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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:
12 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2012
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related party transactions
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS: 
The Company has a business relationship with MiTAC International Corporation (“MiTAC International”), a publicly-traded company in Taiwan that began in 1992 when it became its primary investor through its affiliates. As of November 30, 2012 and 2011, MiTAC International and its affiliates beneficially owned approximately 27% and 29%, respectively, of the Company’s common stock. In addition, Matthew Miau, the Company’s Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors, is the Chairman of MiTAC International and a director or officer of MiTAC International’s affiliates. As a result, MiTAC International generally has significant influence over the Company and over the outcome of all 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.  
Until July 31, 2010, the Company worked with MiTAC International on OEM outsourcing and jointly marketed MiTAC International’s design and electronic manufacturing services and its contract assembly capabilities. This relationship enabled the Company to build relationships with MiTAC International’s customers. On July 31, 2010, MiTAC International purchased certain assets related to the Company’s contract assembly business, including inventory and customer contracts, primarily related to customers then being jointly serviced by MiTAC International and the Company. As part of this transaction, the Company provided MiTAC International certain transition services for the business for a monthly fee over a period of twelve months. The sales agreement also included earn-out and profit sharing provisions, which were based on operating performance metrics achieved over twelve to eighteen months from the closing date for the defined customers included in this transaction. During fiscal years 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded $3,667 and $6,691, respectively, for service fees earned and reimbursements for facilities and overhead costs and the achieved earn-out condition.
The Company purchased inventories, from MiTAC International and its affiliates totaling $3,224, $5,204 and $157,149 during fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company’s sales to MiTAC International and its affiliates during fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010 totaled $2,651, $4,195 and $5,565, respectively. Most of the purchases and sales in fiscal year 2010 were pursuant to its Master Supply Agreement with MiTAC International and the Company's former contract assembly customer Sun Microsystems, which was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2010.
The Company’s business relationship with MiTAC International has been informal and is not governed by long-term commitments or arrangements with respect to pricing terms, revenue or capacity commitments. 
During the period of time that the Company worked with MiTAC International, the Company negotiated manufacturing, pricing and other material terms on a case-by-case basis with MiTAC International and its contract assembly customers for a given project. While MiTAC International is a related party and a controlling stockholder, the Company believes that the significant terms under its arrangements with MiTAC International, including pricing, will not materially differ from the terms it could have negotiated with unaffiliated third parties, and it has adopted a policy requiring that material transactions with MiTAC International 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.  
Beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock by MiTAC International 
As noted above, MiTAC International and its affiliates in the aggregate beneficially owned approximately 27% of the Company’s common stock as of November 30, 2012. These shares are owned by the following entities:  
 
As of November 30, 2012
MiTAC International(1)
5,908

Synnex Technology International Corp.(2)
4,283

Total
10,191

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(1)
Shares are held via Silver Star Developments Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International. Excludes 591 shares (of which 381 shares are directly held and 210 shares are subject to exercisable options) held by Matthew Miau.
(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 International owns a noncontrolling interest of 8.7% in MiTAC Incorporated, a privately-held Taiwanese company, which in turn holds a noncontrolling interest of 13.7% in Synnex Technology International. Neither MiTAC International nor Mr. Miau is affiliated with any person(s), entity, or entities that hold a majority interest in MiTAC Incorporated.
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 International nor Synnex Technology International is restricted from competing with the Company.  
Others 
On August 31, 2010, the Company acquired a 33.3% noncontrolling interest in SB Pacific, which was recorded as an equity-method investment. The Company was not the primary beneficiary in SB Pacific. The controlling shareholder of SB Pacific is Robert Huang, who is the Company’s founder and former Chairman. The balance of the investment as of November 30, 2011 was $5,950. The Company regarded SB Pacific to be a variable interest entity.
During fiscal year 2012, the Company sold its ownership interest in SB Pacific back to SB Pacific. A gain of $1,342 was recognized in "Other income (expense), net" on this transaction representing the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the investment.