v2.4.0.6
Stock-Based Compensation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation

NOTE 2. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has two equity incentive plans: the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”) and the 2003 Stock Option Plan (“2003 Plan”). Each of the plans was approved by our stockholders. As of September 30, 2012, options to purchase 631,000 shares and 12,000 shares were outstanding under the 2006 Plan and the 2003 Plan, respectively, and a total of 717,000 shares are available for grant under the 2006 Plan. There are no options available for grant under the 2003 Plan.

The Company’s stock options vest on an annual or a monthly basis. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the option vesting term. Such amount may change as a result of additional grants, forfeitures, modifications in assumptions and other factors. Income tax effects of share-based payments are recognized in the financial statements for those awards which will normally result in tax deductions under existing tax law. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, we recorded an expense of $27,000 and $84,000, respectively, related to options previously granted. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded an expense of $19,000 and $45,000, respectively, related to options previously granted. Under current U.S. federal tax law, we receive a compensation expense deduction related to non-qualified stock options only when those options are exercised and vested shares are received. Accordingly, the financial statement recognition of compensation expense for non-qualified stock options creates a deductible temporary difference that results in a deferred tax asset and a corresponding deferred tax benefit in our consolidated statements of operations.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company granted a stock option on 10,000 shares. The fair value of the option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: risk-free interest rate of 0.91% based on the U.S. Treasury yields in effect at the time of grant; expected dividend yields of 0% as the Company has not, and does not intend to, declare dividends; and an expected life of 4 years based upon the historical life of options. The expected volatility used in the calculation was 109% based on the Company’s historical stock price fluctuations for a period matching the expected life of the options. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company granted stock options for an aggregate of 250,000 shares. As of September 30, 2012, there was $93,000 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options. That expense is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted-average period of 0.88 years.

 

A summary of option activity under all of the above plans as of September 30, 2012 and changes during the nine months then ended is presented in the table below (shares in thousands):

 

                         
    Shares     Wtd. Avg.
Exercise  Price
    Wtd.  Avg.
Remaining
Contractual
Life
 

Outstanding at December 31, 2011

    633     $ 0.90       5.61  

Granted

    10     $ 0.74       6.46  

Exercised

    —       $ —         —    

Forfeited

    —       $ —         —    
   

 

 

                 

Outstanding at September 30, 2012

    643     $ 0.90       4.88  
   

 

 

                 

Vested and expected to vest

    643     $ 0.90       4.88  

Exercisable at September 30, 2012

    450     $ 1.01       4.66  

A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested options at September 30, 2012 and changes during the nine months then ended is presented below (shares in thousands):

 

                 
    Shares     Weighted-average
grant-date  fair value
 

Non-vested at December 31, 2011

    349     $ 0.50  

Granted

    10     $ 0.54  

Vested

    (166   $ 0.50  

Forfeited

    —       $ —    
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-vested at September 30, 2012

    193     $ 0.50  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

During the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the Company established a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong to serve as the base for the Company’s sales and marketing efforts of its proprietary line of verykool® products in Asia-Pacific. It also established a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hong Kong entity in China for the purpose of designing and developing verykool® products. The Company funded the combined operations of these entities with $1.0 million and agreed to invest up to $1.0 million in additional funding as needed. In order to provide incentives to the China development team, the Company granted a warrant exercisable for 38% of the equity ownership of the Hong Kong subsidiary to a management company for the benefit of the China employees. The Company also committed to reserve up to 5% more to attract additional talent as needed. The total exercise price of the warrant is $1.00, with vesting to occur one-third upon the first anniversary of the warrant and the remaining two-thirds to vest on a monthly basis over the succeeding 24 months. The warrant has a 6-year life, but will not be exercisable until the third anniversary of its issuance.

The Company evaluated the warrant on its Hong Kong subsidiary in accordance with ASC 718-50 and concluded that because the warrants were issued to the management company for allocation at its discretion, the proper treatment of the warrants was as specified in ASC 505-50 as equity-based payments to non-employees in exchange for services. The Company also concluded that the estimated fair value of the warrant at the date of grant was $365,000. The Company is recording the expense for this warrant based upon its estimated fair value on a straight-line basis over the three year performance period. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, we recorded an expense of $30,000 and $90,000, respectively, related to this warrant. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we also recorded an expense of $30,000 and $90,000, respectively, related to this warrant.

The Company’s stock-based compensation is classified in the same expense line items as cash compensation. Information about stock-based compensation included in the unaudited results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):

 

                                 
    For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
    For the Nine Months  Ended
September 30,
 
    2012     2011     2012     2011  

Officer compensation

  $ 16     $ 11     $ 48     $ 25  

Non-employee directors

    5       3       15       6  

Sales, general and administrative

    6       5       21       14  

Research and development

    30       30       90       90  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stock option/warrant expense, included in total operating expenses

  $ 57     $ 49     $ 174     $ 135