Long-Term Debt and Bank Facility Borrowings

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt and Bank Facility Borrowings

13) Long-Term Debt and Bank Facility Borrowings

The Company's debt is as follows	September 30,
(in thousands):	2022				2021
	Carrying				Carrying
	Amount		Fair Value (a)		Amount		Fair Value (a)
Revolving Credit Facility Borrowings	$	20,276	$	20,276	$	8,618	$	8,618
Senior Secured Term Loan (b)		164,084		165,000		110,006		110,500
Total debt	$	184,360	$	185,276	$	118,624	$	119,118
Total short-term portion of debt	$	32,651	$	32,651	$	26,239	$	26,239
Total long-term portion of debt	$	151,709	$	152,625	$	92,385	$	92,879

(a)The face amount of the Company’s variable rate long-term debt approximates fair value.

(b)Carrying amounts are net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $0.9 million as of September 30, 2022 and $0.5 million as of September 30, 2021.

On July 6, 2022, the Company refinanced its five-year term loan and the revolving credit facility with the execution of the sixth amended and restated revolving credit facility agreement (the “credit agreement”) with a bank syndicate comprised of ten participants, which enables the Company to borrow up to $400 million ($550 million during the heating season of December through April of each year) on a revolving credit facility for working capital purposes (subject to certain borrowing base limitations and coverage ratios), provides for a $165 million five-year senior secured term loan (“Term Loan”), allows for the issuance of up to $25 million in letters of credit, and has a maturity date of July 6, 2027.

The Company can increase the revolving credit facility size by $200 million without the consent of the bank group. However, the bank group is not obligated to fund the $200 million increase. If the bank group elects not to fund the increase, the Company can add additional lenders to the group, with the consent of the Agent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Obligations under the credit agreement are guaranteed by the Company and its subsidiaries and are secured by liens on substantially all of the Company’s assets including accounts receivable, inventory, general intangibles, real property, fixtures and equipment.

All amounts outstanding under the credit agreement become due and payable on the facility termination date of July 6, 2027. The Term Loan is repayable in quarterly payments of $4.1 million, the first of which will be made on January 1, 2023 with no quarterly payment due October 1, 2022, plus an annual payment equal to 25% of the annual Excess Cash Flow as defined in the credit agreement (an amount not to exceed $8.5 million annually), less certain voluntary prepayments made during the year, with final payment at maturity. In fiscal 2022, the Company repaid $4.9 million of additional loan repayments due to Excess Cash Flow related to fiscal 2021. In the first quarter of fiscal 2021 the banks waived the Excess Cash Flow requirement related to fiscal 2020. Under the Company’s sixth amended and restated revolving credit facility, the next annual Excess Cash Flow payment will be applicable for fiscal year ended September 30, 2023.

The interest rate on the revolving credit facility and the term loan is based on a margin over Adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") or a base rate. At September 30, 2022, the effective interest rate on the term loan and revolving credit facility borrowings was approximately 4.7% and 2.6%, respectively. At September 30, 2021, the effective interest rate on the term loan and revolving credit facility borrowings was approximately 4.3% and 2.5%, respectively.

The Commitment Fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility is 0.30% from December through April, and 0.20% from May through November.

The credit agreement requires the Company to meet certain financial covenants, including a fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) of not less than 1.1 as long as the Term Loan is outstanding or revolving credit facility availability is less than 12.5% of the facility size. In addition, as long as the Term Loan is outstanding, a senior secured leverage ratio cannot be more than 3.0 as calculated as of the quarters ending June or September, and no more than 5.5 as calculated as of the quarters ending December or March.

Certain restrictions are also imposed by the credit agreement, including restrictions on the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, to pay distributions to unitholders, to pay certain inter-company dividends or distributions, make investments, grant liens, sell assets, make acquisitions and engage in certain other activities.

At September 30, 2022, $165.0 million of the term loan was outstanding, $20.3 million was outstanding under the revolving credit facility, we did not have to provide collateral for our hedge positions under the credit agreement and $5.1 million of letters of credit were issued and outstanding. At September 30, 2021, $110.5 million of the term loan was outstanding, $8.6 million was outstanding under the revolving credit facility, we did not have to provide collateral for our hedge positions under the credit agreement and $3.1 million of letters of credit were issued and outstanding.

At September 30, 2022, availability was $189.4 million, the Company was in compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio and the senior secured leverage ratio, and the restricted net assets totaled approximately $248.0 million. Restricted net assets are assets in the Company’s subsidiaries, the distribution or transfer of which to Star Group, L.P. are subject to limitations under its credit agreement. At September 30, 2021, availability was $171.5 million, the Company was in compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio and the senior secured leverage ratio, and the restricted net assets totaled approximately $268.2 million.

As of September 30, 2022, the maturities (including working capital borrowings and expected repayments due to Excess Cash Flow) during fiscal years ending September 30, considering the terms of our credit agreement, are set forth in the following table (in thousands):

2023	$	32,651
2024	$	16,500
2025	$	16,500
2026	$	16,500
2027	$	103,125
Thereafter	$	—