Stock-Based Compensation

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

J. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 for a full description of our existing stock-based compensation plans.

Restricted Stock Units

In October 2010, we granted 34,566 restricted stock units (RSUs) with a fair value of $30.79 per unit to certain officers and key employees of the Company. An additional 4,482 RSUs were granted in October 2010, with a fair value of $32.12 per unit. The RSUs vest over a three-year period from their date of issuance. The fair value of the RSUs was based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ) on the grant dates. Sixty-percent of the actual amount of the RSUs earned will be based on the cumulative earnings as reported relative to the three-year performance cycle which began October 1 of the year granted, and ranges from 0% to 150% of the target RSUs granted. The remaining forty-percent of the RSUs are time-based and vest over a three-year period. The RSUs do not have voting rights of common stock, and the shares of common stock underlying the RSUs are not considered issued and outstanding until actually issued.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we granted 32,894 performance-based RSUs with a fair value of $31.18 per unit to certain officers and key employees of the Company. The RSUs vest over a three-year period from their date of issuance, and are earned over a three-year performance cycle.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we also granted 21,931 time-based RSUs with a fair value of $31.18 per unit to certain officers and key employees of the Company. The RSUs vest over a three-year period from their date of issuance, and are time-based.

RSU activity (number of shares) for us was as follows:

	Number of Restricted Stock Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Outstanding at September 30, 2010		87,454		$	38.96
Granted		39,048			30.94
Expired or cancelled		(35,746	)		36.50
Vested/exercised		(21,378	)		37.68
Outstanding at September 30, 2011		69,378			36.10
Granted		54,825			31.18
Expired or cancelled		(19,729	)		40.48
Vested/exercised		—			—
Outstanding at March 31, 2012		104,474		$	36.24

During the six months ended March 31, 2012, we recorded compensation expense of approximately $0.2 million related to the RSUs. We recorded compensation expense of approximately $0.3 million related to the RSUs for the six months ended March 31, 2011.

Restricted Stock

Under the 2006 Equity Compensation Plan (the 2006 Plan), any employee of the Company and its subsidiaries and consultants are eligible to participate in the plan and receive awards. Awards can take the form of options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards and performance unit awards.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, 26,000 shares of restricted stock were issued to certain officers and key employees of the Company with a fair value ranging from $30.79 to $32.12 per share under the 2006 Plan. The restricted stock grant vests over a three-year period on each anniversary of the grant date. Compensation expense is recognized over a three-year period based on the price per share on the grant date. In conjunction with the separation of our former President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in September 2011, the remaining 7,601 shares issued to him that were unvested became immediately vested. During the first half of 2012, there was no restricted stock granted.

During the six months ended March 31, 2012, we recorded compensation expense of $0.3 million related to restricted stock grants. We recorded compensation expense of approximately $0.6 million related to restricted stock grants for the six months ended March 31, 2011.

Stock Options

Stock option activity for the six months ended March 31, 2012 was as follows:

	Stock Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Remaining Weighted Average Contractual Term (Years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
								(in thousands)
Outstanding at September 30, 2011		97,550		$	18.44
Granted		—			—
Exercised		(18,800	)		18.44
Forfeited / Cancelled		—			—
Outstanding at March 31, 2012		78,750		$	18.44		0.23	$	1,452
Exercisable at March 31, 2012		78,750		$	18.44		0.23	$	1,452