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 ¨                            Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

 

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x   Definitive Proxy Statement

 

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Copytele, Inc.


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 

  


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

 

 

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COPYTELE, INC.

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

AUGUST 28, 2008

 

 

 

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, August 28, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

 

  1. To elect three 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 2008; 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 July 29, 2008, 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

LOGO

ANNE ROTONDO

Secretary

Melville, New York

August 4, 2008


COPYTELE, INC.

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

AUGUST 28, 2008

 

 

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, August 28, 2008, 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 August 4, 2008.

VOTING

General

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 29, 2008 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 July 29, 2008, there were 131,128,746 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding.

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

 

   

the election of three directors; and

 

   

the ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as our independent auditors for fiscal year 2008.

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 2008 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 2008. 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 judgment 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.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to Common Stock beneficially owned as of July 29, 2008 by: (a) each person who is known by our management to be the beneficial owner

 

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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 (3)
 

Mars Overses Limited (4)

   20,000,000    15.3 %

P.O. Box 309, GI Ugland House

South Church Street, George Town

Grand Cayman, Cayman Island

     

Denis A. Krusos

   10,319,880    7.4 %

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

     

Frank J. DiSanto (5)

   943,000    *  

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

     

Henry P. Herms

   956,575    *  

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

     

George P. Larounis

   680,000    *  

900 Walt Whitman Road

Melville, NY 11747

     

All Directors, Director Nominees and Executive

   12,899,455    9.1 %

Officers as a Group

(4 persons)

     

 

* 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 8,250,000 shares, 943,000 shares, 745,000 shares, 660,000 shares and 10,598,000 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”).

 

(3) Based on 131,128,746 shares of common stock outstanding as of July 29, 2008.

 

(4) Based on the information provided in a Schedule 13G for such entity filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2007.

 

(5) Edward A. Ambrosino, Esq., a receiver for certain of Mr. DiSanto’s assets, may share beneficial ownership of the shares beneficially owned by Mr. DiSanto as a result of a court order signed by a judge on September 14, 2006, authorizing Mr. Ambrosino to cause the sale of such shares.

 

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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

(Item 1)

Our current directors and executive officers are as follows:

 

Name

   Age   

Position with the Company

Denis A. Krusos

   80    Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Frank J. DiSanto

   83    Director, President

Henry P. Herms

   63    Director, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President – Finance

George P. Larounis

   80    Director

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. 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. 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.

Effective as of the Annual Meeting, the size of our Board will be reduced from four directors to three directors. Accordingly, three 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. Denis A. Krusos, Henry P. Herms, and George P. Larounis are nominated for reelection to the Board. 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.

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.

 

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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.

None of our directors are “independent” under the rules applicable to the Nasdaq Stock Market.

We do not have a standing audit, nominating or compensation committee. We believe that, given the size of our company, separate committees are unnecessary. Our full Board of Directors has assumed the functions of our former Audit Committee and Stock Option Committee. The functions of the Audit Committee assumed by the Board of Directors include 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.

As we do not have a standing compensation committee, the Board of Directors has full authority for determination of executive and director compensation. The Board of Directors’ processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive and director compensation are described under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” The functions of the Stock Option Committee assumed by the full Board of Directors include administration the 1993 Plan, the 2000 Plan, and the 2003 Plan. We have discontinued granting options under the 1993 Plan.

Attendance

Nine meetings, exclusive of action by unanimous written consent, of the Board of Directors were held during fiscal year 2007. 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, except George Larounis, attended our 2006 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.

 

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

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

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

 

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors, executive officers and ten percent stockholders to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in 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 2007, except that Frank J. DiSanto failed to timely file reports with respect to eight transactions during the period from November 1, 2006 through November 30, 2006. Such transactions involved shares sold at the direction of Edward A. Ambrosino, a receiver for certain of Mr. DiSanto’s assets appointed in a divorce proceeding, pursuant to a court order authorizing Mr. Ambrosino to cause the sale of such shares. Although Mr. DiSanto made numerous requests of Mr. Ambrosino to provide the information necessary for filing on a timely basis, the information was first provided by Mr. Ambrosino on December 5, 2006, at which date Mr. DiSanto completed the filing.

Related Person Transaction Approval Policy

Our Board of Directors review and approve all transactions between us and a related person, to the extent required by applicable rules and regulations. Generally, management would present to the Board of Directors for approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting any related person transactions proposed to be entered into by us.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The following provides an overview and analysis of our executive compensation programs and policies:

Compensation Program Philosophy and Objectives

Our vision is to develop, produce and market our thin, flat, low-voltage phosphor display and the development, production and marketing of our multi-functional encryption products that provide information security for domestic and international users over virtually every communication media. Competition for talented executives in the display and encryption industry is intense. Our ability to attract and retain executives with the requisite skills and experience to grow our business and achieve our business strategies is crucial to our ability to realize this vision. Accordingly, we have designed our executive compensation program to meet the following objectives:

 

   

Attract, motivate and retain highly qualified executives;

 

   

Align management interests with those of shareholders; and

 

   

Reward and encourage superior performance.

To attain these objectives, our executive compensation program contains both short-term and long term incentives rewarding individual and company performance that generates returns for our shareholders.

Role of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is primarily responsible for overseeing our compensation and employee benefit plans and practices. In determining the compensation of our senior management, the Board of

 

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Directors decisions are influenced by each individual’s experience level and scope of responsibility, and the overall performance of the Company and the individual.

The Board of Directors takes into account each person’s performance in helping the Company achieve certain goals, including the following: (i) development of its flat panel technology, (ii) making business arrangements for licensing its technology, (iii) development of encryption products, (iv) and making business arrangements to license and market its encryption products. The Board of Directors evaluates the performance of our Chief executive Officer, Mr. Denis A. Krusos, directly. Mr. Krusos is not present during the Board of Directors deliberations as to his compensation. With respect to senior management other than Mr. Krusos, the Board of Directors relies upon the recommendation of Mr. Krusos, as the person in the best position to judge the respective performances of such individuals.

Because the market for talented executives is extremely competitive, the Board of Directors also considers, from time to time, the form and amount of compensation paid to executives of other companies, compiled from publicly available information. While the Board of Directors can engage compensation consultants to assist with this task, it did not engage any such consultants in fiscal 2007. The Board of Directors does not target a specific benchmark for compensation from the other companies whose compensation it reviews, but rather uses the information in light of the other factors.

Elements of executive Compensation

Our executive compensation consists primarily of two elements: base salary and stock options under our stock equity incentive plans, which provides long-term equity incentives.

Base Salary-

We determine base salaries for our executives based on, among other things, job responsibilities, their tenure with and individual contribution to the Company, and their prior relevant background and experience. We also take account competitive market data, but do not target base salary at any particular level in comparison to the market. Our Board of Directors reviews base salaries annually. To maintain flexibility, we do not target base salary at any particular percent of total compensation.

Stock Options-

The Board of Directors believes it is important to provide our senior management with stock-based incentive compensation that increases in value in direct correlation with improvement in the performance of our common stock. This aligns management’s interests with those of our stockholders and supports the creation of long-term shareholder value. The fundamental philosophy is to link the amount of compensation for an executive to his or her contribution to the Company’s success in achieving financial and other objectives. In general, we grant stock options under stock equity incentive plans to directors, officers, and other employees upon commencement of their employment with us and periodically thereafter. We generally grant stock options at regularly scheduled Board meetings.

As with other elements of compensation, the Board of Directors considers a combination of factors, such as job responsibility, individual contribution and market competition, in establishing the amount of compensation provided by options to each individual executive. Equity incentives are not set at any particular percentage of total compensation.

 

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The option awards are granted at an exercise price equal to the closing price of common stock on the grant date (the date the grant is approved.) Options for directors and officers generally vest on the date of grant or after a 6 or 12 month period following the grant date, provided the grantee remains employed on the vesting date, so that such compensation is at risk of forfeiture based on the executive’s continued service with us. The stock equity incentive plans also provide for the award of restricted stock, although such awards have not been used in any material respect. No restricted stock was awarded during fiscal 2007.

Other Benefits-

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

Policy on Ownership of Stock and Options

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

Policy on Deductibility of Compensation

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

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

As disclosed above, the Board of Directors is primarily responsible for overseeing our compensation and employee benefit plans and practices. We do not have a compensation committee or other Board committee that performs equivalent functions.

Board of Directors Report on Executive Compensation

The below members of the Board of Directors have reviewed and discussed the above “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management. Based upon this review and discussion, such persons recommended that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007.

Denis A Krusos

 

Henry P. Herms

Frank J. DiSanto

  George P. Larounis

Executive Compensation

The following table sets forth certain information for our fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, or fiscal 2007, with respect to compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our Chief Executive Officer and

 

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our Chief Financial Officer (the “Named Executives”). No other executive officer received total compensation in excess of $100,000 during fiscal 2007.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name and

Principal Position

   Year    Salary
($)
   Option
Awards

($) (1)
   All Other
Compensation
($) (2)
   Total
Compensation
($)

Denis A. Krusos,

Chairman of the Board,

Chief Executive Officer and Director

   2007    $ 250,000    $ 422,170    $ 28,532    $ 700,702

Henry P. Herms

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President – Finance and Director

   2007    $ 100,000    $ 30,155    $ 14,300    $ 144,455

 

(1) Amounts in the Option Awards column represent the dollar amounts recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for fiscal 2007 for each Named Executive in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004). A discussion of assumptions used in valuation of option awards may be found in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007.

 

(2) Amounts in the All Other Compensation column reflect, for each Named Executive, the sum of the incremental cost to us of all perquisites and personal benefits, which consisted solely of auto allowance and related expenses for fiscal 2007.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to grants of stock options to the Named Executives during fiscal 2007:

GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS

 

Name

   Grant
Date
   All Other
Option Awards:
Number of

Securities
Underlying Option

(#)
   Exercise Price
of Options
Awards

($/Sh)
   Grant Date
Fair Value
($)

Denis A. Krusos

   11/26/06    700,000    $ 0.70    $ 422,170

Henry P. Herms

   11/26/06    50,000    $ 0.70    $ 30,155

 

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The following table sets forth certain information with respect to unexercised stock options held by the Named Executives outstanding on October 31, 2007:

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

Option Awards (1)

 

Name

   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)

Exercisable
   Option
Exercise
Price

($)
   Option
Expiration
Date

Denis A. Krusos

   300,000    $ 3.750    11/11/2007
   300,000

50,000

250,000

250,000

250,000

500,000

500,000

250,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

1,000,000

1,000,000

700,000

   $

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

2.281

1.313

1.063

0.688

0.400

0.250

0.430

0.810

1.040

0.650

0.520

0.830

0.700

   7/13/2008

4/8/2009

10/26/2010

1/1/2011

9/19/2011

5/5/2013

2/22/2014

5/10/2014

10/25/2014

2/17/2015

10/30/2015

5/31/2016

11/20/16

Henry P. Herms

   100,000    $ 0.938    11/19/2010
   50,000

100,000

50,000

70,000

100,000

100,000

50,000

50,000

   $

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

0.688

0.400

0.810

1.040

0.650

0.520

0.830

0.700

   1/1/2011

9/19/2011

5/10/2014

10/25/2014

2/17/2015

10/30/2015

5/31/2016

11/20/2016

 

(1) There are no un-exercisable stock options held by Named Executives as of October 31, 2007.

 

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The following table summarizes the exercise of stock options during fiscal 2007 by Named Executives:

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE

 

Name

   Option Awards
   Number of
Shares
Acquired
on Exercise

(#)
   Value
Realized

on
Exercise

($) (1)

Denis A. Krusos

   1,000,000    $ 340,000

Henry P. Herms

   200,000    $ 68,000

 

(1) The value realized on exercise is calculated based on the difference between the exercise price of the options and the market price of the stock at the time of exercise.

Director’s Compensation

There is no present arrangement for cash compensation of directors for services in that capacity. Under the 2003 Share Incentive 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. Since the Company did not hold a shareholder’s meeting during fiscal 2007, Mr. Larounis did not receive a stock option in fiscal 2007 upon his election to the Board of Directors.

Our employee directors, Denis A. Krusos, Frank J. DiSanto and Henry P. Herms do not receive any additional compensation for services provided as a director. The following table sets forth compensation of George P. Larounis, our sole non-employee director for fiscal 2007:

DIRECTORS COMPENSATION

 

Name

   Option
Awards

($) (1)
   All Other
Compensation
($)

George P. Larounis

   $ 25,749    —  

 

(1) Amounts in the Option Awards column represent the dollar amounts recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for fiscal 2007 for Mr. Larounis in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004). These amounts related to awards granted in prior years. A discussion of assumptions used in valuation of option awards may be found in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007. At October 31, 2007, Mr. Larounis held unexercised stock options to purchase 600,000 shares of our common stock.

 

12


AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Because we no longer have a standing Audit Committee, the following is the report of our entire Board of Directors, including our independent director, Mr. Larounis, with respect to our audited financial statements for fiscal year 2007.

Review with Management. Mr. Larounis reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements with management.

Review and Discussions with Independent Auditors. The Board of Directors discussed with Grant Thornton LLP, our independent auditors for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, 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 Board of Directors 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 Board of Directors determined to include our audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2007, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Denis A. Krusos

Frank J. DiSanto

 

Henry P. Herms

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.

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 2008, 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.

 

13


The following table describes fees for professional audit services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP, our present independent registered public accounting firm and principal accountant, for the audit of our annual financial statements and for other services for the years ended October 31, 2007, and 2006.

 

Type of Fee

   2007    2006

Audit Fees(1)

   $ 272,620    $ 414,896

Audit Related Fees

     —        —  

Tax Fees – tax consulting services

     6,098      —  

All Other Fees

     —        —  

Total

   $ 278,718    $ 414,896

Procedures for Board of Directors Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors. Our Board of Directors 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. Grant Thornton LLP’s engagement to conduct our audit was approved by the Board of Directors on September 5, 2006. Grant Thornton LLP’s engagement to provide tax consultation services was approved by the Board of Directors July 6, 2007.

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 20, 2009.

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.

 

14


ANNUAL REPORT

A copy of our Annual Report, including financial statements for fiscal year 2007, accompanies this Proxy Statement.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

LOGO

ANNE ROTONDO

Secretary

Melville, New York

August 4, 2008

 

15


ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

COPYTELE, INC.

August 28, 2008

Please sign, date and mail

your proxy card in the

envelope provided as soon

as possible.

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

n    20330000000000000000     9                                                                             082808

 

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

 

1. Election of Directors:    NOMINEES:           FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN

¨    FOR ALL NOMINEES

 

¨    WITHHOLD AUTHORITY

          FOR ALL NOMINEES

 

¨    FOR ALL EXCEPT

          (See instructions below)

  

o    Denis A. Krusos

o    Henry P. Herms

o    George P. Larounis

       

2.   RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS OF COPYTELE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2008.

  ¨   ¨   ¨
        

 

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.

 

Receipt is acknowledged of Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007.

INSTRUCTIONS: 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: l

 

        
 
               

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:       

 

n

  

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.

   n  


Annual Meeting of Stockholders

August 28, 2008 - 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.

¨                        n

THIS PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

COPYTELE, INC.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders – August 28, 2008

THE UNDERSIGNED stockholder of CopyTele, Inc., hereby appoints DENIS A. KRUSOS and HENRY P. HERMS, 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 August 28, 2008, 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)

 

n   14475  n