Note 6 - Long-term Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 02, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 6: Long-Term Debt

On February 15, 2023, we entered into a credit agreement with a consortium of financial institutions (“Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) which replaces our existing revolving credit agreement under the amended and restated revolving credit agreement dated October 20, 2020 and also replaces our secured term loan credit agreement dated October 20, 2017. The Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for a new senior secured term loan A facility in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 (“Term Loan A”), a new senior secured term loan B facility in an aggregate principal amount of $800,000 (“Term Loan B”) and amendments to and extension of our existing senior secured revolving credit facility with an aggregate commitment in the amount of $700,000 (“Revolving Credit Facility”). A portion of the proceeds of the combined facilities, (the “Credit Facilities”) was used to pay off the existing term loan and revolver. The Credit Facilities will generally be used to finance working capital needs and acquisitions, and for general corporate purposes. All of our obligations under the Credit Facilities will be secured by a first-lien security interest in substantially all personal property and material real property of the Company and its material U.S. subsidiaries, and will be guaranteed by all of the Company’s material U.S. subsidiaries.

Term Loans

Interest on Term Loan A is payable at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") plus an adjustment of 0.10 percent and an interest rate spread of 1.75 percent (7.15 percent at September 2, 2023). The interest rate spread is based on a secured leverage grid. Term Loan A matures on February 15, 2028. On August 16, 2023, we amended the Term Loan B agreement to an interest rate of SOFR plus an interest rate spread of 2.25 percent with a SOFR floor of 0.50 percent (7.55 percent at September 2, 2023). Term Loan B matures on February 15, 2030. 

On January 12, 2023, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert $400,000 of our variable rate 1-month LIBOR rate debt to a fixed rate of 3.6895 percent. On February 28, 2023, after entering into the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, we amended the interest rate swap agreement to 1-month SOFR and a fixed rate of 3.7260 in accordance with the practical expedients included in ASC 848, Reference Rate Reform. See Note 11 for further discussion of this interest rate swap.

On March 16, 2023, we entered into interest rate swap agreements to convert $300,000 of our 1-month SOFR rate debt to a fixed rate of 3.7210 percent and to convert $100,000 of our 1-month SOFR rate debt to a fixed rate of 3.8990 percent. See Note 11 for further discussion of these interest rate swaps.

Revolving Credit Facility

Interest on the Revolving Credit Facility is payable at SOFR plus an adjustment of 0.10 percent and an interest rate spread of 1.75 percent (7.15 percent at September 2, 2023). A facility fee of 25 basis points of the unused commitment under the Revolving Credit Facility is payable quarterly. The interest rate spread and the facility fee are based on a secured leverage grid. At September 2, 2023, there was no balance outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on February 15, 2028.

The Revolving Credit Facility can be drawn upon for general corporate purposes up to a maximum of $700,000, less issued letters of credit. At June 3, 2023, letters of credit reduced the available amount under the Revolving Credit Facility by $9,968.

Covenants and Other

Under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan A are subject to certain covenants and restrictions. For these facilities, we are required to maintain a secured leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement, no greater than 4.75 to 1.00 for our fiscal quarters ending on or prior to June 1, 2024 and then 4.50 to 1.00 thereafter. We are also required to maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.00 to 1.00.

Restrictive covenants include, but are not limited to, limitations on secured and unsecured borrowings, interest coverage, intercompany transfers and investments, third party investments, dispositions of assets, leases, liens, dividends and distributions, and contains a maximum total debt to trailing twelve months EBITDA requirement. Certain covenants become less restrictive after meeting leverage or other financial ratios. In addition, we cannot be a member of any consolidated group as defined for income tax purposes other than with our subsidiaries.

We are subject to mandatory prepayments in the first quarter of each fiscal year equal to 50 percent of Excess Cash Flow, as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, of the prior fiscal year less any voluntary prepayments made during that fiscal year. The Excess Cash Flow Percentage shall be reduced to 25 percent when our Secured Leverage Ratio is below 4.25:1.00 and to 0 percent when our Secured Leverage Ratio is below 3.75:1.00. 

The principal balance of the Term Loan B loans will be repayable in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate annual amount equal to 1 percent of the original principal amount thereof, with the balance due at maturity on February 15, 2030. The principal balance of the Term Loan A loans will be repayable in quarterly installments as follows: (i) with respect to the first eight fiscal quarters ended after the effective date of the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, 1.25 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the original principal of the Term Loan A loans, (ii) with respect to the eight fiscal quarters ended after the end of the period set forth in the preceding clause (i), 1.875 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the original principal amount of the Term Loan A loans, and (iii) thereafter, 2.5 percent of the original principal amount of the Term Loan A loans, with the balance due at maturity on February 15, 2028.