XML 38 R21.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.3.1.900
Debt, Lease and Other Commitments
12 Months Ended
Jan. 02, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt, Lease and Other Commitments

Note 12.

Debt, Lease and Other Commitments

Long-term debt, including capital lease obligations, consisted of the following at January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015:

 

 

 

Interest Rate at January 2, 2016

 

 

Final

Maturity

 

January 2, 2016

 

 

January 3, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

Unsecured credit facility

 

 

2.68%

 

 

2020

 

$

160,000

 

 

$

53,000

 

Unsecured new term loan

 

 

1.92%

 

 

2018

 

 

240,000

 

 

 

270,000

 

4.375% senior notes due April 1, 2022

 

 

4.38%

 

 

2022

 

 

399,400

 

 

 

399,304

 

Accounts receivable securitization

 

 

1.15%

 

 

2018

 

 

170,000

 

 

 

 

Capital lease obligations

 

 

3.82%

 

 

2020

 

 

20,228

 

 

 

22,526

 

Other notes payable

 

 

2.10%

 

 

2020

 

 

18,989

 

 

 

18,606

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,008,617

 

 

 

763,436

 

Current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations

 

 

74,685

 

 

 

34,496

 

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations

 

$

933,932

 

 

$

728,940

 

 

Bank overdrafts occur when checks have been issued but have not been presented to the bank for payment. Certain of our banks allow us to delay funding of issued checks until the checks are presented for payment. The delay in funding results in a temporary source of financing from the bank. The activity related to bank overdrafts is shown as a financing activity in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Bank overdrafts are included in other current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015, the bank overdraft balance was $18.0 million and $15.7 million, respectively.

The company also had standby letters of credit (“LOCs”) outstanding of $16.9 million and $16.4 million at January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015, respectively, which reduce the availability of funds under the credit facility. The outstanding LOCs are for the benefit of certain insurance companies and lessors. None of the LOCs are recorded as a liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, New Term Loan, Senior Notes, Credit Facility, and Term Loan

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility. On July 17, 2013, the company entered into an accounts receivable securitization facility (the “facility”). On August 7, 2014, the company entered into an amendment to the facility. The amendment (i) increased the revolving commitments under the facility to $200.0 million from $150.0 million, (ii) extended the term one year to July 17, 2016, and (iii) made certain other conforming changes. On December 17, 2014, the company executed a second amendment to the facility to add a bank to the lending group. The original commitment amount was split between the original lender and the new lender in the proportion of 62.5% for the original lender and 37.5% for the new lender. This modification, which was accounted for as an extinguishment of the debt, resulted in a charge of $0.1 million, or 37.5%, of the unamortized financing costs. On August 20, 2015, the company executed a third amendment to the facility to extend the term to August 11, 2017 and to add a leverage pricing grid.  This amendment was accounted for as a modification. Under the facility, a wholly-owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary purchases, on an ongoing basis, substantially all trade receivables. As borrowings are made under the facility, the subsidiary pledges the receivables as collateral. In the event of liquidation of the subsidiary, its creditors would be entitled to satisfy their claims from the subsidiary’s pledged receivables prior to distributions of collections to the company. We include the subsidiary in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The facility contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, and events of default. As of January 2, 2016, there was $170.0 million outstanding under the facility compared to no amounts outstanding as of January 3, 2015.  As of January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the facility. On January 2, 2016, the company had $2.1 million available under its facility for working capital and general corporate purposes.  Amounts available for withdrawal under the facility are determined as the lesser of the total commitments and a formula derived amount based on qualifying trade receivables.

Optional principal repayments may be made at any time without premium or penalty. Interest is due two days after our reporting periods end in arrears on the outstanding borrowings and is computed as the cost of funds rate plus an applicable margin of 70 basis points. An unused fee of 25 basis points is applicable on the unused commitment at each reporting period. The company paid financing costs of $0.8 million in connection with the facility at the time we entered into the facility, which are being amortized over the life of the facility. During fiscal 2014, we incurred $0.2 million in issuance costs with the first and second amendments. An additional $0.2 million in financing costs was paid during fiscal 2015 for the second and third amendments.

New Term Loan. We entered into a senior unsecured delayed-draw term facility (the “new term loan”) on April 5, 2013 with a commitment of up to $300.0 million. The company drew down the full amount of the new term loan on July 18, 2013 (the “borrowing date”).

The new term loan amortizes in quarterly installments based on an increasing annual percentage. The first payment was due the last business day of the first calendar quarter ending after the borrowing date, quarterly payments are due on the last business day of each successive calendar quarter and all remaining outstanding principal is due and payable on the fifth anniversary of the borrowing date. The table below presents the principal payment amounts remaining under the new term loan as of January 2, 2016 (amounts in thousands):

 

Fiscal Year

 

Payments

 

2016

 

$

67,500

 

2017

 

$

112,500

 

2018

 

$

60,000

 

 

On February 14, 2014, we entered into an amendment, which was accounted for as a modification of debt, that favorably reduced the interest rates described below from those entered into originally on April 5, 2013. Voluntary prepayments on the new term loan may be made without premium or penalty. Interest is due quarterly in arrears on any outstanding borrowings at a customary Eurodollar rate or the base rate plus applicable margin. The applicable margin ranges from 0.00% to 1.25% for base rate loans and from 1.00% to 2.25% for Eurodollar loans, and is based on the company’s leverage ratio. Interest on base rate loans is payable quarterly in arrears on the last business day of each calendar quarter. Interest on Eurodollar loans is payable in arrears at the end of the interest period and every three months in the case of interest periods in excess of three months. The company paid financing costs of $1.7 million in connection with the new term loan, which are being amortized over the life of the new term loan. A commitment fee of 20 basis points on the daily undrawn portion of the lenders’ commitments commenced on May 1, 2013 and continued until the borrowing date, when the company borrowed the available $300.0 million for the acquisition of certain Hostess Brands, Inc. bread assets. The new term loan is subject to customary restrictive covenants, including certain limitations on liens and significant acquisitions and financial covenants regarding minimum interest coverage ratio and maximum leverage ratio. The February 14, 2014 amendment cost $0.3 million and is being amortized over the remaining term. As of January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the new term loan.

Senior Notes. On April 3, 2012, the company issued $400.0 million of senior notes. The company pays semiannual interest on the notes on each April 1 and October 1, beginning on October 1, 2012, and the notes will mature on April 1, 2022. The notes bear interest at 4.375% per annum. On any date prior to January 1, 2022, the company may redeem some or all of the notes at a price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed and (2) a “make-whole” amount plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest. The make-whole amount is equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal thereof (not including any interest accrued thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the treasury rate (as defined in the indenture governing the notes), plus 35 basis points, plus in each case, unpaid interest accrued thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption. At any time on or after January 1, 2022, the company may redeem some or all of the notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the company experiences a “change of control triggering event” (which involves a change of control of the company and related rating of the notes below investment grade), it is required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon unless the company exercised its option to redeem the notes in whole. The notes are also subject to customary restrictive covenants, including certain limitations on liens and sale and leaseback transactions.

The face value of the notes is $400.0 million and the current discount on the notes is $0.6 million. The company paid issuance costs (including underwriting fees and legal fees) for issuing the notes of $3.9 million. The issuance costs and the debt discount are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. As of January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the indenture governing the notes.

Credit Facility. On April 21, 2015, the company amended its senior unsecured credit facility (the “credit facility”) to extend the term to April 21, 2020, reduce the applicable margin on base rate and Eurodollar loans and reduce the facility fees, described below. The amendment was accounted for as a modification of the debt. The credit facility is a five-year, $500.0 million senior unsecured revolving loan facility. The credit facility contains a provision that permits Flowers to request up to $200.0 million in additional revolving commitments, for a total of up to $700.0 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Proceeds from the credit facility may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures, acquisition financing, refinancing of indebtedness, dividends and share repurchases. The credit facility includes certain customary restrictions, which, among other things, require maintenance of financial covenants and limit encumbrance of assets and creation of indebtedness. Restrictive financial covenants include such ratios as a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. The company believes that, given its current cash position, its cash flow from operating activities and its available credit capacity, it can comply with the current terms of the amended credit facility and can meet presently foreseeable financial requirements. As of January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015, the company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants under the credit facility.

Interest is due quarterly in arrears on any outstanding borrowings at a customary Eurodollar rate or the base rate plus applicable margin. The underlying rate is defined as rates offered in the interbank Eurodollar market, or the higher of the prime lending rate or the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, with a floor rate defined by the one-month interbank Eurodollar market rate plus 1.00%. The applicable margin ranges from 0.0% to 0.50% for base rate loans and from 0.70% to 1.50% for Eurodollar loans. In addition, a facility fee ranging from 0.05% to 0.25% is due quarterly on all commitments under the credit facility. Both the interest margin and the facility fee are based on the company’s leverage ratio. The company paid additional financing costs of $0.4 million in connection with the April 21, 2015 amendment of the credit facility, which, in addition to the remaining balance of the original $1.3 million in financing costs, is being amortized over the life of the credit facility.  The company recognized $0.1 million in financing costs for the modification at the time of the April 21, 2015 amendment.

At January 2, 2016, there was $160.0 million outstanding under the credit facility.  There were $53.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the credit facility at January 3, 2015.  The highest outstanding daily balance during fiscal 2015 was $160.0 million and the lowest outstanding balance was zero.  Amounts outstanding under the credit facility vary daily.  Changes in the gross borrowings and repayments can be caused by cash flow activity from operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends, share repurchases, and tax payments, as well as derivative transactions which are part of the company’s overall risk management strategy as discussed in Note 9, Derivative Financial Instruments.  During fiscal 2015, the company borrowed $820.0 million in revolving borrowings under the credit facility and repaid $713.0 million in revolving borrowings. The amount available under the credit facility is reduced by $16.9 million for letters of credit.  On January 2, 2016, the company had $323.1 million available under its credit facility for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Credit Ratings.    Currently, the company’s credit ratings by Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, and Standard & Poor’s are BBB, Baa2, and BBB, respectively.  Standard & Poor’s upgraded the company from a BBB- credit rating on September 16, 2015.  Changes in the company’s credit ratings do not trigger a change in the company’s available borrowings or costs under the facility, new term loan, senior notes, and credit facility, but could affect future credit availability and cost.

Assets recorded under capital lease agreements included in property, plant and equipment consist of machinery and equipment and transportation equipment.

Aggregate maturities of debt outstanding, including capital leases and the associated interest, as of January 2, 2016, are as follows (excluding unamortized debt discount and issuance costs of $1.6 million for the senior notes and other notes payable) (amounts in thousands):

 

2016

 

$

74,685

 

2017

 

 

292,194

 

2018

 

 

69,960

 

2019

 

 

8,443

 

2020

 

 

163,118

 

2021 and thereafter

 

 

401,828

 

Total

 

$

1,010,228

 

 

Leases

The company leases certain property and equipment under various operating and capital lease arrangements that expire over the next 21 years. The property leases include distribution facilities, thrift store locations, and three manufacturing facilities. The equipment leases include production, sales, distribution, and office equipment. Initial lease terms range from two to 26 years. Many of the operating leases provide the company with the option, after the initial lease term, either to purchase the property at the then fair value or renew its lease at fair value rents for periods from one month to ten years. Rent escalations vary in these leases, from no escalation over the initial lease term, to escalations linked to changes in economic variables such as the Consumer Price Index. Rental expense is recognized on a straight-line basis. The capital leases are primarily used for distribution vehicle financing and are discussed in Note 13, Variable Interest Entities, below. Future minimum lease payments under scheduled capital leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable terms in excess of one year are as follows:

 

 

 

Capital Leases

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

2016

 

$

5,222

 

2017

 

 

5,091

 

2018

 

 

5,223

 

2019

 

 

3,591

 

2020

 

 

710

 

2021 and thereafter

 

 

1,959

 

Total minimum payments

 

 

21,796

 

Amount representing interest

 

 

1,568

 

Obligations under capital leases

 

 

20,228

 

Obligations due within one year

 

 

4,685

 

Long-term obligations under capital leases

 

$

15,543

 

 

The table below presents the total future minimum lease payments under scheduled operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable terms in excess of one year (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Operating Leases

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

2016

 

$

60,550

 

2017

 

 

59,103

 

2018

 

 

45,232

 

2019

 

 

39,849

 

2020

 

 

38,117

 

2021 and thereafter

 

 

287,995

 

Total minimum payments

 

$

530,846

 

 

Rent expense for all operating leases amounted to $87.9 million, $88.7 million, and $90.3 million for fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013.

Deferred Compensation

The Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (“EDCP”) consists of unsecured general obligations of the company to pay the deferred compensation of, and our contributions to, participants in the EDCP. The obligations will rank equally with our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness payable from the company’s general assets.

The company’s directors and certain key members of management are eligible to participate in the EDCP. Directors may elect to defer all or any portion of their annual retainer fee and meeting fees. Deferral elections by directors must be made prior to the beginning of each year and are thereafter irrevocable. Eligible employees may elect to defer up to 75% of their base salaries, and up to 100% of any cash bonuses and other compensation through December 31, 2015.  Effective January 1, 2016, employees may elect to defer up to 75% of their base salaries, any cash bonuses, and other compensation.  Deferral elections by eligible executives must be made prior to the beginning of each year and are thereafter irrevocable during that year. The portion of the participant’s compensation that is deferred depends on the participant’s election in effect with respect to his or her elective contributions under the EDCP. The amount outstanding at January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015 was $14.8 million and $14.5 million of which $2.2 million and $1.9 million, respectively, are recorded as current liabilities.

Guarantees and Indemnification Obligations

The company has provided various representations, warranties, and other standard indemnifications in various agreements with customers, suppliers, and other parties as well as in agreements to sell business assets or lease facilities. In general, these provisions indemnify the counterparty for matters such as breaches of representations and warranties, certain environmental conditions and tax matters, and, in the context of sales of business assets, any liabilities arising prior to the closing of the transactions. Non-performance under a contract could trigger an obligation of the company. The ultimate effect on future financial results is not subject to reasonable estimation because considerable uncertainty exists as to the final outcome of any potential claims.

No material guarantees or indemnifications have been entered into by the company through January 2, 2016.