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Note 9 - Debt
 9 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements  
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 9 - Debt

 

Debt totaled $27.2 million and $24.3 million at October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively.

 

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 million senior secured revolving credit facility, subject to a borrowing base including various reserves (the “Senior Credit Facility”).

 

On September 17, 2021, the North American Loan Parties executed an extension of the Credit Agreement with PNC, providing for a new five-year $18 million senior secured revolving credit facility, subject to a borrowing base including various reserves (the “Renewed Senior Credit Facility”). The Company's obligations under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility are currently guaranteed by Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. Each of the North American Loan Parties other than Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. (collectively, the "Borrowers") is a borrower under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility.

 

The Borrowers have used and will continue to use borrowings under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility (i) to fund future capital expenditures; (ii) to fund ongoing working capital needs; and (iii) for other corporate purposes, including potentially additional stock repurchases. Borrowings under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to an alternate base rate or the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (as defined in the Renewed Senior Credit Facility, "SOFR"), plus, in each case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin is based on a fixed charge coverage ratio ("FCCR") range. Interest on alternate base rate borrowings is the alternate base rate (as defined in the Renewed Senior Credit Facility) plus an applicable margin, ranging from 1.00% to 1.50%, based on the FCCR in the most recently reported period. Interest on SOFR borrowings is SOFR plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.50%, based on the FCCR in the most recently reported period, as well as an additional SOFR adjustment ranging from 0.10% to 0.25%, based on the term of the interest period. Additionally, the Borrowers pay a 0.25% per annum facility fee on the unused portion of the Renewed Senior Credit Facility. 

 

Subject to certain exceptions, borrowings under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the North American Loan Parties’ assets. The Renewed Senior Credit Facility matures on September 20, 2026. Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the Renewed 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 may not make capital expenditures in excess of $5.0 million annually, plus a limited carryover of any unused amounts. Further, the North American Loan Parties may not make repurchases of the Company's common stock in excess of $3.0 million. 

 

The Renewed Senior Credit Facility also contains financial covenants requiring the North American Loan Parties to achieve a ratio of its EBITDA (as defined in the Renewed Senior Credit Facility) to the sum of scheduled cash principal payments on indebtedness for borrowed money and interest payments on the advances under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility of not less than 1.10 to 1.00 for any five consecutive days in which the undrawn availability is less than $3.0 million or any day in which the undrawn availability is less than $2.0 million. As of October 31, 2023, the calculated ratio was less than 1.10 to 1.00. In order to cure any future breach of these covenants 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 Renewed Senior Credit Facility in an amount which, when added to the amount of the North American Loan Parties' EBITDA, would result in compliance on a pro forma basis. The Company was in compliance with respect to these covenants as of  October 31, 2023.

 

The Renewed Senior Credit Facility contains customary events of default. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, then PNC may terminate all commitments to extend further credit and declare all amounts outstanding under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility due and payable immediately. In addition, if any of the North American Loan Parties or certain of their subsidiaries become the subject of voluntary or involuntary proceedings under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, then any outstanding obligations under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility will automatically become immediately due and payable. Loans outstanding under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility will bear interest at a rate of 2.00% per annum in excess of the otherwise applicable rate (i) while a bankruptcy event of default exists or (ii) upon the lender's request, during the continuance of any other event of default.

 

As of October 31, 2023, the Company had borrowed an aggregate of $6.7 million at a rate of 10.0% and had $4.6 million available under the Renewed Senior Credit Facility. As of January 31, 2023, the Company had borrowed an aggregate of $4.4 million and had $9.9 million available under the Renewed 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 $10.4 million. The transaction generated net cash proceeds of $9.1 million. Concurrently with the sale, the Company paid off the approximately $0.9 million mortgage note on the Property to its lender.  The Company used the remaining proceeds to repay its borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility, for strategic investments, and for 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 leases 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 842, Leases, this transaction was recorded as a failed sale and leaseback as the present value of lease payments exceeded substantially the fair value of the underlying assets. 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 $9.1 million is recognized in long-term finance obligation on the Company's consolidated balance sheets as of October 31, 2023. The net carrying amount of the financial liability and remaining assets will be zero at the end of the lease term.

 

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

 

United Arab Emirates

 

The Company has a revolving line for 8.0 million U.A.E. Dirhams (approximately $2.2 million at October 31, 2023) from a bank in the U.A.E. As of October 31, 2023 the facility has an interest rate of approximately 9.0% and is set to expire in May 2024. The Company had borrowed an aggregate of $0.1 million and $0.6 million as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively, and is presented as a component of current maturities of long-term debt in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. 

 

The Company has a revolving line for 19.5 million U.A.E. Dirhams (approximately $5.3 million at October 31, 2023) from a bank in the U.A.E. As of October 31, 2023 the facility has an interest rate of approximately 9.0% and is set to expire in May 2024. The Company had borrowed an aggregate of $1.3 million and $1.1 million as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively, and is presented as a component of current maturities of long-term debt in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. 

 

Egypt

 

In June 2021, and as renewed or amended subsequently thereafter, 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 $3.2 million at October 31, 2023). This credit arrangement is in the form of project financing at rates competitive in Egypt. The line is 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. As of October 31, 2023 the facility has an interest rate of approximately 8.0% and expired in June 2022. This credit arrangement was subsequently renewed in August 2022 with substantially the same terms and conditions, expect for the facility interest rate which increased to 20.8%, and expired in August 2023. The Company is in regular communication with the bank throughout the renewal process and the facility has continued without interruption or penalty. The Company had borrowed an aggregate of $1.6 million and $3.1 million as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively, and is presented as a component of current maturities of long-term debt in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. 

 

In December 2021, the Company entered into a credit arrangement for project financing with a bank in Egypt for 28.2 million Egyptian Pounds. As this project has progressed and the Company has made collections, the facility has decreased to a current amount of 8.9 million Egyptian Pounds (approximately $0.3 million at October 31, 2023). 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 20.8% and, as of  November 2022, is no longer available for borrowings by the Company. The facility will expire in connection with final customer balance collections and the completion of the project. The Company had approximately $0.3 million outstanding as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively, and is presented as a component of current maturities of long-term debt in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.                                       

 

Saudi Arabia

 

In March 2022, the Company's Saudi Arabian subsidiary entered into a credit arrangement with a bank in Saudi Arabia for a revolving line of 37.0 million Saudi Riyals (approximately $9.9 million at  October 31, 2023). This credit arrangement is in the form of project financing at rates competitive in Saudi Arabia. The line is secured by certain assets (such as accounts receivable) of the Company's Saudi Arabian subsidiary. The facility was renewed in May 2023, and the line was increased to 37.0 million Saudi Riyal (approximately $9.9 million at October 31, 2023). As of October 31, 2023, the facility has an interest rate of approximately 9.5% and is set to expire in May 2024. The Company had borrowed an aggregate of $3.8 million and $1.1 million as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively, and is presented as a component of current maturities of long-term debt in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. 

 

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. The Company guarantees only a portion of the subsidiaries' debt, including foreign debt. As of October 31, 2023, the amount of foreign subsidiary debt guaranteed by the Company was approximately $0.1 million. 

 

The Company was in compliance with the covenants under the credit arrangements in the U.A.E., Egypt and Saudi Arabia as of October 31, 2023, with the exception of those arrangements that have expired and have not yet been renewed. Although certain of the arrangements have expired and the borrowings could be required to be repaid immediately by the banks, the Company is in regular communication with the respective banks throughout the renewal process and all of the arrangements have continued without interruption or penalty. On October 31, 2023, interest rates were based on (i) 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; (ii) either the Central Bank of Egypt corporate loan rate plus 1.5% to 3.5% per annum or the stated interest rate in the agreements for the Egypt credit arrangements; and (iii) the Saudi Inter Bank Offered Rate plus 3.5% for the Saudi Arabia credit arrangement. Based on these base rates, as of October 31, 2023, the Company's interest rates ranged from 8.0% to 20.8%, with a weighted average rate of 12.1%, and the Company had facility limits totaling $27.2 million under these credit arrangements. As of October 31, 2023, $6.7 million of availability was used to support letters of credit to guarantee amounts committed for inventory purchases and for performance guarantees. Additionally, as of October 31, 2023, the Company had borrowed $9.5 million and had an additional $13.7 million of borrowing remaining available under the foreign revolving credit arrangements. The foreign revolving lines balances as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, were included as current maturities of long-term debt in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. 

 

Mortgages. On July 28, 2016, the Company entered into a mortgage agreement secured by the Company's manufacturing facility located in Alberta, Canada that matures on December 23, 2042. As of October 31, 2023, the remaining balance on the mortgage in Canada is approximately CAD 6.1 million (approximately $4.4 million at October 31, 2023). The interest rate is variable, and was 9.1% at October 31, 2023. The principal balance is included as a component of long-term debt, less current maturities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets and is presented net of issuance costs of $0.1 million as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively.