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Note 11 - Loan and Credit Agreements
6 Months Ended
May 31, 2026
Notes to Financial Statements  
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]
 

11)

Loan and Credit Agreements

 

Bank Midwest Revolving Lines of Credit and Term Loans

 

The Company maintains a $4,000,000 revolving line of credit (the "Line of Credit”) with Bank Midwest. On May 31, 2026, the balance of the Line of Credit was $3,495,438 with $504,562 remaining available. The Line of Credit is subject to a borrowing base, which is an amount equal to 75% of accounts receivable balances (discounted for aged receivables), plus 50% of net inventory, less any outstanding loan balance on the Line of Credit. On May 31, 2026, the Line of Credit was not limited by the borrowing base calculation. Any unpaid principal amount borrowed on the Line of Credit accrues interest at a floating rate per annum equal to the 1-month SOFR (the "index") rate plus 2.600 percentage points over the index that is published by the CME Group Benchmark Administration on its website each business day. The interest rate floor is set at 5.00% per annum and the interest rate on June 18, 2026 was 6.23% per annum. The Line of Credit was most recently renewed on March 19, 2026 with a maturity date of  March 30, 2027 and requires monthly interest-only payments. The Line of Credit is governed by the terms of a Promissory Note, dated March 19, 2026, entered into between the Company and Bank Midwest.

 

On June 22, 2026, the Company entered into a credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Bank Midwest, consisting of a $500,000 revolving line of credit (the “Reserve Line of Credit”) which is governed by a Promissory Note executed and delivered by the Company on such date. The Reserve Line of Credit is secondary to the Company’s Line of Credit and will be utilized upon the Line of Credit reaching capacity. The Reserve Line of Credit matures on March 30, 2027 with monthly interest-only payments at a rate of 2.600% above the 1-month SOFR index with an initial interest rate is 6.225% per annum. The Reserve Line of Credit was activated to pay large equipment deposits on a new fiberoptic laser and crane system for the Agricultural Products Segment. Upon delivery and installation, which is estimated in 16-18 weeks, the deposits and balance of the equipment will be converted to term debt with a 15-year term at an original estimated rate of 6.50% per annum (estimated interest rate may fluctuate with market rates).

 

The Company carries a $2,600,000 term loan with Bank Midwest due October 1, 2037 (the “Term Loan”). The Term Loan accrues interest at a rate of 6.25%, which was most recently updated with a change of terms agreement on March 19, 2026. The interest rate may only be adjusted by Bank Midwest once every five years. Monthly payments of $19,648 in principal and interest are required on the Term Loan. The Term Loan is also guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), which required an upfront guarantee fee of $62,400 and requires an annual fee of 0.5% of the unpaid balance. As part of the USDA guarantee requirements, shareholders owning more than 20% are required to personally guarantee a portion of the Term Loan, in an amount equal to their stock ownership percentage. McConnell Legacy Investments, which owns more than 20% of the Company’s outstanding stock, is guaranteeing approximately 38% of the Term Loan, for an annual fee of 2% of the personally guaranteed amount. The initial guarantee fee is being amortized over the life of the Term Loan, and the annual fees and personally guaranteed amounts are expensed monthly. The Term Loan is governed by the terms of a Promissory Note, dated September 28, 2017, entered into between the Company and Bank Midwest.

 

The Company has carried a term loan with Bank Midwest in the amount of $516,971 (the “Roof Loan”) to replace portions of the roof on its Armstrong facility since October 1, 2025. The Term Loan accrues interest at a rate of 6.25% with a payback period of 10 years with the latest interest rate update coming on March 19, 2026 in a change of terms agreement. The interest rate will remain fixed until April 5, 2031 and will then be repriced to the 5-Year Treasury Index plus a margin of 3.25% . Monthly payments of $6,102 in principal and interest are required on the Term Loan beginning on November 5, 2025. 

 

In connection with the Line of Credit, the Company and Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. each entered into a Commercial Security Agreement with Bank Midwest, dated September 28, 2017, pursuant to which each granted to Bank Midwest a first priority security interest in certain inventory, equipment, accounts, chattel paper, instruments, letters of credit and other assets to secure the obligations of the Company under the Line of Credit. Art’s-Way Scientific, Inc. also agreed to guarantee the obligations of the Company pursuant to the Line of Credit, as set forth in a Commercial Guaranty, dated September 28, 2017. 

 

The Term Loan and Roof Loan are secured by a mortgage on the Company’s Armstrong, Iowa and Monona, Iowa properties. Each mortgage is governed by the terms of a separate mortgage, dated September 28, 2017, and each property is also subject to a separate Assignment of Rents, dated September 28, 2017.

 

If the Company or its subsidiary (as guarantor pursuant to the Commercial Guaranty) commits an event of default with respect to the promissory notes and fails or is unable to cure that default, Bank Midwest may immediately terminate its obligation, if any, to make additional loans to the Company and may accelerate the Company’s obligations under the promissory note. Bank Midwest shall also have all other rights and remedies for default provided by the Uniform Commercial Code, as well as any other applicable law and the various loan agreements. In addition, in an event of default, Bank Midwest may foreclose on the mortgaged property.

 

Compliance with Bank Midwest covenants is measured annually each  November 30. The terms of the Bank Midwest loan agreements require the Company to maintain a minimum of $4,000,000 of monthly working capital. The Company is also required to maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.25, with a 0.10 tolerance. The Company also must receive bank approval for individual purchases or sales of equipment over $50,000 and maintain reasonable salaries and owner compensation. The Company was in compliance with all covenants of Bank Midwest loans as of November 30, 2025. The next measurement date is November 30, 2026 for all covenants except the monthly working capital requirement.

 

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans

 

In June of 2020, the Company executed the standard loan documents required for securing loans offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration under its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) assistance program in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business. One outstanding loan was executed on June 18, 2020 with a principal amount of $150,000, with a second loan being executed on June 24, 2020 with a principal amount of $150,000. Proceeds from these EIDLs were used for working capital purposes. Interest accrues at the rate of 3.75% per annum and will accrue from the date of inception. Installment payments, including principal and interest, were due monthly beginning December 18, 2022 and December 24, 2022 (thirty months from the date of the EIDLs) in the amount of $731 per EIDL. The balance of principal and interest is payable 30 years from the date of the EIDL. The EIDLs are secured by a security interest on all of the Company’s assets subordinate to Bank Midwest’s security interest. Both EIDLs are governed by the terms of a separate Promissory Note, dated  June 18, 2020 and  June 24, 2020, as applicable, entered into by the Company or the applicable subsidiary.

 

A summary of the Company’s term debt is as follows:

 

  

May 31, 2026

  

November 30, 2025

 

Bank Midwest loan payable in monthly installments of $19,648 including interest at 6.25%, due October 1, 2037

 $1,605,209  $1,666,762 

Bank Midwest loan payable in monthly installments of $6,102 including interest at 6.25%, due October 5, 2035

  495,142   514,406 

U.S. Small Business Administration loan payable in monthly installments of $731 including interest at 3.75% beginning December 18, 2022, due June 18, 2050

  152,854   154,381 

U.S. Small Business Administration loan payable in monthly installments of $731 including interest at 3.75% beginning December 24, 2022, due June 24, 2050

  153,640   154,880 

Total term debt

 $2,406,845  $2,490,429 

Less current portion of term debt

  191,348   165,326 

Term debt, excluding current portion

 $2,215,497  $2,325,103 

 

A summary of the minimum maturities of term debt follows for the twelve month periods ending May 31:

 

Year

 

Amount

 

2027

 $191,348 

2028

  199,352 

2029

  212,469 

2030

  226,106 

2031

  240,622 

2032 and thereafter

  1,336,948 
  $2,406,845