5. Debt

North Mill Capital Credit Facility

The Company, through SPAR Marketing Force, Inc. ("SMF") and SPAR Canada Company ULC ("SCC", and collectively with SMF, the “NM Borrowers”), has a secured revolving credit facility in the United States (the "US Revolving Credit Facility") and Canada (the "Canada Revolving Credit Facility", and collectively with the US Revolving Credit Facility, the "NM Credit Facility") with North Mill Capital, LLC, d/b/a SLR Business Credit ("NM").In order to obtain, document and govern the NM Credit Facility, SMF, SCC, SGRP and certain of SGRP's direct and indirect subsidiaries in the United States and Canada (including SMF and SCC as borrowers and SGRP as a guarantor, collectively, the "NM Loan Parties") entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with NM dated as of April 10, 2019, which, as amended from time to time (as amended, the "NM Loan Agreement"), governs the NM Credit Facility. Pursuant to the NM Loan Agreement, the NM Borrowers agreed to reimburse NM for legal and documentation fees incurred in connection with the NM Loan Agreement and such amendments.

On July 1, 2022, the NM Loan Parties and NM executed and delivered a Fourth Modification Agreement, effective as of June 30, 2022 (the "Fourth Modification Agreement"), pursuant to which the NM Loan Parties and NM agreed to extend the NM Credit Facility from October 10, 2023, to October 10, 2024, and increased the amount of the US Revolving Credit Facility to $17.5 million while the Canada Revolving Credit Facility remained at CDN$1.5 million. In addition, the Fourth Modification Agreement permanently increased SMF's borrowing base availability for billed receivables to up to 90% from 85%, and unbilled receivables to up to 80% from 70%, and increased the cap on unbilled accounts for SMF to $6.5 million from $5.5 million.

On August 9, 2022, the NM Loan Parties and NM executed and delivered a Fifth Modification Agreement, effective immediately (the "Fifth Modification Agreement"), pursuant to which the NM Loan Parties and NM agreed to temporarily increase the borrowing base availability under the NM Credit Facility, and the NM Borrowers agreed to pay certain additional fees.

On February 1, 2023, the NM Loan Parties and NM executed and delivered a Sixth Modification Agreement, effective immediately (the "Sixth Modification Agreement"), pursuant to which the NM Loan Parties and NM agreed to increase the amount of the US Revolving Credit Facility to $28.0 million and increase the Canada Revolving Credit Facility to CDN$2.0 million. In addition, the Sixth Modification Agreement increased the cap on unbilled accounts in the borrowing base for SMF to $7.0 million from $6.5 million.

On March 27, 2024, the NM Loan Parties and NM executed and delivered a Seventh Modification Agreement, effective immediately (the "Seventh Modification Agreement"), pursuant to which the NM Loan Parties and NM agreed to extend the NM Credit Facility from October 10, 2024 to October 10, 2025.

The Restated US Note and Restated Canadian Note (together, the "NM Notes") and the NM Loan Agreement together require the NM Borrowers to pay interest on the loans thereunder equal to: (i) the Prime Rate designated from time to time by Wells Fargo Bank; plus (ii) one and nine-tenths percentage points (1.90%) or an aggregate minimum of 6.75% per annum. In addition, the NM Borrowers are paying a facility fee to NM in an amount equal to: (i) for the year commencing on October 10, 2022, approximately $0.1 million plus 0.80% of the amount of any advances other than under the US Revolving Credit Facility plus an additional facility fee of $15,000 for every incremental $1.0 million of loan balance in excess of $21.0 million, and (ii) for the year commencing on October 10, 2023, approximately $0.2 million plus 0.80% of the amount of any advances other than under the US Revolving Credit Facility plus an additional facility fee of $15,000 for every incremental $1.0 million of loan balance in excess of $21.0 million. For the Sixth Modification Agreement, the NM Borrowers paid NM a fee of approximately $28,000 for the US and $3,000 for Canada.

As of December 31, 2024, the aggregate interest rate was 9.40% per annum and the aggregate outstanding loan balance was approximately $16.1 million, which is included within lines of credit and short-term loans in the consolidated balance sheets. The aggregate outstanding loan balance is divided between the US Revolving Credit Facility and the Canada Revolving Credit Facility as follows: (i) the outstanding loan balance under the US Revolving Credit Facility was approximately $14.8 million; and (ii) the outstanding loan balance under the Canada Revolving Credit Facility was approximately $1.3 million.

The NM Credit Facility contains certain financial and other restrictive covenants and also limits certain expenditures by the NM Loan Parties, including maintaining a positive trailing EBITDA for each the NM Borrowers (i.e., SMF and SCC) and imposes limits on all of the NM Loan Parties (including SGRP) on non-ordinary course payments and transactions, incurring or guaranteeing indebtedness, increases in executive, officer or director compensation, capital expenditures and certain other investments. The NM Loan Parties were in compliance with such covenants as of December 31, 2024. The obligations of the NM Borrowers are secured by the receivables and other assets of the NM Borrowers and substantially all of the assets of the other NM Loan Parties, however, the obligations are not secured by any equity in, financial asset respecting or asset of any Excluded Subsidiary meaning each of the following direct or indirect subsidiaries of SGRP: (i) Resource Plus of North Florida, Inc. (“Resource Plus”), Mobex of North Florida, Inc., and Leasex, LLC, and their respective subsidiaries; (ii) NMS Retail Services ULC, which is an inactive Nova Scotia ULC; (iii) SPAR Group International, Inc.; (iv) SPAR FM Japan, Inc.; (v) SPAR International, Ltd.; (vi) each other subsidiary formed outside of the United States or Canada; and (vii) any other entity in which any such subsidiary is a partner, joint venture or other equity investor.

Resource Plus – Seller Notes

On   April 18, 2024, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement to buy from Mr. Richard Justus the remaining minority joint venture interests of Resource Plus and its sister companies, Mobex of North Florida, Inc., and Leasex, LLC. Based on the terms set in the original joint venture agreement, the Company will pay a total of $3 million in annual payments over a five-year period. $0.25 million was paid within the five business days of closing, and the remaining $2.75 million will be paid pursuant to a Secured Promissory Note. The agreement resulted in the termination of all relevant shareholder and operating agreements, although specific confidentiality obligations remain effective for three years post-closing and specific mutual releases were provided. The purchase was closed and completed on  May 1, 2024. As of  December 31, 2024, $0.5 million has been paid and the remaining $2.2 million Promissory Note (net of discount) is outstanding and is reported on the balance sheet in current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt.

International Credit Facilities 

In December 2020, SPAR (Shanghai) Marketing Management Company Ltd. ("SPAR China") secured a loan with Industrial Bank for 2.0 million Chinese Yuan. The loan was renewed in December 22 2023, with an expiration date in December 2024.  In December 2021, SPAR China secured a loan with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China for 2.0 million Chinese Yuan. The loan was paid in July 2023 and a new loan was secured in November 2023 for 2.0 million Chinese Yuan with expiration date of November 2024. The company's controlling interest in the China JV was sold in the second quarter of 2024.  This debt was deconsolidated at that time and remained with Chinese company.  The Company no longer has any interest in SPAR China.

In March 2022, SGRP Meridian (Pty), Ltd. secured loans with Investec Bank Ltd, for 105 million South African Rand which expires July 2025. This loan is secured by the company's available cash and Accounts Receivable and is being repaid in monthly installments commensurate with an amortization schedule. The interest rate of 11.75% is calculated based on the South African Prime rate. As part of the agreement, SGRP Meridian is subject to covenant restrictions that mandate minimum levels of Debt to EBITDA, Asset and Accounts Receivable balances, and coverage ratios.  The Company's controlling interest in the South Africa JV was sold in the first quarter of 2024.  This debt was deconsolidated at that time and remained with South African company.  The Company no longer has any interest in SGRP Meridian (Pty), Ltd.

Summary of the Company’s lines of credit and short-term loans (in thousands):

The effective interest rate on these instruments is not materially different from the stated rate.

Summary of Unused Company Credit and Other Debt Facilities (in thousands):

Summary of the Company's Long-term debt (dollars in thousands):