Form 10-Q for American Vanguard Corporation
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                      TO                     

Commission file number 001-13795

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

 

Delaware   95-2588080

(State or other jurisdiction of

Incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

4695 MacArthur Court, Newport Beach, California   92660
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 


(949) 260-1200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer ¨   Accelerated Filer x   Non-Accelerated Filer ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, $.10 Par Value—26,393,724 shares as of November 7, 2007.

 



Table of Contents

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

INDE X

 

          Page Number

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

   Financial Statements (unaudited).   
  

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

   1
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006

   2
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

   4
  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   6

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   13

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    19

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    19

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

   20

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    20

Item 6.

   Exhibits    23

SIGNATURES

   24


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the three months
ended September 30
    For the nine months
ended September 30
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net sales

   $ 56,641     $ 51,244     $ 147,575     $ 138,709  

Cost of sales

     32,480       28,917       82,770       80,417  
                                

Gross profit

     24,161       22,327       64,805       58,292  

Operating expenses

     14,145       14,735       41,621       39,773  
                                

Operating income

     10,016       7,592       23,184       18,519  

Interest expense

     1,105       717       4,808       2,347  

Interest income

     (70 )     (6 )     (103 )     (29 )

Interest capitalized

     —         (200 )     (30 )     (530 )
                                

Income before income taxes

     8,981       7,081       18,509       16,731  

Income tax expense

     3,534       2,832       7,345       6,692  
                                

Net income

   $ 5,447     $ 4,249     $ 11,164     $ 10,039  
                                

Earnings per common share—basic

   $ .21     $ .16     $ .42     $ .39  
                                

Earnings per common share—assuming dilution

   $ .20     $ .16     $ .41     $ .37  
                                

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

     26,382       26,081       26,273       25,871  
                                

Weighted average shares outstanding—assuming dilution

     27,449       27,258       27,355       27,237  
                                

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

ASSETS (note 7)

 

     Sept. 30,
2007
   Dec. 31,
2006
     (Unaudited)    (Note)

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,996    $ 1,844

Receivables:

     

Trade

     60,820      75,158

Other

     580      586
             
     61,400      75,744
             

Inventories

     66,230      66,628

Prepaid expenses

     1,620      1,354
             

Total current assets

     134,246      145,570

Property, plant and equipment, net

     33,985      36,652

Land held for development

     211      211

Intangible assets

     79,520      79,030

Other assets

     1,376      913
             
   $ 249,338    $ 262,376
             

 

 

(Continued)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

     Sept. 30,
2007
    Dec. 31,
2006
 
     (Unaudited)     (Note)  

Current liabilities:

    

Current installments of long-term debt

   $ 4,106     $ 4,106  

Accounts payable

     15,026       15,688  

Accrued program costs

     32,682       17,893  

Accrued expenses and other payables

     5,926       5,397  

Income taxes payable

     2,795       3,253  
                

Total current liabilities

     60,535       46,337  

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

     55,181       93,761  

Deferred income taxes

     1,401       1,401  
                

Total liabilities

     117,117       141,499  
                

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Notes 7, 11 and 12)

    

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Preferred stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 400,000 shares; none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued 28,620,520 shares at September 30, 2007 and 28,354,322 shares at December 31, 2006

     2,863       2,835  

Additional paid-in capital

     36,574       34,821  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     89       (148 )

Retained earnings

     95,440       86,114  
                
     134,966       123,622  

Less treasury stock, at cost, 2,226,796 shares at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006

     (2,745 )     (2,745 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     132,221       120,877  
                
   $ 249,338     $ 262,376  
                

Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2006 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date.

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

For The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

(Unaudited)

 

Increase (decrease) in cash

   2007     2006  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 11,164     $ 10,039  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     7,327       4,791  

Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options and employee stock purchases

     581       419  

Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:

    

Decrease (increase) in receivables

     14,344       (2,635 )

Decrease (increase) in inventories

     398       (16,191 )

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

     (849 )     (756 )

Decrease in accounts payable

     (662 )     (13,096 )

Increase in other current liabilities

     13,256       7,523  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     45,559       (9,906 )
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (1,887 )     (5,719 )

Additions to intangible assets

     (3,263 )     (118 )

Net decrease in other non-current assets

     120       5  
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (5,030 )     (5,832 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Net (repayments) borrowings under line of credit agreement

     (35,500 )     16,000  

Principal payments on long-term debt

     (3,080 )     (23,080 )

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock (private equity placement, exercise of stock options and sale of stock under ESPP)

     1,781       24,448  

Payment of cash dividends

     (1,047 )     (1,381 )

Tax benefits from stock-based compensation

     232       167  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (37,614 )     16,154  
                

Net increase in cash

     2,915       416  

Cash at beginning of year

     1,844       1,342  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     237       44  
                

Cash as of September 30

   $ 4,996     $ 1,802  
                

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financial activities:

On September 11, 2007, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.03 per share. The dividend was distributed on October 12, 2007, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 28, 2007. Cash dividends paid October 12, 2007 totaled approximately $791,000.

On March 13, 2007, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.04 per share. The dividend was distributed on April 13, 2007 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 30, 2007. Cash dividends paid April 13, 2007 totaled $1,047,000.

 

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On September 14, 2006, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.03 per share. The dividend was distributed on October 13, 2006, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 29, 2006. Cash dividends paid October 13, 2006 totaled approximately $783,000.

On March 23, 2006, the Board of Directors declared a 4 for 3 stock split and a cash dividend of $0.07 per share ($0.0525 as adjusted for the 4 for 3 stock split). Both dividends were distributed on April 17, 2006 to stockholders of record at the close of business on April 3, 2006. The cash dividend was paid on the number of shares outstanding prior to the 4 for 3 stock split. Stockholders entitled to fractional shares resulting from the stock split received cash in lieu of such fractional share based on the closing price of the Company’s stock on April 3, 2006.

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Columnar Numbers in thousands except for Note 10 and share data)

(Unaudited)

1. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2007. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

2. Property, plant and equipment at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 consists of the following:

 

    

September 30,

2007

  

December 31,

2006

Land

   $ 2,441    $ 2,441

Buildings and improvements

     6,791      6,699

Machinery and equipment

     65,760      58,529

Office furniture, fixtures and equipment

     4,950      4,853

Automotive equipment

     268      209

Construction in progress

     1,826      7,418
             
     82,036      80,149

Less accumulated depreciation

     48,051      43,497
             
   $ 33,985    $ 36,652
             

3. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. The components of inventories consist of the following:

 

     September 30,
2007
  

December 31,

2006

Finished products

   $ 58,715    $ 58,060

Raw materials

     7,515      8,568
             
   $ 66,230    $ 66,628
             

4. Based on similar economic and operational characteristics, the Company’s business is aggregated into one reportable segment. Selective enterprise information is as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30

   Nine Months Ended
September 30
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Net sales:

           

Crop

   $ 49,774    $ 40,822    $ 125,368    $ 113,062

Non-crop

     6,867      10,422      22,207      25,647
                           
   $ 56,641    $ 51,244    $ 147,575    $ 138,709
                           

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

 

5. On September 11, 2007, the Company announced that the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.03 per share. The dividend was distributed on October 12, 2007, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 28, 2007. Cash dividends paid October 12, 2007 totaled approximately $791,000.

On March 13, 2007, the Company announced that the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.04 per share. The dividend was distributed on April 13, 2007 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 30, 2007. Cash dividends paid April 13, 2007 totaled $1,047,000.

6. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128, Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) requires dual presentation of basic EPS and diluted EPS on the face of all income statements. Basic EPS is computed as net income divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts, which, for the Company, consists of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock are exercised.

The components of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30

   Nine Months Ended
September 30
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Numerator:

           

Net income

   $ 5,447    $ 4,249    $ 11,164    $ 10,039
                           

Denominator:

           

Weighted averages shares outstanding

     26,382      26,081      26,273      25,871

Assumed exercise of stock options

     1,067      1,177      1,082      1,366
                           
     27,449      27,258      27,355      27,237
                           

7. Substantially all of the Company’s assets not otherwise specifically pledged as collateral on existing loans and capital leases are pledged as collateral under the Company’s credit agreement with its banks. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto (specifically note 2) included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

8. Reclassification—Certain items may have been reclassified (if appropriate), in the prior period consolidated financial statements to conform with the September 30, 2007 presentation.

9. Total comprehensive income includes, in addition to net income, changes in equity that are excluded from the consolidated statements of operations and are recorded directly into a separate section of stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets.

Comprehensive income and its components consist of the following:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Net income

   $ 5,447    $ 4,249    $ 11,164    $ 10,039

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     104      53      237      44
                           

Comprehensive income

   $ 5,551    $ 4,302    $ 11,401    $ 10,083
                           

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

 

10. Stock Based Compensation Expense—The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees and directors in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” (“SFAS 123(R)”) which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors including employee stock options and employee stock purchases related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“employee stock purchases”) based on estimated fair values.

Options issued to consultants are being accounted for in accordance with the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) No. 96-18, “Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Others Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services.”

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company granted a 10-year option to an employee to acquire 6,349 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $15.75. The option was immediately vested on the date of grant. The option was valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at $6.48 per share and the company recognized a corresponding expense of $41,141 when granted. Assumptions used to value the option were: expected term of 5 years, expected volatility of 35%, expected annual dividends of 0.5%, and a risk-free interest rate of 4.65%.

There were no options granted during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2006. There were no options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2007.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, employees exercised options to acquire 152,906 shares of common stock. Cash received upon exercise was $711,205 or $4.65 per share. At the time of exercise, total intrinsic value of the options exercised was approximately $1,624,000 (or $10.62 per share). During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, employees exercised options to acquire 274,504 shares of common stock. Cash received upon exercise was $930,198 or $3.39 per share. At the time of exercise, total intrinsic value of the options exercised was approximately $4,986,000 (or $14.88 per share). The Company did not receive a tax deduction from incentive stock options exercised in the 2006 period.

There were no options terminated in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, options to acquire 13,334 shares of common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $12.94 were terminated. The shares were not vested when terminated.

As of September 30, 2007, the Company had approximately $147,000 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses, which will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.0 years. This projected expense will change if any stock options are granted or cancelled prior to the respective reporting periods or if there are any changes required to be made for estimated forfeitures.

11. Legal Proceedings—On occasion, the Company and/or AMVAC Chemical Corporation (“AMVAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, are involved as either a plaintiff or defendant to claims and legal actions incidental to their operations.

Personal Injury Suits

A number of suits have been filed against AMVAC, alleging injury from exposure to the agricultural chemical 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (“DBCP”). DBCP was manufactured by several chemical companies, including Dow Chemical Company and Shell Oil Company and was approved by the U.S. EPA to control nematodes. DBCP was also applied on banana farms in Latin America. The U.S. EPA suspended registrations of DBCP in October 1979, except for use on pineapples in Hawaii. The EPA suspension was partially based on

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

 

1977 studies by other manufacturers that indicated a link between male sterility and exposure to DBCP among their factory production workers producing the product. The defendants contend there is currently no reliable evidence demonstrating that ordinary field application of DBCP leads to sterility among farm workers, especially to those not involved with its application.

Thus far there are approximately 90 lawsuits filed by former banana workers in which AMVAC has been named as a party. These claims are all in various stages and allege injury from exposure to DBCP, including claims for sterility. With respect to one such lawsuit, Tellez et al. v. Dole Food Company, Inc., et al, which involved 13 Nicaraguan plaintiffs and had been filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on March 26, 2004, AMVAC has entered into a settlement, which was approved by the court on April 24, 2007. The Tellez trial commenced on July 19, 2007 against Dole Food and Dow Chemical, and on November 5, 2007, the jury reached the following verdict: for six (of 12) plaintiffs, the jury found that there was no basis for recovery on any of the claims; and for the other six plaintiffs, the jury awarded a total of approximately $3.3 million in compensatory damages on the claims of strict liability (as against both defendants) and fraudulent concealment (as against Dole Food alone). No decision has been reached with respect to any potential award for punitive damages. We understand that Dole intends to appeal the decision.

Another such lawsuit, Rodolfo Mejia et al. v. Dole Food Company, Inc., et al, currently involving 23 Nicaraguan plaintiffs, remains pending in the Los Angeles Superior Court, but has been stayed pending resolution of Tellez with the remaining defendants. On October 26, 2007, another lawsuit, entitled Hilario Valenzuela Rivera et al. v. Dole Food Company, Inc., et al., involving four Nicaraguan plaintiffs, was filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court; there has been no other activity in the matter.

Most of the cases, however, are unserved suits pending in Nicaragua. All but one of the suits in Nicaragua have been filed pursuant to Public Law 364, an October 2000 Nicaraguan statute that contains substantive and procedural provisions that Nicaragua’s Attorney General previously expressed as unconstitutional. In October 2003, the Nicaragua Supreme Court issued an advisory opinion, not in connection with any litigation, that Public Law 364 is constitutional. The suits pending in Nicaragua that name AMVAC have been filed on behalf of approximately 3,592 claimants. Each of the Nicaraguan plaintiffs claims $1 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. In all of these cases, AMVAC is a joint defendant with Dow Chemical and Dole Food Company, Inc. AMVAC contends that the Nicaragua courts lack jurisdiction over AMVAC and that Public Law 364 violates international due process of law. AMVAC also contends that the plaintiffs will have difficulty in proving that they were exposed to or injured by any DBCP manufactured by AMVAC. In the two cases pending before Nicaraguan courts in which AMVAC has been served, the court has denied AMVAC’s objection to jurisdiction, which is being appealed.

On October 6, 2006, AMVAC was served with seven suits filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and one suit in the United States District Court in Los Angeles that include a total of 668 residents of the Ivory Coast as plaintiffs. Each plaintiff claims personal injuries from exposure to DBCP on banana or pineapple plantations in that country. AMVAC denies any liability as none of its product was designated or marked for shipment to the Ivory Coast or anywhere in Africa. The suits name AMVAC, Dow Chemical, Shell Oil Company, and Dole Food as defendants. On defendants’ motion to dismiss all federal claims (under the Alien Tort Claims Act) for failure to state a claim, the federal court dismissed the federal lawsuit with prejudice on August 22, 2007. Plaintiffs subsequently appealed the dismissal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, which is pending. The seven state court suits have been declared complex and have been assigned to the same judge who is handling both the Tellez and Mejia cases in the complex case management program. A status conference is scheduled for December 6, 2007, at which time permission to conduct initial discovery will be discussed.

In October 1997, Amvac was served with complaints in which it was named as a defendant, filed in the Circuit Court, First Circuit, State of Hawaii and in the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit, State of Hawaii (two

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

 

identical suits) entitled Patrickson, et. al. v. Dole Food Co., et. al., alleging damages sustained from injuries caused by plaintiffs’ exposure to DBCP while applying the product in their native countries. The ten named plaintiffs are citizens of four countries—Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. Punitive damages are sought against each defendant. The plaintiffs were banana workers and allege that they were exposed to DBCP in their native countries from 1959 through at least 1997. The case was also filed as a class action on behalf of other workers so exposed in these four countries. The plaintiffs allege sterility and other injuries. On September 12, 2006, the court transferred venue from Maui County to Oahu. On February 16, 2007, the case was assigned to a judge in Oahu. Preliminary issues are class certification and/or the addition of class members as individual defendants. Written discovery to defendants was conducted on venue-related issues. The court held a status conference on April 16, 2007 and tentatively set the case for trial for February 16, 2009. The plaintiffs were requested to file a preliminary motion for class certification but have not done so to date.

While it is anticipated that additional lawsuits of this nature may be filed in the US as well as in Nicaragua, as to all existing DBCP suits, AMVAC has denied liability and asserted substantial defenses. Further, with respect to existing DBCP suits, it is not possible to make a judgment on the likelihood of there being an adverse judgment against AMVAC or whether any such judgment could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

Other Matters

On July 19, 2006, AMVAC’s registered agent was served with a putative class action complaint entitled Latrice McLendon, et al. v. Philip Service Corporation etc. et al (including AMVAC), which was filed in the Superior State Court of Fulton County, State of Georgia No. 2006CN119863 and subsequently removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia No. 1:06-CV-1770-CAP, in which a class of Georgia plaintiffs seek damages, including punitive damages, in an unspecified amount for personal injuries and diminution in property value allegedly arising from the airborne release of propyl mercaptan and ethoprop from a waste treatment facility operated by PSC Recovery Services (“PSC”) in Fairburn, Georgia. Plaintiffs, residents living in the vicinity of the PSC plant, allege trespass, nuisance and negligence on behalf of defendants in handling, storing and treating waste which was generated by AMVAC’s Axis, Alabama facility. After having completed class certification discovery, and prior to a ruling from the court on certification of the class, the parties engaged in mediation on September 19, 2007 before a neutral mediator. Working in conjunction with their insurance carriers at the mediation, defendants AMVAC and PSC have agreed in principle to settle the matter with a settlement class of approximately 2,000 households for payment of cash consideration. The settlement process involves multiple steps to be taken over several months and requires both preliminary and final court approval. As currently proposed, the settlement would not have an adverse effect upon the Company’s financial condition and operating results. However, the settlement is not yet final, members of the settlement class remain free to opt out of the settlement and to preserve their individual rights, and it is not anticipated that the settlement will include mutual releases between co-defendants. In addition, each co-defendant’s insurance carrier has reserved all rights under applicable insurance policies, including rights to subrogation and contribution. On a related note, on April 16, 2007, AMVAC executed a draft consent order (including an agreement to pay a civil penalty with the option to perform a supplemental environmental project in partial payment thereof) with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (“ADEM”) for resolution of alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations arising from AMVAC’s storage of washwater and other materials that were returned to AMVAC by PSC in connection with activities that are the subject of the McLendon litigation; the consent order has been finalized, and ADEM is evaluating AMVAC’s proposed supplemental environmental project.

On May 30, 2007, AMVAC’s registered agent was served with a summons, complaint and motion for preliminary injunction by Aceto Agricultural Chemicals Corporation (“Aceto”) in a matter entitled Aceto

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

 

Agricultural Chemicals Corporation v. AMVAC Chemical Corporation, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division as Case No. 1:07-CV-1236-CC. In this action, plaintiff seeks damages and injunctive relief for alleged antitrust violations arising from AMVAC’s purchase of the patent relating to the EZ Load® closed delivery system. Aceto, which has sold a generic version of the insecticide phorate through the EZ Load system, was licensee under a license with the former patent holder which permitted Aceto to use the EZ Load system through August 1, 2007. Aceto seeks, among other things, to enjoin AMVAC from asserting its patent rights following the expiration of Aceto’s license. AMVAC believes that this case has no merit and plans to defend it vigorously. The hearing on plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction concluded on October 26, 2007, and the court has taken the matter under advisement. It is too early in this case, however, to make an assessment of the likelihood of there being an adverse judgment against AMVAC or whether such judgment could have an adverse effect upon the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company may, from time to time, be involved in other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of its business. The results of litigation, including those described above, cannot be predicted with certainty. The Company has and will continue to expend resources and incur expenses in connection with these proceedings. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in these proceedings. While the Company continually evaluates insurance levels for product liability, property damage and other potential areas of risk, an adverse determination in one or more of these proceedings could subject the Company to significant liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and operating results.

12. Recently Issued Accounting Guidance—In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”, which provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to reduce both complexity in accounting for financial instruments and the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. SFAS No. 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008. The Company has not completed its evaluation of SFAS No. 159 but it does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 159 to have a material effect on its operating results or financial position.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans. The statement requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income. This statement was effective as of the end of the fiscal year ending after December 15, 2006. The adoption of SFAS 158 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company does not currently believe that the adoption of SFAS 157 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, (“FIN 48”) an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 requires that a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e. a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than

 

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AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

 

fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Upon adoption, the cumulative effect of applying the recognition and measurement provisions of FIN 48, if any, shall be reflected as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. FIN 48 requires that subsequent to initial adoption a change in judgment that results in subsequent recognition, derecognition or change in a measurement of a tax position taken in a prior annual period (including any related interest and penalties) be recognized as a discrete item in the period in which the change occurs. Currently, we record such changes in judgment, including audit settlements, as a component of the Company’s income tax provision. Thus, the Company’s reported quarterly income tax rate may become more volatile upon adoption of FIN 48. This change will not impact the manner in which we record income tax expense on an annual basis. FIN 48 also requires expanded disclosures including identification of tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months, a description of tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdiction, a tabular reconciliation of the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning and end of each annual reporting period, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate and the total amounts of interest and penalties recognized in the statements of operations and financial position. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The standard did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Columnar Numbers in thousands)

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS/RISK FACTORS:

The Company, from time-to-time, may discuss forward-looking statements including assumptions concerning the Company’s operations, future results and prospects. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors. In connection with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company provides the following cautionary statements identifying important factors which, among other things, could cause the actual results and events to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements and related assumptions contained in the entire Report. Such factors include, but are not limited to: product demand and market acceptance risks; the effect of economic conditions; weather conditions; changes in regulatory policy; the impact of competitive products and pricing; changes in foreign exchange rates; product development and commercialization difficulties; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; availability of capital resources; general business regulations, including taxes and other risks as detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s reports and filings filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. For more detailed information, refer to Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, Risk Factors, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Quarter Ended September 30 (columnar numbers in thousands):

 

     2007    2006    Change  

Net sales:

        

Crop

   $ 49,774    $ 40,822    $ 8,952  

Non-crop

     6,867      10,422      (3,555 )
                      
   $ 56,641    $ 51,244    $ 5,397  
                      

Gross profit:

        

Crop

   $ 21,216    $ 17,558    $ 3,658  

Non-crop

     2,945      4,769      (1,824 )
                      
   $ 24,161    $ 22,327    $ 1,834  
                      

The Company reported net income of $5,447,000 or $.20 per diluted share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to net income of $4,249,000 or $.16 per diluted share for the same period in 2006.

Net sales for the third quarter 2007 increased by 11% to $56,641,000 from $51,244,000 in the same period of 2006. Sales of Impact, a corn herbicide, were up substantially from the comparable quarter. Counter, the Company’s global insecticide/nematicide, and Thimet, the Company’s branded phorate insecticide, both contributed significantly to the quarterly results. Sales of the Company’s cotton insecticide were also up during the quarter (however, year-to-date sales are down).

There were no unusual or infrequent events or transactions outside of the ordinary course of business which materially impacted net sales. (Weather patterns can have an impact on the Company’s operations. Refer to the disclosure below.)

Gross profits increased to $24,161,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 from $22,327,000 in the third quarter of 2006. Gross profit margins declined slightly to 43% in the quarter ended September 30, 2007 from 44% in the same period in 2006. The lower gross profit margin was due to the changes in the sales mix of the Company’s products.

 

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Gross profit margins may not be comparable to those of other companies, since some companies include their distribution network costs in cost of goods sold and the Company, as well as others, include distribution costs in operating expenses (or other line items other than cost of goods sold).

Operating expenses, which are net of other income and expenses, declined by $590,000 to $14,145,000 in the third quarter of 2007 from $14,735,000 in the same period of 2006. The differences in operating expenses by specific departmental costs are as follows:

 

     2007    2006    Change  

Selling

   $ 3,976    $ 5,268    $ (1,292 )

General and administrative

     4,445      3,049      1,396  

Research, product development and regulatory

     1,712      1,757      (45 )

Freight, delivery and warehousing

     4,012      4,661      (649 )
                      
   $ 14,145    $ 14,735    $ (590 )
                      

 

   

Selling expenses declined by $1,292,000 to $3,976,000 in the third quarter of 2007 from $5,268,000 in the same period of 2006. A decline in programs and related costs accounted for the decline.

 

   

General and administrative expenses increased by $1,396,000 to $4,445,000 in the quarter ended September 30, 2007, as compared to $3,049,000 in the same period in 2006. The increase was due to an increase in the amortization of intangibles related to the Company’s recently acquired products, payroll and payroll related costs and outside professional fees.

 

   

Research and product development costs and regulatory registration expenses declined by $45,000 to $1,712,000 in the quarter ended September 30, 2007 from $1,757,000 in the same period of 2006. Lower costs incurred to generate scientific data related to the registration primarily accounted for the decline.

 

   

Freight, delivery and warehousing costs declined $649,000 to $4,012,000 for the third quarter of 2007 as compared to $4,661,000 in the same period of 2006. While the Company had an 11% increase in sales for the quarter the sales mix coupled with the Company’s ongoing effort to improve its logistic costs resulted in a decline in these expenses.

Interest costs before capitalized interest and interest income were $1,105,000 in the quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $717,000 in the same period in 2006. The Company’s average overall debt for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 was $68,767,000 as compared to $41,925,000 for the same period in 2006. Higher overall debt levels coupled with higher effective interest rates accounted for the higher gross interest costs. The Company also recognized $70,000 in interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $6,000 in 2006. The Company did not capitalize any interest costs during the third quarter of 2007 as compared to $200,000 of interest costs related to construction in progress that was capitalized during the third quarter of 2006.

Income tax expense increased by $702,000 to $3,534,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $2,832,000 for the same period 2006. The Company’s effective tax rate for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 was 39.3% as compared to 40% for the same period in 2006.

Weather patterns can have an impact on the Company’s operations. Weather conditions influence pest population by impacting gestation cycles for particular pests and the effectiveness of some of the Company’s products, among other factors. The end user of some of the Company’s products may, because of weather patterns, delay or intermittently disrupt field work during the planting season which may result in a reduction of the use of some of the Company’s products.

Because of elements inherent to the Company’s business, such as differing and unpredictable weather patterns, crop growing cycles, changes in product mix of sales, ordering patterns that may vary in timing, and

 

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promotional programs, measuring the Company’s performance on a quarterly basis, (gross profit margins on a quarterly basis may vary significantly) even when such comparisons are favorable, is not as meaningful an indicator as full-year comparisons. The primary reason is that the use cycles do not necessarily coincide with financial reporting cycles. Because of the Company’s cost structure, the combination of variable revenue streams, and the changing product mixes, results in varying quarterly levels of profitability.

Nine Months Ended September 30 (columnar numbers in thousands):

 

     2007    2006    Change  

Net sales:

        

Crop

   $ 125,368    $ 113,062    $ 12,306  

Non-crop

     22,207      25,647      (3,440 )
                      
   $ 147,575    $ 138,709    $ 8,866  
                      

Gross profit:

        

Crop

   $ 54,677    $ 46,794    $ 7,883  

Non-crop

     10,128      11,498      (1,370 )
                      
   $ 64,805    $ 58,292    $ 6,513  
                      

The Company reported net income of $11,164,000 or $.41 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 as compared to net income of $10,039,000 or $.37 per diluted share for the same period in 2006.

Net sales for the first nine months of 2007 increased by 6% to $147,575,000 from $138,709,000 in the same period of 2006. There were no unusual or infrequent events or transactions outside of the ordinary course of business which materially impacted net sales. (Weather patterns can have an impact on the Company’s operations. Refer to the disclosure above.)

Gross profits increased to $64,805,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from $58,292,000 in the same period in 2006. Gross profit margins improved to 44% in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from 42% in the same period in 2006. The higher gross profit margin was due to the changes in the sales mix of the Company’s products. As stated above, gross profit margins may not be comparable to those of other companies, since some companies include their distribution network costs in cost of goods sold and the Company, as well as others, include distribution costs in operating expenses (or other line items other than cost of goods sold).

Operating expenses, which are net of other income and expenses, increased by $1,848,000 to $41,621,000 in the first nine months of 2007 from $39,773,000 in the same period of 2006. The differences in operating expenses by specific departmental costs are as follows:

 

     2007    2006    Change  

Selling

   $ 13,043    $ 13,201    $ (158 )

General and administrative

     12,850      9,423      3,427  

Research, product development and regulatory

     4,921      5,637      (716 )

Freight, delivery and warehousing

     10,807      11,512      (705 )
                      
   $ 41,621    $ 39,773    $ 1,848  
                      

 

   

Selling expenses declined by $158,000 to $13,043,000 in the first nine months of 2007 from $13,201,000 in the same period of 2006. A decline in programs and related costs served to more than offset increases in advertising, promotion and marketing costs as well as increases in outside professional fees and other variable selling expenses.

 

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General and administrative expenses increased by $3,427,000 to $12,850,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2007, as compared to $9,423,000 in the same period in 2006. The increase was due to an increase in amortization of intangibles related to the Company’s recently acquired products as well as increases in legal expenses, other outside professional fees and increases in payroll and payroll related costs.

 

   

Research and product development costs and regulatory registration expenses declined by $716,000 to $4,921,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from $5,637,000 in the same period of 2006. Lower costs incurred to generate scientific data related to the registration of the Company’s products accounted for the decline.

 

   

Freight, delivery and warehousing costs declined $705,000 to $10,807,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $11,512,000 in the same period of 2006. While the Company achieved a 6% increase in sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 over the same period in 2006, the sales mix coupled with (as mentioned above) the Company’s ongoing effort to improve its logistic costs resulted in a decline in these expenses.

Interest costs before capitalized interest and interest income were $4,808,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $2,347,000 in the same period in 2006. The Company’s average overall debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $84,108,000 as compared to $46,252,000 for the same period in 2006. Higher overall debt levels coupled with higher effective interest rates accounted for the higher gross interest costs. The Company capitalized $30,000 of interest costs related to construction in progress during the first nine months of 2007 as compared to $530,000 in 2006. The Company also recognized $103,000 in interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $29,000 in the same period in 2006.

Income tax expense increased by $653,000 to $7,345,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $6,692,000 for the same period 2006. The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was 39.7% as compared to 40% in 2006.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $45,559,000. Net income of $11,164,000, non-cash depreciation and amortization of $7,327,000, a decrease in receivables of $14,344,000, a decrease in inventories of $398,000 and increases in other current liabilities of $13,256,000 and non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $581,000 provided $47,070,000 of cash for operations. Increases in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $849,000 coupled with a decrease in accounts payable of $662,000 used $1,511,000 of cash in operating activities.

The Company used $5,030,000 in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2007. It invested $3,263,000 in intangible assets and $1,887,000 in capital expenditures while other non-current assets increased by $120,000.

The Company used $37,614,000 in financing activities during the first nine months ended September 30, 2007. The Company repaid $35,500,000 under its fully-secured revolving line of credit and made payments on its other long-term debt of $3,080,000 and paid cash dividends of $1,047,000. The Company received $1,781,000 from the exercise of stock options and the sale of common stock under its ESPP and received $232,000 from tax benefits from stock-based compensation.

The Company had $75,000,000 of availability under its $75,000,000 revolving line of credit (subject to meeting certain financial covenants) as of September 30, 2007. Management continues to believe, to continue to improve its working capital position and maintain flexibility in financing interim needs, it is prudent to explore all available sources of financing.

 

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RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”, which provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to reduce both complexity in accounting for financial instruments and the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. SFAS No. 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008. The Company has not completed its evaluation of SFAS No. 159 but it does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 159 to have a material effect on its operating results or financial position.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans. The statement requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income. This statement was effective as of the end of the fiscal year ending after December 15, 2006. The adoption of SFAS 158 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company does not currently believe that the adoption of SFAS 157 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, (“FIN 48”) an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 requires that a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e. a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Upon adoption, the cumulative effect of applying the recognition and measurement provisions of FIN 48, if any, shall be reflected as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. FIN 48 requires that subsequent to initial adoption a change in judgment that results in subsequent recognition, derecognition or change in a measurement of a tax position taken in a prior annual period (including any related interest and penalties) be recognized as a discrete item in the period in which the change occurs. Currently, we record such changes in judgment, including audit settlements, as a component of the Company’s income tax provision. Thus, the Company’s reported quarterly income tax rate may become more volatile upon adoption of FIN 48. This change will not impact the manner in which we record income tax expense on an annual basis. FIN 48 also requires expanded disclosures including identification of tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months, a description of tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdiction, a tabular reconciliation of the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning and end of each annual reporting period, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate and the total amounts of interest and penalties recognized in the statements of operations and financial position. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The standard did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Certain of the Company’s policies require the application of judgment by management in selecting the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. These judgments are based on historical experience, terms of existing contracts, commonly accepted industry practices and other assumptions that the Company

 

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believes are reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically and the effects of revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company’s critical accounting polices and estimates include:

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from sales is recognized at the time title and the risks of ownership passes. This is when the customer has made the fixed commitment to purchase the goods, the products are shipped per the customers’ instructions, the sales price is determinable, and collection is reasonably assured.

Long-lived Assets

The carrying value of long-lived assets is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset. Generally, fair value will be determined using valuation techniques such as the present value of expected future cash flows.

Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation

Property, plant and equipment includes the cost of land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office furniture and fixtures, automobiles, and construction projects and significant improvements to existing plant and equipment. Interest costs related to significant construction projects are capitalized at the Company’s weighted average cost of capital. Expenditures for maintenance and minor repairs are expensed as incurred. When property or equipment is sold or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation is removed from the respective accounts and the gain or loss realized on disposition is reflected in earnings. All plant and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method, utilizing estimated useful property lives. Building lives range from 10 to 30 years; machinery and equipment lives range from 3 to 15 years; office furniture and fixture lives range from 3 to 10 years; automobile lives range from 3 to 6 years; construction projects and significant improvements to existing plant and equipment lives range from 3 to 15 years when placed in service.

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, where the local currency is the functional currency, have been translated at period end exchange rates and profit and loss accounts have been translated using weighted average year to date exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from translation have been recorded in the equity section of the balance sheet as cumulative translation adjustments in other comprehensive income.

The effect of foreign currency exchange gains and losses on transactions that are denominated in currencies other than the entity’s functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency using the end of the period exchange rates. The effects of remeasurement related to foreign currency transactions are included in current profit and loss accounts.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The primary identifiable intangible assets of the Company relate to product rights associated with its product acquisitions. The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. Under the provisions of SFAS No. 142, identifiable intangibles with finite lives are amortized and those with indefinite lives are not amortized. The estimated useful life of an identifiable intangible asset to the Company is based upon a number of factors including the effects of demand, competition, and expected changes in the marketability of the Company’s products. The Company tests identifiable intangible assets for impairment at least annually, relying on a number of factors including operating

 

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results, business plans and future cash flows. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment using a process similar to that used to evaluate elements of property. The impairment test for identifiable intangible assets not subject to amortization consists of a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying amount. An impairment loss, if any, is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is typically estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis, which requires the Company to estimate the future cash flows anticipated to be generated by the particular asset(s) being tested for impairment as well as select a discount rate to measure the present value of the anticipated cash flows. When determining future cash flow estimates, the Company considers historical results adjusted to reflect current and anticipated operating conditions. Estimating future cash flows requires significant judgment by the Company in such areas as future economic conditions, industry-specific conditions, product pricing and necessary capital expenditures. The use of different assumptions or estimates for future cash flows could produce different impairment amounts (or none at all) for long-lived assets, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.

 

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company is exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates, primarily from its borrowing activities. The Company’s indebtedness to its primary lender is evidenced by a line of credit with a variable rate of interest, which fluctuates with changes in the lender’s reference rate. For more information, please refer to the applicable disclosures in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2006. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes; however, as a condition of the Company’s credit agreement with its banks, the Company is required to maintain in effect interest rate swap agreement(s) for a notional amount not less than one-half of the principal amount of its term loan (originally the term loan was $60 million) from time to time outstanding.

The Company conducts business in various foreign currencies, primarily in Europe and Mexico. Therefore changes in the value of the currencies of such countries or regions affect the Company’s financial position and cash flows when translated into U.S. Dollars. As of September 30, 2007, the Company had not established a formal foreign currency hedging program. The Company has mitigated and will continue to mitigate a portion of its currency exchange exposure through operation of decentralized foreign operating companies in which the majority of all costs are local-currency based. A 10% change in the value of all foreign currencies would have an immaterial effect on the Company’s financial position and cash flows.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of September 30, 2007, the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

The Company was not required to report any matters or changes for any items of Part II except as disclosed below.

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

On occasion, the Company and/or AMVAC Chemical Corporation (“AMVAC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, are involved as either a plaintiff or defendant to claims and legal actions incidental to their operations.

Personal Injury Suits

A number of suits have been filed against AMVAC, alleging injury from exposure to the agricultural chemical 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (“DBCP”). DBCP was manufactured by several chemical companies, including Dow Chemical Company and Shell Oil Company and was approved by the U.S. EPA to control nematodes. DBCP was also applied on banana farms in Latin America. The U.S. EPA suspended registrations of DBCP in October 1979, except for use on pineapples in Hawaii. The EPA suspension was partially based on 1977 studies by other manufacturers that indicated a link between male sterility and exposure to DBCP among their factory production workers producing the product. The defendants contend there is currently no reliable evidence demonstrating that ordinary field application of DBCP leads to sterility among farm workers, especially to those not involved with its application.

Thus far there are approximately 90 lawsuits filed by former banana workers in which AMVAC has been named as a party. These claims are all in various stages and allege injury from exposure to DBCP, including claims for sterility. With respect to one such lawsuit, Tellez et al. v. Dole Food Company, Inc., et al, which involved 13 Nicaraguan plaintiffs and had been filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on March 26, 2004, AMVAC has entered into a settlement, which was approved by the court on April 24, 2007. The Tellez trial commenced on July 19, 2007 against Dole Food and Dow Chemical, and on November 5, 2007, the jury reached the following verdict: for six (of 12) plaintiffs, the jury found that there was no basis for recovery on any of the claims; and for the other six plaintiffs, the jury awarded a total of approximately $3.3 million in compensatory damages on the claims of strict liability (as against both defendants) and fraudulent concealment (as against Dole Food alone). No decision has been reached with respect to any potential award for punitive damages. We understand that Dole intends to appeal the decision.

Another such lawsuit, Rodolfo Mejia et al. v. Dole Food Company, Inc., et al, currently involving 23 Nicaraguan plaintiffs, remains pending in the Los Angeles Superior Court, but has been stayed pending resolution of Tellez with the remaining defendants. On October 26, 2007, another lawsuit, entitled Hilario Valenzuela Rivera et al. v. Dole Food Company, Inc., et al., involving four Nicaraguan plaintiffs, was filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court; there has been no other activity in the matter.

Most of the cases, however, are unserved suits pending in Nicaragua. All but one of the suits in Nicaragua have been filed pursuant to Public Law 364, an October 2000 Nicaraguan statute that contains substantive and procedural provisions that Nicaragua’s Attorney General previously expressed as unconstitutional. In October 2003, the Nicaragua Supreme Court issued an advisory opinion, not in connection with any litigation, that Public Law 364 is constitutional. The suits pending in Nicaragua that name AMVAC have been filed on behalf of approximately 3,592 claimants. Each of the Nicaraguan plaintiffs claims $1 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. In all of these cases, AMVAC is a joint defendant with Dow Chemical and Dole Food Company, Inc. AMVAC contends that the Nicaragua courts lack jurisdiction over AMVAC and that Public Law 364 violates international due process of law. AMVAC also contends that the plaintiffs will have difficulty in proving that they were exposed to or injured by any DBCP manufactured by AMVAC. In the two cases pending before Nicaraguan courts in which AMVAC has been served, the court has denied AMVAC’s objection to jurisdiction, which is being appealed.

 

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On October 6, 2006, AMVAC was served with seven suits filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and one suit in the United States District Court in Los Angeles that include a total of 668 residents of the Ivory Coast as plaintiffs. Each plaintiff claims personal injuries from exposure to DBCP on banana or pineapple plantations in that country. AMVAC denies any liability as none of its product was designated or marked for shipment to the Ivory Coast or anywhere in Africa. The suits name AMVAC, Dow Chemical, Shell Oil Company, and Dole Food as defendants. On defendants’ motion to dismiss all federal claims (under the Alien Tort Claims Act) for failure to state a claim, the federal court dismissed the federal lawsuit with prejudice on August 22, 2007. Plaintiffs subsequently appealed the dismissal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, which is pending. The seven state court suits have been declared complex and have been assigned to the same judge who is handling both the Tellez and Mejia cases in the complex case management program. A status conference is scheduled for December 6, 2007, at which time permission to conduct initial discovery will be discussed.

In October 1997, Amvac was served with complaints in which it was named as a defendant, filed in the Circuit Court, First Circuit, State of Hawaii and in the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit, State of Hawaii (two identical suits) entitled Patrickson, et. al. v. Dole Food Co., et. al., alleging damages sustained from injuries caused by plaintiffs’ exposure to DBCP while applying the product in their native countries. The ten named plaintiffs are citizens of four countries—Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. Punitive damages are sought against each defendant. The plaintiffs were banana workers and allege that they were exposed to DBCP in their native countries from 1959 through at least 1997. The case was also filed as a class action on behalf of other workers so exposed in these four countries. The plaintiffs allege sterility and other injuries. On September 12, 2006, the court transferred venue from Maui County to Oahu. On February 16, 2007, the case was assigned to a judge in Oahu. Preliminary issues are class certification and/or the addition of class members as individual defendants. Written discovery to defendants was conducted on venue-related issues. The court held a status conference on April 16, 2007 and tentatively set the case for trial for February 16, 2009. The plaintiffs were requested to file a preliminary motion for class certification but have not done so to date.

While it is anticipated that additional lawsuits of this nature may be filed in the US as well as in Nicaragua, as to all existing DBCP suits, AMVAC has denied liability and asserted substantial defenses. Further, with respect to existing DBCP suits, it is not possible to make a judgment on the likelihood of there being an adverse judgment against AMVAC or whether any such judgment could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

Other Matters

On July 19, 2006, AMVAC’s registered agent was served with a putative class action complaint entitled Latrice McLendon, et al. v. Philip Service Corporation etc. et al (including AMVAC), which was filed in the Superior State Court of Fulton County, State of Georgia No. 2006CN119863 and subsequently removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia No. 1:06-CV-1770-CAP, in which a class of Georgia plaintiffs seek damages, including punitive damages, in an unspecified amount for personal injuries and diminution in property value allegedly arising from the airborne release of propyl mercaptan and ethoprop from a waste treatment facility operated by PSC Recovery Services (“PSC”) in Fairburn, Georgia. Plaintiffs, residents living in the vicinity of the PSC plant, allege trespass, nuisance and negligence on behalf of defendants in handling, storing and treating waste which was generated by AMVAC’s Axis, Alabama facility. After having completed class certification discovery, and prior to a ruling from the court on certification of the class, the parties engaged in mediation on September 19, 2007 before a neutral mediator. Working in conjunction with their insurance carriers at the mediation, defendants AMVAC and PSC have agreed in principle to settle the matter with a settlement class of approximately 2,000 households for payment of cash consideration. The settlement process involves multiple steps to be taken over several months and requires both preliminary and final court approval. As currently proposed, the settlement would not have an adverse effect upon the Company’s financial condition and operating results. However, the settlement is not yet final, members of the settlement class remain free to opt out of the settlement and to preserve their individual rights, and it is not anticipated that the settlement will include mutual releases between co-defendants. In addition, each co-defendant’s insurance

 

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carrier has reserved all rights under applicable insurance policies, including rights to subrogation and contribution. On a related note, on April 16, 2007, AMVAC executed a draft consent order (including an agreement to pay a civil penalty with the option to perform a supplemental environmental project in partial payment thereof) with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (“ADEM”) for resolution of alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations arising from AMVAC’s storage of washwater and other materials that were returned to AMVAC by PSC in connection with activities that are the subject of the McLendon litigation; the consent order has been finalized, and ADEM is evaluating AMVAC’s proposed supplemental environmental project.

On May 30, 2007, AMVAC’s registered agent was served with a summons, complaint and motion for preliminary injunction by Aceto Agricultural Chemicals Corporation (“Aceto”) in a matter entitled Aceto Agricultural Chemicals Corporation v. AMVAC Chemical Corporation, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division as Case No. 1:07-CV-1236-CC. In this action, plaintiff seeks damages and injunctive relief for alleged antitrust violations arising from AMVAC’s purchase of the patent relating to the EZ Load® closed delivery system. Aceto, which has sold a generic version of the insecticide phorate through the EZ Load system, was licensee under a license with the former patent holder which permitted Aceto to use the EZ Load system through August 1, 2007. Aceto seeks, among other things, to enjoin AMVAC from asserting its patent rights following the expiration of Aceto’s license. AMVAC believes that this case has no merit and plans to defend it vigorously. The hearing on plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction concluded on October 26, 2007, and the court has taken the matter under advisement. It is too early in this case, however, to make an assessment of the likelihood of there being an adverse judgment against AMVAC or whether such judgment could have an adverse effect upon the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company may, from time to time, be involved in other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of its business. The results of litigation, including those described above, cannot be predicted with certainty. The Company has and will continue to expend resources and incur expenses in connection with these proceedings. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in these proceedings. While the Company continually evaluates insurance levels for product liability, property damage and other potential areas of risk, an adverse determination in one or more of these proceedings could subject the Company to significant liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and operating results.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K:

 

Exhibit No.   

Description

31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

Dated: November 8, 2007

   

By:

  /S/    ERIC G. WINTEMUTE        
       

Eric G. Wintemute

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Dated: November 8, 2007

   

By:

  /S/    JAMES A. BARRY        
       

James A. Barry

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,

Secretary/Treasurer

 

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