional search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates. We do not have a policy with regard to the consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders. Due to the size of our company and Board, the Board does not believe that such a policy is necessary.

 

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

 

Communications with Directors

 

Stockholders may send written communications to the Board by mailing those communications to CopyTele, Inc., 900 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747, Attn.: Secretary, who will forward such communications to the relevant addressee. We will generally not forward to the directors shareholder communications that merely request general information about us.

 

Code of Ethics

 

As of the date of this proxy statement, we have not 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. Because of the small number of our employees, and in particular the small number and long service of our senior management, our Board of Directors has not believed it necessary to adopt a formal code of ethics. However, our Board continues to evaluate this is light of recent developments concerning governance of public companies generally, including rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the stock markets.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors, executive officers and ten percent stockholders to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in

 

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ownership of Common Stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Directors, executive officers and ten percent stockholders are required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file. Based upon a review of these filings, we believe that all required Section 16(a) fillings were made on a timely basis during fiscal year 2003.

 

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Denis A. Krusos, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Frank J. DiSanto, President and Director and Henry P. Herms, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President - Finance and Director, are our executive officers. While there are no formal agreements, Messrs. Krusos and DiSanto waived any and all rights to receive salary and related pension benefits commencing November 1, 1985 through October 31, 2003. As a result, Messrs. Krusos and DiSanto received no salary or bonus during the last three fiscal years. However, effective for fiscal 2004, Mr. Krusos began to receive compensation in the form of common stock and Mr. DiSanto began to receive cash compensation.

 

No executive officer received a salary and bonus in excess of $100,000 during fiscal year 2003. The following is compensation information regarding Mr. Krusos for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001:

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name and

Principal Position


  

Fiscal

Year

Ended


   Annual
Compensation


  

Long-Term

Compensation Awards
Securities Underlying

Options (#)


Denis A. Krusos,

   10/31/03    —      1,500,000

Chairman of the Board,

   10/31/02    —      —  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

   10/31/01    —      500,000

 

The following is information regarding stock options granted to Mr. Krusos pursuant to the 2003 Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003:

 

OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

 

Individual Grants


   Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock
Price Appreciation for
Option Term


Name


   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
Granted (#)


    Percent of Total
Options Granted
to Employees in
Fiscal Year


    Exercise Price
($/Share)


    Expiration
Date


   5% ($)

   10% ($)

Denis A. Krusos

   1,500,000 (1)   20.41 %   $ 0.25 (2)   5/5/13    $ 235,837    $ 597,653

(1) Options granted pursuant to the 2003 Plan, all of which were immediately exercisable in whole or in part. The options are not issued in tandem with stock appreciation or similar rights and are not transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The options terminate upon termination of employment, except that, in the case of death, disability or termination for reasons other than cause, options may be exercised for certain periods of time thereafter as set forth in the 2003 Plan.

 

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(2) The exercise price of these options was equal to the fair market value (closing price) of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. These options are nonqualified options.

 

The following is information regarding stock option exercises during fiscal 2003 by Mr. Krusos and the values of his options as of October 31, 2003:

 

AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND

FY-END OPTION/VALUES

 

Name


   Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#)


   Value
Realized ($)


  

Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options at Fiscal

Year End (#)


  

Value of Unexercised In-the-
Money Options at Fiscal Year

End ($)(1)


         Exercisable

   Unexercisable

   Exercisable

   Unexercisable

Denis A. Krusos

   —      —      4,213,290    —      $ 417,500    —  

(1) Such value was determined by multiplying (i) the difference between the last sales price of the stock on October 31, 2003 and the exercise price of each option by (ii) the number of unexercised options held.

 

There is no present arrangement for cash compensation of directors for services in that capacity. Under the 2003 Plan, each non-employee director is entitled to receive nonqualified stock options to purchase 60,000 shares of Common Stock each year that such director is elected to the Board of Directors.

 

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

In view of the fact that CopyTele’s executive officers, with the exception of Henry P. Herms, had waived all salary and related pension benefits for fiscal year 2003, the Board of Directors did not adopt any policy with respect to the payment of cash compensation to the executive officers of CopyTele for such period. Although a salary was paid to Mr. Herms in fiscal year 2003, such compensation was not part of an overall compensation policy, was determined solely by CopyTele’s Chief Executive Officer, and was not specifically related to corporate performance. However, effective for fiscal 2004, Mr. Krusos began to receive compensation in the form of common stock and Mr. DiSanto began to receive cash compensation. The Board of Directors may consider developing an overall compensation policy for its executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Generally, options previously granted under the 1993 Plan and 2000 Plan, and options currently granted under the 2003 Plan, are granted as an inducement in respect of future performance. During fiscal year 2003, options were granted to Denis A. Krusos, Frank J. DiSanto and Henry P. Herms for 1,500,000, 750,000 and 200,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, under the 2003 Plan. Such grants were approved by the Stock Option Committee, which was comprised solely of non-employee directors of CopyTele. All three plans also provide for the granting of stock appreciation rights, although no stock appreciation rights have been granted under any of the plans. Additionally, the 2000 Plan and 2003 Plan provide for the granting of other benefits, including stock awards, performance awards and stock units. As of October 31, 2003, no such benefits had been granted to CopyTele’s executive officers under those plans, although compensation in the form of common stock has been granted in fiscal 2004. The Board of Directors believes that the 1993 Plan, the 2000 Plan and the 2003 Plan have been effective in attracting and retaining executives and employees.

 

With certain exceptions, Section 162(m) (“Section 162(m)”) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, denies a deduction to CopyTele for compensation paid to certain executive officers in excess of $1 million per executive per taxable year (including any deduction with respect to the exercise of a nonqualified option or right or the disqualifying disposition of stock purchased pursuant to an incentive option). CopyTele believes that options previously granted under the 1993 Plan and options and rights granted under the 2000 Plan and the 2003 Plan by a qualifying committee of the Board of Directors, should qualify for the performance-based compensation exception to Section 162(m). However, since the resignation of Mr. Bowers from our Board of Directors, we no longer have such a qualifying committee.

 

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This Report has been prepared by the Board of Directors.

 

Denis A. Krusos

  Henry P. Herms

Frank J. DiSanto

  George P. Larounis

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

At the time our financial statements for fiscal year 2003 were approved, our Board of Directors had an Audit Committee consisting of George P. Larounis, Anthony Bowers and Richard J. Salute. Mr. Bowers and Mr. Salute have since resigned from our Board of Directors. The following is the report of Mr. Larounis, the sole member of our Board of Directors who was a member of the Audit Committee at such time, with respect to our audited financial statements for fiscal year 2003.

 

Review with Management. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements with management.

 

Review and Discussions with Independent Auditors. The Audit Committee discussed with Grant Thornton LLP, our independent auditors for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards (“SAS”) 61 (Communications with Audit Committees) and SAS 90 (Audit Committee Communications) regarding the auditor’s judgments about the quality of our accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting.

 

The Audit Committee also received written disclosures and the letter from Grant Thornton LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and discussed with Grant Thornton LLP their independence.

 

Conclusion. Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2003, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

George P. Larounis

 

The information contained in the foregoing reports shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate them by reference in such filing.

 

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STOCKHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

Set forth below is a graph showing the five-year cumulative total return for: (i) our Common Stock; (ii) The Nasdaq Stock Market U.S. Index, a broad market index covering shares of common stock of domestic companies that are listed on Nasdaq; and (iii) The Nasdaq Electronic Components Stock Index, a group of companies that are engaged in the manufacture of electronic components and related accessories with a Standard Industrial Classification Code of 367 and listed on NASDAQ.

 

 

LOGO

 

     Fiscal Year Ended October 31

     1998

   1999

   2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

CopyTele, Inc.

   $ 100    67    67    25    15    33

Nasdaq Stock Market U.S.

   $ 100    169    192    97    76    112

Nasdaq Electronic Components

   $ 100    205    311    118    74    138

 


(1) The comparison of total return on investment for each fiscal year ended October 31 assumes that $100 was invested on November 1, 1998 in each of CopyTele, The Nasdaq Stock Market U.S. Index and The Nasdaq Electronic Component Index with investment weighted on the basis of market capitalization and all dividends reinvested.

 

The information contained in the foregoing graph shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference in such filing.

 

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RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

 

(Item 2)

 

The Board of Directors has appointed the firm of Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to serve as our independent auditors for fiscal year 2004, subject to ratification of this appointment by our stockholders. We have been advised by that firm that neither it nor any member thereof have any direct or material indirect financial interest in CopyTele.

 

Grant Thornton LLP has served as our independent auditors since we dismissed Arthur Andersen LLP (“Arthur Andersen”) and engaged Grant Thornton LLP to serve as our new independent auditors for fiscal year 2002, on June 6, 2002. This determination was approved by our Audit Committee.

 

Arthur Andersen’s reports on our financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2001 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were the reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

 

During the year ended October 31, 2001 and the interim period between October 31, 2001 and June 6, 2002, there were no disagreements between us and Arthur Andersen on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Arthur Andersen’s satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report for such years; and there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

During the year ended October 31, 2001 and through June 6, 2002, neither us nor anyone acting on our behalf consulted Grant Thornton LLP with respect to the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our financial statements, or any other matters or reportable events as set forth in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.

 

The following table describes fees paid to Grant Thornton LLP, our present principal accountant, for professional audit services rendered with respect to the audit of our annual financial statements and review of our quarterly financial statements for the years ended October 31, 2003 and October 31, 2002 and for other services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP during those periods.

 

Type of Fee


   2003

   2002

Audit Fees

   $ 120,448    $ 121,450

Audit Related Fees

     —        —  

Tax Fees – tax return review

     —        750

All Other Fees

     —        —  

Total

   $ 120,448    $ 122,200

 

Procedures for Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors. During fiscal 2003, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors was responsible for reviewing and approving, in advance, any audit and any permissible non-audit engagement or relationship between us and our independent auditors, pursuant to its charter. We did not enter into any non-audit engagement or relationship with Grant Thornton LLP during fiscal 2003. Our full Board of Directors is currently responsible for this function.

 

11


One or more representatives of Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

Ratification of the appointment of the independent auditors requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter at the Annual Meeting.

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this proposal. Proxies received by the Board of Directors will be so voted unless stockholders specify in their proxy a contrary choice.

 

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

All proposals from stockholders to be included in the proxy materials to be distributed by us in connection with the next annual meeting must be received by the Secretary of CopyTele, 900 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747, not later than the close of business on June 3, 2005.

 

In addition, in accordance with Article I, Section 10 of our Amended and Restated By-laws, in order to be properly brought before the next annual meeting, a matter must have been: (i) specified in a written notice of such meeting (or any supplement thereto) given to the stockholders by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (which would be accomplished if a stockholder proposal were received by the Secretary of the CopyTele as set forth in the preceding paragraph); (ii) brought before such meeting at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the meeting; or (iii) specified in a written notice given by or on behalf of a stockholder of record on the record date for such meeting, or a duly authorized proxy for such stockholder, which conforms to the requirements of Article I, Section 10 of our Amended and Restated By-laws and is delivered personally to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary of the CopyTele at the address set forth in the preceding paragraph not less than 45 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the notice accompanying this Proxy Statement; provided however, that such notice need not be given more than 75 days prior to the next annual meeting.

 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

A copy of our Annual Report, including financial statements for fiscal year 2003, and a copy of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2004, accompanies this Proxy Statement.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ ANNE ROTONDO


ANNE ROTONDO
Secretary

Melville, New York

September 29, 2004

 

12


ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

 

COPYTELE, INC.

 

October 28, 2004

 

Please date, sign and mail

your proxy card in the

envelope provided as soon

as possible.

 

¯Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.¯

 

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE  x

 

                           FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN
1. Election of Directors:            2.    RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS OF COPYTELE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2004.    ¨    ¨    ¨
        NOMINEES:               

¨

  FOR ALL NOMINEES   °   Denis A. Krusos                         
        °   Frank J. DiSanto    3.    IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) OR POSTPONEMENT(S) THEREOF.
¨   WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
FOR ALL NOMINEES
  °   Henry P. Herms        
      °   George P. Larounis        
¨   FOR ALL EXCEPT                
    (See instructions below)                                 
                 Receipt is acknowledged of Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003.

INSTRUCTION:   To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: ·

                        
                     
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.    ¨                   .

Signature of Stockholder                               Date:                          Signature of Stockholder                                Date:                  

Note:   

  Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder
should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as
such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full
title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.


Annual Meeting of Stockholders

October 28, 2004 - 10:30 A.M.

To be held at:

 

FOX HOLLOW

 

7725 Jericho Turnpike

Woodbury, New York

(516) 921-1415

 

Long Island Expressway to Exit 44 North (which is Rt. 135 North) to Exit 14 East (which is Woodbury 25 East)

 

Northern State Parkway to Exit 36B North (which is Rt. 135 North) to Exit 14 East (which is Woodbury 25 East)

 

Belt Parkway to Southern State Parkway to Exit 28A North (which is Rt. 135 North) to Exit 14 East (which is Woodbury 25 East)

 

At Exit 14 East, make right turn onto Jericho Turnpike (25 East). Fox Hollow is on left after first traffic light.

 

THIS PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

COPYTELE, INC.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders – October 28, 2004

 

THE UNDERSIGNED stockholder of CopyTele, Inc., hereby appoints DENIS A. KRUSOS and FRANK J. DiSANTO, or either of them, with full power of substitution, as the proxy or proxies of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of CopyTele to be held at the Fox Hollow, Woodbury, New York, on October 28, 2004, at 10:30 a.m., and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, and to vote thereat all shares of Common Stock of CopyTele which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present in accordance with the instructions on the reverse side of this Proxy.

 

The shares represented by this Proxy will be voted as specified on the reverse side hereof, but if no specification is made, the proxies intend to vote FOR the election of all nominees as directors, FOR the ratification of the selection of auditors and, in the discretion of such proxies, for or against such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.

 

(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)