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Note 11 - Stockholders' Equity, Stock Plans and Other Employee Benefit Plans | 12 Months Ended
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Mar. 25, 2012
Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block] | NOTE K – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY, STOCK PLANS AND OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
| 1. | Stock Option Plans
On December 15, 1992, the Company adopted the 1992 Stock Option Plan (the “1992 Plan”), which provided for the issuance of incentive stock options (“ISOs”) to officers and key employees and nonqualified stock options to directors, officers and key employees. Up to 525,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance for the exercise of options granted under the 1992 Plan. The 1992 Plan expired with respect to granting of new options on December 2, 2002. In April 1998, the Company adopted the Nathan’s Famous, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan (the “1998 Plan”), which provides for the issuance of nonqualified stock options to directors, officers and key employees. Up to 500,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Plan. The 1998 Plan expired with respect to granting of new options on April 5, 2008. In June 2001, the Company adopted the Nathan’s Famous, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan (the “2001 Plan”), which provided for the issuance of nonqualified stock options to directors, officers and key employees. Up to 350,000 shares of common stock were originally reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options granted and for future issuance in connection with awards under the 2001 Plan. On September 12, 2007, Nathan’s shareholders approved certain modifications to the 2001 Plan, which increased the number of options available for future grant by 275,000 shares. As of July 19, 2010, there were 168,500 shares available to be issued for future grants which have been incorporated into the Nathan’s Famous, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”). In June 2002, the Company adopted the Nathan’s Famous, Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2002 Plan”), which provides for the issuance of nonqualified stock options or restricted stock awards to directors, officers and key employees. Up to 300,000 shares of common stock were originally reserved for issuance in connection with awards under the 2002 Plan. As of July 19, 2010, there were 2,500 shares available to be issued for future grants which have been subsequently incorporated into the 2010 Plan. On September 14, 2010, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2010 Plan, which provides for the issuance of nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards to directors, officers and key employees. The Company is authorized to issue up to 150,000 shares of common stock under the 2010 Plan, together with any shares which had not been previously issued under the 2001 Plan and the 2002 Plan as of July 19, 2010 (171,000 shares), plus any shares subject to any outstanding options or restricted stock grants under the 2001 Plan or the 2002 Plan that were outstanding as of July 19, 2010 and that subsequently expire unexercised, or are otherwise forfeited, up to a maximum of an additional 100,000 shares. Shares to be issued under the Plan may be made available from authorized but unissued Stock, Stock held by the Company in its treasury, or Stock purchased by the Company on the open market or otherwise. The number of shares issuable and the grant, purchase or exercise price of outstanding awards are subject to adjustment in the amount that the Company’s Compensation Committee considers appropriate upon the occurrence of certain events, including stock dividends, stock splits, mergers, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations, or other capital adjustments. In the event that the Company issues restricted stock awards, each share of restricted stock would reduce the amount of available shares by 3.2 shares for each share of restricted stock granted. As of March 25, 2012, there were up to 143,500 shares available to be issued for future grants under the 2010 Plan and no new awards are available for future grant pursuant to the 2001 Plan or 2002 Plan. In general, options granted under the Company’s stock incentive plans have terms of five or ten years and vest over periods of between three and five years. The Company has historically issued new shares of common stock for options that have been exercised and determined the grant date fair value of options and warrants granted using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. During the fifty-two week period ended March 25, 2012, the Company granted options to purchase 177,500 shares at an exercise price of $17.75 per share, all of which expire five years from the date of grant. All of such stock options vest ratably over a four-year period commencing June 6, 2012. No stock-based awards were granted during the fiscal years ended March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010. The weighted-average option fair values, as determined using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, and the assumptions used to estimate these values for stock options granted were as follows:
|  | March 25, 2012
Weighted-average option fair values |  | $ | 5.039
Expected life (years) |  |  | 5.0
Interest rate |  |  | 1.60%
Volatility |  |  | 28.90%
Dividend yield |  |  | 0%
The expected dividend yield is based on historical and projected dividend yields. The Company estimates volatility based primarily on historical monthly price changes of the Company’s stock equal to the expected life of the option. The risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of the grant. The expected option term is the number of years the Company estimates the options will be outstanding prior to exercise based on expected employment termination behavior. Stock-based compensation expense, recognized during the fiscal years ended March 25, 2012, March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 was $274, $378 and $428 respectively, and is included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The tax benefit on stock based compensation expense was $101, $125 and $171 for the years ended March 25, 2012, March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010, respectively. As of March 25, 2012, there was $714 of unamortized compensation expense related to stock options. The Company expects to recognize this expense over approximately three years and three months, which represents the remaining requisite service periods for such awards. A summary of the status of the Company’s stock options at March 25, 2012, March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 and changes during the fiscal years then ended is presented in the tables below:
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
|  | Shares |  |  | Weighted- Average Exercise Price |  |  | Shares |  |  | Weighted- Average Exercise Price |  |  | Shares |  |  | Weighted- Average Exercise Price |
Options outstanding – beginning of year |  |  | 470,000 |  |  | $ | 11.29 |  |  |  | 534,750 |  |  | $ | 10.31 |  |  |  | 1,027,308 |  |  | $ | 6.94 |
Granted |  |  | 177,500 |  |  |  | 17.75 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | - |
Expired |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (25,000 | ) |  |  | 3.19 |
Exercised |  |  | (25,500 | ) |  |  | 9.36 |  |  |  | (64,750 | ) |  |  | 3.22 |  |  |  | (467,558 | ) |  |  | 3.28 |
Options outstanding - end of year |  |  | 622,000 |  |  | $ | 13.21 |  |  |  | 470,000 |  |  | $ | 11.29 |  |  |  | 534,750 |  |  | $ | 10.31 |
Options exercisable - end of year |  |  | 444,500 |  |  | $ | 11.40 |  |  |  | 415,500 |  |  | $ | 10.90 |  |  |  | 409,083 |  |  | $ | 8.97 |
Weighted-average fair value of options granted |  |  | 177,500 |  |  | $ | 5.04 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
During the fiscal years ended March 25, 2012, March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010, options to purchase 25,500, 64,750 and 467,558 shares were exercised which aggregated proceeds of $65, $208 and $1,533, respectively, to the Company. The aggregate intrinsic values of the stock options exercised during the fiscal years ended March 25, 2012, March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 were $289, $876 and $4,929 respectively. The following table summarizes information about outstanding stock options at March 25, 2012:
|  | Shares |  |  | Weighted- Average Exercise Price |  |  | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life |  |  | Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
Options outstanding at March 25, 2012 |  |  | 622,000 |  |  | $ | 13.21 |  |  |  | 3.05 |  |  | $ | 4,849 |
Options exercisable at March 25, 2012 |  |  | 444,500 |  |  | $ | 11.40 |  |  |  | 2.59 |  |  | $ | 4,270 |
Exercise prices range from $3.81 to $17.75 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2. Common Stock Purchase Rights On June 4, 2008, Nathan’s approved an amendment of its then-existing shareholder rights plan (“Former Rights Plan”) to accelerate the final expiration date of the then-outstanding common stock purchase rights to June 4, 2008, thereby terminating the then-existing rights, as well as the adoption of a new stockholder rights plan (the “New Rights Plan”) under which all stockholders of record as of June 5, 2008 received rights to purchase shares of common stock (the “New Rights”). The New Rights Plan replaced and updated its Former Rights Plan. The New Rights were distributed as a dividend. Initially, the New Rights will attach to, and trade with, the Company’s common stock. Subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the New Rights Plan, the New Rights will become exercisable if (among other things) a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company’s common stock. Upon such an event and payment of the purchase price of $30 (the “New Right Purchase Price”), each New Right (except those held by the acquiring person or group) will entitle the holder to acquire one share of the Company’s common stock (or the economic equivalent thereof) or, if the then-current market price is less than the New Right Purchase Price, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock which at the time of the transaction has a market value equal to the New Right Purchase Price. The Company’s Board of Directors may redeem the New Rights prior to the time they are triggered. Upon adoption of the New Rights Plan, the Company reserved 16,589,516 shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of the New Rights. At March 25, 2012, the Company reserved 7,324,051 shares of common stock, based upon the closing market price per share on Friday, March 23, 2012 of $21.01. The New Rights will expire on June 5, 2013 unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company. 3. Stock Repurchase Programs Through March 25, 2012, Nathan’s purchased a total of 4,491,486 shares of common stock at a cost of approximately $50,313 pursuant to the various stock repurchase plans previously authorized by the Board of Directors. Of these repurchased shares, 736,208 shares were repurchased at a cost of $15,867 during the year ended March 25, 2012. As of March 25, 2012, an aggregate of 407,473 shares are remaining to be purchased pursuant to the Company’s previously-adopted stock repurchase plans. Purchases under the stock repurchase plans may be made from time to time, depending on market conditions, in open market or privately-negotiated transactions, at prices deemed appropriate by management. There is no set time limit on the repurchases to be made under the stock repurchase plans. On November 13, 2008, Nathan’s Board of Directors authorized a fourth stock repurchase plan for the purchase of up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, under which 500,000 shares were repurchased at a cost of $7,279 completing the fourth stock repurchase plan. On June 30, 2009, Nathan’s Board of Directors authorized its fifth stock repurchase plan for the purchase of up to 500,000 shares of its common stock on behalf of the Company and the Company repurchased 238,129 shares of common stock at a cost of $3,015 in a privately-negotiated transaction with Prime Logic Capital, LLC. As of March 28, 2010, the Company has repurchased 500,000 shares at a cost of $6,637 completing the fifth stock repurchase plan. On November 3, 2009, Nathan’s Board of Directors authorized its sixth stock repurchase plan for the purchase of up to 500,000 shares of its common stock on behalf of the Company. On February 1, 2011, Nathan’s Board of Directors increased the authorization to purchase its common stock by an additional 300,000 shares. As of March 25, 2012, the Company has repurchased 392,527 shares at a cost of $6,707 under the sixth stock repurchase plan. On February 5, 2009, Nathan’s and Mutual Securities Inc. (“MSI”) entered into an agreement (the “10b5-1 Agreement”) pursuant to which MSI was authorized to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, having a value of up to an aggregate $3.6 million, which commenced on March 16, 2009. The 10b5-1 Agreement was originally due to terminate no later than March 15, 2010. On November 6, 2009, Nathan’s and MSI amended the terms of the 10b5-1 Agreement to increase the aggregate amount to $4.2 million and extend the termination date to no later than August 10, 2010. On September 10, 2010, Nathan’s entered into a new 10b5-1 Agreement with MSI, authorizing the purchase of shares of the Company’s common stock, initially having an aggregate value of up to $4.8 million. Such purchases were able to commence on September 20, 2010. On February 3, 2011, Nathan’s and MSI amended this agreement to increase the aggregate value to approximately $7.5 million. This agreement was subsequently amended on August 4, 2011 to extend the termination date from September 19, 2011 to November 15, 2011. The Company, through MSI had repurchased shares aggregating $4,622 pursuant to this 10b5-1 agreement when it expired on November 15, 2011. The agreement was adopted to ensure that the Company’s repurchases would comply with the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b5-1 and Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. On December 1, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the commencement of a modified dutch tender offer to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of its common stock at a price of not less than $20.00 nor greater than $22.00 per share. The tender offer expired on January 12, 2012. Based on the final count by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the depositary of the tender, 663,982 shares of common stock were tendered and not withdrawn at or below the final purchase price of $22.00 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the tender offer, Nathan’s elected to purchase an additional 98,959 shares (within up to 2% of the outstanding shares of its common stock). All of such shares purchased in the tender were purchased at the same price of $22.00 per share. As such, Nathan’s accepted for purchase an aggregate of 598,959 shares of its common stock, at a purchase price of $22.00 per share, for a total cost of $13,294, including fees and expenses related to the tender. 4. Employment Agreements Effective January 1, 2007, Howard M. Lorber, previously Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, assumed the newly-created position of Executive Chairman of the Board of Nathan’s and Eric Gatoff, previously Vice President and Corporate Counsel, became Chief Executive Officer of Nathan’s. In connection with the foregoing, the Company entered into an employment agreement with each of Messrs. Lorber (as amended, the “Lorber Employment Agreement”) and Gatoff (as amended, the “Gatoff Employment Agreement”). Under the terms of the Lorber Employment Agreement, Mr. Lorber will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board from January 1, 2007 until December 31, 2012, unless his employment is terminated in accordance with the terms of the Lorber Employment Agreement. Pursuant to the Lorber Employment Agreement, Mr. Lorber receives a base salary of $400, and will not receive a contractually-required bonus. The Lorber Employment Agreement provides for a three-year consulting period after the termination of employment during which Mr. Lorber will receive a consulting fee of $200 per year in exchange for his agreement to provide no less than 15 days of consulting services per year, provided, Mr. Lorber is not required to provide more than 50 days of consulting services per year. The Lorber Employment Agreement provides Mr. Lorber with the right to participate in employment benefits offered to other Nathan’s executives. During and after the contract term, Mr. Lorber is subject to certain confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition provisions in favor of the Company. In the event that Mr. Lorber’s employment is terminated without cause, he is entitled to receive his salary and bonus for the remainder of the contract term. The Lorber Employment Agreement further provides that in the event there is a change in control, as defined in the agreement, Mr. Lorber has the option, exercisable within one year after such event, to terminate the agreement. Upon such termination, he has the right to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to the greater of (A) his salary and annual bonuses for the remainder of the employment term (including a prorated bonus for any partial fiscal year), which bonus shall be equal to the average of the annual bonuses awarded to him during the three fiscal years preceding the fiscal year of termination; or (B) 2.99 times his salary and annual bonus for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year of termination, in each case together with a lump sum cash payment equal to the difference between the exercise price of any exercisable options having an exercise price of less than the then current market price of the Company’s common stock and such then current market price. In addition, Nathan’s will provide Mr. Lorber with a tax gross-up payment to cover any excise tax due. In the event of termination due to Mr. Lorber’s death or disability, he is entitled to receive an amount equal to his salary and annual bonuses for a three-year period, which bonus shall be equal to the average of the annual bonuses awarded to him during the three fiscal years preceding the fiscal year of termination. Under the terms of the Gatoff Employment Agreement, Mr. Gatoff will serve as Chief Executive Officer from January 1, 2007 until December 31, 2008, which period shall extend for additional one-year periods unless either party delivers notice of non-renewal no less than 180 days prior to the end of the term then in effect. Consequently, the Gatoff Employment Agreement has been extended through December 31, 2012, based on the original terms, and no non-renewal notice has been given. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Gatoff will receive a base salary, currently $350, and an annual bonus based on his performance measured against the Company’s financial, strategic and operating objectives as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Gatoff Employment Agreement provides for an automobile allowance and the right of Mr. Gatoff to participate in employment benefits offered to other Nathan’s executives. During and after the contract term, Mr. Gatoff is subject to certain confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition provisions in favor of the Company. The Company and its President and Chief Operating Officer entered into an employment agreement on December 28, 1992 for a period commencing on January 1, 1993 and ending on December 31, 1996. The employment agreement automatically extends for successive one-year periods unless notice of non-renewal is provided in accordance with the agreement. Consequently, the employment agreement has been extended annually through December 31, 2012, based on the original terms, and no non-renewal notice has been given. The agreement provides for annual compensation, currently $289, plus certain other benefits. In November 1993, the Company amended this agreement to include a provision under which the officer has the right to terminate the agreement and receive payment equal to approximately three times annual compensation upon a change in control, as defined. Effective May 31, 2007, the Company and its Executive Vice President entered into a new employment agreement which provides for annual compensation of $210 plus certain other benefits and automatically renews annually unless 180 days prior written notice is given to the employee. No non-renewal notice has been given. The agreement includes a provision under which the officer has the right to terminate the agreement and receive payment equal to approximately three times his annual compensation upon a change in control, as defined. In the event a non-renewal notice is delivered, the Company must pay the officer an amount equal to his base salary as then in effect. The Company and one employee of Nathan’s entered into a change of control agreement effective May 31, 2007 for annual compensation of $136 per year. The agreement additionally includes a provision under which the employee has the right to terminate the agreement and receive payment equal to approximately three times his annual compensation upon a change in control, as defined. Each employment agreement terminates upon death or voluntary termination by the respective employee or may be terminated by the Company on up to 30-days’ prior written notice by the Company in the event of disability or “cause,” as defined in each agreement. 5. Defined Contribution and Union Pension Plans The Company has a defined contribution retirement plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code covering all nonunion employees over age 21, who have been employed by the Company for at least one year. Employees may contribute to the plan, on a tax-deferred basis, up to 20% of their total annual salary. Historically, the Company has matched contributions at a rate of $.25 per dollar contributed by the employee on up to a maximum of 3% of the employee’s total annual salary. Employer contributions for the fiscal years ended March 25, 2012, March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010 were $30, $30 and $28, respectively. The Company participates in a noncontributory, multi-employer, defined benefit pension plan (the “Union Pan”) covering substantially all of the Company’s union-represented employees. The risks of participating in the Union Plan is different from a single-employer plan in the following aspects (a) assets contributed to the Union Plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers; (b) if a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers; and (c) if the Company chooses to stop participating in the Union Plan, the Company may be required to pay the Union Plan an amount based on the underfunded status of the Union Plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability. The Company has no plans or intentions to stop participating in the plan as of March 25, 2012 and does not believe that there is a reasonable possibility that a withdrawal liability will be incurred. Contributions to the Union Plan were $19, $20 and $18 for the fiscal years ended March 25, 2012, March 27, 2011 and March 28, 2010, respectively. 6. Other Benefits The Company provides, on a contributory basis, medical benefits to active employees. The Company does not provide medical benefits to retirees.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for an entity's employee compensation and benefit plans, including, but not limited to, postemployment and postretirement benefit plans, defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans, non-qualified and supplemental benefit plans, deferred compensation, share-based compensation, life insurance, severance, health care, unemployment and other benefit plans. + References No definition available. + Details
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