8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): December 31, 2024

AWARE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    Massachusetts

    000-21129

    04-2911026

    (State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

    (Commission
File Number)

    (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

   

76 Blanchard Road, Burlington, MA, 01803

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (781) 687-0300

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

    Title of Each Class
 
    Trading
Symbol
 
    Name of Each Exchange
on Which Registered

    Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

    AWRE

    The Nasdaq Global Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

ITEM 5.02. DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS, ELECTION OF DIRECTOR; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.

On October 30, 2024, Aware, Inc. (the “Company”) reported that it had entered into an agreement with Robert A. Eckel, who was then serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President and as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, for Mr. Eckel to resign from those positions effective as of December 31, 2024. On December 31, 2024, Mr. Eckel’s resignation from those positions became effective.

On January 1, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors appointed David K. Traverse, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, to serve as the Company’s interim Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Traverse is 51 years old and has served as the principal financial officer of Aware since October 2023 and as Aware’s Chief Financial Officer since June 1, 2024. Mr. Traverse previously served as the Company’s Corporate Controller since April 27, 2020. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Traverse was Vice President and Corporate Controller at SeaChange International from November 2018 through April 2020 and Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Artel Video Systems from October 2015 to October 2018. Mr. Traverse received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

ITEM 7.01. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

On January 2, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Traverse’s appointment as interim Chief Executive Officer and President. A copy of such press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information contained in this Item 7.01 and in the accompanying Exhibit 99.1 shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, unless expressly incorporated by specific reference to such filing. The information in this Item 7.01 and the accompanying Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

No financial statements are required to be filed as part of this Report. The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:

(d) EXHIBITS.


Number	Description


99.1 104	Press Release dated January 2, 2025 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within XBRL document)

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


	AWARE, INC.

Dated: January 2, 2025	By:	/s/ David K. Traverse
		David K. Traverse
		Interim Chief Executive Officer, President
		and Chief Financial Officer

Aware Inc. filed SEC Form 8-K: Leadership Update, Regulation FD Disclosure, Financial Statements and Exhibits