Credit Agreement

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Credit Agreement

Credit Agreement

Note 6: Credit Agreement

On March 20, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into a $25 million credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Pinnacle Bank (“Pinnacle”).  The Credit Agreement provides for the following: (i) term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $20 million (the “Term Loan”), and (ii) revolving letter of credit in an up to aggregate principal amount of $5 million (the “Revolving LOC”), subject to an 85% limit based on the current eligible accounts receivable (as defined in the Credit Agreement). 

Pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the per annum interest rate of the Term Loan is variable based on the one-month secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) plus 2.35%, subject to a minimum SOFR of 2.00%. However, the Term Loan issued on the Closing Date has a per annum interest rate of 6.217%, which was fixed with respect to the entire principal amount as a result of an interest rate swap agreement entered into between the Company and Pinnacle on the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. 

The Company began making monthly interest-only payments on the Term Loan on April 1, 2023.  Beginning on January 1, 2024, the Company will make monthly principal payments of $333,333 plus interest payments on the Term Loan until the maturity date of December 28, 2028.

The proceeds of the Term Loan along with certain cash on hand of the Company were used to repay in its entirety the one-year Secured Promissory Note (the “Secured Note”) issued to Lead Capital, LLC in connection with the Company’s November 1, 2022 acquisition of iNewswire.com LLC for a lump sum payment of $22,880,000. In order to settle the Secured Note on March 20, 2023, the Company paid $370,000 to the Seller, with the Seller agreeing to forgive $440,000 of interest which would have otherwise been due. The $370,000 payment is recorded in Other expense on the Consolidated statements of operations. 

The Company currently has no plans to utilize the Revolving LOC but may do so in the future.  If the Company does utilize any funds under the Revolving LOC, the funds will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the then current SOFR plus 2.05%.  Pinnacle’s commitment to fund under the Revolving LOC terminates on September 1, 2024, unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.  The Company terminated its $3,000,000 unsecured line of credit with Fifth Third Bank immediately prior to the Closing Date. As of December 31, 2023, there was no outstanding balance under the Revolving LOC and the interest rate was 7.39%.

The Credit Agreement contains the following financial covenants, which commenced with fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023: a fixed charge coverage ratio of no less than 1.20:1.00 and  a leverage ratio requiring that, for each fiscal quarter of the Company ending after June 30, 2023 through September 30, 2023, the leverage ratio shall not exceed 2.75:1.00 and for each fiscal quarter of the Company ending after December 31, 2023, the leverage ratio shall not exceed 2.50:1.00. All covenants were successfully achieved as of December 31, 2023. 

The Credit Agreement also contains customary affirmative covenants for a transaction of this nature, including among other things, covenants relating to: maintenance of adequate financial and accounting books and records, delivery of financial statements and other information, preservation of existence of the Company and subsidiaries, payment of taxes and claims, compliance with laws, maintenance of insurance, foreign qualification, use of proceeds, cash management system, maintenance of properties, and conduct of business.

The Credit Agreement also contains customary negative covenants for a transaction of this nature, including, among other things, covenants relating to debt, liens, investments, negative pledges, dividends and other debt payments, restriction on fundamental changes, sale of assets, transactions with affiliates, restrictive agreements, and changes in fiscal year.

The Credit Agreement also contains various Events of Default (subject to certain grace periods, to the extent applicable), including among other things, Events of Default for the nonpayment of principal, interest or fees; breach of certain covenants; inaccuracy of the representations or warranties in any material respect; bankruptcy or insolvency; dissolution or change of control; certain unsatisfied judgments; defaults under material agreements; certain unfunded liabilities under employee benefit plans; certain unsatisfied judgments; certain ERISA violations; and the invalidity or unenforceability of the Credit Agreement. If an Event of Default occurs, the Company may be required to repay all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement. The Term Loan and any advances under the Revolving LOC are secured by a first priority lien and security interest to the benefit of Pinnacle in the Event of Default on all of the Company’s current or future assets and each of the Guarantor’s current or future assets.