Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stockholders' Equity

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Stockholders' Equity
9 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2014
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]  
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 9 – Stockholders’ Equity


Controlled Equity Offering


On March 28, 2013, the Company entered into a Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as sales agent (“Cantor”). Under the Sales Agreement, the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, through Cantor, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $20.0 million (the “Shares”). The Company will pay Cantor a commission of 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds received under the Sales Agreement. The Company is not obligated to make any sales of the Shares under the Sales Agreement. The offering of Shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (a) the sale of all of the Shares subject to the Sales Agreement or (b) the termination of the Sales Agreement by Cantor or the Company, as permitted therein. During the nine months ended April 30, 2014, the Company sold an aggregate of 3,018,112 of common stock under the Sales Agreement at an average price of $3.14 per share and received proceeds of approximately $9.5 million, net of expenses.


Share-based compensation


The Company has an incentive stock option plan (the “1999 Plan”), an incentive stock option and restricted stock award plan (the “2005 Plan”), and a long term incentive share award plan, (the “2011 Incentive Plan”), which are more fully described in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2013. The 2011 Plan, which is the only plan from which awards may now be granted, provides for the award to eligible employees, officers, directors, consultants and other persons of stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, and other stock-based awards.


The amounts of share-based compensation expense recognized in the periods presented are as follows:


    Three months ended
April 30,
    Nine months ended
April 30,
 
    2014     2013     2014     2013  
Stock options   $ 255     $ 46     $ 367     $ 61  
Restricted stock     28       94       130       380  
    $ 283     $ 140     $ 497     $ 441  

The following table sets forth the amount of expense related to share-based payment arrangements included in specific line items in the accompanying statements of operations:


    Three months ended
April 30,
    Nine months ended
April 30,
 
    2014     2013     2014     2013  
Cost of clinical laboratory services   $ 3     $ 2     $ 7     $ 7  
Research and development           1       1       2  
Selling, general and administrative     280       137       489       432  
    $ 283     $ 140     $ 497     $ 441  

0 excess tax benefits were recognized during the nine month periods ended April 30, 2014 and 2013.


Stock Option Plans


The following table summarizes stock option activity during the nine month period ended April 30, 2014:


    Options     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
    Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (000s)
 
Outstanding at July 31, 2013     726,645     $ 10.39                  
Awarded     665,117     $ 2.82                  
Exercised         $                  
Cancelled or expired     (219,734 )   $ 17.08                  
Outstanding at end of period     1,172,028     $ 4.84       3.6 years     $ 1,525  
Exercisable at end of period     391,261     $ 7.22        3.1 years     $ 163  

On October 3, 2013, the Company awarded 10,000 options to an officer with an exercise price of $2.53 and a five year term, which vest annually over four years. The fair value of the options granted was $1.23 per share. The assumptions used to fair value this option award were as follows: expected life of 4.75 years, expected volatility 57.6%, risk free interest rate of 1.3% and 0 dividend yield. As of April 30, 2014, 0 of these options were vested.


On November 26, 2013, the Company awarded 271,591 options to two senior officers with an exercise price of $3.00 and a four year term, which vest after one year. The award satisfies $0.2 million of their fiscal 2013 incentive compensation award liability in lieu of cash. The fair value of the options granted was $0.66 per share. The assumptions used to fair value this option award were as follows: expected life of 2.5 years, expected volatility 54.79%, risk free interest rate of 0.42% and 0 dividend yield. As of April 30, 2014, 0 of these options were vested.


On January 17, 2014, the Company awarded 267,797 options to two senior officers and the board of directors with an exercise price of $2.70 and a five year term, which vest annually over two years. The fair value of the options granted was $1.05 per share. The assumptions used to fair value this option award were as follows: expected life of 3.25 years, expected volatility 54.78%, a risk free interest rate of 0.90% and 0 dividend yield. As of April 30, 2014, 0 of these options were vested. Further on January 17, 2014, the Company awarded 95,729 options to executive officers with an exercise price of $2.70 and a five year term, which vest annually over three years. The fair value of the options granted was $1.10 per share. The assumptions used to fair value this option award were as follows: expected life of 3.5 years, expected volatility 55.45%, a risk free interest rate of 1.00% and 0 dividend yield. As of April 30, 2014, 0 of these options were vested.


On February 3, 2014, the Company awarded 20,000 options to an executive officer with an exercise price of $2.75 and a five year term, which vest annually over three years. The fair value of the options granted was $1.11 per share. The assumptions used to fair value this option award were as follows: expected life of 3.5 years, expected volatility 55.07%, risk free interest rate of 0.84% and 0 dividend yield. As of April 30, 2014, none of these options were vested.


As of April 30, 2014, the total future compensation cost related to non-vested options, not yet recognized in the statements of operations, was $0.4 million and the weighted average period over which the remaining expense of these awards is expected to be recognized is sixteen months.


Restricted Stock Awards


A summary of the activity pursuant to the Company’s restricted stock awards for the nine months ended April 30, 2014 is as follows:


    Awards     Weighted
Average
Award Price
 
Outstanding at July 31, 2013     125,133     $ 3.45  
Awarded     3,000       3.35  
Vested     (65,063 )     (2.48 )
Expired or forfeited     (11,160 )     (1.70 )
Unvested at end of period     51,910     $ 5.05  

The fair value of a restricted stock award is determined based on the closing stock price on the award date. As of April 30, 2014, there was approximately $0.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock-based compensation to be recognized over a weighted average remaining period of approximately one year.


The total number of shares available for grant as equity awards from the 2011 Incentive Plan is approximately 1,664,000 shares as of April 30, 2014.


During the nine months ended April 30, 2013, the Company issued 216,556 shares from treasury stock and 9,419 newly issued shares to match a portion of its employees’ 401(k) contributions. The Company recorded an expense of $643 for the match, representing the fair value of the shares at the date of issuance, reducing treasury stock by $3,074 for the average acquisition cost of such shares and adjusted additional paid in capital by $2,458.


During the nine months ended April 30, 2014, the Company issued 165,646 shares to match a portion of its employees’ 401(k) contributions. The Company recorded an expense of $636 for the match, representing the fair value of the shares at the date of issuance and adjusted common stock and additional paid in capital by the same amount.