STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Cash Dividends

In December 2022, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.015 per share that was paid on January 11, 2023 to stockholders of record on December 27, 2022.

In February 2023, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.015 per share that was paid on March 13, 2023 to stockholders of record on February 23, 2023.

No dividends were declared or paid during the six months ended March 31, 2022.

The Tax Benefits Preservation Plan

On October 17, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a Tax Benefits Preservation Plan (the “Tax Plan”) designed to protect the availability of the Company’s existing net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes. To implement the Tax Plan, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock. The Rights were issued to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 27, 2022 pursuant to the Tax Plan. The Rights are exercisable if a person or group of persons acquires 4.95% or more of the Company’s common stock. The Rights are also exercisable if a person or group of persons that already owns 4.95% or more of the Company’s common stock acquires an additional share other than as a result of a dividend or a stock split. Existing stockholders that beneficially own in excess of 4.95% of the Company’s common stock are “grandfathered in” at their current ownership level. If the Rights become exercisable, all holders of Rights, other than the person or group of persons triggering the Rights, will be entitled to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a 50% discount. Rights held by the person

or group of persons triggering the Rights will become void and will not be exercisable.

On January 25, 2023, the Tax Plan was terminated by the Board of Directors and as a result, all Rights distributed to holders of the Company's common stock expired at the time of termination.

At The Market Offering

On March 16, 2021, the Company entered into a Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (“A.G.P,”), with respect to an at-the-market offering program (“ATM”) pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, shares of its common stock, par value $0.50 per share, having an aggregate sales price of up to $25 million (subject to certain limitations set forth in the Sales Agreement and applicable securities laws, rules and regulations), through or to A.G.P as the Company’s sales agent or as principal. Sales of our common stock under the ATM, if any, will be made by any methods deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the NYSE American, on any other existing trading market for our Common Stock, or to or through a market maker. Shares of common stock sold under the ATM are offered pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-254365), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2021, and declared effective on March 26, 2021 (the "Registration Statement”), and the prospectus dated March 26, 2021, included in the Registration Statement.

During the six months ended March 31, 2022, the Company sold 509,467 shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of $2,356,000 after commissions and fees of $75,000 and ATM-related professional services of $22,000. In August 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors suspended the sales of our common stock under the ATM until further notice.