Note 10 - Debt

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 10. Debt

On April 27, 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement and a security agreement with a bank that provides the Company with a $40,000,000 revolving line of credit that is secured by certain of the Company’s U.S. assets. The line of credit matures on April 27, 2025, and borrowed amounts will bear interest at a variable rate of the CME Group one-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 1.85%, but not less than 1.80% per annum. As of September 30, 2023, the interest rate was 7.18%. The loan agreement and the security agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants and requirements relating to the Company and its operations, including a requirement that the Company maintain a debt service coverage ratio of not less than 1.20 to 1 as of the end of each fiscal year for the fiscal year then ended and maintain a debt to cash flow ratio of not greater than 2 to 1 measured as of the end of each of the Company’s fiscal quarters for the trailing twelve (12) month period. Debt service coverage ratio is the ratio of Cash Available for Debt Service to Debt Service, each as defined in the loan agreement. Debt and Cash Flow are also as defined in the loan agreement for the purposes of the debt to cash flow ratio covenant. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had no borrowings against this line of credit. As of September 30, 2022, the Company had borrowed $16,700,000 against the line of credit. As of September 30, 2023, and 2022, the Company was in compliance with all covenants. The line of credit is collateralized by Clearfield, Inc’s assets of $335,412,000 as of September 30, 2023.

During March 2021, Nestor Cables entered into a loan agreement, providing €2 million senior loan with a term of three years. The National Emergency Supply Agency of Finland (“NESA”) pays the interest, capped at 5% with the interest to be paid by NESA when the loan is used for stockpiling purposes and is repayable with a 2% additional interest penalty if there is a violation of the terms. The loan is due on March 31, 2024. The loan is fully secured by a Finnish Government guarantee. If used for any purposes other than stockpiling, the lender has the right to terminate the agreement and the entire outstanding balance will become due. As of September 30, 2023, and 2022, the Company owed €2,000,000 on this loan, which equates to $2,112,000 and $1,966,000, as of September 30, 2023, and 2022, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, and 2022, Nestor Cables was in compliance with all covenants. The interest expense associated with this loan has been presented net of government payments on the Company’s income statement.