Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

10. Stock-based Compensation

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10. Stock-based Compensation
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]  
Stock-based Compensation

From time to time, the Company grants stock options and restricted stock awards to officers, directors and employees. These awards are valued based on the grant date fair value of the instruments, net of estimated forfeitures. The value of each award is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

 

Stock Options

 

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

 

                  Weighted        
            Weighted     Average        
            Average     Remaining        
      Number of     Exercise     Contractual     Intrinsic  
      Shares     Price     Life     Value  
Outstanding at September 30, 2012                                
Granted       675,000                          
Exercised                                
Forfeited                                
Outstanding at September 30, 2013       675,000     $ 2.82             $  
Granted                                
Exercised                                
Forfeited       (75,000 )                        
Outstanding at September 30, 2014       600,000       2.76       4.90       318,250  
Exercisable at September 30, 2014       150,000     $ 4.43       5.50       246,250  
                                     

  

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s non-vested shares as of September 30, 2014:

 

            Weighted-Average  
      Number of     Grant-Date  
Non-vested Shares     Shares     Fair Value  
Nonvested at September 30, 2013       600,000     $ 0.73  
Granted                                    
Vested       (150,000 )        
Nonvested at September 30, 2014       450,000     $ 0.73  
                     

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock options granted with the following assumptions:

 

    Year Ended
    September 30, 2013
     
Volatility     124%-127%
Risk-free interest rate     .08%-.66%
Expected term     1-3.77 years
Forfeiture rate     10%
Dividend yield rate     0%

 

The volatility used was based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock, which management considers to be the best indicator of expected future volatility. The risk free interest rate was determined based on treasury securities with maturities equal to the expected term of the underlying award. The expected term was determined based on the simplified method outlined in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110.

  

Stock option awards are expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company recognized compensation expense of $167,985 and $173,073 during the year ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to stock option awards granted to certain employees and executives based on the grant date fair value of the awards, net of estimated forfeitures.

 

At September 30, 2014, the Company had $105,997 of unrecognized compensation expense (net of estimated forfeitures) associated with stock option awards which the Company expects will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.33 years.

 

Restricted Stock Awards

 

The Company previously maintained the 2003 Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Plan (“2003 Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s stockholders, for the issuance of stock-based compensation awards. As amended, the Company was permitted to issue an aggregate of 340,000 shares of common stock under the 2003 Plan. All Company personnel and contractors are eligible to participate in the 2003 Plan. By its terms, the 2003 Plan expired on July 21, 2013 (which was the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2003 Plan), and no new awards were made thereafter. The Company anticipates implementing a new equity incentive plan to replace the 2003 Plan.

  

In September 2011, in an effort to preserve cash, the Board, after consultation with the Compensation Committee, entered into an agreement to compensate the members of the Board for their monthly retainer and other services as directors and/or members of the Board’s various standing committees through the award of shares of the Company’s common stock under the 2003 Plan.

 

The Company has previously granted shares of restricted stock to certain individuals. The following table sets forth changes in compensation-related restricted stock awards during the year ended September 30, 2014:

 

Outstanding (unvested) at September 30, 2013    
Granted   21,000  
Forfeited    
Vested   (21,000 )
Outstanding (unvested) at September 30, 2014    

 

On January 6, 2014, the Company issued 21,000 shares of common stock in exchange for professional services. As of September 30, 2014, all 21,000 shares were fully vested.