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Stock Options
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
I.
Stock Options
 
In 1995, the Company adopted the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the “1995 Plan”) for employees and directors. In August 1999, the Company adopted the 1999 Stock Option Plan (the “1999 Plan”) and in 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 2010 Stock Option Plan (the “2010 Plan”) (collectively, “the Plans”).  The 2010 Plan was approved by the shareholders of the Company at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The options granted under the Plans may be either incentive stock options or non-qualified options. The Plans are administered by the Board of Directors or by a compensation committee of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has the exclusive power to select individuals to receive grants, to establish the terms of the options granted to each participant, provided that all options granted shall be granted at an exercise price equal to at least 85 % of the fair market value of the common stock covered by the option on the grant date and to make all determinations necessary or advisable under the Plans.
 
Following is a summary of options activity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
Aggregate
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
Remaining
 
Intrinsic
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
Contractual
 
Value at
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercise
 
Term
 
September
 
(in thousands, except exercise prices and contractual terms)
 
Options
 
Price
 
(Years)
 
30, 2014
 
Outstanding at October 1, 2011
 
 
520
 
$
10.01
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Granted
 
 
755
 
 
8.41
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expired or cancelled
 
 
(490)
 
 
10.18
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
 
-
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2012
 
 
785
 
 
8.36
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Granted
 
 
10
 
 
8.70
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expired or cancelled
 
 
(30)
 
 
7.15
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2013
 
 
765
 
$
8.41
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Granted
 
 
-
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expired or cancelled
 
 
(385)
 
 
8.35
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
 
(370)
 
 
8.40
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
 
 
10
 
$
8.70
 
 
.75
 
$
22
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2014
 
 
10
 
$
8.70
 
 
.75
 
$
22
 
 
As of September 30, 2014, the exercise prices for outstanding options was $ 8.70.
   
On June 27, 2012, the Company issued 100,000 options to the Company’s directors. These options became exercisable in June 2013, had a strike price of $ 8.78 per share were to expire in June 2014.   The fair value of these options were estimated to be $ 160,488 at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following weighted average assumptions:
 
Volatility
 
37
%
Expected life
 
1.5 years
 
Expected dividend yield
 
-
 
Risk free rate
 
0.31
%
 
On July 2, 2012, the Company issued 655,000 options to certain Company employees. Of these options, 442,500 were exchanged for existing options which were to expire in September 2012. These new options became exercisable in July 2013, had a strike price of $ 8.35 per share and were to expire in July 2014.  The fair value of these options was estimated to be $ 966,493 at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following weighted average assumptions:
 
Volatility
 
37
%
Expected life
 
1.5 years
 
Expected dividend yield
 
-
 
Risk free rate
 
0.30
%
 
In June 2013, the Company issued 10,000 options to a Company employee. These options became exercisable in June 2014, have a strike price of $ 8.70 per share and expire in June 2015.  The fair value of these options was estimated to be $ 11,670 at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following weighted average assumptions:
 
Volatility
 
27
%
Expected life
 
1.5 years
 
Expected dividend yield
 
-
 
Risk free rate
 
0.27
%
 
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.  The expected life of awards granted represents the period of time that they are expected to be outstanding. The Company determined the initial expected life based on a simplified method, giving consideration to the contractual terms, vesting schedules and pre-vesting and post-vesting forfeitures. The Company has utilized the simplified method in accordance with ASC 718 for the following reasons. Earlier in the Company’s existence, longer-term options (generally 5 -year lives) were issued to employees, Directors and outsiders. In more recent years, option terms have generally become shorter (1 - 3 year lives) and options were issued principally to management and Directors. Then in 2010, short-term options (2 -year lives) were issued to Directors, management and a substantial number of employees. Due to the changes in the terms of the option grants and the type of persons receiving the options, we believe that the historical exercise data may no longer provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term. Therefore, the Company believes that the use of the simplified method for determining the expected term of the Company’s options has been appropriate.
 
During the years ended September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded $282,305, $847,183 and $314,761 of stock-based compensation, respectively. There was no unamortized stock compensation expense related to stock options at September 30, 2014.