Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

15. Subsequent Events

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15. Subsequent Events
3 Months Ended
Apr. 01, 2017
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
Subsequent Events

MidCap Financing

On May 10, 2017, Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“we”) entered into a Credit and Security Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with MidCap Financial Trust, as a Lender and as Agent for itself and other lenders under the Credit Agreement (the “Lender”). The Credit Agreement provides us with a $12 million revolving line of credit, which may be increased to $16 million under certain terms and conditions. The Credit Agreement has a stated maturity date of May 10, 2020, if not renewed. The Credit Agreement is collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of our assets. The Lender is also secured by an inventory repurchase agreement with Whirlpool Corporation for Whirlpool purchases only. The Credit Agreement requires that we meet a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00:1.00 for the applicable measuring period as of the end of each calendar month. The applicable measuring period is (i) the period commencing May 1, 2017 and ending on the last day of each calendar month from May 31, 2017 through April 30, 2018, and (ii) the twelve-month period ending on the last day of such calendar month thereafter. The Credit Agreement limits the amount of other debt we can incur, the amount we can spend on fixed assets, and the amount of investments we can make, along with prohibiting the payment of dividends.

The amount of revolving borrowings available under the Credit Agreement is based on a formula using receivables and inventories. We may not have access to the full $12 million revolving line of credit due to the formula using our receivables and inventories and the amount of any outstanding letters of credit issued by the Lender. As of May 10, 2017, the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement was $2,700 and our available borrowing capacity was $3,017. The interest rate on the revolving line of credit is the one month LIBOR rate plus four and one-half percent (4.50%). As of May 10, 2017, the interest rate was .98856%.

In connection with this Credit Agreement, we paid off and terminated our existing Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, as amended, with PNC Bank, National Association on the same date.

Sales and Use Tax Assessment

 

We operate in twenty-three states in the U.S. and in various provinces in Canada. From time to time, we are subject to sales and use tax audits that could result in additional taxes, penalties and interest owed to various taxing authorities.

 

As previously disclosed, the California Board of Equalization (“BOE”) conducted a sales and use tax examination covering the California operations of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (the “Company”) for 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Company believed it was exempt from collecting sales taxes under service agreements with utility customers that included appliance replacement programs. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company received communication from the BOE indicating they were not in agreement with the Company’s interpretation of the law. As a result, the Company applied for and, as of February 9, 2015, received approval to participate in the California Board of Equalization’s Managed Audit Program. The period covered under this program included 2011, 2012, 2013 and extended through the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014.

 

On April 13, 2017 the Company received the formal BOE assessment for sales tax for tax years 2011, 2012 and 2013 in the amount of $4.1 million plus applicable interest of $0.5 million related to the appliance replacement programs that we administered on behalf of our customers on which we did not assess, collect or remit sales tax. The Company will appeal this assessment and continue to engage the services of our existing retained sales tax experts throughout the appeal process. The BOE tax assessment is subject to protest and appeal, and would not need to be funded until the matter has been fully resolved through the appeal process. Resolution could take up to two years.