9. EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLANS:

The Company accounts for compensation expense associated with Stock Options based on the fair value of the options on the date of grant.

The Company used the modified transition method to establish the beginning balance of the additional paid-in capital pool related to the tax effects of employee share-based compensation, which is available to absorb tax deficiencies recognized subsequent to the adoption of the fair value method.

The Company's net income for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, includes approximately $986,000, $554,000 and $484,000 of compensation expense, respectively. The Company recorded reductions in income tax payable of approximately, $547,000, $123,000 and zero for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as a result of the tax benefit upon exercise of options. The compensation expense related to the Company's stock-based compensation arrangements is recorded as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses. Cash flows resulting from tax deductions in excess of the cumulative compensation cost recognized from options exercised (excess tax benefits) are classified as cash inflows from financing activities and cash inflows from operating activities.

In 1995, the Company adopted the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the “1995 Plan”), as amended, for which 200,000 common shares are reserved for issuance. The 1995 Plan provides for the issuance of either incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options to employees, consultants or others who provide services to the Company. The options' exercise price is equal to the closing price of the Company's shares on the day of issuance, except for incentive stock options granted to the Company's president, which are exercisable at 110% of the closing price of the Company's shares on the date of issuance.

In 1998, the Company adopted the 1998 Performance Equity Plan (the “1998 Plan”). The 1998 Plan, as amended, reserved 463,334 common shares for issuance. The 1998 Plan provides for the issuance of either incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options to employees, consultants or others who provide services to the Company. The options' exercise price is equal to the closing price of the Company's shares on the day of issuance, except for incentive stock options granted to the Company's president, which are exercisable at 110% of the closing price of the Company's shares on the date of issuance.

In 2000, the Company adopted the Performance Equity Plan 2000 (the “2000 Plan”). The 2000 Plan, as amended, reserved 1,230,000 common shares for issuance. The 2000 Plan provides for the issuance of either incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options to employees, consultants or others who provide services to the Company. The options' exercise price is equal to the closing price of the Company's shares on the day of issuance, except for incentive stock options granted to the Company's president, which are exercisable at 110% of the closing price of the Company's shares on the date of issuance.

In 2009, the Company adopted the Performance Equity Plan 2009 (the “2009 Plan”). The 2009 Plan reserved 500,000 common shares for issuance. The 2009 Plan provides for the issuance of either incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options to employees, consultants or others who provide services to the Company. The options' exercise price is equal to the closing price of the Company's shares on the day of issuance, except for incentive stock options granted to any person possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of Company stock, which are exercisable at 110% of the closing price of the Company's shares on the date of issuance.

The Company has 360,285 options available for grant under the 2009 Plan.

The estimated fair value of each option award granted was determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The following weighted average assumptions were used for option grants during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009:

	2011	2010	2009
Risk-free interest rate	2.08%	2.55%	1.66%
Expected volatility	100.9%	97.0%	95.8%
Dividend yield	0%	0%	0%

Expected option term-in years	5	5	5

The risk free interest rate for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is based on the 5 year U.S. Treasury note rate on the day of grant. The expected volatility computation for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is based on the average of the volatility over the most recent four year period, which represents the Company's estimate of expected volatility over the expected option term. The Company has never paid a dividend, and is not expected to pay a dividend in the foreseeable future, therefore the dividend yield is assumed to be zero. The Company assumes zero forfeitures of options as the historical forfeiture rate is below 1%.

A summary of the status of the Company's stock option plans is as follows:

Options

Weighted average Exercise Price

Weighted average remaining contractual term (in years)

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

Outstanding
at January 1, 2009	1,047,333	$6.42	3.91
Granted during period	125,000	6.38
Exercised	(60,000)	2.53
Forfeited/Expired	(60,000)	9.38
Outstanding
at December 31, 2009	1,052,333	$6.47	3.91
Granted during period	80,000	7.38
Exercised	(272,000)	5.11
Forfeited/Expired	(80,000)	10.01
Outstanding
at December 31, 2010	780,333	$6.68	2.92
Granted during period	80,000	14.90
Exercised	(165,333)	3.72
Forfeited/Expired	---	---
Outstanding and expected to vest
at December 31, 2011	695,000	8.33	2.66	2,704,495

Vested
at December 31, 2011	680,000	8.37	2.39	2,625,444

The weighted-average fair value of each option granted during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, estimated as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model was $11.24, $5.47 and $4.87, respectively.

The Company's stock options granted to non-employee directors vest immediately upon grant and have a maximum contractual term of five years. Stock options granted to employees vest over three years and have a maximum contractual term of ten years. The expected option term is calculated utilizing historical data of option exercises.

As of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, there was $21,687, $108,435 and $228,186, respectively, of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock option awards which will be amortized through March 2012, the requisite service period.

During the year ended December 31, 2011, 145,333 stock options were exercised for cash resulting in cash proceeds to the Company of $455,448. In addition, 20,000 options were exercised, pursuant to provisions of the stock option plan, in which the Company received no cash and 11,423 shares of its common stock in exchange for the 20,000 shares issued in the exercise. The 11,423 shares that the Company received were valued at $159,000, the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise, and were added to treasury stock.

The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $1,609,000, $1,936,000 and $218,000, respectively.

The fair value of all options vested during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $2,625,000, $563,000 and $419,000, respectively.