Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stockholders' Equity and Stock Compensation

v3.10.0.1
Stockholders' Equity and Stock Compensation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Equity [Abstract]  
Stockholders' Equity and Stock Compensation

NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND STOCK COMPENSATION

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 50 million shares of Common Stock and 1 million shares of preferred stock, $.0005 par value (“Preferred Stock”).

 

Preferred Stock

 

The Preferred Stock authorized under our certificate of incorporation may be issued from time to time in one or more series. As of December 31, 2017, no shares of Preferred Stock have been issued. Our board of directors has the full authority permitted by law to establish, without further stockholder approval, one or more series and the number of shares constituting each such series and to fix by resolution voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any. Subject to the limitation on the total number of shares of Preferred Stock that we have authority to issue under our certificate of incorporation, the board of directors is also authorized to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series, subsequent to the issue of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then-outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series is so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease will resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series. We may amend from time to time our certificate of incorporation and bylaws to increase the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock or to make other changes or additions to our capital structure or the terms of our capital stock.

 

Stockholder Rights Plan

 

On September 8, 1998, our Board of Directors declared a dividend distribution of Common Stock Purchase Rights (each individually, a “Right” and collectively, the “Rights”) payable to the stockholders of record on September 25, 1998, thereby creating a Stockholder Rights Plan (the “Rights Agreement”). The Rights Agreement was subsequently amended effective each of (i) May 23, 2008, (ii) August 18, 2009, (iii) June 2014 and (iv) January 6, 2017. The Rights Agreement, as amended and restated, provides that each Right entitles the stockholder of record to purchase from the Company that number of common shares of Common Stock having a combined market value equal to two times the Rights exercise price of $45. The Rights are not exercisable until the distribution date, which will be the earlier of a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired 15% or more of the outstanding common shares of Common Stock, or the announcement of an intention by a similarly constituted party to make a tender or exchange offer resulting in the ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding common shares of Common Stock (such person, the “acquirer”). The Rights Agreement, as amended and restated, allows for an exemption for Ted Karkus, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, to acquire up to 20% of our Common Stock without our Board of Directors declaring a dividend distribution.

  

The dividend has the effect of giving the stockholder a 50% discount on the share’s current market value for exercising such right. In the event of a cashless exercise of the Right, and the acquirer has acquired less than 50% beneficial ownership of the Company, a stockholder may exchange one Right for one common share of the Company. The Rights Agreement, as amended and restated, includes a provision pursuant to which our Board of Directors may exempt from the provisions of the Rights Agreement an offer for all outstanding shares of our Common Stock that the directors determine to be fair and not inadequate and to otherwise be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms. The expiration date of the Rights Agreement, as amended, is June 18, 2024.

 

On February 16, 2018, our board of directors, approved the termination of the Rights Agreement effective February 20, 2018. As a consequence of the termination of the Rights Agreement, all of the Rights distributed to our stockholders expired on February 20, 2018.

 

2015 Equity Line of Credit

 

On July 30, 2015, we entered into an equity line of credit agreement (such arrangement, the “2015 Equity Line”) with Dutchess Opportunity Fund II LP (“Dutchess”). Pursuant to the 2015 Equity Line, Dutchess committed to purchase, subject to certain restrictions and conditions, up to 3,200,000 shares of our Common Stock, over a period of 36 months from the effectiveness of the registration statement registering the resale of shares purchased by Dutchess pursuant to the Investment Agreement. On August 4, 2015, we filed a registration statement for the underlying shares of the 2015 Equity Line with the SEC and the registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on August 21, 2015.

 

We may, at our discretion, draw on the 2015 Equity Line from time to time, as and when we determine appropriate in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2015 Equity Line. The maximum number of shares that we are entitled to put to Dutchess in any one draw down notice shall not exceed 500,000 shares with a purchase price calculated in accordance with the 2015 Equity Line. We may deliver a notice for a subsequent put from time to time, following the one day pricing period for the prior put.

 

The purchase price is set at ninety-five percent (95%) of the volume weighted average price (VWAP) of the Common Stock during the one trading day immediately following our put notice. We have the right to withdraw all or any portion of any put, except that portion of the put that has already been sold to a third party, including any portion of a put that is below the minimum acceptable price set forth on the put notice, before the closing. In the event Dutchess receives more than a five percent (5%) return on the net sales for a specific put, Dutchess must remit such excess proceeds to us; however, in the event Dutchess receives less than a five percent (5%) return on the net sales for a specific put, Dutchess has the right to deduct from the proceeds of the put amount on the applicable closing date so Dutchess’s return will equal five percent (5%).

 

There are put restrictions applied on days between the draw down notice date and the closing date with respect to a particular put. During such time, we are entitled to deliver another draw down notice. In addition, Dutchess is not obligated to purchase shares if Dutchess’ total number of shares beneficially held at that time would exceed 4.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-1(j) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, we are not permitted to draw on the facility unless there is an effective registration statement to cover the resale of the shares.

 

During the period from August 21, 2015 through December 31, 2015, we sold an aggregate of 750,000 shares of our Common Stock to Dutchess under and pursuant to the 2015 Equity Line and we derived net proceeds of $1.0 million. The sales of the shares under the 2015 Equity Line were deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance upon Section 4(2) (or Regulation D promulgated thereunder). At December 31, 2017 we have 2,450,000 shares of our Common Stock available for sale to Dutchess, at our discretion, under the terms of the 2015 Equity Line and covered pursuant to a registration statement. The 2015 Equity Line is scheduled to expire in July 2018.

 

The 2010 Equity Compensation Plan

 

On May 5, 2010, our stockholders approved the 2010 Equity Compensation Plan, which was subsequently amended, restated and approved by stockholders on April 24, 2011, and further amended and approved by stockholders on May 6, 2013 and May 24, 2016 (the “2010 Plan”). The 2010 Plan provides that the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the 2010 Plan is equal to 3.2 million shares, including 900,000 shares that are authorized for issuance but unissued under a 1997 incentive stock option plan and 700,000 shares added to the 2010 Plan effective May 24, 2016. At December 31, 2017, there were 979,500 options outstanding under the 2010 Equity Compensation Plan (see “Stock Options” below).

 

Stock Options and Warrants Fair Value

 

All of our employees, including employees who are officers or members of the Board are eligible to participate in the 2010 Plan. Consultants and advisors who perform services for us are also eligible to participate in the 2010 Plan. For Fiscal 2017, we granted 625,000 options under the 2010 Plan. For Fiscal 2016 and 2015, there were no options granted under the 2010 Plan. For Fiscal 2015, we issued 51,000 Warrants pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreements for the Notes. For Fiscal 2017 and 2016, there were no warrants issued. Presented below is a summary of the terms of the grant of options and Warrants:

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2017     2016     2015  
Number of options granted     625,000       -       -  
Number of Warrants granted     -       -       51,000  
Vesting period     3-4 years       -        none  
Maximum term of option or Warrants from date of grant      7 years       -        3 years  
Weighted average exercise price per share   $ 2.01       -     $ 1.35  
Weighted average fair value per share of options and                        
Warrants granted during the year   $ 0.76       -     $ 0.26  

 

We used the Black-Scholes option pricing model during Fiscal 2017 and 2015 to determine the fair value of the stock options and Warrants at the date of grant. Based upon our limited historical experience, we determined the expected term of the stock option grants to be a range between 2.5 to 6.5 years, calculated using the “simplified” method in accordance with the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 110. We use the “simplified” method since our historical data does not provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term.

  

Presented below is a summary of assumptions used in determining the fair value of the stock options and Warrants at the date of grant:

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2017     2016     2015  
Expected option or Warrant life     4.5 - 4.75 years       -        3 years  
Weighted average risk free rate     1.62% - 1.81 %     -       0.88 %
Dividend yield     0 %     -       0 %
Expected volatility     38.59% - 44.51 %     -       26.42 %

 

The fair value of the stock options and Warrants at the time of the grant in Fiscal 2017 and 2015 was $476,000 and $14,000, respectively. For Fiscal 2015, the Warrants granted were not subject to a vesting period. For Fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, we charged to operations $78,000, $1,000 and $135,000, respectively, for share-based compensation expense for the aggregate fair value of the vested stock options earned.

 

Stock Options

 

At December 31, 2017, 360,750 of the options granted under the 2010 Equity Compensation Plan were vested and 618,750 were non-vested. At December 31, 2017, there are 121,159 options available for grant to purchase shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the terms of the 2010 Plan.

 

A summary of the status of our stock options granted pursuant the 2010 Plan as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and changes during the years then ended is presented below (in thousands, except per share data):

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2017     2016     2015  
          Weighted
Average
          Weighted
Average
          Weighted
Average
 
    Shares     Exercise
Price
    Shares     Exercise
Price
    Shares     Exercise
Price
 
Options outstanding - beginning of year     1,699     $ 1.20       1,713     $ 1.21       1,740     $ 1.40  
Granted     625       2.01       -               -       -  
Exercised     (1,332 )     1.11                       -       -  
Cancelled     (13 )     1.00       (14 )     1.44       (27 )     13.50  
Options outstanding - end of year     979     $ 1.81       1,699     $ 1.20       1,713     $ 1.21  
                                                 
Options granted and subject to future vesting     618     $ 2.01       -     $ -       4     $ 1.48  
                                                 
Exercisable, at end of year     361               1,699               1,709          
Available for grant     121               734               20          

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and stock options exercisable at December 31, 2017 (in thousands, except remaining life and per share data):

 

    Options Outstanding and Exercisable  
Range of
Exercise Prices
  Number Outstanding     Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life     Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share  
$1.17 - $1.36     90       1.13     $ 1.20  
$1.36 - $1.65     265       2.23     $ 1.57  
$2.00 - $2.15     6       6.75     $ 2.15  
Total     361             $ 1.49  

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of (i) options outstanding, (ii) options outstanding and expected to vest in the future and (iii) options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2017 was $347,000, $102,000 and $245,000, respectively.

 

Stock Option Exercises

 

There were 1,332,000 stock options exercised in Fiscal 2017 and we derived net proceeds of $1.5 million. The intrinsic value of the options exercised in Fiscal 2017 was $1.5 million. There were no stock options exercised in Fiscal 2016 or 2015.

 

The 2010 Directors Equity Compensation Plan

 

On May 5, 2010, our stockholders approved the 2010 Directors’ Equity Compensation Plan, which was subsequently amended and approved by stockholders on May 6, 2013 (the “2010 Directors’ Plan). A primary purpose of the 2010 Directors’ Plan is to provide us with the ability to pay all or a portion of the fees of Directors in restricted stock instead of cash. The 2010 Directors’ Plan provides that the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the 2010 Directors’ Plan is equal to 425,000 shares. We did not grant shares to Directors in Fiscal 2017, 2016 or 2015 for director compensation. At December 31, 2017, there are 147,808 shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the terms of the 2010 Directors’ Equity Compensation Plan.

 

Treasury Stock - Stock Purchase Agreements

 

On June 12, 2017 we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with each of Mark S. Leventhal, a former director of the Company, and certain other persons and entities associated and/or affiliated with Mr. Leventhal (the “Leventhal Holders”), pursuant to which we purchased all 1,061,980 shares of our Common Stock then held by the Leventhal Holders, representing an approximate 6.2% aggregate ownership interest (based on 17.2 million shares of common stock outstanding as of June 12, 2017). Upon consummation of the transactions, the Leventhal Holders ceased to hold any direct or indirect ownership interest in the Company.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreements, the total consideration paid by us to the Leventhal Holders for their shares was $1,858,465, which amount was equal to the product of (i) $1.75 multiplied by (ii) the number of shares purchased.

 

Treasury Stock – Tender Offers

 

In Fiscal 2017, we announce two discrete tender offers to purchase our Common Stock in each of August 2017 and November 2017.

 

On August 25, 2017, we announced a tender offer to purchase up to 4.0 million shares of our Common Stock at a price of $2.30 per share (the “August 2017 Tender Offer”). The number of shares proposed to be purchased in the August 2017 Tender Offer represented approximately 24.7% of approximately 16.2 million shares our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of August 21, 2017. The last reported sale price of our Common Stock on August 15, 2017, the last full trading day before we announced the Tender Offer, was $2.13 per share.

  

The August 2017 Tender Offer expired on September 25, 2017. Subject to the terms of the August 2017 Tender Offer, we accepted for purchase 4,323,335 shares of our Common Stock, including all “odd lots” validly tendered, at a purchase price of $2.30 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $9.9 million. Based on the final tabulation by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Depositary for the August 2017 Tender Offer, 5,910,327 shares of our Common Stock were properly tendered and not withdrawn. We were informed by the Depositary that, after giving effect to the priority for an aggregate amount of approximately 9,338 “odd lot” shares, the final proration factor for the remaining tendered shares is approximately 73%. Prior to the August 2017 Tender Offer, an investor, BML Investment Partners, L.P. (“BLM”), owned 2,322,627 shares, or 13.6%, of our outstanding Common Stock. Pursuant to the terms of the Tender Offer, BML tendered and sold 1,695,305 shares of our Common Stock. In addition, Ted Karkus, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Robert V. Cuddihy, Jr., our then Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and one of our directors tendered and sold 364,954, 358,621 and 4,379 shares of Common Stock, respectively.

 

On November 20, 2017, we announced a tender offer to purchase up to 1.7 million shares of our Common Stock at a price of $2.30 per share (the “November 2017 Tender Offer”). The number of shares proposed to be purchased in the November 2017 Tender Offer represented approximately 13.7% of approximately 12.4 million shares our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of November 14, 2017. The last reported sale price of our Common Stock on November 9, 2017, the last full trading day before we announced the Tender Offer, was $2.13 per share.

 

The November 2017 Tender Offer expired on December 18, 2017. Subject to the terms of the November 2017 Tender Offer, we accepted for purchase 1,948,569 shares of our Common Stock, including all “odd lots” validly tendered, at a purchase price of $2.30 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $4.5 million. Based on the final tabulation by the Depositary for the November 2017 Tender Offer, 2,072,280 shares of our Common Stock were properly tendered and not withdrawn. We were informed by the Depositary that, after giving effect to the priority for an aggregate amount of approximately 8,401 “odd lot” shares, the final proration factor for the remaining tendered shares is approximately 94%. Pursuant to the terms of the Tender Offer, Mr. Karkus sold 424,789 shares of Common Stock. Subsequent to the completion of the November 2017 Tender Offer, Mr. Karkus exercised 600,000 outstanding options. As a consequence of Mr. Karkus’s exercise of his options at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, we derived net proceeds of $600,000.