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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:
9 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2016
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related party transactions
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS: 
The Company has a business relationship with MiTAC Holdings Corporation (“MiTAC Holdings”), a publicly-traded company in Taiwan, which began in 1992 when MiTAC Holdings became the Company's primary investor through its affiliates. As of both August 31, 2016 and November 30, 2015, MiTAC Holdings and its affiliates beneficially owned approximately 25% of the Company’s common stock. Matthew Miau, the Company’s Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors and a director, is the Chairman of MiTAC Holdings and a director or officer of MiTAC Holdings’ affiliates.
Beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock by MiTAC Holdings 
As noted above, MiTAC Holdings and its affiliates in the aggregate beneficially owned approximately 25% of the Company’s common stock as of August 31, 2016. These shares are owned by the following entities:  
 
As of August 31, 2016
MiTAC Holdings(1)
5,552

Synnex Technology International Corp.(2)
4,283

Total
9,835

_____________________________________
(1)
Shares are held via Silver Star Developments Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC Holdings. Excludes 374 shares directly held by Matthew Miau and 224 shares indirectly held by Mathew Miau through a charitable remainder trust.
(2)
Synnex Technology International Corp. (“Synnex Technology International”) is a separate entity from the Company and is a publicly-traded corporation in Taiwan. Shares are held via Peer Development Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Synnex Technology International. MiTAC Holdings owns a noncontrolling interest of 8.7% in MiTAC Incorporated, a privately-held Taiwanese company, which in turn holds a noncontrolling interest of 13.6% in Synnex Technology International. Neither MiTAC Holdings nor Mr. Miau is affiliated with any person(s), entity, or entities that hold a majority interest in MiTAC Incorporated.
MiTAC Holdings generally has significant influence over the Company regarding matters submitted to stockholders for consideration, including any merger or acquisition of the Company. Among other things, this could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change of control over the Company.
The Company purchased inventories from MiTAC Holdings and its affiliates totaling $39,888 and $96,337 during the three and nine months ended August 31, 2016, respectively, and totaling $21,078 and $65,450 during the three and nine months ended August 31, 2015, respectively. The Company’s sales to MiTAC Holdings and its affiliates during the three and nine months ended August 31, 2016 totaled $283 and $805, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended August 31, 2015 totaled $274 and $1,001, respectively. In addition, the Company received reimbursements of rent and overhead costs for facilities used by MiTAC Holdings amounting to $98 and $172 during the three and nine months ended August 31, 2016, respectively, and $32 and $94 during the three and nine months ended August 31, 2015, respectively.
The Company’s business relationship with MiTAC Holdings has been informal and is not governed by long-term commitments or arrangements with respect to pricing terms, revenue or capacity commitments. The Company negotiates pricing and other material terms on a case-by-case basis with MiTAC Holdings. The Company has adopted a policy requiring that material transactions with MiTAC Holdings or its related parties be approved by its Audit Committee, which is composed solely of independent directors. In addition, Matthew Miau’s compensation is approved by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which is also composed solely of independent directors.
Synnex Technology International is a publicly-traded corporation in Taiwan that currently provides distribution and fulfillment services to various markets in Asia and Australia, and is also a potential competitor of the Company. Neither MiTAC Holdings, nor Synnex Technology International is restricted from competing with the Company.