Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Note 5 - Stock-based Compensation

v3.8.0.1
Note 5 - Stock-based Compensation
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements  
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
5
.
Stock-Based Compensation
 
For the years ended
December 31,
201
7,
2016
and
2015,
our total stock-based compensation expense, which includes reversals of expense for certain forfeited or cancelled awards, was approximately
$394,000,
$278,000
and
$2.4
million, respectively. We have
not
recorded any income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation for the years ended
December 31, 2017,
2016
and
2015.
 
A summary of the status of our stock options as of
December 31,
201
7,
and changes during the year then ended, is presented below: 
 
   
Year Ended December 31, 2017
  
   
Number of
Options
    
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(in years)
    
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
  
Outstanding at beginning of year
    
3,380,615
     $
2.00
      
 
      
 
  
Granted
    
1,720,000
      
0.71
      
 
      
 
  
Exercised
    
(50,000
)
    
0.36
      
 
      
 
  
Canceled and forfeited
    
(1,362,936
)
    
1.77
      
 
      
 
  
Outstanding at end of year
    
3,687,679
     $
1.50
      
7.0
     $
—
  
Exercisable at end of year
    
1,946,445
     $
2.15
      
4.9
     $
—
  
 
The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted in
201
7,
2016,
and
2015
was
$0.19,
$0.53
and
$1.67,
respectively. During
2017,
50,000
stock options with an aggregate intrinsic value of
$4,400
were exercised in exchange for issuance of
50,000
shares of our common stock, resulting in gross proceeds of
$18,100.
During
2016,
50,000
stock options with an aggregate intrinsic value of
$23,000
were exercised in exchange for issuance of
50,000
shares of our common stock, resulting in gross proceeds of
$13,500.
During
2015,
146,625
stock options with an aggregate intrinsic value of
$144,000
were exercised in exchange for issuance of
124,238
shares of our common stock, resulting in gross proceeds of
$66,000.
In
2017,
2016,
and
2015,
the aggregate fair value of stock options vested during the year was
$0,
$3,000
and
$277,000,
respectively.
 
A summary of the status of our unvested restricted stock as of
December 31,
201
7,
and changes during the year then ended, is presented below:
 
   
Year Ended
December 31, 2017
  
   
Number of
Shares
    
Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
  
Unvested at beginning of year
    
207,000
     $
1.17
  
Granted
    
200,000
      
0.51
  
Forfeited
    
(50,000
)
    
0.51
  
Vested
    
(207,000
)
    
1.17
  
Unvested at end of year
    
150,000
     $
0.51
  
 
During
201
7,
2016
and
2015,
207,000,
66,000
and
333,250
shares, respectively, of restricted stock vested with aggregate vesting date fair values of
$99,000,
$63,000
and
$511,000,
respectively.
 
In
October 2017
,
50,000
shares of restricted stock held by a non-employee director with an aggregate fair value of
$22,000
were forfeited as a result of his departure from the Board. During
2017,
140,000
shares of restricted stock held by non-employee directors with an aggregate fair value of
$65,000
vested as scheduled according to the terms of the restricted stock agreements. Also during
2017,
17,000
shares of restricted stock held by a non-employee director with an aggregate fair value of
$9,000,
and
50,000
shares of restricted stock held by an executive officer with an aggregate fair value of
$25,000,
were vested by Board action after determination that the vesting events would
not
occur due to changes in the Company’s development programs.
 
In
February 2016,
100,000
shares of restricted stock held by an executive officer with an aggregate fair value of
$96,000
were forfeited in connection with his separation from employment. During
2016,
66,000
shares of restricted stock held by non-employee directors with an aggregate fair value of
$63,000
vested as scheduled according to the terms of the restricted stock agreements. Also during
2016,
106,000
shares of restricted stock held by non-employee directors with an aggregate fair value of
$118,000
were forfeited as a result of their departures from the Board.
 
During
2015,
120,000
shares of restricted stock held by non-employee directors with an aggregate fair value of
$193,000
vested as scheduled according to the terms of the restricted stock agreements. Also during
2015,
193,250
shares of restricted stock held by employees with an aggregate fair value of
$286,000
vested as scheduled according to the terms of the restricted stock agreements. During
2015,
27,000
shares of restricted stock held by employees with an aggregate fair value of
$50,000
were forfeited in connection with their separation from employment. In
April 2015,
20,000
shares of restricted stock held by an executive officer with an aggregate fair value of
$32,000
vested
upon reaching a milestone as defined by the terms of the restricted stock agreement. In
May 2015,
20,000
shares of restricted stock held by an executive officer with an aggregate fair value of
$25,000
were forfeited in connection with his separation from employment. In
July 2015,
61,000
shares of restricted stock held by non-employee directors with an aggregate fair value of
$107,000
were forfeited as a result of their departures from the Board.
 
During
2015,
we paid
minimum tax withholdings related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested of
$24,000.
No
such tax withholdings were paid related to stock options exercised or restricted stock vested during
2017
or
2016.
As of
December 31, 2017,
there was approximately
$176,000
of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock option and restricted stock awards, which we expect to recognize over remaining weighted average vesting terms of
1.2
years. See Note
1
(e).