AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 30, 2001 REGISTRATION NO. 333-________ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ----------------------- FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ----------------------- MITEK SYSTEMS, INC. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 10070 CARROLL CANYON ROAD SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92131 (Address of principal executive offices) DELAWARE 87-0418827 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) MITEK SYSTEMS, INC. 2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN (Full title of the plan) JOHN M. THORNTON MITEK SYSTEMS, INC. 10070 CARROLL CANYON ROAD SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92131 (858) 635-5900 (Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) (1) Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock of Mitek Systems, Inc. as reported on March 26, 2001 by Nasdaq. (2) Includes additional shares of Common Stock that may become issuable pursuant to the anti-dilution adjustment provisions of the 2000 Stock Option Plan pursuant to Rules 416 and 457 under the Securities Act of 1933. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE ==================================================================================================================== Proposed Proposed Maximum Maximum Title of Amount Offering Aggregate Amount of Securities to be Price Per Offering Registration to be Registered Registered Share(1) Price(1) Fee - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stock, $.001 par value(2) 1,000,000 shares $1.078 $1,078,000 $269.50 ==================================================================================================================== INTRODUCTION This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Mitek Systems, Inc. (the "Company") relating to one million (1,000,000) shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable to employees of the Company under the 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS ITEM I. PLAN INFORMATION.* ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.* * Information required by Part I of Form S-8 to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the Note to Part I of Form S-8. PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. The following documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof: (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2000; (b) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report referred to in (a) above; (c) All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment hereto which indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; and (d) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed under the Securities Act of 1933 on July 9, 1996, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. For purposes of this Registration Statement, any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement. ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. Not applicable. ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL. Not applicable. ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation eliminates the personal liability of the directors of the Company for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director of the Company except: (i) for any breach of the directors' duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders; (ii) for acts for omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) for unlawful dividends or distributions; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The Company's Bylaws permit the Company to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents to the maximum extent permitted by section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Section 145 provides that a director, officer, employer, or agent of the Company who is or is made a party or is threatened to made a party to any threatened, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law against all expense, liability and loss actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful. If it is determined that the conduct of such person meets these standards, such person may be indemnified for expenses incurred and amounts paid in such proceeding if actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. If such a proceeding is brought by or on behalf of the Company (i.e., a derivative suit), such person may be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred if such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the corporation and its stockholders. There can be no indemnification with respect to any matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Where any such person is successful in any such proceeding, such person is entitled to be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her. In all other cases (unless order by a court), indemnification is made by the Company upon determination by it that indemnification of such person is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct. The Company may advance expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking to repay any amount so advanced if it is ultimately determined that the person is not eligible for indemnification. The indemnification rights provided in Section 145 are not exclusive of additional rights to indemnification for breach of duty to the Company and its stockholders to the extent additional rights are authorized in the Company's certificate of incorporation and are not exclusive of any other rights to indemnification under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her office and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED. Not applicable. ITEM 8. EXHIBITS. The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Exhibit Index commencing at page EX-1 hereof. ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: 1. (a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement; (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement; (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs 1(a)(i) and 1(a)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement; (b) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; (c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. 2. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. 3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by a final adjudication of such issue. 2 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on March 30, 2001. MITEK SYSTEMS, INC. By: /s/ John M. Thornton --------------------------------------------- John M. Thornton, Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer POWER OF ATTORNEY Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints JOHN M. THORNTON his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, at any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that said attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the date indicated. 3
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE - --------- ----- ---- /S/ JOHN M. THORNTON Chairman of the Board, President, March 30, 2001 - -------------------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer and Chief John M. Thornton Financial Officer /S/ GERALD I. FARMER Executive Vice President, Director March 30, 2001 - -------------------------------------------- Gerald I. Farmer /S/ DANIEL E. STEIMLE Director March 30, 2001 - -------------------------------------------- Daniel E. Steimle /S/ SALLY B. THORNTON Director March 30, 2001 - -------------------------------------------- Sally B. Thornton /S/ JAMES B. DEBELLO Director March 30, 2001 - -------------------------------------------- James B. DeBello INDEX TO EXHIBITS (1) Incorporated by reference to the exhibits to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1987.
Exhibit No. Description - ----------- ----------- 4.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company(1) 4.2 Bylaws of the Company(1) 4.3 Mitek Systems, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan 5 Opinion of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered 23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP 23.2 Consent of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP (contained in Exhibit 5 hereto)
Exhibit 4.3 MITEK SYSTEMS, INC. 2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN 1. PURPOSE. This Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is intended to serve as an incentive to, and to encourage stock ownership by certain eligible participants rendering services to Mitek Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and certain affiliates as set forth below (the "Corporation"), so that they may acquire or increase their proprietary interest in the Corporation and to encourage them to remain in the service of the Corporation. 2. ADMINISTRATION. 2.1 COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of Directors"), or a committee of two or more members appointed by the Board of Directors (the "Committee") who are Non-Employee Directors as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and an outside director as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(3). The Committee shall select one of its members as Chairman and shall appoint a Secretary, who need not be a member of the Committee. The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine and minutes of such meetings shall be recorded. Acts by a majority of the Committee in a meeting at which a quorum is present and acts approved in writing by a majority of the members of the Committee shall be valid acts of the Committee. 2.2 TERM. If the Board of Directors selects a Committee, the members of the Committee shall serve on the Committee for the period of time determined by the Board of Directors and shall be subject to removal by the Board of Directors at any time. The Board of Directors may terminate the function of the Committee at any time and resume all powers and authority previously delegated to the Committee. 2.3 AUTHORITY. The Committee shall have sole discretion and authority to grant options under the Plan to eligible participants rendering services to the Corporation or any "parent" or "subsidiary" of the Corporation, as defined in Section 424 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") ("Parent or Subsidiary"), at such times, under such terms and in such amounts as it may decide. For purposes of this Plan and any Stock Option Agreement (as defined below), the term "Corporation" shall include any Parent or Subsidiary, if applicable. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have complete authority to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind the rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the details and provisions of any Stock Option Agreement, to accelerate any options granted under the Plan and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. 2.4 TYPE OF OPTION. The Committee shall have full authority and discretion to determine, and shall specify, whether the eligible individual will be granted options intended to qualify as incentive options under Section 422 of the Code ("Incentive Options") or options which are not intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code ("Non-Qualified Options"); provided, however, that Incentive Options shall only be granted to employees of the Corporation, or a Parent or Subsidiary thereof, and shall be subject to the special limitations set forth herein attributable to Incentive Options. 2.5 INTERPRETATION. The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provisions of the Plan or of any option granted under the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties having an interest in this Plan or any option granted hereunder. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any option granted under the Plan. 3. ELIGIBILITY. 3.1 GENERAL. All directors, officers, employees of and certain persons rendering services to the Corporation, or any Parent or Subsidiary relative to the Corporation's, or any Parent's or Subsidiary's management, operation or development shall be eligible to receive options under the Plan. The selection of recipients of options shall be within the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee. No person shall be granted an Incentive Option under this Plan unless such person is an employee of the Corporation, or a Parent or Subsidiary on the date of grant. No person shall be granted an option under this Plan unless such person has executed, if requested by the Committee, the grant representation letter set forth on Exhibit "A," as such Exhibit may be amended by the Committee from time to time. No person shall be granted more than 500,000 options in any one year period. 3.2 Termination of Eligibility. 3.2.1 If an optionee ceases to be employed by the Corporation, or its Parent or Subsidiary, is no longer an officer or member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or no longer performs services for the Corporation, or its Parent or Subsidiary, for any reason (other than for "cause," as hereinafter defined, or such optionee's death), any option granted hereunder to such optionee shall expire three months after the occurrence giving rise to such termination of eligibility (or 1 year in the event an optionee is "disabled," as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) or upon the date it expires by its terms, whichever is earlier. Any option that has not vested in the optionee as of the date of such termination shall immediately expire and shall be null and void. The Committee shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, decide, utilizing the provisions set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.421-7(h), whether an authorized leave of absence or absence for military or governmental service, or absence for any other reason, shall constitute termination of eligibility for purposes of this Section. 3.2.2 If an optionee ceases to be employed by the Corporation, or its Parent or Subsidiary, is no longer an officer or member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or no longer performs services for the Corporation, or its Parent or Subsidiary, and such termination is as a result of "cause," as hereinafter defined, then all options granted hereunder to such optionee shall expire on the date of the occurrence giving rise to such termination of eligibility or upon the date it expires by its terms, whichever is earlier, and such optionee shall have no rights with respect to any unexercised options. For purposes of this Plan, "cause" shall mean an optionee's personal dishonesty, misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty, incompetence, intentional failure to perform stated obligations, willful violation of any law, rule, 2 regulation or final cease and desist order, or any material breach of any provision of this Plan, any Stock Option Agreement or any employment agreement. 3.3 DEATH OF OPTIONEE AND TRANSFER OF OPTION. In the event an optionee shall die, an option may be exercised (subject to the condition that no option shall be exercisable after its expiration and only to the extent that the optionee's right to exercise such option had accrued at the time of the optionee's death) at any time within six months after the optionee's death by the executors or administrators of the optionee or by any person or persons who shall have acquired the option directly from the optionee by bequest or inheritance. Any option that has not vested in the optionee as of the date of death or termination of employment, whichever is earlier, shall immediately expire and shall be null and void. No option shall be transferable by the optionee other than by will or the laws of intestate succession. 3.4 LIMITATION ON INCENTIVE OPTIONS. No person shall be granted any Incentive Option to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the Stock (as defined below) to which such options are exercisable for the first time by the optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Corporation as determined under Section 422(d) of the Code) exceeds $100,000. 4. IDENTIFICATION OF STOCK. The Stock, as defined herein, subject to the options shall be shares of the Corporation's authorized but unissued or acquired or reacquired common stock (the "Stock"). The aggregate number of shares subject to outstanding options shall not exceed 1,000,000 shares of Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6). If any option granted hereunder shall expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased shares subject thereto shall again be available for purposes of this Plan. Notwithstanding the above, at no time shall the total number of shares of Stock issuable upon exercise of all outstanding options and the total number of shares of Stock provided for under any stock bonus or similar plan of the Corporation exceed 30% as calculated in accordance with the conditions and exclusions of Section 260.140.45 of Title 10, California Code of Regulations, based on the shares of the issuer which are outstanding at the time the calculation is made. 5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS. Any option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement ("Stock Option Agreement") in such form as the Committee shall from time to time determine, which agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions: 5.1 NUMBER OF SHARES. Each option shall state the number of shares of Stock to which it pertains. 5.2 OPTION EXERCISE PRICE. Each option shall state the option exercise price, which shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that (i) the exercise price of any Incentive Option shall not be less than the fair market value of the Stock, as determined by the Committee, on the date of grant of such option, (ii) the exercise price of any option granted to any person who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Corporation's stock, as determined for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the Stock, as determined by the Committee, on the date of grant of such option, and (iii) the exercise price of any Non-Qualified Option shall not be less than 3 85% of the fair market value of the Stock, as determined by the Committee, on the date of grant of such option. In the event that the fair market value of the price of the common stock declines below the price at which the option is granted, the Committee shall have the discretion and authority to cancel, reduce, or otherwise modify the price of any unexercised option, including, but not limited to, a regrant of the option at a new price more commensurate with the fair market value of the stock. The Committee must receive the approval of the Board of Directors before any action is taken in accordance with this provision. 5.3 TERM OF OPTION. The term of an option granted hereunder shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, but shall not exceed ten years from the date of the grant. The term of any Incentive Option granted to an employee who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Corporation's stock, as determined for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, shall in no event exceed five years from the date of grant. All options shall be subject to early termination as set forth in this Plan. In no event shall any option be exercisable after the expiration of its term. 5.4 METHOD OF EXERCISE. An option shall be exercised by written notice to the Corporation by the optionee (or successor in the event of death) and execution by the optionee of an exercise representation letter in the form set forth on Exhibit "B," as such Exhibit may be amended by the Committee from time to time. Such written notice shall state the number of shares with respect to which the option is being exercised and designate a time, during normal business hours of the Corporation, for the delivery thereof ("Exercise Date"), which time shall be at least 30 days after the giving of such notice unless an earlier date shall have been mutually agreed upon. At the time specified in the written notice, the Corporation shall deliver to the optionee at the principal office of the Corporation, or such other appropriate place as may be determined by the Committee, a certificate or certificates for such shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may postpone delivery of any certificate or certificates after notice of exercise for such reasonable period as may be required to comply with any applicable listing requirements of any securities exchange. In the event an option shall be exercisable by any person other than the optionee, the required notice under this Section shall be accompanied by appropriate proof of the right of such person to exercise the option. 5.5 MEDIUM AND TIME OF PAYMENT. The option exercise price shall be payable in full on or before the option Exercise Date in any one of the following alternative forms: 5.5.1 Full payment in cash or certified bank or cashier's check; 5.5.2 A Promissory Note (as defined below); 5.5.3 Full payment in shares of Stock having a fair market value on the Exercise Date in the amount equal to the option exercise price; 5.5.4 Through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the optionee shall concurrently provide irrevocable written instruction to (a) a Corporation-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal, state 4 and local income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise and (b) the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale. 5.5.5 A combination of the consideration set forth in Sections 5.5.1, through 5.5.4 equal to the option exercise price; or 5.5.6 Any other method of payment complying with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code with respect to Incentive Options, provided the terms of payment are established by the Committee at the time of grant and any other method of payment established by the Committee with respect to Non-Qualified Options. 5.6 FAIR MARKET VALUE. The fair market value of a share of Stock on any relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions: 5.6.1 If the Stock at the time is neither listed nor admitted to trading on any stock exchange nor traded in the over-the-counter market, then the fair market value shall be determined by the Committee after taking into account such factors as the Committee shall deem appropriate. 5.6.2 If the Stock is not at the time listed or admitted to trading on any stock exchange but is traded in the over-the-counter market, the fair market value shall be the mean between the highest bid and lowest asked prices (or, if such information is available, the closing selling price) of one share of Stock on the date in question in the over-the-counter market, as such prices are reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers through its NASDAQ system or any successor system. If there are no reported bid and asked prices (or closing selling price) for the Stock on the date in question, then the mean between the highest bid and lowest asked prices (or the closing selling price) on the last preceding date for which such quotations exist shall be determinative of fair market value. 5.6.3 If the Stock is at the time listed or admitted to trading on any stock exchange, then the fair market value shall be the closing selling price of one share of Stock on the date in question on the stock exchange determined by the Committee to be the primary market for the Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If there is no sale of Stock on such exchange on the date in question, then the fair market value shall be the closing selling price on the exchange on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists. 5.7 PROMISSORY NOTE. Subject to the requirements of applicable state or Federal law or margin requirements, payment of all or part of the purchase price of the Stock may be made by delivery of a full recourse promissory note ("Promissory Note"). The Promissory Note shall be executed by the optionee, made payable to the Corporation and bear interest at such rate as the Committee shall determine, but in no case less than the minimum rate which will not cause under the Code (i) interest to be imputed, (ii) original issue discount to exist, or (iii) any other similar results to occur. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, interest on the Note shall be payable in quarterly installments on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. A Promissory Note shall contain such other terms and 5 conditions as may be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the full principal amount of the Promissory Note and all unpaid interest accrued thereon shall be due not later than five years from the date of exercise. The Corporation may obtain from the optionee a security interest in all shares of Stock issued to the optionee under the Plan for the purpose of securing payment under the Promissory Note and may retain possession of the stock certificates representing such shares in order to perfect its security interest. 5.8 RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. An optionee or successor shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any Stock underlying any option until the date of the issuance to such optionee of a certificate for such Stock. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 6. 5.9 MODIFICATION, EXTENSION AND RENEWAL OF OPTIONS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding options granted under the Plan, or accept the surrender of outstanding options (to the extent not exercised) and authorize the granting of new options in substitution therefor. 5.10 VESTING AND RESTRICTIONS. The Committee shall have complete authority and discretion to set the terms, conditions, restrictions, vesting schedules and other provisions of any option in the applicable Stock Option Agreement and shall have complete authority to require conditions and restrictions on any Stock issued pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that. except with respect to options granted to officers or directors of the Corporation, options granted pursuant to this Plan shall be exercisable or "vest" at the rate of at least 20% per year over the 5-year period beginning on the date the option is granted. Options granted to officers and directors shall become exercisable or "vest," subject to reasonable conditions, at any time during any period established by the Corporation. 5.11 OTHER PROVISIONS. The Stock Option Agreements shall contain such other provisions, including without limitation, restrictions or conditions upon the exercise of options, as the Committee shall deem advisable. 6. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. 6.1 SUBDIVISION OR CONSOLIDATION. Subject to any required action by shareholders of the Corporation, the number of shares of Stock covered by each outstanding option, and the exercise price thereof, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock of the Corporation resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares, including, but not limited to, a stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, continuation or reclassification, or the payment of a stock dividend (but only on the Stock) or any other increase or decrease in the number of such shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Corporation. Any fraction of a share subject to option that would otherwise result from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded downward to the next full number of shares without other compensation or consideration to the holder of such option. 6 6.2 CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS. Upon a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is not the surviving corporation, a merger, reorganization or consolidation in which the Corporation is the surviving corporation and shareholders of the Corporation exchange their stock for securities or property, a liquidation of the Corporation, or similar transaction as determined by the Committee ("Capital Transaction"), this Plan and each option issued under this Plan, whether vested or unvested, shall terminate, unless such options are assumed by a successor corporation in a merger or consolidation, immediately prior to such Capital Transaction; provided, however, that unless the outstanding options are assumed by a successor corporation in a merger or consolidation, subject to terms approved by the Committee, all optionees will have the right, during the 15 days prior to such Capital Transaction, to exercise all vested options. The Corporation shall, subject to any nondisclosure provisions, attempt to provide optionees at least 15 days notice of the option termination date. The Committee may (but shall not be obligated to) (i) accelerate the vesting of any option or (ii) apply the foregoing provisions, including but not limited to termination of this Plan and options granted pursuant to the Plan, in the event there is a sale of 51% or more of the stock of the Corporation in any two year period or a transaction similar to a Capital Transaction. 6.3 ADJUSTMENTS. To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to stock or securities of the Corporation, such adjustments shall be made by the Committee, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. 6.4 ABILITY TO ADJUST. The grant of an option pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Corporation to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets. 6.5 NOTICE OF ADJUSTMENT. Whenever the Corporation shall take any action resulting in any adjustment provided for in this Section, the Corporation shall forthwith deliver notice of such action to each optionee, which notice shall set forth the number of shares subject to the option and the exercise price thereof resulting from such adjustment. 6.6 LIMITATION ON ADJUSTMENTS. Any adjustment, assumption or substitution of an Incentive Option shall comply with Section 425 of the Code, if applicable. 7. NONASSIGNABILITY. Options granted under this Plan may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of intestate succession, and may be exercised during the lifetime of an optionee only by such optionee. Any transfer in violation of this Section shall void such option, and any Stock Option Agreement entered into by the optionee and the Corporation regarding such transferred option shall be void and have no further force or effect. No option shall be pledged or hypothecated in any way, nor shall any option be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. 8. NO RIGHT OF EMPLOYMENT. Neither the grant nor exercise of any option nor anything in this Plan shall impose upon the Corporation or any other corporation any obligation to employ or continue to employ any optionee. The right of the Corporation and any 7 other corporation to terminate any employee shall not be diminished or affected because an option has been granted to such employee. 9. TERM OF PLAN. This Plan is effective on the date the Plan is adopted by the Board of Directors and options may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time within a period of ten (10) years from such date, or the date of any required shareholder approval required under the Plan, if earlier. Termination of the Plan shall not affect any option theretofore granted. 10. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, subject to any required shareholder approval, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan, or revise or amend it in any respect whatsoever with respect to any shares of Stock at that time not subject to options. 11. APPLICATION OF FUNDS. The proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of Stock pursuant to options may be used for general corporate purposes. 12. RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Corporation, during the term of this Plan, shall at all times reserve and keep available such number of shares of Stock as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. 13. NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION. The granting of an option shall not impose any obligation upon the optionee to exercise such option. 14. APPROVAL OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS. The Plan shall not take effect until approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. This Plan shall be approved by a vote of the shareholders within 12 months from the date of approval by the Board of Directors. In the event such shareholder vote is not obtained, all options granted hereunder, whether vested or unvested, shall be null and void. Further, any stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of any options under this Agreement may not count for purposes of determining whether shareholder approval has been obtained. 15. WITHHOLDING TAXES. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Plan or any Stock Option Agreement, the exercise of any option shall be conditioned upon payment by such optionee in cash, or other provisions satisfactory to the Committee, of all local, state, federal or other withholding taxes applicable, in the Committee's judgment, to the exercise or to later disposition of shares acquired upon exercise of an option. 16. PARACHUTE PAYMENTS. Any outstanding option under the Plan may not be accelerated to the extent any such acceleration of such option would, when added to the present value of other payments in the nature of compensation which becomes due and payable to the optionee would result in the payment to such optionee of an excess parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code. The existence of any such excess parachute payment shall be determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee. 17. SECURITIES LAWS COMPLIANCE. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the Corporation shall not be obligated to grant any option under this Plan or to sell, issue or effect any transfer of any Stock unless such grant, sale, issuance or transfer is at such time effectively (i) registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as 8 amended (the "Act"), and (ii) qualified or exempt from qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968 and any other applicable state securities laws. As a condition to exercise of any option, each optionee shall make such representations as may be deemed appropriate by counsel to the Corporation for the Corporation to use any available exemption from registration under the Act or qualification under any applicable state securities law. 18. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS. The certificates representing the Stock issued upon exercise of options granted pursuant to this Plan will bear any legends required by applicable securities laws as determined by the Committee. 19. NOTICES. Any notice to be given under the terms of the Plan shall be addressed to the Corporation in care of its Secretary at its principal office, and any notice to be given to an optionee shall be addressed to such optionee at the address maintained by the Corporation for such person or at such other address as the optionee may specify in writing to the Corporation. 20. INFORMATION TO PARTICIPANTS. The Corporation shall make available to all holders of options the information required pursuant to Section 260.140.46 of the California Code of Regulations. As adopted by the Board of Directors on December 13, 2000. MITEK SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation By: /s/ John M. Thornton ---------------------------------------- John M. Thornton, Chairman 9 EXHIBIT A ____________, 2000 Mitek Systems, Inc. 10070 Carroll Canyon Road San Diego, California 92131 Re: 2000 Stock Option Plan ---------------------- To Whom It May Concern: This letter is delivered to Mitek Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), in connection with the grant to (the "Optionee") of an option (the "Option") to purchase _____ shares of common stock of the Corporation (the "Stock") pursuant to the Mitek Systems, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan dated December 13, 2000 (the "Plan"). The Optionee understands that the Corporation's receipt of this letter executed by the Optionee is a condition to the Corporation's willingness to grant the Option to the Optionee. The Optionee acknowledges that the grant of the Option by the Corporation is in lieu of any and all other promises of the Corporation to the Optionee, whether written or oral, express or implied, regarding the grant of options or other rights to acquire Stock. Accordingly, in anticipation of the grant of the Option, the Optionee hereby relinquishes all rights to such other rights, if any, to acquire stock of the Corporation. In addition, the Optionee makes the following representations and warranties with the understanding that the Corporation will rely upon them. 1. The Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and Agreement. The Optionee has carefully reviewed the Plan and Agreement. 2. The Optionee acknowledges receipt of a prospectus regarding the Plan which includes the information required by Section (a)(1) of Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933. 3. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that the Option and the Stock are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 4. The Optionee understands and agrees that, at the time of exercise of any part of the Option for Stock, the Optionee may be required to provide the Corporation with additional representations, warranties and/or covenants similar to those contained in this letter. Exhibit A - Page 1 5. The Optionee is a resident of the State of __________. 6. The Optionee will notify the Corporation immediately of any change in the above information which occurs before the Option is exercised in full by the Optionee. The foregoing representations and warranties are given on ______________, 2000 at ____________________. OPTIONEE: ---------------------------------------- Exhibit A - Page 2 EXHIBIT B ____________, 2000 Mitek Systems, Inc. 10070 Carroll Canyon Road San Diego, California 92131 Re: 2000 Stock Option Plan ---------------------- To Whom It May Concern: I (the "Optionee") hereby exercise my right to purchase shares of common stock (the "Stock") of Mitek Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Mitek Systems, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan dated December 13, 2000 (the "Plan") and Stock Option Agreement (the "Agreement") dated , 2000. As provided in such Plan, I deliver herewith payment as set forth in the Plan in the amount of the aggregate option exercise price. Please deliver to me at my address as set forth above stock certificates representing the subject shares registered in my name (and (spouse) , as (style of vesting)). The Optionee hereby represents and agrees as follows: 1. The Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and Agreement. The Optionee has carefully reviewed the Plan and Agreement. 2. The Optionee is a resident of the State of __________. 3. The Optionee represents and agrees that if the Optionee is an "affiliate" (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933) of the Corporation at the time the Optionee desires to sell any of the Stock, the Optionee will be subject to certain restrictions under, and will comply with all of the requirements of, applicable federal and state securities laws. The foregoing representations and warranties are given on_______________________ at ______________________. OPTIONEE: -------------------------------------------- Exhibit B - Page 1
Exhibit 5 OPINION OF COUNSEL [Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps LLP Letterhead] March 30, 2001 Mitek Systems, Inc. 10070 Carroll Canyon Road San Diego, CA 92131 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 for 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as your counsel in the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register 1,000,000 shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of Mitek Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), to be issued pursuant to the Company's 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). For purposes of rendering this opinion, we have made such legal and factual examinations as we have deemed necessary under the circumstances and, as part of such examination, we have examined, among other things, originals and copies, certified or otherwise, identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. For the purposes of such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on original documents and the conformity to original documents of all copies submitted to us. On the basis of and in reliance upon the foregoing examination and assumptions, we are of the opinion that assuming the Registration Statement shall have become effective pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the shares of Common Stock being offered under the Plan, when issued in accordance with the Registration Statement and the provisions of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, /s/ LUCE, FORWARD, HAMILTON & SCRIPPS LLP Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP
Exhibit 23.1 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Mitek Systems, Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated December 8, 2000 (March 1, 2001 as to Note 5), appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Mitek Systems, Inc. for the year ended September 30, 2000. /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP San Diego, California March 29, 2001