Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

6. Debt

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, debt was comprised of the following:

(In thousands)	Maturity Dates		December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
Senior unsecured notes
3.95% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $191 and     $186 for 2023 and 2022, respectively)	2024-2027		$	56,952	$	71,243
3.86% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $105 and     $125 for 2023 and 2022, respectively)	2024-2025			28,466		42,732
4.86% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $0 and     $30 for 2023 and 2022 respectively)		—		—		9,260
2.30% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $142 and     $122 for 2023 and 2022, respectively)	2024-2028			49,858		49,878
2.37% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $148 and     $128 for 2023 and 2022, respectively)	2024-2028			49,852		49,872
2.73% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $175 and     $55 for 2023 and 2022, respectively)	2025-2031			99,825		99,945
2.83% (net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $134 and     $40 for 2023 and 2022, respectively)	2026-2032			74,866		74,960
Revolving credit facility and term loan borrowing	2024-2027			283,000		189,250
Debt of foreign subsidiaries
Unsecured bank debt, foreign currency	2024			11,327		—
Total debt			$	654,146	$	587,140
Less current maturities				252,898		132,111
Long-term debt			$	401,248	$	455,029

The Company’s long-term debt financing is currently comprised of certain senior unsecured notes issued to insurance companies in private placement transactions pursuant to note purchase agreements (the Note Purchase Agreements), totaling $359,819,000 as of December 31, 2023. These notes are denominated in U.S. dollars and have fixed interest rates ranging from 2.30 percent to 3.95 percent. The notes had original maturities of seven to 12 years with mandatory principal payments beginning four, five and six years after issuance. The Company will be required to make principal payments on the currently outstanding notes from 2024 to 2032.

On September 29, 2023, the Company entered into amendments to the Note Purchase Agreements (the NPA Amendments) to primarily provide additional covenant flexibility. The NPA Amendments, among other things, (i) amended the existing maximum net leverage ratios covenant; (ii) expanded the definition of “Qualified Cash,” a metric used to calculate the net leverage ratio, to include 65 percent of unrestricted and unencumbered foreign-based cash or permitted investments; and (iii) included a debt rating requirement and, to the extent the relevant notes are rated below investment grade, a rating fee of 0.75 percent per annum.

The Company’s credit agreement (the Credit Agreement) with a syndicate of banks provides for credit facilities in an initial aggregate principal amount of $450,000,000, consisting of (a) a $350,000,000 multi-currency revolving credit facility and (b) a $100,000,000 delayed draw term loan credit facility, each of which matures on June 24, 2027. The Company maintains import letters of credit, and standby letters of credit under its workers’ compensation insurance agreements and for other purposes, as needed from time to time, which are issued under the revolving credit agreement. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $10,877,000 and $283,000,000 of outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement, inclusive of a $95,000,000 delayed-draw term loan ($5,000,000 of the term loan principal has been permanently repaid as scheduled). There was $151,123,000 available under the credit agreement as of December 31, 2023.

Loans under the credit agreement may be incurred, at the discretion of the Company, with terms to maturity of one month, three months or six months. The Company may choose from two interest rate options: (1) Adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) applicable to USD loans and relevant benchmark rates applicable to EUR, GBP and CAD loans plus spreads ranging from 1.125 percent to 1.750 percent, depending on the Company’s net leverage ratio, or (2) the prime rate plus 0.125 percent to 0.750 percent, depending on the Company’s net leverage ratio. The credit agreement requires the Company to pay a commitment fee ranging from 0.125 percent to 0.250 percent per annum, which also depends on the Company’s net leverage ratio. The credit agreement requires the maintenance of certain financial ratios and compliance with certain other covenants that are similar to the Company’s existing debt agreements, including net worth, interest coverage, leverage financial covenants and limitations on restricted payments, indebtedness and liens.

On September 29, 2023, the Company entered into an amendment (the Amendment) to the Credit Agreement. The Amendment amends the Credit Agreement to, among other things, (i) provide for a maximum net leverage ratio on substantially the same terms as the corresponding covenant contained in the NPA Amendments; and (ii) expand the definition of “Qualified Cash” to align with the definition of “Qualified Cash” included in the NPA Amendments.

The Company’s foreign subsidiaries had $11,327,000 debt outstanding at December 31, 2023.

The Company’s material debt agreements contain provisions which, among other covenants, require maintenance of certain financial ratios and place limitations on additional debt, investments and payment of dividends. Based on the loan agreement provisions that place limitations on dividend payments, unrestricted retained earnings (i.e., retained earnings available for dividend distribution) were $234,399,000 and $224,189,000 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Debt at December 31, 2023, matures as follows: $252,898,000 in 2024; $69,108,000 in 2025; $66,786,000 in 2026; $135,535,000 in 2027; $45,000,000 in 2028 and $85,714,000 after 2028. Debt maturing in 2024 includes $53,571,000 of scheduled repayments under long-term debt agreements. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries routinely have short-term working capital loans. These short-term loan agreements could be supplemented, if necessary, by the Company’s $350,000,000 revolving credit facility entered into on June 24, 2022.

Net interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, comprised the following:

(In thousands)	2023			2022			2021
Interest expense	$	29,361		$	17,852		$	10,145
Interest income		(3,843	)		(1,080	)		(1,255	)
		25,518			16,772			8,890
Capitalized interest		(13,415	)		(6,963	)		(3,137	)
Interest expense, net	$	12,103		$	9,809		$	5,753