UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K/A

Amendment No. 1

(Mark One)

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                to

Commission File Number: 814-00061

CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (214) 238-5700

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ☐NO ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES ☐ NO ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  YES ☒ NO ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES ☐NO ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check  mark  whether  the   registrant  is  a  shell  company  (as defined in Rule 12b-2  of  the  Act).

YES ☐ NO ☒      

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of September 30, 2017 was $255,174,240 based on the last sale price of such stock as quoted by The Nasdaq Global Select Market on such date.

The number of shares of common stock, $0.25 par value per share, outstanding as of September 30, 2017 was 16,019,296.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held August 2, 2017 are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in response to Part III.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Capital Southwest Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 (the “Original 10-K”), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 1, 2017. Pursuant to Rule 3-09(b), this Amendment includes the separate audited financial statements for our unconsolidated portfolio company, Media Recovery, Inc., which were not included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K because Media Recovery, Inc.’s fiscal year ended later than the Company’s fiscal year.

We have determined that this unconsolidated portfolio company has met the conditions of a significant subsidiary under Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X for which we are required, pursuant to Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X, to attach separate financial statements as exhibits to the Form 10-K. In accordance with Rule 3-09(b)(1), the separate financial statements of Media Recovery, Inc. are being filed as an amendment to the Form 10-K within 90 days after the end of Media Recovery, Inc.’s fiscal year. The Rule 3-09 financial statements include Media Recovery, Inc.’s consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and its related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

This Amendment also updates, amends and supplements Part IV, Item 15 of the Form 10-K to include, among other items, the filing of new Exhibits 31.3, 31.4, 32.3 and 32.4, certifications of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and (b).

No other changes have been made to the Original 10-K other than as described above. This Amendment does not reflect subsequent events occurring after the original filing date of the Original 10-K or modify or update in any way disclosures made in the Original 10-K. Among other things, forward-looking statements made in the Original 10-K have not been revised to reflect events that occurred or facts that became known to us after the filing of the Original 10-K, and such forward-looking statements should be read in their historical context. Accordingly, this Amendment should be read in conjunction with the Original 10-K and our filings with the SEC made subsequent to the filing of the Original 10-K on June 1, 2017.

PART IV

Item 15.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

The following documents are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Annual Report:

The financial statements and report of independent registered public accounting firm of Media Recovery, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries required by Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X are provided as Exhibit 99.1 to this Amendment. 

SIGNATURES 

Pursuant to the requirements the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are included as part of this Amendment. Asterisk denotes exhibits filed with this Amendment. Double asterisk denotes exhibits furnished with this Amendment.

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the inclusion of our report dated December 7, 2017, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Media Recovery, Inc., dba SpotSee Holdings, as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 and for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Capital Southwest Corporation for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We consent to the incorporation by reference of said report in the Registration Statements of Capital Southwest Corporation on Forms S-8 (File No. 333-207296, effective October 5, 2015; File No. 333-177433, effective October 21, 2011; File No. 333-177432, effective October 21, 2011; File No. 333-118681, effective August 31, 2004).

/s/ Whitley Penn LLP

Dallas, Texas

December 7, 2017

Exhibit 31.3

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Bowen S. Diehl, certify that:

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

Exhibit 31.4

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Michael S. Sarner, certify that:

Exhibit 32.3

Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to 18 US.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Bowen S. Diehl, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Southwest Corporation, certify that, to my knowledge:

Exhibit 32.4

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to 18 US.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Michael S. Sarner, Chief Financial Officer of Capital Southwest Corporation, certify that, to my knowledge:

Exhibit 99.1

MEDIA RECOVERY, INC.

dba SPOTSEE HOLDINGS

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and for the

Years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015

with Report of Independent Auditors

MEDIA RECOVERY, INC.

dba SPOTSEE HOLDINGS

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of September 30, 2017 and 2016 and for the

Years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015

Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Media Recovery, Inc., dba SpotSee Holdings

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Media Recovery, Inc., dba SpotSee Holdings (the “Company”) which comprise the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015, and the related notes to the financial statements.

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”); this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditor’s Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in  the circumstances, but  not for  the purpose of  expressing an opinion  on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015 in conformity with GAAP.

Dallas, Texas

December 7, 2017

MEDIA RECOVERY, INC.

dba SPOTSEE HOLDINGS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

MEDIA RECOVERY, INC.

dba SPOTSEE HOLDINGS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

MEDIA RECOVERY, INC.

dba SPOTSEE HOLDINGS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Years Ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

MEDIA RECOVERY, INC.

dba SPOTSEE HOLDINGS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

A.    Nature of Business

Media Recovery, Inc., dba SpotSee Holdings, (the “Company”) is a manufacturing and distribution company that manufactures shipping and handling monitors and recorders, which measure impact, temperature, and tilt of products during shipment and equipment monitors, used primarily to measure impact and other safety factors. The Company has two manufacturing facilities located in Graham, Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico. A sales and distribution office is located in Loenen, Netherlands and a sales office is located in Shanghai, China. The Company’s corporate offices are located in Dallas, Texas.

B.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies consistently applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements follows:

Basis of Accounting

The accounts are maintained and the consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries ShockWatch, Inc. dba SpotSee; MRI DPC; DataSpan, Inc.; Shocklog Holdings Limited; ShockWatch Europe, B.V.; Mexico SW Production, S.A. DE C.V.; ShockWatch, Inc. Shanghai Representative Office; ShockLog, Ltd; and Diffrenet Ltd. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. MRI DPC and DataSpan were sold during 2014 and are classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, see Note M.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.

Foreign Currency Translation

All assets and liabilities in the balance sheet of foreign subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar are translated at year-end exchange rates. All revenues and expenses in the statement of operations, of these foreign subsidiaries, are translated at average exchange rates for the year. Translation gains and losses are not included in determining net income but are shown in other comprehensive income on the consolidated balance sheets. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in determining net income.

B.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – continued

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company had no such investments. The Company maintains deposits primarily in two financial institutions, which may at times exceed amounts covered by insurance provided by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Company has not experienced any losses related to amounts in excess of FDIC limits.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are stated at amounts management expects to collect from outstanding balances. Management provides for probable uncollectible amounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to a valuation allowance based on its assessment of the current status of individual accounts. Balances still outstanding after management has used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance and a credit to accounts receivable. Changes in the valuation allowance have not been material to the consolidated financial statements. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base, and their dispersion across many different industries and geographies.  One customer’s accounts receivable balance consisted of approximately 12% and 10% of the  accounts receivable balance as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is principally determined by the weighted-average cost method, which approximates the first-in, first-out method. Inventories include factory overhead that is applied on the basis of labor costs and manufacturing expenses incurred, less allowances for obsolete items. The Company determines that items are slow moving or obsolete based on whether they have been sold or used in production between 180 and 365 days, or greater than 365 days, respectively, during the fiscal year. Such items are then specifically reviewed for obsolescence based on other criteria which include the frequency that these items are purchased, manufactured, and sold. The amount of the inventory reserve for each year presented is disclosed in Note D.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated service lives. For major renewals and betterments that extend the useful lives are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense in the period in which they are incurred, and betterments are capitalized. The cost of assets sold or abandoned and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and any gains or losses are reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss of the respective period. The estimated useful lives for buildings and improvements range from 10 to 25 years, are 5 years for software, and for machinery and equipment range from 3 to 7 years.

B.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – continued

Intangible Asset

In January 2017 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-01. ASU 2017-01 changes the definition of a business when determining whether a transaction is a business combination or an asset acquisition. The Company early adopted this guidance for the year ended September 30, 2017. In March 2017 the Company completed an acquisition of Diffrenet Limited, which was considered an asset acquisition under ASU 2017-01 as substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired was concentrated in a single identifiable asset. The asset acquisition resulted in the recognition of an intangible asset comprised of purchased software (see Note K) which is being amortized over a period of five years.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of trade accounts receivable. The Company continually evaluates its customers’ financial condition and generally does not require collateral. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable are generally limited due to the large number of entities comprising the Company’s customer base. Additionally, credit losses have historically been within management’s expectations.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on product sales upon the passage of title, which generally occurs upon shipment, or the rendering of services, and when collectability is deemed probable.

Presentation of Sales Tax

The states in which the Company operates and the counties within those states impose a sales tax on all of the Company’s sales to nonexempt customers. The Company collects that sales tax from customers and remits the entire amount to the applicable state. The Company’s accounting policy is to exclude the tax collected and remitted to the states from revenue and cost of sales.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Advertising

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.  Total advertising costs for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015, were approximately $154,000, $100, and $400, respectively.

Stock Awards

The Company may, with the approval of its Board of Directors, grant stock awards for a fixed number of shares to employees with an exercise price equal to the fair value of the shares at the date of grant. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model for use in estimating the fair value of stock awards.

B.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – continued

Reclassification

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations.

Goodwill

The Company records goodwill when consideration paid in an acquisition exceeds the fair value of the assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company conducted their annual impairment test of goodwill as of September 30, 2017 and 2016. They have elected to first assess the qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the single reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment under GAAP.

If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount, then the two-step goodwill impairment test is performed. The first step, identifying  a potential impairment, compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds its fair value, the second step would need to be performed; otherwise, no further step is required. The second step, measuring the impairment loss, compares the implied fair value of the goodwill with the carrying amount of the goodwill. Any excess of the goodwill carrying amount over the applied fair value is recognized as an impairment loss, and the carrying value of goodwill is written down to fair value. No impairment of goodwill was required for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015.

Long-lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets including goodwill, property and equipment, and intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of their carrying amounts to future undiscounted cash flows that the assets are expected to generate. If long-lived assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair market value and is recorded in the period the determination was made. Based upon management’s assessment, there was no impairment of long-lived assets during the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, or 2015.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are determined using the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred income taxes are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in years in which such temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations of the period that includes the enactment date. In addition, a valuation allowance is established to reduce any deferred tax asset for which it is determined that it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various states, and foreign jurisdictions. The Company has not taken a tax position that, if challenged, would have a material  effect on  the  financial statements  or  the effective tax  rate for the year ended September 30, 2017, or during the prior three years. The Company and its subsidiaries are currently subject to a three-year statute of limitations by major tax jurisdictions.

B.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – continued

The Company did not incur any penalties or interest related to its federal tax returns during the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, or 2015.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company calculates the fair value of its assets and liabilities which qualify as financial instruments and includes this additional information in the notes to consolidated financial statements when the fair value is different than the carrying value of those financial instruments. The estimated fair value of accounts receivable (trade and other), accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate the carrying amounts due to the relatively short maturity of these instruments. The carrying value of the line of credit also approximates fair value since the instrument bears market rates of interest. None of these instruments are held for trading purposes.

C.  Fair Value Measurements

GAAP defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about assets and liabilities measured at fair value. GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and establishes a three-tier hierarchy that is used to identify assets and liabilities measured at fair value. The hierarchy focuses on the inputs used to measure fair value and requires that the lowest level input be used. The three levels defined are as follows:

The Company holds no instruments which have fair value measured at Level 1 or Level 2. The Company’s goodwill was valued using Level 3 inputs of the fair value hierarchy contained in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820-10, in accordance with policies disclosed in Note B, and are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at fair value.

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and 2016:

There were no changes to fair value for the Company’s Goodwill using Level 3 inputs during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015.

D.  Inventories

Inventories consist of the following as of September 30:

E.  Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consisted of the following at September 30:

F.  Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Stock

In fiscal year 1998 the Company issued 5,850,000 shares of Series A preferred stock which are convertible into shares of voting common stock at the option of the holder at any time at the initial conversion price of $1.00 per share, resulting in an initial conversion rate of one fully paid and non-assessable share of voting common stock for each share of Series A preferred stock, subject to adjustment. During the year ended September 30, 2006, 5,050,000 preferred shares were converted to common shares. No preferred shares were converted to common shares during the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015. Dividends are paid to holders of preferred stock concurrently with dividends paid to holders of common stock and such dividends do not accumulate. 

In addition, at any time on or after December 31, 2004, holders of preferred stock representing in the aggregate at least 10% of the then outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock may require the Company to redeem such stock for $1.00 per share. The Company has classified the Series A Preferred Stock as temporary equity in accordance with ASC Topic No. 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, which states that certain mandatorily redeemable financial instruments should be classified as temporary equity.

The Series A preferred stock has a $0.01 par value and a $1 liquidation preference. The Series A preferred stock could be redeemed through a cash payment if requested by the stockholders. Holders of preferred stock are not allowed to vote on matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. However, certain corporate matters including dividend payments, issuances of certain stock awards, disposal of shares of capital stock, and a merger of the Company, require the consent of the holders of at least 85% of the then outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock. The Company has reserved 800,000 shares of common stock for the potential conversion of preferred stock. When the Company did not meet the definition of a public business entity it was eligible for certain nonpublic company exceptions under Accounting Standards Codification 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and classified these redeemable preferred shares as equity.

G.  Stockholders’ Equity

Stock Awards

During October of 2010 the Company canceled all 160,260 phantom stock awards previously outstanding and granted 215,260 new phantom stock awards to key management employees. The 2010 phantom stock awards vested at the expiration of a 63 month period (December 31, 2014). The awards were not exercisable until the end of the period (December 31, 2014), and were to be automatically exercised by the Company between February 1, 2015 and February 28, 2015, entitling the employees to a cash payment at an amount equal to the excess of the value of a share of the Company’s stock (as determined by the Board of Directors of a corporation that is the major stockholder of the Company) over the phantom award “exercise price” of $2.46 per share.

The Company recorded compensation expense for valuing its phantom stock awards based on the Company’s assessment of its enterprise value at each fiscal year end. In assessing such value, the Company considered its financial condition and operating results; the long-term potential of its business; the market for and recent sales prices of the Company’s securities, if any; and the values of similar securities issued by companies in similar businesses. Two of the key management employees left the Company and forfeited 65,000 of the 2010 phantom stock awards.

During 2015 all remaining phantom stock awards were forfeited or expired. For the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015, the Company recorded approximately $0, $0, and ($441,000), respectively, in compensation expense (benefit) associated with the issuance or forfeitures of phantom stock awards. As of September 30, 2017 and 2016, there was no phantom stock award liability.

Stock Option Grants

During 2017 and 2016, certain officers of the Company were granted options to purchase common shares of the Company.

Option transactions for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, are as follows:

As of September 30, 2017, the range of exercise prices for outstanding options was $5.15 to $7.83.

G.  Stockholders’ Equity – continued

All stock-based compensation must be recognized as an expense in the consolidated financial statements and such cost should be measured at the fair value of the award. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. The expected life of awards granted represents the period of time that they are expected to be outstanding. The Company determined the initial expected life based on a simplified method, giving consideration to the contractual terms, vesting schedules, and pre-vesting and post-vesting forfeitures.

The fair value of options granted for the year ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, was estimated to be $195,625 and $550,262, respectively, at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following weighted average assumptions at the date of grant: