Note J - Long-term Debt

12 Months Ended

Mar. 26, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE J – LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consists of the following:

	March 26,			March 27,
	2023			2022
6.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2025	$	80,000		$	110,000
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs		(952	)		(1,817	)
Long-term debt, net	$	79,048		$	108,183

On November 1, 2017, the Company issued $150,000 of 6.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the "2025 Notes") in a private offering in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The 2025 Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of November 1, 2017 by and among the Company, certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (formerly U.S. Bank National Association) (the “Indenture”). The Company used the net proceeds of the 2025 Notes offering to satisfy and discharge the Indenture relating to the $135,000 of 10.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 and redeemed such Notes (the "Redemption"), paid a portion of a special $5.00 per share cash dividend to Nathan's stockholders of record, and used the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including working capital. The Company also funded the majority of the special dividend of $5.00 per share through its existing cash. The Redemption occurred on November 16, 2017.

The 2025 Notes bear interest at 6.625% per annum, payable semi-annually on May 1^st and November 1^st of each year. The Company made its required semi-annual interest payments on May 1, 2022 and November 1, 2022. On May 1, 2023, the Company paid its first semi-annual interest payment of fiscal 2024.

The 2025 Notes have no scheduled principal amortization payments prior to its final maturity on November 1, 2025.

Covenants and restrictions

The terms and conditions of the 2025 Notes are as follows (terms not defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture):

There are no ongoing financial maintenance covenants associated with the 2025 Notes. As of March 26, 2023, Nathan’s was in compliance with all covenants associated with the 2025 Notes.

The Indenture contains certain covenants and restrictions limiting the Company’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) to, subject to certain exceptions and qualifications: (i) incur additional indebtedness; (ii) pay dividends or make other distributions on, redeem or repurchase, capital stock; (iii) make investments or other restricted payments; (iv) create or incur certain liens; (v) incur restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions from its restricted subsidiaries; (vi) enter into certain transactions with affiliates; (vii) sell assets; or (viii) effect a consolidation or merger. Certain Restricted Payments which may be made or indebtedness incurred by Nathan’s or its Restricted Subsidiaries may require compliance with the following financial ratios:

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio: the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow to the Fixed Charges for the relevant period, currently set at 2.0 to 1.0 in the Indenture. The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio applies to determining whether additional Restricted Payments may be made, certain additional debt may be incurred and acquisitions may be made.

Priority Secured Leverage Ratio: the ratio of (a) Consolidated Net Debt outstanding as of such date that is secured by a Priority Lien to (b) Consolidated Cash Flow of Nathan’s for the Test Period then most recently ended, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate; currently set at 0.40 to 1.00 in the Indenture.

Secured Leverage Ratio: the ratio of (a) Consolidated Net Debt outstanding as of such date that is secured by a Lien on any property of Nathan’s or any Guarantor to (b) Consolidated Cash Flow of Nathan’s for the Test Period then most recently ended, in each case with such pro forma adjustments as are appropriate. The Secured Leverage Ratio under the Indenture is 3.75 to 1.00 and applies if Nathan’s wants to incur additional debt on the same terms as the 2025 Notes.

The Indenture also contains customary events of default, including, among other things, failure to pay interest, failure to comply with agreements related to the Indenture, failure to pay at maturity or acceleration of other indebtedness, failure to pay certain judgments, and certain events of insolvency or bankruptcy. Generally, if any event of default occurs, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the 2025 Notes may declare the 2025 Notes due and payable by providing notice to the Company. In case of default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, the 2025 Notes, will become immediately due and payable.

Guarantees

The 2025 Notes are general senior secured obligations, are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by substantially all of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and rank pari passu in right of payment with all of the Company’s existing and future indebtedness that is not subordinated, are senior in right of payment to any of the Company’s existing and future subordinated indebtedness, are structurally subordinated to any existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 2025 Notes, and are effectively junior to all existing and future indebtedness that is secured by assets other than the collateral securing the 2025 Notes.

Pursuant to the terms of a collateral trust agreement, the liens securing the 2025 Notes and the guarantees will be contractually subordinated to the liens securing any future credit facility.

Redemption

The Company may redeem some or all of the 2025 Notes at a decreasing premium over time, plus accrued and unpaid interest as follows:

YEAR	PERCENTAGE
On or after November 1, 2021 and prior to November 1, 2022		101.656	%
On or after November 1, 2022		100.000	%

On February 14, 2023, the Company announced its intent to complete the partial redemption, in the principal amount of $30,000, of the 2025 Notes in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Indenture. The redemption price of the redeemed notes was 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest from, and including November 1, 2022 to, but excluding the redemption date of March 21, 2023. On March 21, 2023, the Company completed the partial redemption by paying cash of $30,773, inclusive of accrued interest of $773, and recognized a loss on early extinguishment of $357 that reflected the write-off of a portion of previously recorded debt issuance costs.

On December 15, 2021, the Company announced its intent to complete the partial redemption, in the principal amount of $40,000, of the 2025 Notes, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Indenture. The redemption price of the redeemed notes was 101.656% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest from, and including November 1, 2021 to, but excluding, the redemption date of January 26, 2022. On January 26, 2022, the Company completed the partial redemption by paying cash of $41,288, inclusive of the redemption premium of $662 and accrued interest of $626, and recognized a loss on early extinguishment of $1,354 that reflected the redemption premium of $662 and the write-off of a portion of previously recorded debt issuance costs of $692.

Change of Control

In certain circumstances involving a change of control, the Company will be required to make an offer to repurchase all or, at the holder’s option, any part, of each holder’s 2025 Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of 2025 Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, to the date of purchase.

Asset Sale Offer

If the Company sells certain collateralized assets and does not use the net proceeds as required, the Company will be required to use such net proceeds to repurchase the 2025 Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest penalty, if any, to the date of repurchase.

The 2025 Notes may be traded between qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act. We have recorded the 2025 Notes at cost.