Air Industries Group, an integrated Tier 1 manufacturer of precision assemblies and components for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications, and a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense, announced Webster Bank (formerly Sterling National Bank) has agreed to expand the size of its existing term loan and establish a capital expenditure line of credit to finance future purchases of machinery and equipment. The transaction closed on May 17.

The new Webster Bank term loan has an initial principal amount of $5 million. These funds will be used to retire the existing term loan of approximately $3.1 million, retire a capital lease of approximately $250,000, and purchase two CNC milling centers for an aggregate of $870,000. In addition to the term loan, Webster Bank has extended a new $2.0 million capital expenditure line of credit to be used to purchase new machinery and equipment.

All advances under the term loan and the capital expenditure line of credit are amortizable over seven years (84 months), mature on December 31, 2026, and bear interest at the greater of (I) 3.5 percent per annum or (ii) 30-day LIBOR plus 250 basis points or (iii) Prime Rate less 65 basis points. The current interest rate is 3.5 percent.

Lou Melluzzo, CEO of Air Industries said, “Webster Bank became Air Industries’ primary lender in January 2020. Their support over the past two and one-half years has been a great benefit to us. We have previously announced significant capital investments to expand the capabilities and improve the efficiency of our operations. This expands our term loan and capital expenditure line of credit by nearly $4 million and will enable us to complete the purchase of several major new pieces of equipment, including the CNC machines, costing over $2.2 million, and to continue our modernization program into 2023.

“I would also like to point out that over the past two years Air Industries has significantly reduced its prior term loan through principal payments. In December 2020, our term loan had a principal balance of over $5.6 million and this has been reduced by $2.5 million. This transaction essentially allows us to re-borrow what we had paid back and reinvest those proceeds in the business.”