For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017

Commission File Number 001-36632

 EMCORE Corporation

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (626) 293-3400

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. þ Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x Yes ¨ No

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

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 x No

As of July 31, 2017, the number of shares outstanding of our no par value common stock totaled 26,879,160.

For The Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2017

PART I.    Financial Information        

ITEM 1.    Financial Statements

For the Three and Nine Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

As of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016

For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017

We currently have one reporting segment: Fiber Optics.

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, EMCORE completed the sale of the Company's Photovoltaics Business to SolAero Technologies Corporation (“SolAero”) pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Photovoltaics Agreement”) under which SolAero acquired substantially all of the assets, and assumed substantially all of the liabilities, primarily related to or used in connection with the Company's Photovoltaics Business, including EMCORE's subsidiaries EMCORE Solar Power, Inc. and EMCORE IRB Company, LLC (collectively, the “Photovoltaics Business” and, the sale of the Photovoltaics Business, the “Photovoltaics Asset Sale”), for $149.9 million in cash.

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, EMCORE completed the sale of the Company's telecommunications business (the “Digital Products Business”) to NeoPhotonics Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“NeoPhotonics”), pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Digital Products Agreement”), under which NeoPhotonics acquired certain assets, and certain liabilities, related to the Company's Digital Products Business for an aggregate purchase price of $17.5 million.

No Photovoltaics Business or Digital Products Business assets or liabilities that were sold remain on the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2017 or September 30, 2016. The financial results of the Photovoltaics Business and the Digital Products Business are presented as “discontinued operations” on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. See Note 4 - Discontinued Operations for additional information. The notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements relate to our continuing operations only, unless otherwise indicated.

Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for interim information, and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. In our opinion, the interim financial statements reflect all normal adjustments that are necessary to provide a fair presentation of the financial results for the interim periods presented. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for an entire fiscal year. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of such date as adjusted for discontinued operations. See Note 4 - Discontinued Operations for additional information. For a more complete understanding of our business, financial position, operating results, cash flows, risk factors and other matters, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.

This update will be applied using a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company anticipates taking advantage of the practical expedient option. The operating lease obligations at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2017 were approximately $1.1 million. Assuming an average discounted rate of 4% applied to these minimum remaining rental payments, we estimate that the impact to our balance sheet upon adoption would be within the range of $1.2 million to $2.5 million due to recognition of the right-of-use asset and lease liability related to current operating leases. The Company is continuing to evaluate the effect of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Upon evaluation, we believe that the key revenue streams will be split between product sales and firm fixed price contracts, which comprise the majority of our business. Based upon the evaluation completed to date, the Company believes that the pattern of revenue recognition for these revenue streams will generally be at a point-in-time for product sales and over a period of time for firm fixed price contracts, consistent with current guidance. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures. As of June 30, 2017, the Company intends to adopt ASU 2014-09 utilizing a fully retrospective transition approach on October 1, 2018.

The Company's restricted cash includes cash balances which are legally or contractually restricted to use. The Company's restricted cash is included in current assets as of June 30, 2017 and 2016, and September 30, 2016.

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, EMCORE completed the sale of the Company's Photovoltaics Business to SolAero pursuant to the Photovoltaics Agreement under which SolAero acquired substantially all of the assets, and assumed substantially all of the liabilities, primarily related to or used in connection with the Company's Photovoltaics Business for $149.9 million in cash.

On December 22, 2015, we settled all of the outstanding rights and obligations of a solar power venture in Spain, including outstanding non-current receivables, for a payment of $0.7 million. The outstanding non-current receivables had a net book value of $0 at the time of settlement as they were fully allowed for previously. The resulting gain was recorded in the discontinued operations of the Photovoltaics Business for the nine months ended June 30, 2016.

Included in discontinued operations of the Photovoltaics Business during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016 were $0 and $0.1 million, respectively, of New Mexico incentive tax credits received. There were no incentive tax credits received during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017.

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, EMCORE completed the sale of the Company's Digital Products Business to NeoPhotonics pursuant to the Digital Products Agreement, under which NeoPhotonics acquired certain assets, and certain liabilities, related to the Company's Digital Products Business for an aggregate purchase price of $17.5 million.

In December 2015, we entered into an agreement to terminate our lease and related obligations associated with a facility in Newark, California which we abandoned effective February 2016 following the sale of the Digital Products Business. As a result of this agreement, we paid $0.2 million and recorded a gain of $0.3 million on the lease termination in the discontinued operations of the Digital Products Business during the nine months ended June 30, 2016. Also see Note 9 - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities.

Included in cost of revenue for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 is $0.4 million due to a reduction in expected product warranty liabilities from a settlement associated with the Digital Products Business.

During the nine months ended June 30, 2016, we recognized the deferred gain of $3.4 million and reversal of other liabilities of $0.4 million, that had been recorded as of September 30, 2015, resulting in a credit of $3.8 million to deferred gain on sale of assets within discontinued operations of the Digital Products Business as the result of the favorable ruling from the Sumitomo Electric Industries, LTD (“SEI”) arbitration. Also see Note 12- Commitments and Contingencies.

Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820 (“ASC 820”), Fair Value Measurements, establishes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. This standard describes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value:

The following table summarizes changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.

The non-current inventory balance of $3.1 million and $3.5 million as of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively, is comprised entirely of raw materials which we acquired as part of a last time purchase as a result of the vendor announcing they would cease manufacturing a part.

In March 2017, in connection with the transition of our manufacturing operations in China to a new manufacturing facility in China, we identified equipment with a net book value of approximately $0.6 million that would no longer be utilized after the completion of the move later in fiscal year 2017. After taking into consideration the costs of disposal and estimated net funds from the sale of the equipment of approximately $0.1 million, we recorded a charge to impairments of approximately $0.5 million in the nine months ended June 30, 2017.

Compensation: Compensation is primarily comprised of accrued employee salaries, taxes and benefits.

Income and other taxes: For the three months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded income tax expense of $19,000 and $0 within income from continuing operations and discontinued operations, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded $0.2 million of income tax expense from continuing operations income and $0.2 million of income tax benefit within income from discontinued operations. For the nine months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded approximately $0.1 million of income tax expense from continuing operations and $0 of income tax benefit within income from discontinued operations. For the nine months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded $22,000 of income tax expense from continuing operations income and $33,000 of income tax expense within income from discontinued operations. The income tax expense within discontinued operations includes estimated alternative minimum tax and other adjustments prescribed by ASC 740 in allocating expected annual income tax expense (benefit) between continuing operations and discontinued operations.

Severance and restructuring accruals: In connection with the abandonment of our Newark, California facility following the closing of the sale of the Digital Products Business, we accrued for the remaining lease costs through the lease termination in May 2016. In December 2015, we entered into an agreement to terminate this lease and related obligations, including Asset Retirement Obligations (“ARO or AROs”), as of February 2016 for a payment of $0.2 million. As a result of the agreement, we recorded a gain of $0.3 million on the lease termination. The resulting gain was recorded in the discontinued operations of the Digital Products Business for the nine months ended June 30, 2016. See Note 4 - Discontinued Operations.

On June 7, 2016, the Company's former Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) notified the Company that he would resign as the Company's CFO, effective as of June 20, 2016 (the “Separation Date”). The Company and the former CFO entered into a separation agreement and general release, dated June 7, 2016 (the “Separation Agreement”), which includes mutual releases by the former CFO and the Company of all claims related to his employment and service relationship with, and termination of employment and service from, the Company. The Separation Agreement provides for, among other things, the continuation of his base salary for 64 weeks, benefits for 16 months, outplacement services for a period of not more than 1 year and with a value not in excess of $15,000 and immediate vesting of all his outstanding non-vested equity awards, other than his most recent equity award. These payments are not contingent upon any future service by the former CFO. The Company recorded a charge of approximately $0.4 million in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016 related to this Separation Agreement.

In an effort to better align our current and future business operations, in May 2016 the Company announced a reduction in its workforce by approximately 30 individuals and recorded a charge for severance for the affected employees in the amount of $0.3 million in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016. In November 2016, the Company announced an additional reduction in the workforce of approximately 5 individuals and recorded a charge of $0.2 million in the nine months ended June 30, 2017 related to the outsourcing of our satellite communications assembly operations.

In March 2017, the Company announced an additional workforce reduction of approximately 14 individuals and recorded a charge of $0.1 million in the nine months ended June 30, 2017 related to the outsourcing of our wafer fabrication lab. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded an additional charge of $0.4 million for six additional individuals related to the March 2017 workforce reduction. Also, in March 2017, in connection with our opening of a new manufacturing facility in China to reduce costs and improve efficiency later in fiscal year 2017, we accrued for a workforce reduction of approximately 265 individuals and recorded a charge of $0.5 million in the nine months ended June 30, 2017. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded an additional charge of $0.4 million for the workforce reduction of 72 additional individuals related to the opening of our new manufacturing facility in China.

Warranty: We generally provide product and other warranties on our components, power systems, and fiber optic products. Certain parts and labor warranties from our vendors can be assigned to our customers. Our reported financial position or results of operations may be materially different under changed conditions or when using different estimates and assumptions. In the event that estimates or assumptions prove to differ from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information.

On November 10, 2015, we entered into a Seventh Amendment of the Credit Facility, which extended the maturity date of the facility to November 2018 and adjusted the interest rate to LIBOR plus 2.5%. The Credit Facility currently provides us with a revolving credit line of up to $15.0 million that can be used for working capital requirements, letters of credit, and other general corporate purposes.

As of June 30, 2017, there were no amounts outstanding under this Credit Facility and the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants. Also, as of June 30, 2017, the Credit Facility had approximately $0.5 million reserved for one stand-by letter of credit and $6.2 million available for borrowing. As of July 31, 2017, there was no outstanding balance under this Credit Facility.

For the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of approximately $19,000 and $0.2 million, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded income tax benefit from discontinued operations of approximately $0 and $0.2 million, respectively. For the nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of approximately $0.1 million and $22,000, respectively. For the nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense from discontinued operations of approximately $0 and $33,000, respectively. Income tax expense is comprised of estimated alternative minimum tax allocated between continuing operations and discontinued operations as prescribed by ASC 740 and foreign tax expense included within continuing operations.

For the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the effective tax rate on continuing operations was 0.8% and 12.9% , respectively. The lower tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was primarily due to changes in the Company's estimated results in the current year as compared to the prior year. The higher tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was primarily due to permanent differences, state tax benefits and foreign tax rate differentials. For the nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the effective tax rate on continuing operations was 2.1% and 2.4%, respectively. The Company uses estimates to forecast the results from continuing operations for the current fiscal year as well as permanent differences between book and tax accounting.

We have not provided for U.S. federal and state income taxes on non-U.S. subsidiaries' undistributed earnings as of June 30, 2017 because we plan to indefinitely reinvest the unremitted earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries.

All deferred tax assets have a full valuation allowance at June 30, 2017. However, on a quarterly basis, the Company will evaluate the positive and negative evidence to assess whether the more likely than not criteria, mandated by ASC 740, has been satisfied in determining whether there will be further adjustments to the valuation allowance.

During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, there were no material increases or decreases in unrecognized tax benefits. As of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, we had approximately $0.3 million of interest and penalties accrued as tax liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Operating Lease Obligations: We lease certain facilities and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. Operating lease amounts exclude renewal option periods, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance expenses on leased properties. Our facility leases typically provide for rental adjustments for increases in base rent (up to specific limits), property taxes, insurance, and general property maintenance that would be recorded as rent expense. Rent expense was approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and approximately $1.1 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. There are no off-balance sheet arrangements other than our operating leases.

Asset Retirement Obligation: We have known conditional AROs, such as certain asset decommissioning and restoration of rented facilities to be performed in the future. Our ARO includes assumptions related to renewal option periods for those facilities where we expect to extend lease terms. The Company recognizes its estimate of the fair value of its ARO in the period incurred in long-term liabilities. The fair value of the ARO is also capitalized as property, plant and equipment.

In future periods, the ARO is accreted for the change in its present value and capitalized costs are depreciated over the useful life of the related assets. If the fair value of the estimated ARO changes, an adjustment will be recorded to both the ARO and the asset retirement capitalized cost. Revisions in estimated liabilities can result from revisions of estimated inflation rates, changes in estimated retirement costs, and changes in the estimated timing of settling the ARO. The fair value of our ARO was estimated by discounting projected cash flows over the estimated life of the related assets using credit adjusted risk-free rates which ranged from 1.20% to 4.20%. There was no ARO settled during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017. See discussion below regarding ARO settlements during the nine months ended June 30, 2016. Accretion expense of $17,000 and $15,000 was recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Accretion expense of $0.1 million and $45,000 was recorded during the nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

EMCORE leases its primary facility in Alhambra, California covering six buildings where manufacturing, research and development, and general and administrative work is performed. Several leases related to these facilities expired in 2011, and were being maintained on a month-to-month basis. In November 2014, a new lease for four of the six buildings was signed, which was retroactively effective on October 1, 2014. The new lease extended the terms of the lease for three years plus a three year option to extend the lease, which was not exercised prior to the deadline for exercising such option, and clarified the obligations and restoration work necessary to restore the buildings back to the requirements in the lease.

During the nine months ended June 30, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to terminate the lease and related obligations, including ARO, in Newark, California for a one-time settlement payment of $0.2 million. As a result of this agreement and payment, the Company reduced its ARO associated with the Newark facility by $0.3 million.

Indemnifications: We have agreed to indemnify certain customers against claims of infringement of intellectual property rights of others in our sales contracts with these customers. Historically, we have not paid any claims under these indemnification obligations. In March 2012, we entered into a Master Purchase Agreement with SEI, pursuant to which we agreed to sell certain assets and transfer certain obligations. Under the terms of the Master Purchase Agreement, we agreed to indemnify SEI for up to $3.4 million of potential claims and expenses for the two-year period following the sale and we recorded this amount as a deferred gain on our balance sheet as a result of these contingencies.

On September 23, 2014, SEI filed for arbitration against EMCORE, in accordance with the terms of the Master Purchase Agreement between the parties. SEI was seeking $47.5 million from EMCORE, relating to numerous claims. On April 12, 2016, the International Court of Arbitration tribunal rejected SEI's claims. The panel ruled that EMCORE owed SEI none of the amounts SEI sought in the arbitration and that the Company was entitled to collect the $1.9 million held in escrow, which was received in June 2016. The Company was also entitled to recover $2.6 million in fees and costs from SEI, which was received in June 2016. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, we recognized a gain associated with the release of $3.4 million of previously recorded gain associated with the sale of assets and reversal of other liabilities of $0.4 million, resulting in a credit of $3.8 million to recognition of previously deferred gain on sale of assets within discontinued operations of the Digital Products Business. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, we recognized the $2.6 million recovery of previously incurred litigation fees and costs incurred by EMCORE within operating income as such represented the recovery of previously incurred legal expenses. See Note 4 - Discontinued Operations.

Legal Proceedings: We are subject to various legal proceedings, claims, and litigation, either asserted or unasserted, that arise in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, we do not expect the resolution of these matters to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, the results of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty. Professional legal fees are expensed when incurred. We accrue for contingent losses when such losses are probable and reasonably estimable. In the event that estimates or assumptions prove to differ from actual results, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. Should we fail to prevail in any legal matter or should several legal matters be resolved against the Company in the same reporting period, then the financial results of that particular reporting period could be materially affected.

In exchange for a one-time cash payment offered by the Company, certain current and former employees previously agreed to release the Company from all potential claims related to the matters alleged in the Mirasol lawsuit. The Company had recorded an accrual for these amounts at September 30, 2016 that was not material to the Company's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, which had been recorded within Operating Expenses for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016. On January 6, 2017, the Company and Mirasol agreed to a class action settlement of $0.3 million with regards to all outstanding claims. The parties have agreed to a formal settlement agreement, which will require approval by the Court. During the nine months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded an accrual of $0.2 million within Operating Expenses related to the settlement.

In August 2016, EMCORE was served with a second lawsuit by former employee Mirsaol, in the Superior Court of Los Angeles alleging that the Company violated California’s employment laws in terminating her employment in November 2015. By her complaint, Mirasol asserted five causes of action:  (1) wrongful termination in violation of public policy; (2) discrimination on the basis of disability and/or medical condition; (3) failure to accommodate; (4) failure to engage in the interactive process; and (5) intentional infliction of emotional distress.  On September 26, 2016, Mirasol dismissed the fifth cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Mirasol alleged that EMCORE wrongfully terminated her at the conclusion of a Family and Medical Act leave, without engaging in the interactive process of offering to provide her with reasonable accommodations.  The plaintiff sought general, special, and punitive damages. On January 6, 2017, the Company and Mirasol agreed to a settlement of $50,000 with regards to all outstanding claims. This amount was paid as of June 30, 2017.

We provide long-term incentives to eligible officers, directors, and employees in the form of equity-based awards. We maintain three equity incentive compensation plans, collectively described below as our “Equity Plans”:

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company previously approved, subject to stockholder approval, amendments to the 2012 Plan that would, among other changes, (1) increase the limit on the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2012 Plan by 2,400,000 shares to a new aggregate share limit of 5,301,366 shares; (2) extend the ability to grant performance-based awards under the 2012 plan through the first annual meeting of shareholders that occurs in 2022; (3) extend the term of the 2012 Plan until March 17, 2027; (4) increase the annual limits on the number of different types of awards that may be granted to an individual under the 2012 Plan, so a participant may receive (a) a maximum of 200,000 stock options, 200,000 stock appreciation rights, 200,000 shares of restricted stock, 200,000 restricted stock units, 200,000 stock purchase rights and 200,000 share awards in any fiscal year of the Company, (b) in connection with their initial year of service, up to an additional 400,000 stock options, 400,000 stock appreciation rights, 400,000 shares of restricted stock, 400,000 restricted stock units, 400,000 stock purchase rights and 400,000 share awards, and (c) a maximum of $1,000,000 in cash earned in connection with the grant of performance units in any fiscal year; and (5) require all awards granted under the Amended 2012 Plan to have a minimum vesting period of one year and no award may vest earlier than the first anniversary of the grant date of the award. The Company’s stockholders approved the amendments to the 2012 Plan on March 17, 2017.

As of September 30, 2016, the Company early adopted the new accounting guidance that simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payments, including the Company's election to eliminate the requirements to estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest, and instead, account for forfeitures when they occur. The new standard requires the change be adopted using the modified retrospective approach. As such, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $0.2 million to decrease the September 30, 2016 accumulated deficit and common stock balances.

Most of our stock options vest and become exercisable over a four to five year period and have a contractual life of 10 years. Certain stock options awarded are intended to qualify as incentive stock options pursuant to Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code.

The following table summarizes stock option activity under the Equity Plans for the nine months ended June 30, 2017:

(*) Intrinsic value for stock options represents the “in-the-money” portion or the positive variance between a stock option's exercise price and the underlying stock price. For the nine months ended June 30, 2016, the intrinsic value of options exercised was $82,000.

As of June 30, 2017, there was approximately $0.1 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock options granted under the Equity Plans which is expected to be recognized over an estimated weighted average life of 3.0 years.

Valuation Assumptions

There were no stock option grants for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017. The fair value of each stock option grant for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016, excluding the adjustment for a special dividend paid in July 2016, was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, adhering to the straight-line attribution approach using the following weighted-average assumptions, of which the expected term and stock price volatility rate are highly subjective:

Expected Dividend Yield: The Black-Scholes valuation model calls for a single expected dividend rate as an input. Although we paid a special dividend in July 2016, no dividend rate was assumed in the valuation.

Expected Stock Price Volatility Rate: The fair values of stock-based payments were calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation method with a volatility factor based on our historical common stock prices.

Risk-Free Interest Rate: The risk-free interest rate used in the Black-Scholes valuation method was based on the implied yield that was available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon notes with an equivalent remaining term. Where the expected terms of stock-based awards do not correspond with the terms for which interest rates are quoted, we performed a straight-line interpolation to determine the rate from the available maturities.

Expected Term: Expected term represents the period that our stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding and was determined based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the stock-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior as influenced by changes to the terms of stock-based awards.