v3.21.1
LONG-TERM DEBT
12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2021
Long-term Debt and Financing Lease Obligations  
Long-term Debt

(8)         LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt

On June 20, 2019, the Company entered into a Loan Agreement among the Company and Choice Financial Group. The Loan Agreement provides for a term loan in the principal amount of up to $24.0 million and is evidenced by a promissory note. The note has a maturity date of June 20, 2025. The first year of the note provided for payments of interest only, with the remaining five years requiring payments of interest and principal based on a 60 month amortization period. Interest shall be payable in an amount equal to the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, but in no circumstances shall the rate of interest be less than 5.00%. The note may be prepaid, partially or in full, at any time and for no prepayment penalty. The Company is subject to various financial and non-financial covenants on this debt, including a debt-service coverage ratio. The Loan Agreement is secured by a mortgage and security agreement and fixture financing statement granting to Choice a security interest in and title to certain real property in the state of Minnesota and as more fully described therein.

The Loan Agreement contains customary representations and warranties and financial and other covenants and conditions, including, among other things, minimum debt service coverage ratio and post-closing covenant to maintain a complete deposit and cash management relationship with Choice. The Loan Agreement also places certain restrictions on, among other things, the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, to create liens or other encumbrances, to use funds for purposes other than as stated therein, to sell or otherwise dispose of assets without the consent of Choice.

In addition, the Loan Agreement contains events of default (subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace periods), including, without limitation, payment defaults; breaches of covenants; breaches of representations and warranties; failure to perform remediation of any environmental matters on the mortgaged property, as set forth in the First Mortgage; failure to perform or observe the covenants, conditions or terms of the First Loan Agreement and related agreements; certain bankruptcy events of our company and failure to timely provide financial statements.

Proceeds from the loan were used to repay the Company’s previous real estate loan, dated December 2, 2016, which had an outstanding balance as of the Effective Date of approximately $2.6 million, and to purchase the assets included in the Granite City Acquisition. Pursuant to the sale of the Company’s Coon Rapids, Minnesota Famous Dave’s location on September 30, 2020, the Company paid down approximately $3.5 million in principal on this loan. As of January 3, 2021, the Company was compliant with all of its covenants.

Also on the Effective Date, the Company also entered into a Revolving Promissory Note among the Company and Choice. The Revolving Promissory Note provided for a revolving line of credit from Choice to the Company set forth therein in the principal amount of up to $1.0 million executed and delivered by the Company to Choice on the Effective Date. The Revolving Promissory Note had a maturity date of December 2, 2019 and provided for monthly payments of interest only, with a balloon payment of the remaining outstanding balance and applicable interest due on the maturity date. Interest was to be payable in an amount equal to the 30-day London Interbank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 325 basis points, but in no circumstances was the rate of interest be less than 3.75%. The Revolving Promissory Note has matured and no balance is due.

On April 30, 2020, FDA and Granite City, Inc. (“GC”), wholly-owned operating subsidiaries of the Company received funding of approximately $7.2 million and $5.8 million, respectively, in connection with “Small Business Loans” under the Paycheck Protection Program. Subsequently, BBQ Ventures, Inc. (“Real Urban Barbeque”) and Mercury BBQ (“Clark Crew BBQ”) received funding of approximately $121,000 and $800,000, respectively, under the above referenced program on May 6, 2020 and May 8, 2020, respectively. These amounts were borrowed pursuant to the terms of the Promissory Notes by FDA, GC, Real Urban Barbeque and Clark Crew BBQ (“PPP Loans”), in favor of Choice Financial Group, a bank operating out of the state of North Dakota. The Company was very fortunate to be able to utilize the program for each of its subsidiaries. As a nano-cap public restaurant organization, the Company’s access to capital differs greatly from its larger competitors. The Company requires these funds to retain, recall, and pay its loyal employees. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a government-required shut down of dining rooms, and with the Paycheck

Protection Program funds, the Company has been able to continue serving its customers. While each state mandates the extent of government restrictions, those restrictions continue to suppress revenues at each of the Company’s stores, thus inhibiting the Company’s ability to build upon its cash position. Should government restrictions increase, the Company’s cash position could be further diminished. After a thorough review and consultation with advisors, pursuant to the guidance provided by Small Business Administration, the Company was able to certify with a high level of confidence that it met the requirements of the loans.

The PPP Loans bear interest at 1% per annum and mature in 24 months from the date of disbursement of funds under the PPP Loans respectively. Under certain circumstances, all or a portion of the PPP Loans may be forgiven, however, there can be no assurance that any portion of the PPP Loans will be forgiven and that FDA, GC, Real Urban Barbeque or Clark Crew BBQ would not be required to repay the PPP Loans in full. The Company has worked with its Small Business Adminstration lender and has filed the necessary paperwork with the Small Business Admiinstration for forgiveness of the PPP Loans. As of this filing, the Company has not yet heard from the Small Business Administration. If the PPP Loans are forgiven in full, no interest and principal payments will be required. Interest and principal payments under the PPP Loans will be deferred until such time the amount of forgiveness is determined.

The PPP Loans contain certain covenants which, among other things, restrict the borrower’s use of the proceeds of the PPP Loans to the payment of payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent obligations and utility expenses, require compliance with all other loans or other agreements with any creditor of the borrower, to the extent that a default under any loan or other agreement would materially affect the borrower’s ability to repay the PPP Loans and limit the ability of the borrower to make certain changes to its ownership structure.

Debt outstanding under the above referenced debt agreements consisted of the following as of the periods presented:

    

(in thousands)

    

January 3, 2021

December 29, 2019

Term Loan

$

10,403

  

$

6,924

PPP Loans

13,957

Less: deferred financing costs

 

(80)

  

 

(50)

Less: current portion of long-term debt

 

(2,111)

  

 

(616)

Long-term debt, less current portion

$

22,169

  

$

6,258

Future minimum principal payments on long-term debt, as of January 3, 2021 were as follows:

(in thousands)

    

    

Fiscal Year

 

  

2021

$

2,111

2022

 

16,177

2023

 

2,335

2024

 

2,457

2025

 

1,280

Total

$

24,360