8.  Stock-Based Compensation

The Company effected a 1-for-20 reverse stock split of its outstanding common stock effective November 6, 2015. The reverse stock split did not change the authorized number of shares or par value of the Company’s common stock or preferred stock, but did effect a proportionate adjustment to the per share exercise price and the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units and performance restricted stock units, and the number of shares of common stock eligible for issuance. All per-share amounts and the Company’s shares outstanding for all periods have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse split.

The following table summarizes, by statement of operations line item, stock-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

Stock Plans

 

2000 Equity Incentive Plan

 

In June 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (“2000 Plan”). The 2000 Plan provides for a total maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued of 1,849,000 shares.

 

Stock Options

 

The Company issues stock options under the 2000 Plan to employees, non-employee directors and consultants that vest and become exercisable over a four-year period and expire 10 years after the grant date. The Company uses a Black-Scholes valuation model to estimate the fair value of the options at the grant date, and compensation cost is recorded on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Generally, stock based compensation expense is based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest and accordingly, stock based compensation recognized is reduced by estimated forfeitures. Management’s estimate of forfeitures is based on historical forfeitures. All options are subject to the following vesting provisions: one-fourth vest one year after the issuance date and 1/48th vest on the first day of each full month thereafter, so that all options will be vested on the first day of the 48th month after the grant date. Information relating to stock options for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 is as follows:

 

 

Black-Scholes Model Valuation Assumptions

 

There were no stock options granted during either of the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. The Company calculated the estimated fair value of each stock option granted during the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

 

The Company’s computation of expected volatility for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was based on historical volatility. The expected life, or term, of options granted is derived from historical exercise behavior and represents the period of time that stock option awards are expected to be outstanding. Management has selected a risk-free rate based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury Securities with a maturity equivalent to the options’ expected term.  During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, the Company’s executive management team voluntarily agreed to cancel and terminate a total of 65,508 unvested stock options that had been previously issued to them. The Company recorded expense of approximately $8,000 and $0.1 million associated with its stock options during the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company recorded expense of approximately $11,000 and $0.4 million associated with its stock options during the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2016, there was approximately $0.1 million of total compensation cost related to unvested stock option awards that is expected to be recognized as expense over a weighted average period of 3.7 years.

 

Restricted Stock Units and Performance Restricted Stock Units

 

The Company issues restricted stock units under the 2000 Plan to employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The restricted stock units are valued based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of issuance, and compensation cost is recorded on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The related compensation expense recognized is reduced by estimated forfeitures. The Company’s estimate of forfeitures is based on historical forfeitures. The restricted stock units vest in equal installments over a period of four years. For restricted stock units with four year vesting, one-fourth vest annually beginning one year after the issuance date. The restricted stock units issued to non-employee directors vest one year after the issuance date. The following table outlines the restricted stock unit and performance restricted stock unit (“PRSU”) activity:

 

 

 

The following table provides additional information on restricted stock units for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

 

As of December 31, 2016, there was approximately $0.6 million of total compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock units that is expected to be recognized as expense over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

 

PRSU activity is included in the above restricted stock units tables. The PRSU Program has a three-year performance measurement period. The performance measurement period will begin on April 1 of the first fiscal year and end on March 31 of the third fiscal year. The program is intended to have overlapping performance measurement periods (e.g., a new three year cycle begins each year on April 1), subject to Compensation Committee approval. The Chief Executive Officer was the only participant for Fiscal 2016. At the end of each performance measurement period, the Compensation Committee will determine the achievement against the performance objectives. Any earned PRSU awards will vest 50% after the end of the applicable performance measurement period and 50% one year thereafter.

There were no PRSUs granted during either of the three or nine months ended December 31, 2016. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2016, the Company granted a total of 10,000 PRSUs to the Chief Executive Officer. The weighted average per share grant date fair value of PRSUs granted during the first quarter of Fiscal 2016 was $15.50. Based on the Company’s assessment as of March 31, 2016 that the PRSU threshold for the first performance measurement of the PRSUs granted in Fiscal 2016 likely would not be met, the Chief Executive Officer PRSU awards were adjusted and no compensation expense was recorded or recognized during Fiscal 2016. Any compensation expense will be recognized over the corresponding requisite service period and will be adjusted in subsequent reporting periods if the Company’s assessment of the probable level of achievement of the performance goals changes. The Company will continue to periodically assess the likelihood of the PRSU threshold being met until the end of the applicable performance period.

Restricted Stock Awards

The Company issues restricted stock awards under the 2000 Plan to employees and non-employee directors. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016 the Company granted stock awards to non-employee directors who elected to take payment of all or any part of the directors’ fees in stock in lieu of cash. The following table outlines the restricted stock award activity for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

 

For each term of the Board of Directors (beginning on the date of an annual meeting of stockholders and ending on the date immediately preceding the next annual meeting of stockholders), a non-employee director may elect to receive a stock award in lieu of all or any portion of their annual retainer or committee fee cash payment. The shares of stock were valued based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

Grants outside of 2000 Plan

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding 131,430 non-qualified common stock options and 14,820 restricted stock units issued outside of the 2000 Plan. The Company granted 88,930 of these stock options during the three months ended September 30, 2016, 42,500 of these stock options prior to Fiscal 2017 and 14,820 of these restricted stock units during the three months ended September 30, 2016 as inducement grants to new officers and employees of the Company, with exercise prices or values, as applicable, based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date.

 

Although the options and restricted stock units were not granted under the 2000 Plan, they are governed by terms and conditions identical to those under the 2000 Plan. All options are subject to the following vesting provisions: one-fourth vest one year after the issuance date and 1/48th vest on the first day of each full month thereafter, so that all options will be vested on the first day of the 48th month after the grant date. All outstanding options have a contractual term of ten years. The restricted stock units vest in equal installments over a period of four years.

Stockholder Rights Plan

On May 6, 2016, the Company entered into Amendment No. 5 (the “Amendment”) to the Rights Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of July 3, 2008, Amendment No. 2, dated as of June 9, 2011, Amendment No. 3, dated as of July 1, 2014 and Amendment No. 4, dated as of August 5, 2014, (the “Original Rights Agreement”) between the Company and Computershare Inc. 

The Amendment accelerated the expiration of the Company’s preferred share purchase rights (the “Original Rights”) from 5:00 p.m., California time, on the 30th day after the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders to 5:00 p.m., California time, on May 6, 2016, and had the effect of terminating the Original Rights Agreement on that date. At the time of the termination of the Original Rights Agreement, all of the Original Rights distributed to holders of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Original Rights Agreement expired.

On May 6, 2016, the Company entered into a rights agreement (the “NOL Rights Agreement”) with Computershare Inc., as rights agent. In connection with the NOL Rights Agreement, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right (a “New Right”) for each share of the Company’s common stock authorized and outstanding. Each New Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a purchase price of $8.76 per unit, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the New Rights are set forth in the NOL Rights Agreement.

The purpose of the NOL Rights Agreement is to diminish the risk that the Company’s ability to use its net operating losses and certain other tax assets (collectively, “Tax Benefits”) to reduce potential future federal income tax obligations would become subject to limitations by reason of the Company’s experiencing an “ownership change,” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. A company generally experiences such an ownership change if the percentage of its stock owned by its “5-percent shareholders,” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, increases by more than 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. The NOL Rights Agreement is designed to reduce the likelihood that the Company will experience an ownership change under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by (i) discouraging any person or group from becoming a 4.99% shareholder and (ii) discouraging any existing 4.99% shareholder from acquiring additional shares of the Company’s stock.

The New Rights will not be exercisable until the earlier to occur of (i) the close of business on the tenth business day after a public announcement or filing that a person has, or group of affiliated or associated persons or persons acting in concert have, become an “Acquiring Person,” which is defined as a person or group of affiliated or associated persons or persons acting in concert who, at any time after the date of the NOL Rights Agreement, have acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 4.99% or more of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, subject to certain exceptions or (ii) the close of business on the tenth business day after the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to commence, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any person becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of such dates being called the “Distribution Date”). Certain synthetic interests in securities created by derivative positions, whether or not such interests are considered to be ownership of the underlying common stock or are reportable for purposes of Regulation 13D of the Exchange Act, are treated as beneficial ownership of the number of shares of common stock equivalent to the economic exposure created by the derivative position, to the extent actual shares of the common stock are directly or indirectly held by counterparties to the derivatives contracts.

The New Rights, which are not exercisable until the Distribution Date, will expire prior to the earliest of (i) May 6, 2019 or such later day as may be established by the Board of Directors prior to the expiration of the New Rights, provided that the extension is submitted to the Company’s stockholders for ratification at the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company succeeding such extension; (ii) the time at which the New Rights are redeemed pursuant to the NOL Rights Agreement; (iii) the time at which the New Rights are exchanged pursuant to the NOL Rights Agreement; (iv) the time at which the New Rights are terminated upon the occurrence of certain transactions; (v) the close of business on the first day after the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, if approval by the stockholders of the Company of the NOL Rights Agreement has not been obtained on or prior to the close of business on the first day after the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders; (vi) the close of business on the effective date of the repeal of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, if the Board of Directors determines that the NOL Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of Tax Benefits; and (vii) the close of business on the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board of Directors determines that no Tax Benefits are available to be carried forward.

Each share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a preferential per share quarterly dividend payment equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 per share or (ii) an amount equal to 1,000 times the dividend declared per share of common stock. Each share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock will entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of common stock are converted or exchanged, each share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per one share of common stock.