Note 10 - Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Mar. 01, 2014

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

10.   EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company has five defined contribution savings plans covering all eligible employees of the Company (“the Plans”). During fiscal 2011, a 401(k) savings plan was merged into one of the Plans. Participants of the Plans may defer annual pre-tax compensation subject to statutory and Plan limitations. In addition, a certain percentage of an employee’s contributions are matched by the Company and vest over a specified period of time, subject to certain statutory and Plan limitations. The Company’s match was approximately $12.5 million, $10.9 million and $9.4 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which was expensed as incurred.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company has a nonqualified deferred compensation plan (“NQDC”) for the benefit of employees defined by the Internal Revenue Service as highly compensated. Participants of the NQDC may defer annual pre-tax compensation subject to statutory and plan limitations. In addition, a certain percentage of an employee’s contributions may be matched by the Company and vest over a specified period of time, subject to certain plan limitations. The Company’s match was approximately $0.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.4 million in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which was expensed as incurred.

Changes in the fair value of the trading securities related to the NQDC and the corresponding change in the associated liability are included within interest income and selling, general and administrative expenses respectively, in the consolidated statements of earnings. Historically, these changes have resulted in no impact to the consolidated statements of earnings.

Defined Benefit Plan

The Company has a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan for the CTS employees, hired on or before July 31, 2003, who meet specified age and length-of-service requirements. The benefits are based on years of service and the employee’s compensation up until retirement. The Company recognizes the overfunded or underfunded status of the pension plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and recognizes changes in the funded status in the year in which the changes occur. For the years ended March 1, 2014, March 2, 2013 and February 25, 2012, the net periodic pension cost was not material to the Company’s results of operations. The Company has a $9.2 million and $14.4 million liability, which is included in deferred rent and other liabilities as of March 1, 2014 and March 2, 2013, respectively. In addition, as of March 1, 2014 and March 2, 2013, the Company recognized a loss of $0.5 million, net of taxes of $0.4 million, and a loss of $3.8 million, net of taxes of $2.5 million, respectively, within accumulated other comprehensive loss.