Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d)

Stock Based Compensation

v2.3.0.11
Stock Based Compensation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Stock Based Compensation [Abstract]  
Stock Based Compensation
3.
Stock Based Compensation
 

We follow FASB ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”) to account for stock-based compensation.  ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values.

The Company has certain stock option plans under which it awards incentive and non-qualified stock options to employees, officers, and outside directors.  Stock options granted to employees have either a ten year contractual term with one-fifth yearly vesting over a five year period or a six year contractual term with one-third yearly vesting over a three year period.  Stock options granted to outside directors have a ten year contractual term with a vesting period of six months.

No stock options were granted during the first six months of 2011 and 2010.

As of June 30, 2011, we had 1,730,833 employee stock options outstanding, of which 1,419,000 are vested.  The weighted average exercise price of the 1,419,000 outstanding and fully vested employee stock options is $2.06 with a remaining weighted contractual life of 2.10 years.  Additionally, we had 736,000 outstanding director stock options, all of which are vested. The weighted average exercise price of the 736,000 outstanding and fully vested director stock options is $2.24 with a remaining weighted contractual life of 5.16 years.

The Company estimates fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes valuation model.  Assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted include the exercise price of the award, the expected term, the expected volatility of the Company's stock over the option's expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the option's expected term, and the expected annual dividend yield.

The following table summarizes stock-based compensation recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 for our employee and director stock options.

   
Three Months Ended
  
Six Months Ended
 
Stock Options
 
June 30,
  
June 30,
 
   
2011
  
2010
  
2011
  
2010
 
Employee Stock Options
 $76,000  $79,000  $152,000  $138,000 
Director Stock Options
  ¾   ¾   40,000   27,000 
Total
 $76,000  $79,000  $192,000  $165,000 
 
We recognized stock-based compensation expense using a straight-line amortization method over the requisite period, which is the vesting period of the stock option grant.  ASC 718 requires that stock based compensation expense be based on options that are ultimately expected to vest.  ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.  We have generally estimated forfeiture rate based on historical trends of actual forfeitures.  When actual forfeitures vary from our estimates, we recognize the difference in compensation expense in the period the actual forfeitures occur or when options vest.  As of June 30, 2011, we have approximately $51,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested options, of which $48,000 is expected to be recognized in the remainder of 2011 and $3,000 in 2012.