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Note 7 - Loan and Credit Agreements
3 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements  
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]
7)
Loan and Credit Agreements
 
On May 1, 2013, the Company began a banking relationship with U.S. Bank, which includes an $8,000,000 revolving line of credit (the “Line of Credit”) which was renewed in 2015 and is scheduled to mature on May 1, 2016. The Line of Credit is renewable annually with advances funding the Company’s working capital needs and is secured by real property and fixed asset collateral.
We expect to renew the Line of Credit prior to its maturity date. The interest rate is U.S. Bank’s prime interest rate, adjusted each time that the Federal prime rate changes, with a minimum rate of 3.50% per annum. As of February 29, 2016, the interest rate was the minimum of 3.50%. Monthly interest-only payments are required and the unpaid principal and accrued interest is due on the maturity date. As of February 29, 2016, the Company had a principal balance of $3,790,175 outstanding against the Line of Credit, with $3,523,220 remaining available, limited by the borrowing base calculation. The Line of Credit states that the borrowing base will be an amount equal to the sum of 75% of accounts receivable (discounted for aged accounts and customer balances exceeding 20% of aggregate receivables), plus 50% of inventory (this component cannot exceed $6,000,000 and only includes finished goods and raw materials deemed to be in good condition and not obsolete), less any outstanding loan balance of the Line of Credit, and less undrawn amounts of outstanding letters of credit issued by U.S. Bank or any affiliate. The Company’s obligations under the Line of Credit are evidenced by a Revolving Credit Note effective May 1, 2013, a Revolving Credit Agreement dated May 1, 2013 and certain other ancillary documents.   
 
In addition to the Line of Credit, on May 1, 2013, the Company obtained four U.S. Bank loans totaling $6,319,000 at a fixed interest rate of 2.98% per annum (the “2013 U.S. Bank Term Loans”). The Company voluntarily paid off and terminated one of these notes on February 10, 2016 and terminated the related Term Loan Agreement. The payoff amount of $1,078,196 included principal and accrued and unpaid interest. As detailed in the Company’s long-term debt summary below, monthly principal and interest payments in the aggregate amount of $51
,350 are required, with final payments of principal and accrued interest on the three remaining loans, in the aggregate amount of $1,363,000, due on May 1, 2018.
 
On May 29, 2014, the Company obtained $1,000,000 in long-term debt from U.S. Bank to partially pay down the Line of Credit draw from 2013 that it had used to finance the
purchase of the building and property of Ohio Metal Working Products Company in Canton, Ohio. The maturity date of this loan is May 25, 2017, with a final payment of principal and accrued interest in the amount of $890,000 due May 25, 2017. This loan is secured by a mortgage on the building and property acquired from Ohio Metal Working Products Company in Canton, Ohio pursuant to a Mortgage, Security Agreement and Assignment of Rents between the Company and U.S. Bank, dated May 29, 2014, and is also subject to a Business Security Agreement between Ohio Metal Working Products/Art’s Way, Inc. (“Ohio Metal”) and U.S. Bank and a Continuing Guaranty (Unlimited) by Ohio Metal
.
 
On July 16, 2015, the Company obtained an additional $1,500,000 revolving line of credit from U.S. Bank that matures on May 1, 2016 (the “2015 Line of Credit”). The Company had begun a new sales incentive program that offers extended payment terms up to 9 months on certain products for our dealers, subject to a Dealer’s Note and Dealer’s Security Agreement. These notes receivable would not be included in the borrowing base of our Line of Credit, so the 2015 Line of Credit was necessary to preserve our access to capital. The 2015 Line of Credit is secured by real property and fixed asset collateral, as well as all of the Company’s right, title and interest in the Dealer’s Notes and Dealer’s Security Agreements related to advances under the 2015 Line of Credit. The interest rate is U.S. Bank’s prime interest rate, adjusted each time that the Federal prime rate changes, with a minimum rate of 3.50% per annum. As of February 29, 2016, the interest rate was the minimum of 3.50%. Advances under the 2015 Line of Credit are due at the earlier of nine months after the date of the advancement, the 2015 Line of Credit maturity date or the sale by the dealer of the equipment relating to the applicable advance. Monthly interest-only payments are required and the unpaid principal and accrued interest is due on the maturity date. As of February 29, 2016, the Company had a principal balance of $0 outstanding against the 2015 Line of Credit, with $1,500,000 remaining available. The Company’s obligations under the 2015 Line of Credit are evidenced by a Promissory Note effective July 16, 2015 and certain other ancillary documents.
 
Except for the 2015 Line of Credit and the U.S. Bank UHC Loan (as defined below), each of the Company’s term loans from U.S. Bank is governed by a Term Note and a Term Loan Agreement. Each Term Loan Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement require the Company to provide monthly internally prepared financial reports, year-end audited financial statements, and a monthly aging of accounts receivable. The Company, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, must maintain a debt to tangible net worth ratio of not more than 1.5 to 1.0 and a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.15 to 1.00. The loans are secured by a first position security interest on the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, including but not limited to, inventories, machinery, equipment and real estate, in accordance with the Business Security Agreements entered into by the Company and its subsidiaries, the Pledge Agreements entered into by the subsidiaries and the Collateral Assignment of Dealer’s Notes and Security Agreements entered into by the Company. Additionally, the Company has mortgaged certain real property in favor of U.S. Bank as documented by mortgage agreements dated May 1, 2013 and May 29, 2014 (together, the “Mortgages”).
 
If the Company or its subsidiaries (as guarantors pursuant to continuing guaranties) commits an event of default under the Term Loan Agreements, Business Security Agreements, Pledge Agreements, Mortgages, or Revolving Credit Agreement and fails or is unable to cure that default, the interest rate on each of the loans and Line of Credit could increase by 5.0% per annum and by 10.0% per annum with respect to the 2015 Line of Credit, and U.S. Bank can immediately terminate its obligation, if any, to make additional loans to the Company. In addition, U.S. Bank may accelerate the Company’s obligations under the 2015 Line of Credit, collect any and all money otherwise due or to become due and shall have all other rights and remedies for default provided by the Uniform Commercial Code, as well as any other applicable law and the various loan agreements, including, without limitation, the right to repossess, render unusable and/or dispose of the collateral without judicial process. In addition, in an event of default, U.S. Bank may foreclose on mortgaged property pursuant to the terms of the Mortgages.
 
The Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Term Loan Agreements and the Revolving Credit Agreement as measured on February 29, 2016, other than its covenant to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.15 to 1.00. The fixed charge coverage ratio is based on a rolling 12 month calculation and measures the Company’s ability to cover fixed expenses such as loan payments, tax payments, rental payments, and dividends. The main reason for the non-compliance result as of February 29, 2016 was the Company’s reduced earnings level, after the adjustment for goodwill impairment, over the last 12 months. US Bank has issued a waiver forgiving the non-compliance for the quarter and no event of default occurred. The next measurement date is May 31, 2016.
 
On May 10, 2012, the Company obtained $880,000 in long-term debt from U.S. Bank issued to acquire the building and property of Universal Harvester Co., Inc. located in Ames, Iowa (the “U.S. Bank UHC Loan”). The maturity date of this loan is May 10, 2017, with a final payment of principal and accrued interest in the amount of $283,500 due May 10, 2017. This loan was secured by a mortgage on the building and property acquired from Universal Harvester Co., Inc. in Ames, Iowa, pursuant to a Mortgage, Security Agreement and Assignment of Rents between the Company and U.S. Bank, dated May 10, 2012
, which was released upon the sale of our Ames, Iowa facility. The U.S. Bank UHC Loan is also secured by a mortgage on the building and property in Monona, Iowa, pursuant to a Mortgage, Security Agreement and Assignment of Rents between the Company and U.S. Bank, dated May 1, 2013 and a mortgage on the building and property owned by Art’s-Way Vessels, Inc. in Dubuque, Iowa, pursuant to a Mortgage, Security Agreement and Assignment of Rents between Art’s-Way Vessels, Inc. and U.S. Bank, dated May 1, 2013
. On May 1, 2013, the U.S. Bank UHC Loan and the
mortgage were amended to extend the mortgage to secure the 2013 U.S. Bank Term Loans in addition to the U.S. Bank UHC Loan.
 
If the Company or its subsidiaries (as guarantors) commits an event of default under the agreement governing the U.S. Bank UHC Loan and fails or is unable to cure during any applicable cure periods, the lender may cause the entire amount of the loan to be immediately due and payable, may foreclose on the property, or may increase the interest rate to 5.00% per annum, plus the interest rate otherwise payable under the U.S. Bank UHC Loan.
 
On May 1, 2010, the Company obtained a loan to finance the purchase of an additional facility located in West Union, Iowa to be used as a distribution center, warehouse facility, and manufacturing plant for certain products under the Art’s-Way brand. The funds for this loan were made available by the Iowa Finance Authority by the issuance of tax exempt bonds. This loan had an original principal amount of $1,300,000, an interest rate of 3.5% per annum and a maturity date of June 1, 2020. On February 1, 2013, the interest rate was decreased to 2.75% per annum. The other terms of the loan remain unchanged.
 
This loan from the Iowa Finance Authority, which has been assigned to The First National Bank of West Union (n/k/a Bank 1
st
), is governed by a Manufacturing Facility Revenue Note dated May 28, 2010 as amended February 1, 2013 and a Loan Agreement dated May 1, 2010 and a First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated February 1, 2013 (collectively, “the IFA Loan Agreement”), which requires the Company to provide quarterly internally prepared financial reports and year-end audited financial statements and to maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.5 to 1.0, which is measured at November 30 of each year. Among other covenants, the IFA Loan Agreement also requires the Company to maintain proper insurance on, and maintain in good repair, the West Union Facility, and continue to conduct business and remain duly qualified to do business in the State of Iowa. The loan is secured by a mortgage on the Company’s West Union Facility, pursuant to a Mortgage, Security Agreement, Assignment of Leases and Rents and Fixture Financing Statement dated May 1, 2010 between the Company and The First National Bank of West Union (the “West Union Mortgage”).
 
If the Company commits an event of default under the IFA Loan Agreement and does not cure the event of default within the time specified by the IFA Loan Agreement, the lender may cause the entire amount of the loan to be immediately due and payable and take any other action that it is lawfully permitted to take or in equity to enforce the Company’s performance.
 
The Company was in compliance with all covenants under the IFA Loan Agreement except the debt service coverage ratio as measured on November 30, 2015. The First National Bank of West Union has issued a waiver, and the next measurement date is November 30, 2016.
 
A summary of the Company’s term debt is as follows:
 
 
 
February 29, 2016
 
 
November 30, 2015
 
U.S. Bank loan payable in monthly installments of $42,500 including interest at 2.98%, paid in full February 10, 2016
  $ -     $ 1,196,088  
U.S. Bank loan payable in monthly installments of $11,000 including interest at 2.98%, due May 1, 2018
    715,738       743,149  
U.S. Bank loan payable in monthly installments of $12,550 including interest at 2.98%, due May 1, 2018
    811,457       842,769  
U.S. Bank loan payable in monthly installments of $27,800 including interest at 2.98%, due May 1, 2018
    1,037,083       1,112,205  
U.S. Bank loan payable in monthly installments of $11,700 including interest at 3.15%, due May 10, 2017
    433,142       464,605  
U.S. Bank loan payable in monthly installments of $5,556 including interest at 2.98%, due May 25, 2017
    933,872       943,381  
Iowa Finance Authority loan payable in monthly installments of $12,500 including interest at 2.75%, due June 1, 2020
    613,957       647,132  
Total term debt
  $ 4,545,249     $ 5,949,329  
Less current portion of term debt
    848,655       1,322,662  
Term debt, excluding current portion
  $ 3,696,594     $ 4,626,667