Note 9. Stockholders' Equity (Deficiency)

 

Common Stock

 

On June 4, 2014, a member of the Board of Directors invested $50,000 in exchange for 263,158 shares of common stock and 263,158 warrants at $0.19 per share. On June 24, 2014, a member of the Board of Directors and the Company's CEO each invested $50,000 in exchange for 263,158 shares of common stock and 263,158 warrants at $0.19 per share.

 

On July 29, 2014, as part of a private placement offering, seven accredited investors, including the Company's CFO, paid a total of $1,631,500 in exchange for 10,525,809 shares of common stock and 5,262,907 five-year warrants exercisable at $0.19 per share. Aspen incurred $75,000 of expenses relating to this offering. As a result of this private placement, on July 31, 2014, Aspen issued 3,473,259 shares of common stock to prior investors who had price protection on their investments, issued 2,662,139 warrants to a prior investor who had price protection on their investment, and reduced the exercise and conversion price on 14,451,613 outstanding warrants and its outstanding Debenture to $0.155.

 

On September 4, 2014, Aspen raised $3,766,325 from the sale of 24,298,877 shares of common stock and 12,149,439 five-year warrants exercisable at $0.19 per share in a private placement offering to 15 accredited investors. In connection with the offering, Aspen agreed to register the shares of common stock and the shares of common stock underlying the warrants. The net proceeds to Aspen were approximately $3.7 million. As a result of the private placement, Aspen issued 59,423 shares of common stock to a prior investor who had price protection on his investment.

 

Warrants

 

On June 4, 2014, a member of the Board of Directors invested $50,000 in exchange for 263,158 shares of common stock and 263,158 warrants at $0.19 per share. On June 24, 2014, a member of the Board of Directors and the Company's CEO each invested $50,000 in exchange for 263,158 shares of common stock and 263,158 warrants at $0.19 per share.

 

On July 29, 2014, as part of a private placement offering seven accredited investors, including the Company's CFO, paid a total of $1,631,500 from the sale of 10,525,809 shares of common stock and 5,262,907 five-year warrants exercisable at $0.19 per share. As a result of this private placement, on July 31, 2014, Aspen issued 3,473,259 shares of common stock to prior investors who had price protection on their investments, issued 2,662,139 warrants to a prior investor who had price protection on their investment and reduced the exercise and conversion price on 14,451,613 outstanding warrants and its outstanding Debenture to $0.155.

 

On September 4, 2014, as part of a private placement offering fifteen accredited investors paid a total of $3,766,325 from the sale of 24,298,877 shares of common stock and 12,149,439 five-year warrants exercisable at $0.19 per share. As a result of this private placement, on July 31, 2014, Aspen issued 59,423 shares of common stock to a prior investor who had price protection on his investment. 

 

Certain of the Company's warrants contain price protection. The Company evaluated whether the price protection provision of the warrant would cause derivative treatment. In its assessment, the Company determined that since its shares are not readily convertible to cash due to an inactive trading market, through October 31, 2014 the warrants are excluded from derivative treatment.

 

Stock Incentive Plan and Stock Option Grants to Employees and Directors

 

Immediately following the closing of the Reverse Merger, on March 13, 2012, the Company adopted the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) that provides for the grant of 9,300,000 shares, 14,300,000 effective July 2014 and 16,300,000 effective September 2014 in the form of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted shares, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units to employees, consultants, officers and directors. As of October 31, 2014, there were 2,823,588 shares remaining under the Plan for future issuance.

 

The Company estimates the fair value of share-based compensation utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which is dependent upon several variables such as the expected option term, expected volatility of the Company's stock price over the expected term, expected risk-free interest rate over the expected option term, expected dividend yield rate over the expected option term, and an estimate of expected forfeiture rates. The Company believes this valuation methodology is appropriate for estimating the fair value of stock options granted to employees and directors which are subject to ASC Topic 718 requirements. These amounts are estimates and thus may not be reflective of actual future results, nor amounts ultimately realized by recipients of these grants. The Company recognizes compensation on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each award.

 

On September 4, 2014, 2,600,000 options were granted to the CEO and the Board of Directors. The fair value of these options on the date of grant were $130,000 and the exercise price is $0.155 per option. On September 16, 2014, 200,000 options were granted to two members of the Board of Directors. The fair value of these options on the date of grant were $12,000 and the exercise price is $0.20 per option. The Company recorded compensation expense of $114,435 and $211,638 for the  three and six months ended October 31, 2014 in connection with employee stock options. $297,330 was recorded during the same period in 2013.

 

As of October 31, 2014, there was $644,450 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4 years.

 

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Stock Option Grants to Non-Employees

 

There were no stock options granted to non-employees during the six months ended October 31, 2014. The Company recorded no compensation expense for the  three months ended October 31, 2014 and $748 for the six months ended October 31, 2014 in connection with non-employee stock options. $748 was recorded for the three months ended October 31,and $1,496 for the six months ended October 31, 2013.  There was no unrecognized compensation cost at October 31, 2014.