Perhaps they were turned off by founder Rocky Aoki's reputation for paying greater attention to powerboats and pretty women than to his company's performance.
Jaded investors might be turned off of the stock because of the reputation of its mercurial founder, RockyAoki, known for his powerboat racing and philandering more than his attention to management.
Benihana first began seeking a buyer in 2010, when a feud erupted that pitted the children of founder RockyAoki against board directors in disagreements over how to help the nearly 100-unit chain survive the downturn.