SUPERIOR GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. [SGC] Filings

NOTE 1 – Description of Business and Basis of Presentation:

Description of business

Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “the Company,” “Superior,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) was organized in 1920 and was incorporated in 1922 as a New York company under the name Superior Surgical Mfg. Co., Inc. In 1998, the Company changed its name to Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and its state of incorporation to Florida. Effective on May 3, 2018, Superior Uniform Group, Inc. changed its name to Superior Group of Companies, Inc.

Superior’s Branded Products segment, primarily through its signature marketing brands BAMKO® and HPI®, produces and sells customized merchandising solutions, promotional products and branded uniform programs. Branded products are manufactured through third parties or in Superior’s own facilities, and are sold to customers in a wide range of industries, including retail, hotel, food service, entertainment, technology, transportation and other industries. The segment currently has sales offices in the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Colombia, with support services in China and India.

Superior’s Healthcare Apparel segment, primarily through its signature marketing brands Fashion Seal Healthcare® and WonderWink® (also referred to as “Wink™"), manufactures (through third parties or in its own facilities) and sells a wide range of healthcare apparel, such as scrubs, lab coats, protective apparel and patient gowns. This segment sells healthcare service apparel to healthcare laundries, dealers, distributors and retailers primarily in the United States.

Superior’s Contact Centers segment, through multiple The Office Gurus® entities, including subsidiaries in El Salvador, Belize, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and the United States (collectively, “TOG”), provides outsourced, nearshore business process outsourcing, contact and call-center support services to North American customers.

NOTE 2 – Inventories:

Inventories consisted of the following amounts (in thousands):

Debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

On August 23, 2022, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the domestic subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto (the “Lenders”), and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”), pursuant to which the Lenders are providing the Company senior secured credit facilities maturing in August 2027 consisting of a revolving credit facility in the aggregate maximum principal amount of $125.0 million and a term loan in the original aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million (collectively, the “Credit Facilities”), and the ability to request incremental revolving credit or term loan facilities in an aggregate amount of up to an additional $75.0 million, subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain other conditions. 

On May 4, 2023, the Company and its domestic subsidiaries entered into the First Amendment to its Credit Agreement with the Administrative Agent and the lenders, which (i) provides a covenant relief period through December 31, 2023, which the Company may opt to terminate during the fourth quarter of 2023 if it has a consolidated total net leverage ratio at or below 4.0 to 1.0 for the two preceding consecutive fiscal quarters; (ii) permits a maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio of 4.5 to 1.0, 4.8 to 1.0, 4.5 to 1.0 and 4.0 to 1.0 for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2023, respectively; (iii) amends the applicable margin pricing grid to add a tier of applicable margins (2.5% for secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) rate loans) if the consolidated total net leverage ratio is greater than or equal to 4.0 to 1.0, which tier would only apply during the covenant relief period; (iv) prohibits capital expenditures during the covenant relief period that exceed $10 million, with additional limitations imposed on a quarterly basis; (v) prohibits acquisitions and incremental loans during the covenant relief period; (vi) adds sale and leaseback transactions to the list of transactions that require the Company to use the net proceeds thereof to make a mandatory prepayment under the Credit Agreement; (vii) limits restricted payments to $20 million in any fiscal year, and no more than $10 million during the covenant relief period, with additional limitations imposed on a quarterly basis during the covenant relief period; and (viii) lowers the amount of permissible investments in non-loan party subsidiaries to $5 million during the covenant relief period.

Obligations outstanding under the Credit Facilities accrue interest at a variable rate equal to the SOFR plus an adjustment between 0.10% and 0.25% (depending on the applicable interest period) plus a margin between 1.0% and 2.0% (depending on the Company’s net leverage ratio). During the covenant relief period described above, the applicable margin may reach 2.5% for SOFR rate loans. The weighted average interest rate on our outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facilities was 7.2% at June 30, 2023. During the term of the revolving credit facility, the Company will pay a commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility equal to between 0.125% and 0.250% (depending on the Company’s net leverage ratio). During the covenant relief period, the commitment fee may reach 0.300%. The available balance under the revolving credit facility is reduced by outstanding letters of credit. As of June 30, 2023, there were no outstanding letters of credit under the revolving credit facility.

Contractual principal payments for the term loan are as follows: remainder of 2023 - $1.9 million; 2024 - $4.7 million; 2025 - $5.6 million; 2026 - $6.6 million and 2027 - $52.5 million. The term loan does not contain pre-payment penalties.

The Credit Facilities are secured by substantially all of the operating assets of the Company, and the Company’s obligations under the Credit Facilities are guaranteed by all of its domestic subsidiaries. The Company’s obligations under the Credit Facilities are subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of an event of default as defined in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default and negative covenants, including but not limited to those governing indebtedness, liens, fundamental changes, investments, restricted payments (including dividends and related distributions), liquidations, mergers, consolidations or acquisitions, affiliate transactions and sales of assets or subsidiaries. The Credit Agreement also requires the Company to comply with a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.25 to 1.0 and a net leverage ratio not to exceed 4.0 to 1.0, except during the covenant relief period as described above. The Company’s net leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is generally calculated as the ratio of (a) indebtedness minus unrestricted cash to (b) consolidated EBITDA for the four most recently ended fiscal quarters. As of June 30, 2023, the Company was in compliance with these ratios as the Company’s fixed charge coverage and net leverage ratios were 2.0 to 1.0 and 3.7 to 1.0, respectively. 

NOTE 4 – Periodic Pension Cost:

The Company is the sponsor of an unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan ("SERP") which includes one active participant.

The following table details the net periodic pension cost under the Company’s SERP for the periods presented (in thousands):

The service cost component is included in selling and administrative expenses in our statements of comprehensive income (loss) and the other components of net periodic pension cost are included in other periodic pension costs in our statements of comprehensive income (loss).

NOTE 5 – Net Sales:

For our Branded Products and Healthcare Apparel segments, revenue is primarily generated from the sale of finished products to customers. Revenues for our Branded Products and Healthcare Apparel segments are recognized when the performance obligations under the contract terms are satisfied. For certain contracts with customers in which the Company has an enforceable right to payment for goods with no alternative use, revenue is recognized over time upon receipt of finished goods into inventory. Revenue for goods that do have an alternative use or that the customer is not obligated to purchase under the terms of a contract is generally recognized when the goods are transferred to the customer. Revenue from the sale of personal protective equipment, including facemasks, isolation gowns, sanitizers and gloves, is generally recognized at a point in time when the goods are transferred to the customer, which typically occurs upon shipment or delivery depending on the terms of the underlying contract. The Company includes shipping and handling fees billable to customers in net sales. Shipping and handling activities that occur after the transfer of promised goods are accrued as control is transferred to the customer rather than being treated as a separate performance obligation.

For our Contact Centers segment, revenue is generated from providing our customers with contact center services. Revenue for our Contact Centers segment is recognized as services are delivered. 

Revenue is measured at the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for the goods or services. Variable consideration for estimated returns, allowances and other price variances is recorded based upon historical experience and current allowance programs. Contract terms may involve variable consideration clauses such as sales discounts and customer rebates, and revenue is adjusted accordingly for these provisions. Estimated amounts are included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The promised amount of consideration in a contract is not adjusted for the effects of a significant financing component when we expect, at contract inception, that the period between our transfer of a promised good or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that product or service will be one year or less. Sales taxes are excluded from the measurement of a performance obligation’s transaction price. Sales commissions are expensed as incurred when we expect that the amortization period of such costs will be one year or less.

The following table presents disaggregated revenue by operating segment for the periods presented (in thousands):

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

The following table provides information about accounts receivable, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers (in thousands):

Contract assets relate to goods produced without an alternative use for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment but which has not yet been invoiced to the customer. The majority of the amounts included in contract assets on December 31, 2022 were transferred to accounts receivable during the six months ended June 30, 2023. Contract liabilities relate to payments received in advance of the Company completing its performance under a contract. Contract liabilities are included in other current liabilities in our balance sheets. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, $2.0 million of revenue was recognized from the contract liabilities balance as of December 31, 2022.

NOTE 6 – Contingencies:

The purchase price to acquire substantially all of the assets of Sutter’s Mill Specialties, Inc. (“Sutter’s Mill”) in December 2021 included contingent consideration based on varying levels of Sutter’s Mill’s EBITDA in each measurement period from 2022 to 2024. In July 2023, management agreed to settle the remaining contingent consideration obligation associated with this acquisition for $0.5 million payable in the first quarter of 2024. The purchase price to acquire substantially all of the assets of Guardian Products, Inc. (“Guardian”) in  May 2022 included contingent consideration based on varying levels of Guardian’s EBITDA in each measurement period through  April 2025. The estimated fair value of Guardian acquisition-related contingent consideration payable as of June 30, 2023 was $1.7 million, of which $0.8 million is expected to be paid in the third quarter of 2023. The total estimated undiscounted remaining payment related to this contingent consideration payable is between $1.9 million and $2.5 million. The Company will continue to evaluate the Guardian liability for remeasurement at the end of each reporting period and any changes will be recorded in the Company’s statements of comprehensive income (loss). The carrying amount of the liability may fluctuate significantly and actual amounts paid may be different from the estimated value of the liability.

The Company is involved in various legal actions and claims arising from the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate outcome of these matters is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows, or financial position.

NOTE 7 – Share-Based Compensation:

Share-based compensation expense is recorded in selling and administrative expense in the statements of comprehensive income (loss). The following table details the share-based compensation expense by type of award for the periods presented (in thousands):

Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”)

The Company grants stock options and stock-settled SARs to employees that allow them to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Stock options are also granted to outside members of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company determines the fair value of stock options and SARs at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

All stock options and SARs granted prior to August 3, 2018 vested immediately when granted. Awards issued thereafter vest between one and three years after the grant date. Employee awards expire five years after the grant date, and those issued to directors expire ten years after the grant date. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of stock options and SARs. Stock options, as well as SARs granted in tandem with stock options, are subject to accelerated vesting under certain circumstances as outlined in the 2013 Incentive Stock and Awards Plan (the “2013 Plan”) or 2022 Equity Incentive and Awards Plan (the “2022 Plan”), as applicable. 

A summary of stock option transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2023 follows:

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $1.5 million in unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options to be recognized over the remaining weighted average vesting period of 1.6 years.

A summary of stock-settled SARs transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2023 follows: