---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-24-005411"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AWRE"
cik: "0001015739"
company_name: "AWARE INC /MA/"
filed_at: "2024-01-18T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-06T21:40:37.792686+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Aware stockholders approve 2023 Equity Plan and stock option exchange program

## Summary
- Stockholders approved stock option exchange for eligible employees; votes 10,214,546 for, 5,583,466 against.
- 2023 Equity Plan approved with 13,533,001 votes for, 1,521,479 against; replaces 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan.
- Plan reserves 1,277,130 new shares plus up to 2,590,000 from lapsing 2001 Plan awards for equity grants.
- Director compensation capped at $1M in first year, $750k annually thereafter; no repricing of options/SARs without shareholder approval.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-24-005411
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AWRE
- cik: 0001015739
- company_name: AWARE INC /MA/
- filed_at: 2024-01-18T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 5.07, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1015739/000095017024005411/0000950170-24-005411-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1015739/000095017024005411/awre-20240117.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-005411
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-005411.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-005411.txt

## Key facts
- Shareholder Votes
  AWARE INC /MA/ shareholders approved Approve stock option exchange program for certain eligible employees, including executive officers, to exchange certain outstanding stock options for stock options with a lower exercise price at the 2024-01-17 meeting.
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2024-01-17
  source text: To approve a stock option exchange program for certain eligible employees, including executive officers, to exchange certain outstanding stock options for stock options with a lower exercise price.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1015739/000095017024005411/0000950170-24-005411-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  AWARE INC /MA/ shareholders approved Approve the Aware, Inc. 2023 Equity and Incentive Plan, which will replace the 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan at the 2024-01-17 meeting.
  - Proposal: equity plan
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2024-01-17
  source text: To approve the Aware, Inc. 2023 Equity and Incentive Plan, which will replace the 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1015739/000095017024005411/0000950170-24-005411-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.