Note 5 – Long-Term Debt and CARES Act Loans

Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):

 

 

Interest expense for all the Company’s debt arrangements, excluding the amortization of debt issuance costs and other discounts and fees, was $1.1 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

As of March 31, 2021, the Company had $1.3 million in standby letters of credit outstanding for certain restaurants and $10.7 million available in its revolving credit facility, subject to certain conditions.

Credit and Guaranty Agreement

 

On October 4, 2019, in conjunction with the acquisition of Kona Grill, the Company entered into a credit and guaranty agreement with Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for a secured revolving credit facility of $12.0 million and a $48.0 million term loan. The term loan is payable in quarterly installments, with the final payment due in October 2024. The revolving credit facility also matures in October 2024. 

 

On May 4, 2020, Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GSB”), as administrative agent, collateral agent and lead arranger under the Credit Agreement, (1) consented to the CARES Act Loans described below and (2) agreed that the amount of the CARES Act Loans will not be counted toward the permitted amount of Consolidated Total Debt, as defined under the Credit Agreement, to the extent the amounts are retained as cash during the term of the CARES Act Loans in a segregated deposit account or used for purposes that are forgivable under the CARES Act, provided that the proceeds of the CARES Act Loans must be used only for “allowable uses” under the CARES Act (with at least 75% of the utilized proceeds to be used for purposes that result in the CARES Act Loans being eligible for forgiveness) or used for the repayment of the CARES Act Loans.

 

On May 8, 2020 and August 10, 2020, GSB and the Company and certain of its subsidiaries amended the Credit Agreement. A summary of the financial covenants under the Credit Agreement, as amended, is as follows:

 

 

The Company’s ability to borrow under its revolving credit facility is dependent on several factors. The Company’s total borrowings cannot exceed a leverage incurrence multiple of (i) 2.25 to 1.00 as of the fiscal quarters ending September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020, (ii) 2.00 to 1.00 as of the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2021, (iii) 1.75 to 1.00 as of the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021, (iv) 1.70 to 1.00 as of the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2021, (v) 1.65 to 1.00 as of the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021, and (vi) 1.50 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter thereafter. In addition, after giving effect to any new borrowings under the revolving credit facility, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents cannot exceed $4,000,000.

 

The Credit Agreement has several borrowing and interest rate options, including the following: (a) a LIBOR rate (or a comparable successor rate) subject to a 1.75% floor; or (b) a base rate equal to the greatest of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (iii) the LIBOR rate for a one-month period plus 1.00%, or (iv) 4.75%. Loans under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum using the applicable indices plus a varying interest rate margin of between 5.75% and 6.75% (for LIBOR rate loans) and 4.75% and 5.75% (for base rate loans). The Company’s weighted average interest rate on the borrowings under the Credit Agreement as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was 8.50% and 8.50%, respectively.

The Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and conditions to borrowing including customary affirmative and negative covenants, which include covenants that limit or restrict the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness and other obligations, grant liens to secure obligations, make investments, merge or consolidate, alter the organizational structure of the Company and its subsidiaries, and dispose of assets outside the ordinary course of business, in each case subject to customary exceptions for credit facilities of this size and type.

The Company and certain operating subsidiaries of the Company guarantee the obligations under the Credit Agreement, which also are secured by liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

The Company has incurred approximately $2.5 million of debt issuance costs related to the Credit Agreement, which were capitalized and are recorded as a direct deduction to the long-term debt, net of current portion, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with the covenants required by the Credit Agreement.

 

Equipment Financing Agreements

 

On June 5, 2015 and August 16, 2016, the Company entered into financing agreements with Sterling National Bank for $1.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively, to purchase equipment for the STKs in Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, and Denver. Each of these financing agreements has five-year terms and bear interest at a rate of 5% per annum, payable in equal monthly installments.

 

CARES Act Loans

 

On May 4, 2020, two subsidiaries of the Company entered into promissory notes (“CARES Act Loans”) with BBVA USA under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). Repayment of the CARES Act Loans is guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”). The ONE Group, LLC received a loan of $9.8 million related to the operations of STK restaurants, and Kona Grill Acquisition, LLC received a loan of $8.5 million related to the operation of Kona Grill restaurants.

 

The CARES Act Loans are scheduled to mature on April 28, 2022 and have a 1.00% interest rate and are subject to the terms and conditions applicable to PPP loans. Among other terms, BBVA USA may declare a default of the CARES Act Loans if the SBA disputes the validity of the guaranty of indebtedness, if a material adverse change occurs in the Company’s financial condition, or if BBVA USA believes the prospect of repayment of the CARES Act Loans or performance of obligations under the promissory notes is impaired. On an event of default, BBVA USA may declare principal and unpaid interest immediately due and payable, and it may charge default interest of 10%.

 

The CARES Act Loans are eligible for forgiveness if the proceeds are used for qualified purposes within a specified period and if at least 60% is spent on payroll costs. The Company has used all of the proceeds from the CARES Act Loans for qualified purposes in accordance with the CARES Act and SBA regulations, and these funds have supported the re-opening of in person dining and the return of approximately 3,000 furloughed employees to work. The Company applied for forgiveness of the  CARES Act Loans in February 2021. The Company anticipates forgiveness of the entire amount of CARES Act Loans; however, no assurance can be provided that the Company will obtain forgiveness of the CARES Act Loans in whole or in part. Therefore, the Company has elected to classify the entire principal amount of the CARES Act Loans as debt. If repayment is required, principal and interest payments are expected to be repaid beginning in August 2021, ten months after the end of the covered period which was from April 2020 to October 2020.