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.