Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stockholders' Equity

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Stockholders' Equity
6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Equity [Abstract]  
Stockholders' Equity
Stockholders' Equity

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense for (i) Board of Directors fees (paid in treasury stock) and (ii) the Stock Incentive Plan of 2015 (paid in restricted stock). Stock-based compensation expense for the Board of Director fees and Named Executive Officers was approximately $190,000 and $629,000 for the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, respectively, and approximately $251,000 and $446,000 for the three and six months ended March 31, 2016, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in general and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Stock Option Grant

On December 31, 2016, the Company entered into new employment agreements (collectively, the “Employment Agreements”) with each of Remy W. Trafelet, Henry R. Slack, and George R. Brokaw (collectively, the “Executives”). Mr. Trafelet serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Slack serves as the Executive Chairman of the Company, and Mr. Brokaw serves as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Company, and each of them continues to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.

A stock option grant of 300,000 options in the case of Mr. Trafelet and 225,000 options in the case of each of Messrs. Slack and Brokaw (collectively, the “Option Grants”) were granted on December 31, 2016. The option price was set at $27.15, the closing price on December 31, 2016. The Option Grants will vest as follows: (i) 25% of the options will vest if the price of the Company’s common stock during a consecutive 20-trading day period exceeds $60.00; (ii) 25% of the options will vest if such price exceeds $75.00; (iii) 25% of the options will vest if such price exceeds $90.00; and (iv) 25% of the options will vest if such price exceeds $105.00. If the applicable stock price hurdles have not been achieved by (A) the second anniversary of the Executive’s termination of employment, if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to death or disability, (B) the date that is 18 months following the Executive’s termination of employment, if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, by the Executive with good reason, or due to the Executive’s retirement, or (C) the date of the termination of the Executive’s employment for any other reason, then any unvested options will be forfeited. In addition, if the applicable stock price hurdles have not been achieved by the fifth anniversary of the grant date (or the fourth anniversary of the grant date, in the case of the tranche described in clause (i) above), then any unvested options will be forfeited. The Option Grants will also become vested to the extent that the applicable stock price hurdles are satisfied in connection with a change in control of the Company.

The fair value of the Option Grants was estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo valuation model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. The expected term of options granted is derived from the output of the option valuation model and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding; the range given below results from different time-frames for the various market conditions being met.

Expected Volatility
32.19
%
Expected Term (in years)
2.6 - 4.0

Risk Free Rate
2.45
%


The weighted-average grant-date fair value of the Option Grants was $3.53. There were no additional stock options granted, exercised or forfeited for the three and six months ended March 31, 2017.

Compensation expense related to the options totaled approximately $205,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and as of March 31, 2017, there was approximately $2,441,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation for the Option Grants. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.1 years.

Stock Repurchase Authorizations

In fiscal year 2015, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 170,000 shares of the Company’s common stock beginning March 26, 2015, and continuing through December 31, 2016 (the "2015 Authorization"). The 2015 Authorization was completed on January 7, 2016. These stock repurchases were made through open market transactions at times and in such amounts as the Company’s broker determined subject to the provisions of SEC Rule 10b-18. The Company also adopted Rule 10b5-1 share repurchase plans under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Plans”) in connection with the 2015 Authorization. The Plans allow the Company to repurchase its shares at times when it otherwise might be prevented from doing so under insider trading laws or because of self-imposed trading blackout periods.

In fiscal year 2016, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock beginning February 18, 2016 and continuing through February 17, 2017 (the "2016 Authorization"). No shares were repurchased under the 2016 Authorization prior to its expiration on February 17, 2017.
 
In fiscal year 2017, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $5,000,000 of the Company’s common stock beginning March 9, 2017 and continuing through March 9, 2019 (the “2017 Authorization”). The repurchases will be made from time to time by the Company in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The Company adopted a Rule 10b5-1 share repurchase plan under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Plan”). The Plan allows the Company to repurchase its shares at times when it otherwise might be prevented from doing so under insider trading laws or because of self-imposed trading blackout periods. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company purchased 24,502 shares at a cost of $641,000 under the 2017 Authorization.

The following table illustrates the Company’s treasury stock purchases and issuances for the six months ended March 31, 2017:
(in thousands, except share amounts)
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Cost
Balance as of September 30, 2016
100,610

 
$
4,585

Purchased
24,502

 
641

Issued to Directors
(15,286
)
 
(640
)
 
 
 
 
Balance as of March 31, 2017
109,826

 
$
4,586