NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP Debt Disclosure
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8. |
CORPORATE DEBT |
The Company is party to a Credit Agreement (as amended, the Credit Agreement) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPM), which provides NTIC with a senior secured revolving line of credit (the Credit Facility) of up to $10.0 million. The Credit Facility includes a $5.0 million sublimit for standby letters of credit. Borrowings of $9,329,021 were outstanding under the Credit Facility as of August 31, 2025. Since NTIC was out of compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio under the Credit Agreement, NTIC obtained a waiver of the non-compliance from JPM. Based on its current business plan and projections for fiscal 2026, NTIC expects to remain in compliance with the covenant during fiscal 2026, although no assurance can be provided that it will do so.
The principal amount under the Credit Facility, together with all accrued unpaid interest and other amounts owing thereunder, if any, will be payable in full on the January 5, 2026 maturity date, unless the Credit Facility is extended or renewed or terminated earlier. The Company is currently in negotiations with the bank to renew the Credit Facility.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a floating rate, at the option of the Company, equal to either the CB Floating Rate or the Adjusted SOFR Rate. The term “CB Floating Rate” means the greater of the Prime Rate in the United States or 2.50%. The term “Adjusted SOFR Rate” means the term secured overnight financing rate for either one, three or six months (depending on the interest period selected by the Company) plus 0.10% per annum. With respect to any borrowings using an Adjusted SOFR Rate, there is an applicable margin of 2.35% applied per annum. There is no applicable margin with respect to borrowings using a CB Floating Rate. The weighted average interest rate was 6.61% and 7.44% for fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively.
To secure the Credit Agreement, the Company assigned JPM a continuing security interest in all of its right, title and interest in collateral made up of the assets of the Company. The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including, among other matters, limitations on the Company’s ability to incur additional debt, grant liens, engage in certain business operations and transactions, make certain investments, modify its organizational documents or form any new subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. Further, the Credit Agreement contains a negative covenant that restricts the ability of the Company to redeem or repurchase its common stock or pay dividends if the result of which would cause an event of default under the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement also requires the Company to maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.25 to 1.00. The term “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means the ratio, computed for the Company on a consolidated basis, of net income plus income tax expense, plus amortization expense, plus depreciation expense, plus interest expense, and plus dividends received from joint ventures, minus unfinanced capital expenditures and equity in income from joint ventures, all computed for the twelve month period then ending, to scheduled principal payments made, plus scheduled finance lease payments made, plus interest expense paid, plus income tax expense paid, and plus cash distributions and dividends paid, all computed for the same twelve month period then ending.
The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default, including, without limitation, payment defaults, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, cross-defaults to certain other agreements, breach of any financial covenant and change of control. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default, JPM may accelerate the payment of the obligations thereunder and exercise various other customary default remedies.
On each of April 22, 2025 and May 29, 2025, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary in China, NTIC China, renewed its loan agreements with China Construction Bank Corporation. Each term loan provided NTIC China with a RMB 10,000,000 (USD $1.39 million). The term loans mature in April 2026 and May 2026, respectively, unless extended. The term loan that matures in April 2026 has an annual interest rate of 2.75% with interest due monthly, and the term loan that matures in May 2026 has an annual interest rate of 2.96% with interest due monthly. Both term loans are secured by an office building owned by NTIC China and the loan agreements contain certain financial and other covenants. The Company was in compliance with the covenants as of August 31, 2025. The outstanding balance as of August 31, 2025 for both term loans is a total of USD $2,804,695. The outstanding balance as of August 31, 2024 for both term loans was a total of USD $2,820,835.
On August 30, 2025, the Company’s majority owned subsidiary in India, Natur-Tec India, entered into a Foreign Currency Term Loan Agreement with IDFC FIRST Bank Limited (the Bank). The term loan provides Natur-Tec India with a facility of INR lakhs (USD $600,000) to finance the purchase of land in Chennai, India. The loan was disbursed on August 30, 2025 for INR lakhs (USD $522,545) and is repayable in 85 monthly installments to a US dollar account of USD $7,899 each beginning October 5, 2025 and continuing through September 5, 2032. Borrowings bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.45% per annum. The loan is secured by a lien over Natur-Tec India’s cash deposits with the Bank totaling INR lakhs (USD $539,731), and the related land purchase is expected to be registered in late November 2025. The outstanding balance as of August 31, 2025 was INR lakhs (USD $522,545), of which INR lakhs (USD $55,561) was classified as current and INR lakhs (USD $466,984) as long-term. The term loan contains customary affirmative and negative covenants applicable to Natur-Tec India, including, among other matters, restrictions on incurring additional indebtedness, creating liens, or changing the nature of its business. Natur-Tec India was in compliance with all covenants as of August 31, 2025.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Nov 20, 2025 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Nov 19, 2024 | |
| 2023 | Nov 21, 2023 | |
| 2022 | Nov 15, 2022 | |
| 2021 | Nov 19, 2021 | |
| 2020 | Nov 13, 2020 | |
| 2019 | Nov 13, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Nov 21, 2017 | |
About Debt Disclosures
Debt disclosures detail a company's borrowing structure — the types of instruments, interest rates, maturity schedule, and covenant restrictions that define its financial obligations and flexibility. This section is essential for assessing refinancing risk, interest rate exposure, and the margin of safety against financial distress.
Key signals: the maturity schedule reveals concentration risk — large maturities within 1-2 years during tight credit markets can force dilutive refinancing or asset sales. Compare the fair value of debt against carrying amount to gauge whether the market views the company's credit risk differently than the balance sheet suggests. Watch covenant compliance disclosures for tightening cushions, especially leverage and interest coverage ratios. Variable-rate debt exposure quantifies sensitivity to interest rate changes. Secured versus unsecured mix affects recovery rates and future borrowing capacity. Compare net debt-to-EBITDA against industry peers and covenant limits to assess financial health.