Note 6 - Proxy Contests

In August 2007, Mr. David Portnoy (the plaintiff) brought an action against the Company and its directors in Delaware Chancery Court in New Castle County. The plaintiff alleged breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with the Company’s 2007 Annual Meeting and requested declaratory and injunctive relief relating to the election of directors at that meeting. On January 22, 2008, the Court issued an order under which the Company was required to hold a special meeting of stockholders for the election of directors on March 4, 2008; and the order provided that directors who sat on the Company’s Board of Directors prior to the 2007 Annual Meeting would continue in office until the special meeting. The order provided that the members of the management slate pay their own proxy solicitation costs in connection with the special meeting; any costs to the Company of holding the special meeting; and the costs of a special master to preside over the special meeting. On March 4, 2008, the Company held a Special Meeting of Stockholders, at which the directors nominated in management’s proxy statement dated February 11, 2008 were elected by the Company’s stockholders.

On May 9, 2011, the Company was notified that Mr. David Portnoy nominated five directors to the Company’s board of directors to compete with the Company’s board of directors at the 2011 Annual Meeting. Mr. Portnoy conducted his own solicitation of the Company’s stockholders in favor of his nominees. In light of the activities associated with the 2007 annual meeting, on June 6, 2011, Mr. Portnoy brought another action seeking declaratory relief in the Delaware Chancery Court before the same judge that had ruled on the 2007 action.

On August 24, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Company approved funding a Grantor trust to escrow the amounts that may become payable to certain members of senior management (“the Participants”) under their respective Employment Agreements as a result of a Change in Control (as that term is defined in the respective employment agreements as a majority change in the Company’s Board of Directors). The trustee of the Grantor Trust Agreement is Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Trustee”). On August 25, 2011, the Company transferred $2,500,000 to the Trust. The balance in the Trust, which is reflected as restricted cash in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets is $1,216,931 and $2,372,439 as of August 31, 2013 and November 30, 2012, respectively. The trust became irrevocable upon the Change in Control on August 25, 2011. The Company has no power to direct the Trustee to return the funds to the Company. The funds will be returned to the Company when the Trustee is satisfied that the obligations have been satisfied per any agreed upon terms. If the Company becomes insolvent, the Trustee will cease payments of benefits to the Participants and the cash will revert to the Company. Upon written approval of all Participants, the Company may terminate the trust. During the nine months ended August 31, 2013 and August 31, 2012, $68,843 and $59,232, respectively, in legal fees were paid from the Trust on behalf of one of the Participants. As of August 31, 2013, one of the three Participants continues to be employed by the Company

On August 24, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the acceleration of any unvested stock options and the extension of the exercise period of such options for options held by the Board of Directors and the Participants in the event of a Change in Control. On November 23, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Company revoked the previous resolution.

The Company held its 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on August 25, 2011 (“the Annual Meeting”). The final voting results were certified by the Inspector of Elections on August 30, 2011. Mr. Portnoy’s nominees were elected to the Company’s Board of Directors triggering a complete change in the Company’s Board of Directors.

On August 30, 2011, the newly elected Board of Directors of the Company terminated its Chief Executive Officer and former Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mercedes Walton, for cause. The Company believed that Ms. Walton was terminated for cause as defined in her employment agreement and therefore, the Company believed that Ms. Walton did not earn the right to any severance.

On October 25, 2011, Mercedes Walton filed a demand for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association, AAA Case No. 33-166-00383-11. Ms. Walton claimed breach of her employment agreement and defamation. Ms. Walton was seeking arbitration costs, attorneys’ fees, interest, compensatory, punitive and liquidated damages, as well as injunctive and declaratory relief in the amount of $5,000,000 of which $1,000,000 could potentially be covered under the Company’s insurance policy.

On June 14, 2013, the Company received a decision from the American Arbitration Association in the case filed by Ms. Walton on October 25, 2011, granting an Interim Award of Arbitrators to Ms. Walton in the amount of $1,080,938. This award includes $980,938 related to lost salary, bonuses and benefits and $100,000 related to the defamation claim, of which the defamation award was paid by the Company’s insurance policy. In addition, the Company will be required to pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by Ms. Walton and expenses associated with any outplacement services. During July 2013, Ms. Walton was paid an initial payment of $1,066,174 related to lost salary, bonuses, benefits and expenses. The Company has recorded an accrual of $487,000 and $1,450,000 associated with the claim and legal fees which is reflected as an accrued expense in the accompanying balance sheets as of August 31, 2013 and November 30, 2012, respectively. During September and October 2013, legal fees and expenses were reimbursed to all parties.

On May 30, 2012, the Company was notified that Mr. Ki Yong Choi nominated himself and five other persons for election as directors to compete with the Company’s board of directors at the 2012 Annual Meeting. Pursuant to the Co-CEOs employment agreements, if the Company receives a Nomination Solicitation Notice, as defined in the Company’s Bylaws, all of the service-based vesting condition options that have been issued to the Co-CEOs will immediately vest. Due to the immediate vesting of the options issued to the Co-CEOs, approximately $700,000 was recorded as stock option compensation expense during the second quarter of fiscal 2012 and is reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended August 31, 2012.