Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
The Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These disclosure controls and procedures also are designed to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures in effect as of September 30, 2025. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2025, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that material information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and properly reported within the appropriate time period, relating to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, required to be included in the Exchange Act reports, including this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(b) Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting is included in Management's Report to Shareholders in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(c) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
The Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2025 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(d) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
There have been no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2025 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
(a)
None.
(b) Securities Trading Plans of Directors and Executive Officers.
None of the Company’s directors or officers adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or any non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement during the Company’s fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2025.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
Not applicable.
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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
In addition to the information reported in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the caption "Officers and Executive Management of the Registrant," the information required by this item as to the directors of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference from the information appearing under the captions "General Information Regarding Corporate Governance – Audit Committee," "Proposal No. 1 – Elections of Directors" and "Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports" (if applicable) in the Company's definitive proxy statement, which involves the election of the directors and is to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to the Exchange Act, within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.
The Company's Code of Ethics Applicable to Executive Management is set forth in Exhibit 14.1 hereto. Any amendment to the Company's Code of Ethics or waiver of the Company's Code of Ethics for senior financial officers, executive officers or directors will be posted on the Company's website within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver, and such information will remain available on the website for at least a twelve-month period.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The information required by this item as to the compensation of directors and executive management of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference from the information appearing under the captions "Compensation of Directors" and "Executive Compensation and Retirement Benefits" in the Company's definitive proxy statement which involves the election of directors and is to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. The information contained in the "Compensation Committee Report" is specifically not incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.
The information required by this item as to the ownership by management and others of securities of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference from the information appearing under the caption "Stock Ownership" in the Company's definitive proxy statement, which involves the election of directors and is to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.
Equity Compensation Plans:
The Company maintains an equity incentive plan (as amended and restated, the "2017 Equity Incentive Plan") that provides for grants of stock options, restricted shares, restricted share units ("RSUs"), stock-based performance units and certain other types of stock-based awards. The Company also maintains equity incentive plans (the "2012 Equity Incentive Plan" and "2007 Equity Incentive Plan") and a stock incentive plan (the "1992 Incentive Stock Plan") that previously provided for grants of stock options, restricted shares, stock-based performance units and certain other types of stock-based awards. Under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, which has a ten-year term from the date the Company's Board of Directors approved of the amendment and restatement of the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, the maximum number of shares available for grants or awards is an aggregate of 4,950,000 (subject to adjustment upon certain events such as stock dividends or stock splits), following the amendment and restatement of the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan at the Company's 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting. There will be no further grants under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 1992 Incentive Stock Plan. At September 30, 2025, 1,896,757 shares have been issued under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan. 1,518,963 time-based RSUs, 1,963,334 performance-based RSUs, and 75,000 stock options have been granted under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan. 1,648,145 of these share-based awards are outstanding as of September 30, 2025. All plans are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The number of shares issued under performance-based RSUs may be up to 200% of the number of performance-based RSUs, based on the satisfaction of specific criteria established by the plan administrator.
With respect to the grants of RSUs, units generally vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. The number of units that vest depend on certain time and performance thresholds. Such performance thresholds include adjusted earnings per share, return on invested capital, appreciation in the market value of the Company's Class A Common Stock, or other targets established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Approximately 40% of the outstanding share units vest based on time, while the remaining vest based on pre-defined performance thresholds. The Company issues common stock from treasury shares once vested.
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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT, continued
The Company maintains the Amended and Restated 2019 Director Fee Plan, the Amended and Restated 2014 Director Fee Plan and the 1994 Director Fee Plan (collectively, the "Director Fee Plans"). There will be no further fees or share-based awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2014 Director Fee Plan and the 1994 Director Fee Plan. Under the Amended and Restated 2019 Director Fee Plan, non-employee directors (except for the Chairman of the Board) each receive, as an annual retainer fee for fiscal 2025, either cash or shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock with a value equal to $90,000. The annual retainer fee for fiscal 2025 paid to the non-employee Chairman of the Board under the Amended and Restated 2019 Director Fee Plan is $210,000. Where the annual retainer fee is provided in shares, each director may elect to be paid these shares on a current basis or have such shares credited to a deferred stock account as phantom stock, with such shares to be paid to the director subsequent to leaving the Board. The total number of shares of stock that have been authorized to be issued under the Amended and Restated 2019 Director Fee Plan or credited to a deferred stock compensation account for subsequent issuance is 300,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (subject to adjustment upon certain events such as stock dividends or stock splits), following the amendment and restatement of the 2019 Director Fee Plans at the Company's 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting. In November 2025, the Board of Directors approved the Second Amended and Restated 2019 Director Fee Plan, which increases the maximum number of shares available for grants or awards to 550,000 shares. The Second Amended and Restated 2019 Director Fee Plan is subject to shareholder approval at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The value of deferred shares is recorded in other non-current liabilities. A total of 57,179 shares and share units had been deferred under the Director Fee Plans as of September 30, 2025. Additionally, non-employee directors each receive an annual stock-based grant (non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights and/or restricted shares or units) with a value of $140,000 for fiscal 2025. As of September 30, 2025, 439,740 restricted shares and RSUs have been granted under the Director Fee Plans, 266,511 of which were issued under the 2019 Director Fee Plan. 98,945 RSUs are unvested at September 30, 2025 under the Director Fee Plans.
The following table provides information about grants under the Company's equity compensation plans as of September 30, 2025:
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan category Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights Weighted-average
exercise price
of outstanding
options, warrants
and rights Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding
securities reflected
in column (a))
(a) (b) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 57,179 $ — 4,468,678 (1)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders None None None
Total 57,179 $ — 4,468,678
(1) Includes (1) shares reserved under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, which provides for the grant or award of stock options, restricted shares, stock-based performance units and certain other types of stock based awards; (2) shares reserved under the 2019 Amended and Restated Director Fee Plan, which provides for the grant, award or deferral of stock options, restricted shares, stock-based performance units and certain other types of stock based awards and compensation; and (3) the shares purchased under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan which are purchased in the open market by employees at the fair market value of the Company's stock. The Company provides a matching contribution of 10% of such purchases subject to certain limitations under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is an open market purchase plan, it does not have a dilutive effect.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
The information required by this item as to certain relationships and transactions with management and other related parties of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference from the information appearing under the captions "Proposal No. 1 – Election of Directors" and "Certain Transactions with Related Persons" in the Company's definitive proxy statement, which involves the election of directors and is to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.
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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
The information required by this item as to the fees billed and the services provided by the principal accounting firm of the Company is hereby incorporated by reference from the information appearing under the caption "Relationship with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in the Company's definitive proxy statement, which involves the election of directors and is to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act within 120 days of the end of the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
(a) 1. Financial Statements:
The following items are included in Part II, Item 8:
Pages
Management's Report to Shareholders 42
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42) 43
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 44
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2025 and 2024 46
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the years ended September 30, 2025, 2024 and 2023 48
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended September 30, 2025, 2024 and 2023 49
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended September 30, 2025, 2024 and 2023 50
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2025, 2024 and 2023 51
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 52
2. Financial Statement Schedules:
The following item is included in Part II, Item 8:
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 88
3. Exhibits Filed:
Exhibits Index 94
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MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBITS INDEX
The following Exhibits to this report are filed herewith or, if marked with an asterisk (*), are incorporated by reference. Exhibits marked with an "a" represent a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement required to be filed by Item 601(b)(10)(iii) of Regulation S-K. Exhibits marked with a "+" represent that certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC or its staff upon request.
Exhibit No. Description Prior Filing or Sequential Page Numbers Herein
2.1+ Contribution Agreement dated as of January 7, 2025, by and among Matthews International Corporation, Logo Holdings II Corporation, and Peninsula Parent LLC*
Exhibit Number 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2025
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation*
Exhibit Number 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2024
3.2 Amended and Restated By-laws of Matthews International Corporation *
Exhibit Number 3.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023
4.1 Form of Share Certificate for Class A Common Stock* Exhibit Number 4.9 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994
4.2 Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2024, by and among Matthews International Corporation, the guarantors party thereto, and Truist Bank, as trustee and collateral agent *
Exhibit Number 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2024
4.3 Form of 8.625% Senior Secured Second Lien Note due October 1, 2027 *
Exhibit Number 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2024
4.4 Description of Securities *
Exhibit Number 4.4 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023
10.1 Shareholder's Agreement, dated as of March 16, 2014, by and among Matthews International Corporation, the Shareholders named therein and David A. Schawk, in his capacity as the Family Representative *
Exhibit Number 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 19, 2014
10.2 a Form of Schawk Family Share Purchase Agreement *
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 16, 2016
10.3 a Supplemental Retirement Plan (as amended through April 23, 2009) *
Exhibit Number 10.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010
10.4 a Amendment to the Supplemental Retirement Plan *
Exhibit Number 10.4 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021
10.5 a Officers Retirement Restoration Plan (effective
April 23, 2009) *
Exhibit Number 10.6 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2009
10.6 a Amendment to the Officers Retirement Restoration Plan *
Exhibit Number 10.6 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021
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MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBITS INDEX, Continued
Exhibit No. Description Prior Filing or Sequential Page Numbers Herein
10.7 a 1994 Director Fee Plan (as amended through
April 22, 2010) *
Exhibit Number 10.7 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2013
10.8 a Amended and Restated 2014 Director Fee Plan *
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017
10.9 a 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan *
Exhibit Number 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1995
10.10 a 2015 Incentive Compensation Plan *
Exhibit A to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on January 19, 2016
10.11 a Second Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan*
Exhibit Number 10.2a to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025
10.12 a Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan *
Exhibit Number 99.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on May 3, 2019
10.13 a Amended Restricted Stock Unit Agreement For Certain Departing SGK Employees, dated May 1, 2025, by and between Matthews International Corporation and Gary R. Kohl *
Exhibit Number 10.1a to the Current Report on Form
8-K filed on May 1, 2025
10.14 a Matthews International Corporation Amended and Restated 2019 Director Fee Plan *
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2023
10.15 a Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2019 Director Fee Plan *
Exhibit Number 99.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on May 3, 2019
10.16 a Form of Change in Control Agreement *
Exhibit Number 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2019
10.17 Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement*
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2020
10.18 First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement *
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021
10.19 Second Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement*
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 29, 2022
10.20 Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement*
Exhibit Number 10.20 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2022
10.21 a Matthews International Corporation Management Deferred Compensation Plan*
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on January 27, 2023
10.22 Fifth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement*
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2024
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MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBITS INDEX, Continued
Exhibit No. Description Prior Filing or Sequential Page Numbers Herein
10.23 Sixth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated September 23, 2024, by and among Matthews International Corporation, the other Borrowers party thereto, Citizens Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the banks party thereto *
Exhibit Number 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 24, 2024
10.24 Purchase Agreement, dated September 23, 2024, by and among Matthews International Corporation, the Guarantors, and Truist Securities, Inc., as representative of the several purchasers named therein *
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 24, 2024
10.25 Second Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement, dated September 27, 2024, by Matthews International Corporation and the other grantors party thereto in favor of Citizens Bank, N.A., as administrative agent *
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2024
10.26 Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2024, by Matthews International Corporation and the other grantors party thereto in favor of Truist Bank, as collateral agent *
Exhibit Number 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2024
10.27 Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2024, by and among Citizens Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and Truist Bank, as trustee and collateral agent, and acknowledged by Matthews International Corporation and the grantors party thereto *
Exhibit Number 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2024
10.28 Equity Distribution Agreement, dated March 11, 2025, by and among Matthews International Corporation and Truist Securities, Inc.*
Exhibit Number 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2025
14.1 Form of Code of Ethics Applicable to Executive Management *
Exhibit Number 14.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004
19 Matthews International Corporation Policy on Insider Trading *
Exhibit Number 19 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024
21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant
Filed Herewith
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Filed Herewith
31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer for Joseph C. Bartolacci
Filed Herewith
31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer for Steven F. Nicola
Filed Herewith
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MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBITS INDEX, Continued
Exhibit No. Description Prior Filing or Sequential Page Numbers Herein
32.1 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Joseph C. Bartolacci
Furnished Herewith
32.2 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Steven F. Nicola
Furnished Herewith
97 Matthews International Corporation Clawback Policy *
Exhibit Number 97 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023
101.INS XBRL Instance Document- the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document Filed Herewith
101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Filed Herewith
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Filed Herewith
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Filed Herewith
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Filed Herewith
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Filed Herewith
104. Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded within the Inline XBRL document and included in Exhibit 101) Filed Herewith
Copies of any Exhibits will be furnished to shareholders upon written request. Requests should be directed to Mr. Steven F. Nicola, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Registrant.
97
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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, on November 21, 2025.
MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By /s/ Joseph C. Bartolacci
Joseph C. Bartolacci
President and Chief Executive Officer
Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints Joseph C. Bartolacci, Steven F. Nicola, Daniel E. Stopar, and Brian D. Walters, and each of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this annual report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated on November 21, 2025:
/s/ Joseph C. Bartolacci /s/ Steven F. Nicola
Joseph C. Bartolacci Steven F. Nicola
President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Executive Officer) (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Alvaro Garcia-Tunon /s/ J. Michael Nauman
Alvaro Garcia-Tunon, Chairman of the Board J. Michael Nauman, Director
/s/ Katherine E. Dietze /s/ Morgan K. O'Brien
Katherine E. Dietze, Director Morgan K. O'Brien, Director
/s/ Terry L. Dunlap /s/ Aleta W. Richards
Terry L. Dunlap, Director Aleta W. Richards, Director
/s/ Lillian D. Etzkorn /s/ David A. Schawk
Lillian D. Etzkorn, Director David A. Schawk, Director
/s/ Thomas A. Gebhardt /s/ Francis S. Wlodarczyk
Thomas A. Gebhardt, Director Francis S. Wlodarczyk, Director
98