Note 11 - Share-based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Aug. 30, 2014

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

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

11. Share-based Compensation

In fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, a total of 583, 1,590 and 3,153 shares of unrestricted stock, respectively, were granted to some of the Company’s non-employee directors. Accordingly, compensation expense related to the 2014, 2013 and 2012 unrestricted stock was recognized on the date of grant.

In fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company granted a total of 4,700, 6,570 and 8,620 stock appreciation rights, respectively, under the 2010 Plan to the Company’s non-employee directors. Such stock appreciation rights were fully vested upon grant, expire on the earlier of the eighth anniversary of the grant date or the second anniversary of the date that the director ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors and must be settled in stock at the time of exercise. Accordingly, compensation expense related to the stock appreciation rights were recognized on the date of grant.

On April 5, 2010, the Company entered into a Restricted Stock Award Agreement (the “Performance Criteria Restricted Stock Award Agreement”) with its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) pursuant to which the Company granted 350,000 shares (the “Performance Restricted Shares”) of restricted common stock to the CEO. The Performance Restricted Shares were earned when the Company achieved certain consolidated revenues and adjusted operating margins as set forth in the Performance Criteria Restricted Stock Award Agreement during certain performance periods in fiscal 2010, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012 as set forth in such agreement (collectively, the “Performance Criteria”). The Performance Restricted Shares earned upon achievement of the Performance Criteria will vest in four equal amounts on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth anniversaries of the grant date provided that the CEO continues to be employed by the Company on each such date. As the Company believed that it was probable that the Performance Criteria would be met, compensation expense began being recognized as of the grant date of these shares. As required by accounting rules, the Company is recognizing compensation expense for each vesting tranche of the Performance Restricted Shares ratably from the service inception date to the vesting date for each tranche. In the event Mr. Croatti’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause or by reason of his death or disability, the Performance Restricted Shares that have not yet vested will automatically vest in full.

Also on April 5, 2010, the Company entered into a Restricted Stock Award Agreement (the “Restricted Stock Award Agreement”) with the CEO pursuant to which the Company granted 50,000 shares (the “Restricted Shares”) of restricted common stock to the CEO. The Restricted Shares vest in equal amounts on each of the first six anniversaries of the grant date provided that the CEO continues to be employed by the Company on each such date. Compensation expense related to the Restricted Shares is being recognized ratably over the vesting period. In the event Mr. Croatti’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause or by reason of his death or disability, the Restricted Shares that have not yet vested will automatically vest in full.

For the Performance Criteria Restricted Stock Award Agreement and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, the fair value of the restricted shares was the closing price on April 5, 2010, which was $51.39.

Compensation expense for all share-based compensation, which includes Share-Based Awards and restricted stock grants, for the five fiscal years subsequent to August 30, 2014, is expected to be as follows (in thousands):

	Share-Based Awards		Restricted Stock		Total
2015	$	1,859	$	1,697	$	3,556
2016		1,513		680		2,193
2017		1,227		—		1,227
2018		821		—		821
2019		133		—		133
Total	$	5,553	$	2,377	$	7,930

As of August 30, 2014, the total compensation cost not yet recognized related to non-vested share-based compensation grants was approximately $7.9 million. The weighted average periods over which compensation cost for Share-Based Awards and restricted stock will be recognized are 2.3 years and 1.1 years, respectively.

The following table summarizes the Share-Based Award activity for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2014:

	Number of Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding, August 31, 2013		584,540		$	48.47
Granted		129,200			103.16
Exercised		(89,638	)		34.26
Forfeited		(5,500	)		58.53
Outstanding, August 30, 2014		618,602		$	61.86
Exercisable, August 30, 2014		85,902		$	47.36