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Note 9 - Debt
 6 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements  
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 9 - Debt

 

Debt totaled $8.6 million and $13.2 million at July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, respectively.

 

Paycheck Protection Program Loan. On May 1, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement under the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") and received proceeds of approximately $3.2 million. Interest on the loan accrued at a fixed interest rate of 1.0%, and the loan had a maturity date of April 28, 2022. Under Section 1106 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"), borrowers are eligible for forgiveness of principal and accrued interest on the loans to the extent that the proceeds are used to cover eligible payroll costs, mortgage interest costs, rent and utility costs, otherwise described as qualified expenses. During the three months ended  July 31, 2020, the Company used all of the PPP loan proceeds to pay for qualified expenses, 100% of which were used for payroll related expenses.  The Company submitted its application and supporting documentation for forgiveness to its bank, which submitted the application and supporting documents to the Small Business Administration ("SBA"). On June 24, 2021, the Company was notified by its lender that its PPP loan had been forgiven by the SBA. 

 

Guidance from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' ("AICPA") Technical Question and Answer Section 3200.18 states that if a company expects to meet the PPP’s eligibility criteria and concludes that the PPP loan represents, in substance, a grant that is expected to be forgiven, it may analogize to International Accounting Standards ("IAS") 20 - Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance to account for the PPP loan. The Company has recognized the earnings impact on a systematic basis over the periods in which the Company recognized as expenses the related costs for which the grants were intended to compensate. We noted that all of these expenses, and thus the related earnings impact, were incurred during the year ended January 31, 2021.

 

The IAS 20 guidance allows for recognition in earnings either separately under a general heading such as other income, or as a reduction of the related expenses. The Company has elected the former option, to make a more clear distinction in its financial statements between its operating income and the amount of net income resulting from the PPP loan and subsequent forgiveness. As such, we have recognized the proceeds in earnings during the year ended January 31, 2021. The amounts were recognized in other income in the consolidated statements of operations. 

 

Revolving lines - North America. On September 20, 2018, the Company and certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries (collectively, together with the Company, the “North American Loan Parties”) entered into a Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association ("PNC"), as administrative agent and lender, providing for a three-year $18.0 million Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, subject to a borrowing base including various reserves (the “Senior Credit Facility”).

 

The Company has used proceeds from the Senior Credit Facility for on-going working capital needs, and expects to continue using this facility to fund future capital expenditures, working capital needs and other corporate purposes. Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to an alternate base rate or London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), plus, in each case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin is based on average quarterly undrawn availability with respect to the Senior Credit Facility.  Interest on alternate base rate borrowings are generally payable monthly in arrears and interest on LIBOR borrowings are generally payable in arrears on the last day of each interest period.  Additionally, the Company is required to pay a 0.375% per annum facility fee on the unused portion of the Senior Credit Facility.  The facility fee is payable quarterly in arrears.

 

Subject to certain exceptions, borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and certain of the assets of its North American subsidiaries. The North American Loan Parties’ obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are guaranteed by Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. The Senior Credit Facility will mature on September 20, 2021. The Company has engaged a consultant to assist with the search for, communication with and selection of a new lender or a replacement facility with PNC. We have been in communications and shared data with PNC and others. The Company expects to negotiate a renewal to or replacement for its existing credit facility prior to maturity.

 

Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the Senior Credit Facility contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the North American Loan Parties’ ability to create liens, merge or consolidate, consummate acquisitions, make investments, dispose of assets, incur debt, and pay dividends and other distributions. In addition, the North American Loan Parties cannot allow capital expenditures to exceed $3.0 million annually (plus a limited carryover of unused amounts).

 

The Senior Credit Facility also contains financial covenants requiring (i) the North America Loan Parties to achieve a ratio of its EBITDA (with certain additional adjustments) to the sum of scheduled cash principal payments on indebtedness for borrowed money and interest payments on the advances under the Senior Credit Facility (excluding from the calculation items related to the financial performance of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) ("fixed charge coverage ratio") to be not less than 1.10 to 1.00  at each quarter end on a trailing four-quarter basis; and (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries (including the Company’s foreign subsidiaries not party to the Credit Agreement) to achieve a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.00 at each quarter end on a trailing four-quarter basis.

 

As of October 31, 2020, the Company and its subsidiaries failed to achieve the necessary fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.00 for the trailing four-quarters ended October 31, 2020 under its Credit Agreement for both the North American Loan Parties and the Company and its subsidiaries. On December 18, 2020, the Company entered into the First Amendment and Waiver to the Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (“Amendment and Waiver”) with PNC, which (i) reflected PNC’s waiver of the Company’s failure to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.00 as of October 31, 2020 on a trailing four quarter basis as required under the Company’s Credit Agreement and (ii) further amended certain future fixed charge coverage ratio covenants requirements under the Credit Agreement as described below.  Additionally, the Company was also required to have received, and applied to reduce the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement, $1.0 million from one of its foreign subsidiaries, Perma-Pipe Middle East FZC, in the UAE. The transfer and repayment occurred on December 17, 2020 and did not cause the Company to incur any additional fees or taxes, nor did it force the Company to change any of its assertions with regards to permanent reinvestment in any of its foreign subsidiaries. The Company will incur additional fees over the remainder of the Amendment and Waiver of approximately $0.1 million. The Amendment and Waiver also eliminates the Company’s ability to make LIBOR borrowings and reduces the overall availability by $2.0 million until maturity. 

 

The amended fixed charge coverage ratio requirements for the Company and its subsidiaries under the Amendment and Waiver are 1.25 to 1.00 for the nine-month period ending July 31, 2021. The amended fixed charge coverage ratio requirements for the North American Loan Parties under the Amendment and Waiver are 1.10 to 1.00 for the nine-month period ending July 31, 2021.  In order to cure any future breach of the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant by the North American Loan Parties, the Company may repatriate cash from any of its foreign subsidiaries that are otherwise not a party to the Credit Agreement in an amount which, when added to the amount of the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA, would result in pro forma compliance with the covenant. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of July 31, 2021.

 

As of July 31, 2021, the Company had $3 thousand in borrowings and had $10.3 million available under the Senior Credit Facility, before application of the $2.0 million availability block noted above in connection with the Amendment and Waiver. As of January 31, 2021, the Company had borrowed an aggregate of $2.8 million and had $1.7 million available under the Senior Credit Facility.

 

Finance obligation - buildings and land. On April 14, 2021, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement (the "Purchase and Sale Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Company sold its land and buildings in Lebanon, Tennessee (the "Property") for a purchase price of $10.4 million. The transaction generated net cash proceeds of $9.1 million, following the release of the escrowed amount in June 2021 discussed below. The Company used a portion of the proceeds to repay its borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility. The Company expects to use its liquidity for strategic investments and general corporate needs. Concurrent with the sale of the Property, the Company entered into a fifteen-year lease agreement (the “Lease Agreement”), whereby the Company will lease back the Property at an annual rental rate of approximately $0.8 million, subject to annual rent increases of 2.0%. Under the Lease Agreement, the Company has four consecutive options to extend the term of the lease by five years for each such option.

 

In accordance with ASC Topic 842, "Leases", this transaction was recorded as a failed sale and leaseback as the present value of lease payments exceeded substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset. The Company utilized an incremental borrowing rate of 8.0% to determine the finance obligation to record for the amounts received and will continue to depreciate the assets. The current portion of the finance obligation of $0.1 million is recognized in current maturities of long-term debt and the long-term portion of $9.4 million is recognized in long-term finance obligation on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2021. The net carrying amount of the financial liability and remaining assets will be zero at the end of the lease term. Concurrently with the sale, the Company paid off the approximately $0.9 million mortgage note on the Property to its lender. At closing, $0.4 million was placed in a short-term escrow account to cover certain post-closing contingencies that may arise. The contingencies were resolved in May 2021 and the Company received the escrowed funds in June 2021.

 

Revolving lines - foreign. The Company also has credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries in the U.A.E. and Egypt as discussed further below.

 

The Company has a revolving line for 8.0 million Dirhams (approximately $2.2 million at July 31, 2021) from a bank in the U.A.E. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 3.58% and was originally set to expire in  November 2020, however, the expiration was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and inability to finalize renewal documentation prior to that time. The Company has submitted final documentation to complete the renewal process, and is awaiting official notification from the bank of the renewal completion. This process is expected to be completed in September 2021.

 

The Company has a second revolving line for 19.5 million Dirhams (approximately $5.3 million at July 31, 2021) from a bank in the U.A.E. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 4.5% and is set to expire in  January 2022.

 

The Company has a third revolving line for 3.0 million Dirhams (approximately $0.8 million at July 31, 2021) from a bank in the U.A.E. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 4.5% and is set to expire in  January 2022.

 

These credit arrangements are in the form of overdraft facilities and project financing at rates competitive in the countries in which the Company operates. The lines are secured by certain equipment, certain assets (such as accounts receivable and inventory), and a guarantee by the Company. Some credit arrangement covenants require a minimum tangible net worth to be maintained, including maintaining certain levels of intercompany subordinated debt. In addition, some of the revolving credit facilities restrict payment of dividends or undertaking of additional debt.

 

In June 2021, the Company's Egyptian subsidiary entered into a credit arrangement with a bank in Egypt for a revolving line of 100.0 million Egyptian Pounds (approximately $6.2 million at July 31, 2021). This credit arrangement is in the form of project financing at rates competitive in Egypt. The line was secured by certain assets (such as accounts receivable) of the Company's Egyptian subsidiary. Among other covenants, the credit arrangement established a maximum leverage ratio allowable and restricted the Company's Egyptian subsidiary's ability to undertake any additional debt. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 11.0% and is set to expire in August 2022.

 

In January 2021, the Company entered into a second credit arrangement for project financing with a bank in Egypt for 46.2 million Egyptian Pounds (approximately $2.9 million at July 31, 2021). This credit arrangement is in the form of project financing at rates competitive in Egypt. The line is secured by the contract for a project being financed by the Company's Egyptian subsidiary. The facility has an interest rate of approximately 8.0% and is expected to expire in September 2021 in connection with the completion of the project.

 

The Company’s credit arrangements used by its Middle Eastern subsidiaries renew on an annual basis. The Company guarantees the subsidiaries' debt including all foreign debt.

 

The Company was in compliance with the covenants under the credit arrangements in the U.A.E. and Egypt as of July 31, 2021. On July 31, 2021, interest rates were based on the Emirates Inter Bank Offered Rate plus 3.0% to 3.5% per annum for the U.A.E. credit arrangements, two of which have a minimum interest rate of 4.5% per annum, and based on the stated interest rate in the agreement for the Egypt credit arrangement. Based on these base rates, as of July 31, 2021, the Company's interest rates ranged from 3.57% to 8.0%, with a weighted average rate of 5.89%, and the Company had facility limits totaling $17.6 million under these credit arrangements. As of July 31, 2021, $5.1 million of availability was used to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts committed for inventory purchases and for performance guarantees. Additionally, as of July 31, 2021, the Company had borrowed $2.5 million, and had an additional $10.1 million of borrowing remaining available under the foreign revolving credit arrangements. The foreign revolving lines balances as of July 31, 2021 and January 31, 2021, were included as current maturities of long-term debt in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. 

 

Mortgages. On July 28, 2016, the Company borrowed CAD 8.0 million (approximately $6.1 million at the prevailing exchange rate on the transaction date) from a bank in Canada under a mortgage note secured by the Company's manufacturing facility located in Alberta, Canada that matures on December 23, 2042. The interest rate is variable, and was 4.55% at July 31, 2021. Principal payments began in January 2018.

 

On June 19, 2012, the Company borrowed $1.8 million under a mortgage note secured by its manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. The proceeds were used for repayment of amounts borrowed. On April 14, 2021, the Company entered into the Purchase and Sale Agreement, discussed further in Note 9 - Debt, above. Concurrently with the sale, the Company paid off the approximately $0.9 million remaining on the mortgage note on the Property to its lender.