Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

v3.7.0.1
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
4.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
On June 18, 2013, the Company established the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”). Under the 2013 Plan, during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, a maximum number of 16,114,256 shares of the Company’s authorized and available common stock could be issued in the form of options, stock appreciation rights, sales or bonuses of restricted stock, restricted stock units or dividend equivalent rights, and an award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two or more of them in any combination or alternative. The 2013 Plan provides that on the first business day of each fiscal year commencing with fiscal year 2014, the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2013 Plan for all awards except for incentive stock option awards will be subject to increase by an amount equal to the lesser of (A) 3,000,000 Shares, (B) four (4) percent of the number of shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year of the Company, or (C) such lesser number of shares as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). The exercise price of each option shall be the fair value as determined in good faith by the Board at the time each option is granted. On October 1, 2016, the aggregate number of authorized shares under the Plan was further increased by 3,000,000 shares to a total of 19,114,256 shares.
 
As of March 31, 2017, a total of 13,524,212 options had been issued to employees and directors and 5,282,500 options had been issued to consultants. The exercise price of each option has either been equal to the closing price of a share of our common stock on the date of grant or has been determined to be in compliance with Internal Revenue Section 409A.
 
Share-based awards
 
During the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company granted options to employees and directors to purchase 2,310,000 shares of common stock under the 2013 Plan. In addition, during the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company granted options to consultants to purchase 105,000 and 205,000, respectively shares of common stock under the 2013 Plan. The options have terms ranging from 1 to 10 years, are subject to vesting terms over periods ranging up to 3 years and have exercise prices ranging from $0.60 to $0.65.
 
The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock option awards on a straight-line basis over the applicable service period of the award. The service period is generally the vesting period, with the exception of options granted subject to a consulting agreement, whereby the option vesting period and the service period are defined pursuant to the terms of the consulting agreement. Share-based compensation expense for awards granted during the three and six months ended March 31, 2017 was based on the fair market value at period end or grant date fair value estimated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model. The following assumptions were used to calculate the fair value of share based compensation for the three and six months ended March 31, 2017; expected volatility, 76.57% - 119.44%, risk-free interest rate, 1.03% - 2.40%, expected forfeiture rate, 0.00%, expected dividend yield, 0.00%, expected term, 1 to 10 years.
 
Expected price volatility is the measure by which the Company’s stock price is expected to fluctuate during the expected term of an option. The Company exited shell company status on June 26, 2013. In situations where a newly public entity has limited historical data on the price of its publicly traded shares and no other traded financial instruments, authoritative guidance is provided on estimating this assumption by basing its expected volatility on the historical, expected, or implied volatility of similar entities whose share option prices are publicly available. In making the determination as to similarity, the guidance recommends the consideration of industry, stage of life cycle, size and financial leverage of such other entities. The Company’s expected volatility is derived from the historical daily change in the market price of its common stock since it exited shell company status, as well as the historical daily change in the market price for the peer group as determined by the Company.
 
For so called “plain vanilla” options granted to employees, the expected term of the options is based upon the simplified method as defined in ASC 718-10-S99 which averages an award’s weighted-average vesting period and the contractual term for share options. The Company will continue to use the simplified method until it has the historical data necessary to provide a reasonable estimate of expected life in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The Company’s estimation of the expected term for stock options not subject to the simplified method is based upon the contractual term of the option award. For the purposes of estimating the fair value of stock option awards, the risk-free interest rate used in the Black-Scholes calculation is based on the prevailing U.S. Treasury yield. The Company has never paid any dividends on its common stock and does not anticipate paying dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future.
 
Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, reduced for estimated forfeitures. Authoritative guidance requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant, and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Prior to the year ended September 30, 2015, the Company did not experience any forfeitures of stock options. During the year ended September 30, 2016 and the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company experienced an insignificant number of forfeitures of stock options. Since the Company has a limited history of stock option forfeitures it continues to estimate the forfeiture rate of its outstanding stock options as zero, but will continually evaluate its historical data as a basis for determining expected forfeitures
 
Common Stock Options
 
Stock compensation activity under the 2013 Plan for the six months ended March 31, 2017 follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
Average
 
 
 
 
 
 
Option
 
 
Average
 
 
Remaining
 
 
Aggregate
 
 
 
Shares
 
 
Exercise
 
 
Contractual
 
 
Intrinsic
 
 
 
Outstanding
 
 
Price
 
 
Term (years)
 
 
Value
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2016
 
 
12,379,210
 
 
$
0.33
 
 
 
6.4
 
 
$
4,341,816
 
Awarded
 
 
2,515,000
 
 
$
0.63
 
 
 
-
 
 
 
-
 
Exercised
 
 
(240,000)
 
 
$
0.35
 
 
 
-
 
 
 
-
 
Forfeited/Cancelled
 
 
(150,000)
 
 
$
0.40
 
 
 
-
 
 
 
-
 
Outstanding at March 31, 2017
 
 
14,504,210
 
 
$
0.38
 
 
 
5.03
 
 
$
3,876,689
 
Vested
 
 
10,571,654
 
 
$
0.35
 
 
 
5.51
 
 
$
3,236,700
 
Vested and expected to vest at March 31, 2017
 
 
14,504,210
 
 
$
0.38
 
 
 
5.03
 
 
$
3,876,689
 
 
As of March 31, 2017, 1,465,861 shares are available for future grants under the 2013 Plan. Share-based compensation expense recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 resulting from stock options awarded to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants was approximately $564,000 and $210,000, respectively. Of this amount during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, $192,000 and $114,000, respectively, was recorded to research and development expenses, and $372,000 and $96,000, respectively was recorded in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Share-based compensation expense recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 resulting from stock options awarded to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants was approximately $731,000 and $358,000, respectively. Of this amount during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, $228,000 and $168,000, respectively, was recorded to research and development expenses, and $503,000 and $190,000, respectively was recorded in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 
As of March 31, 2017, there is approximately $1,300,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements granted under the 2013 Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.98 years.
 
Restricted Stock
 
On February 3, 2017, the Company awarded 1,750,000 shares of Restricted Stock to members of the Board of Directors and management. The shares subject to this grant are awarded under the 2013 Plan and 100% shall fully vest on the second anniversary of the date of grant. In addition, in the event of a Change of Control (as such term is defined in the 2013 Plan), 100% of the grants will immediately vest
 
On August 9, 2016, we entered into a consulting agreement with Acorn Management Partners, LLC (“Acorn”). In consideration of the services to be provided under and in accordance with the terms of the consulting agreement, we issued (i) 225,000 shares of Common Stock under our 2013 Stock Incentive Plan at an agreed upon value of $0.72 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on August 9, 2016; and (ii) an option under our 2013 Stock Incentive Plan to purchase up to 375,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of price of $0.72 per share, in each case to John R. Exley, Acorn’s Chief Executive Officer and the party designated by Acorn to receive its shares and option. The shares and option are subject to time-based vesting restrictions. Of the 225,000 shares of Common Stock granted to Mr. Exley, 75,000 vest 90 days from the date of the award, 75,000 vest 120 days from the date of the award and the remaining 75,000 shares are scheduled to vest 150 days from the date of the award. Of the stock options to purchase up to 375,000 shares of Common Stock awarded to Mr. Exley, 125,000 vest 90 days from the date of the award, 125,000 vest 120 days from the date of the award and the remaining 125,000 shares are scheduled to vest 150 days from the date of the award. The issuance and sale of the shares of Common Stock and option to Acorn has not been registered under the Securities Act, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under or exemption from the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. The securities were issued and sold in reliance upon an exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act based on the following facts: Acorn has represented that it is an accredited investor as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, that it is acquiring the securities for investment only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, a distribution thereof in violation of applicable securities laws; that it understood that the securities would be issued as restricted securities and as a result, it must bear the economic risk of its investment in the securities for an indefinite period of time
 
Restricted stock activity under the 2013 Plan for the six months ended March 31, 2017 follows:
 
 
Restricted
 
 
 
Stock
 
 
 
Activity
 
Non Vested at October 1, 2016
 
 
225,000
 
Awarded
 
 
1,750,000
 
Vested
 
 
(225,000)
 
Forfeited
 
 
-
 
Non Vested at March 31, 2017
 
 
1,750,000
 
 
The weighted average restricted stock award date fair value information for the six months ended March 31, 2017 follows:
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
 
Average
 
 
 
Restricted
 
 
 
Stock Award
 
Non Vested at October 1, 2016
 
$
0.72
 
Awarded
 
 
0.65
 
Vested
 
 
0.72
 
Forfeited
 
 
-
 
Non Vested at March 31, 2017
 
$
0.65
 
 
Non-employee restricted shares subject to vesting are revalued at each vesting date and at the end of the reporting period, with all changes in fair value recorded as stock-based compensation expense. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, compensation expense recorded for the restricted stock awards was approximately $141,000 and $249,000.