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Note 17 - Severance and Other Charges
3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

17.  Severance and Other Charges


During the year ended December 28, 2013, the Company incurred one-time charges related to three endeavors: 1) facilities consolidation charges - the Company elected to consolidate its Canadian operations by consolidating its Mississauga location into its expanded Pickering location, and the Company closed its Mason, Ohio office. The costs associated with the consolidation of offices in Canada primarily related to statutory severance requirements resulting from labor laws in Canada. The charges associated with the Company’s closed Mason, Ohio office represent future rent payments whereby the Company will not utilize the premises; 2) the Company engaged in a contested proxy solicitation which culminated in a group of stockholders winning two seats on the Company’s board of directors and the subsequent retirement of its President and Chief Executive Officer, Leon Kopyt; and 3) the Company incurred professional fees connected with a research and development tax credit study related to prior tax years.


The Company incurred $0.1 million in severance and other charges in both the thirteen week periods ended March 29, 2014 and the comparable prior year period.  The costs in the current period primarily related to professional fees associated with the settlement agreements entered into following the Company’s fiscal 2013 proxy contest.  The costs in the comparable prior year period primarily related to facilities consolidation charges.


As of December 28, 2013 and March 29, 2014 the Company accrued $2.5 million for severance for Mr. Kopyt to be paid during the third quarter of fiscal 2014.  As of March 29, 2014 the Company’s prepaid expenses and other current assets includes $1.7 million funded to a Rabbi Trust which represents the net after tax severance obligation to be paid to Mr. Kopyt.