NOTE 12 - Income Taxes
The Company applies the provisions of the accounting standard for uncertain tax positions to its income taxes. For benefits to be realized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement.
As of April 30, 2011, the total gross unrecognized tax benefits increased by approximately $1.7 million to $25.1 million, including interest and penalty.
As of April 30, 2011, the gross amounts of the Company's liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits were classified as long term income taxes payable and as long term receivables, respectively, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Over the next twelve months, the Company's existing positions will continue to generate an increase in liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits, as well as a likely decrease in liabilities as a result of the lapse of the applicable statute of limitations and the conclusion of income tax audits. The expected decrease in liabilities relating to unrecognized tax benefits will have a positive effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial position when realized. The Company recognized interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. The amount of interest and penalties accrued for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 was approximately $1.1 million.
The Company files income tax returns in the US federal jurisdiction, various states, Canada and the United Kingdom. The Company is currently under audit by the states of New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida for fiscal years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The Company is no longer subject to US federal and state income tax examination for fiscal years prior to 2007, with the exception of New Jersey. At this time, the Company does not believe that the outcome of any examination will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial position.
The Company has not provided US federal income and foreign withholding taxes from undistributed earnings of its foreign operations, including Copart Europe, because it plans to permanently reinvest the earnings of its foreign operations as of April 30, 2011. If these earnings were distributed, foreign tax credits may become available under current law to reduce or eliminate the resultant US income tax liability.
NOTE 13 - Credit Facility
On December 14, 2010, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Facility Agreement (Credit Facility), which supersedes the Company's previously disclosed credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (Bank of America). The Credit Facility is an unsecured credit agreement providing for (i) a $100.0 million Revolving Credit Facility, including a $100.0 million alternative currency borrowing sublimit and a $50.0 million letter of credit sublimit (the Revolving Credit) and (ii) a term loan facility of $400.0 million (Term Loan).
On January 14, 2011 the full $400.0 million provided under the Term Loan was borrowed. The Term Loan matures and all outstanding borrowings are due on December 14, 2015, with quarterly payments of $12.5 million in principal plus interest to be made beginning March 31, 2011 through the maturity date. All amounts borrowed under the Term Loan may be prepaid without premium or penalty. During the quarter ended April 30, 2011, the Company made principal repayments of $12.5 million. At April 30, 2011, the outstanding Term Loan balance is $387.5 million.
Amounts borrowed under the Credit Facility bear interest, subject to certain restrictions, at a fluctuating rate based on (i) the Eurocurrency Rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate or (iii) the Prime Rate as described in the Credit Facility. A default interest rate applies on all obligations during an event of default under the credit facility, at a rate per annum equal to 2.0% above the otherwise applicable interest rate. At the end of the period the interest rate was the Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.50%. The Credit Facility is guaranteed by the Company's material domestic subsidiaries. The carrying value of the loan payable approximates its fair value at April 30, 2011 due to the nature of the loan.
Amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit may be repaid and reborrowed until the maturity date, which is December 14, 2015. The Credit Facility requires the Company to pay a commitment fee on the unused portion of the Revolving Credit. The commitment fee ranges from 0.075% to 0.125% per annum depending on the Company's leverage ratio, as of the end on the previous quarter. The Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit at the end of the period.
The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties and may place certain business operating restrictions on us relating to, among other things, indebtedness, liens and other encumbrances, investments, mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, dividends and distributions and redemptions of capital stock. In addition, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for the following financial covenants: 1) earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), 2) leverage ratio, 3) interest coverage ratio, and 4) limitations on capital expenditures. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains events of default that include, among others, non-payment of principal, interest or fees, violation of covenants, inaccuracy of representations and warranties, cross-defaults to certain other indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency defaults, material judgments, invalidity of the loan documents and events constituting a change of control. The Company is in compliance with all covenants as of April 30, 2011. Please refer to the commercial commitment table in the Lease, Purchase, and Other Contractual Obligations section for the payment schedule.