Note 9 - Stock Incentive Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]

Note 9. Stock Incentive Plans

2011 Equity Incentive Plan. In November 2011, our shareholders approved the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) for the purpose of affording an incentive to eligible persons. The 2011 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of equity based awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents, unrestricted stock, other equity based or equity related awards, and/or performance compensation awards based on or relating to the Company's common shares to eligible non-employee directors, officers, employees or consultants. The 2011 Plan is administered by a compensation committee or such other committee of the Company's board of directors. An aggregate of 5.9 million of the Company's common shares have been authorized for issuance under the 2011 Plan. The shares reserved for issuance under the 2011 Plandid not adjust in accordance with the 1 for 4 reverse stock split that occur in May 2012. However, the 2011 Plan was approved by shareholders subject to the Company’s confirmation in the proxy materials relating to the approval of the 2011 Plan that no options granted under the plan would, in the aggregate, exceed 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis on the date the options first become exercisable.

2009 Equity Incentive Plan. In May 2009, our shareholders approved the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) for the purpose of affording an incentive to eligible persons. The 2009 Plan provides for the grant of equity based awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents, unrestricted stock, other equity based or equity related awards, and/or performance compensation awards based on or relating to the Company’s common shares to eligible non-employee directors, officers, employees or consultants. The 2009 Plan is administered by a compensation committee or such other committee of the Company’s board of directors. A maximum of 1.05 million of the Company’s common shares have been authorized for issuance under the 2009 Plan, which have been adjusted in accordance with the one-for-four reverse stock split effective on May 22, 2012.

As of March 31, 2014, RSUs covering a total of 123,667 of the Company’s shares are outstanding. The restricted stock units (“RSUs”) vest ratably between three to five years. These RSUs also entitle the participant to receive a dividend equivalent payment on the unvested portion of the underlying shares granted under the award, each time the Company pays a dividend to the Company’s shareholders. The dividend equivalent rights on the unvested RSUs are forfeited upon termination of employment.The Company is amortizing to non-cash compensation expense the fair value of the non-vested restricted stock at the grant date. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the amortization charge was $124,891 and $1,614,720, respectively. The remaining expense for each of the year ending 2014 will be $392,149

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, options covering 1,727,667 of the Company’s common shares are outstanding with exercise prices ranging from $3.34 to $87.52 per share (the market prices at dates of grants). The options granted to the independent non-employee directors vested and became exercisable on the grant dates. The options granted to members of its management under the 2005 Plan and 2009 Plan vest and become exercisable over three years. The options granted to members of its management under the 2011 Plan vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the grant date. All options expire between five to ten years from the date of grant. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company has recorded a non-cash compensation charge from stock options of $154,852 and $340,671, respectively. The remaining expense for each of the years ending 2014 and 2015 will be $277,459 and $123,032 respectively.

The non-cash compensation expenses recorded by the Company and included in General and Administrative Expenses are as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2014		March 31, 2013
Stock Option Plans	$	154,852	$	340,671
Restricted Stock Grants		124,891		1,614,720
Total Non-cash compensation expense	$	279,743	$	1,955,391

As of March 31, 2014, Dividend Equivalent Rights Awards (“DERs”) equivalent to 147,667 of the Company’s common shares are outstanding to its independent non-employee directors and members of its management. These DERs entitle the participant to receive a dividend equivalent payment each time the Company pays a dividend to the Company’s shareholders. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, no compensation expenses were recorded.