Note 7 — Debt


	August 31,
	2012		2011
	(Dollars in thousands)
Secured credit agreements — revolving loans, 4.23% weighted average interest rate at August 31, 2012	$	82,606	$	22,100
Iowa Department of Economic Development loans		1,433		1,633
Capital lease obligations		423		490

		84,462		24,223
Less: current portion and short-term borrowings		458		421

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	$	84,004	$	23,802

In fiscal 2010, the Company used the proceeds from the $40.0 million preferred stock issuance discussed above to pay a portion of its outstanding bank debt obligations. Concurrent with the preferred stock issuance, the Company refinanced its bank debt and entered into a $60 million Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2010 Agreement”) with a lending syndicate with Bank of Montreal; Bank of America National Association; and Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., “Rabobank Nederland” New York Branch.

In July 2012, in connection with the redemption of preferred stock discussed above, the Company refinanced its obligations then outstanding under the 2010 Agreement. The Company entered into a $130 million Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2012 Agreement”) with Bank of Montreal; Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., “Rabobank Nederland” New York Branch; KeyBank National Association; JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.; First Midwest Bank; Private Bank and Trust Company; Greenstone Farm Credit Services, ACA/FLCA and Bank of America, N.A. Under the 2012 Agreement, the Company may borrow $130 million in revolving lines of credit. The lenders’ revolving credit loan commitment may be increased under certain conditions. Under the 2012 Agreement, there are no scheduled principal payments prior to maturity on July 9, 2017.

On August 31, 2012, the Company had $82.6 million outstanding under the 2012 Agreement, which is subject to variable interest rates. Interest rates under the 2012 Agreement are based on either the London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”) or the prime rate, depending on the selection of available borrowing options under the 2012 Agreement. Pursuant to the 2012 Agreement, the interest rate margin over LIBOR ranges between 2% and 4%, depending upon the Total Leverage Ratio (as defined).

The 2012 Agreement provides that the Total Leverage Ratio, which is computed as funded debt divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (as defined in the 2012 Agreement) shall not exceed 3.75 through November 30, 2012; 3.50 through November 30, 2013; 3.25 through May 31, 2014; and 3.0 thereafter. In addition, the Company must maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined in the 2012 Agreement, of not less than 1.35. Annual capital expenditures would be restricted to $15 million beginning in fiscal 2013 if the Total Leverage Ratio is greater than 2.50 for two consecutive fiscal quarters. The Company’s obligations under the 2012 Agreement are secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets. The Company was in compliance with the covenants in the 2012 Agreement as of August 31, 2012.

Pursuant to the 2012 Agreement, the Company may declare and pay dividends on its common stock in an amount not to exceed, in any consecutive four quarters, the lesser of $10 million or 50% of Free Cash Flow, as defined. As of August 31, 2012, the Company was not permitted to pay dividends.

In connection with the refinancing under the 2010 Agreement, the Company recorded a pre-tax non-cash charge to earnings of $1.0 million in fiscal 2010 related to unamortized transaction fees associated with the prior credit facility. The Company also terminated its interest rate swaps in fiscal 2010 and recorded a charge to earnings of $1.6 million.

In fiscal 2010, the Iowa Department of Economic Development (“IDED”) awarded financial assistance to the Company as a result of the temporary shutdown of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa plant in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 due to record flooding of the Cedar River. The IDED provided two five-year non interest bearing loans as follows: (1) a $1.0 million loan to be repaid in 60 equal monthly payments of $16,667 beginning December 1, 2009, and (2) a $1.0 million loan which is forgivable if the Company maintains certain levels of employment at the Cedar Rapids plant. At August 31, 2012, the Company had $1.4 million outstanding related to the IDED loans.

The maturities of debt existing at August 31, 2012 for the fiscal years beginning with fiscal 2013 are as follows (dollars in thousands):


2013	$	458
2014		233
2015		1,087
2016		38
2017		82,646

	$	84,462

Included in the Company’s long-term debt at August 31, 2012 is $0.4 million of capital lease obligations, of which $0.3 million is considered current portion of long-term debt. See Note 10.