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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 11: DEBT

Short-term borrowings consist of loans payable under bank credit lines. There were no short-term borrowings outstanding at November 30, 2008 and at November 30, 2007. At November 30, 2008, the equivalent of $12,573,000 was available under short-term credit lines.

Domestically, as of November 30, 2008, the Company maintained a $100,000,000 revolving credit facility with six banks (the "Revolver"). At November 30, 2008, $18,167,000 of the Revolver was utilized for standby letters of credit; therefore, $81,833,000 was available. Under the Revolver, the Company may, at its option, borrow at floating interest rates (LIBOR plus a spread ranging from .75% to 1.625% based on the Company’s financial condition and performance), at any time until September 2010, when all borrowings under the Revolver must be repaid.

Foreign subsidiaries also maintain unsecured revolving credit facilities and short-term facilities with banks. Foreign subsidiaries may borrow in various currencies, at interest rates based upon specified margins over money market rates. Short-term lines permit borrowings up to $17,800,000. At November 30, 2008, there were no borrowings under these facilities.

The Company intends for short-term borrowing under certain bank facilities utilized by the Company and its foreign subsidiaries to be refinanced on a long-term basis via the Revolver. The amount available under the Revolver exceeded such short-term borrowing at November 30, 2007.

Long-term debt consisted of the following as of November 30:

(In thousands)

2008

2007

Fixed-rate notes payable:  
      5.36%, payable in annual principal
          installments of $10,000
$ 10,000 $ 20,000
      4.25%, payable in Singapore Dollars, in
          annual principal installments of $6,763
27,052
35,274
     

Variable-rate industrial development bonds,

   
    payable in 2016(1.32% at November 30, 2008) 7,200 7,200
payable in 2021(1.32% at November 30, 2008) 8,500 8,500
Variable-rate bank    
   revolving credit facilities - 3,674
 
  52,752 74,648
Less current portion (16,763) (17,055)
 
  $ 35,989 $ 57,593

Future maturities of long-term debt were as follows as of November 30, 2008:

(In thousands) Years ending November 30, Amount

  2009 $ 16,763
  2010 6,763
  2011 6,763
  2012 6,763
  2013 6,763
  Thereafter 15,700
 
  $ 52,752

The Company's lending agreements contain various restrictive covenants, including the requirement to maintain specified amounts of net worth and restrictions on cash dividends, borrowings, liens, investments, guarantees,and financial covenants. The Company is required to maintain consolidated net worth of $181,400,000 plus 50% of net income and 75% of proceeds from any equity issued after January 24, 2003. The Company's consolidated net worth exceeded the covenant amount by $167,900,000 as of November 30, 2008. The Company is required to maintain a consolidated leverage ratio of consolidated funded indebtedness to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") of no more than 2.5 times. At November 30, 2008, the Company maintained a consolidated leverage ratio of .54 times EBITDA. Lending agreements require that the Company maintain qualified consolidated tangible assets at least equal to the outstanding secured funded indebtedness. At November 30, 2008, qualifying tangible assets equaled 4.15 times funded indebtedness. Under the most restrictive fixed charge coverage ratio, the sum of EBITDA and rental expense less cash taxes must be at least 1.50 times the sum of interest expense, rental expense, dividends and scheduled funded debt payments. At November 30, 2008, the Company maintained such a fixed charge coverage ratio of 2.68 times. Under the most restrictive provisions of the Company's lending agreements, approximately $26,800,000 of retained earnings was not restricted, at November 30, 2008, as to the declaration of cash dividends or the repurchase of Company stock. At November 30, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all covenants.

The Revolver, the 5.36% term notes and the 4.25% term notes are collateralized by substantially all of the Company's assets. The industrial revenue bonds are supported by standby letters of credit that are issued under the Revolver. The interest rate on the industrial development bonds is based on a weekly index of taxexempt issues plus a spread of .20%. Certain note agreements contain provisions regarding the Company's ability to grant security interests or liens in association with other debt instruments. If the Company grants such a security interest or lien, then such notes will be secured equally and ratably as long as such other debt shall be secured.

Interest income and expense were as follows for the year ended November 30:

(In thousands) 2008 2007 2006

Interest income $ 3,871 $ 5,161
2,899
Interest expense (2,338) (3,234) ( 4,581)
 
Interest income/(expense), net $ 1,533 $ 1,927 $ (1,682)

The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of the Company's debt is prepared in accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements." SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value and enhances disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The estimated fair value amounts were determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is required to develop the estimated fair value, thus the estimates provided herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange.

(In thousands)
Carrying
Amount
Fair
Value

November 30, 2008    
Fixed-rate, long - term debt
$ 37,052
$ 35,545
Variable-rate, long - term debt
15,700
15,700
 
November 30, 2007
Fixed-rate, long - term debt
$ 55,274
$ 55,274
Variable-rate, long - term debt
19,374
19,374

The Company used a discounted cash flow technique that incorporates a market interest yield curve with adjustments for duration, optionality and risk profile. The estimated fair value of the Company's fixed-rate, long-term debt is based on U.S. government notes at November 30, 2008 plus an estimated spread for similar securities with similar credit risks and remaining maturities.

 

Note Twelve

 
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