UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009MARCH 31, 2010

 

¨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. Yesx No¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes¨ 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 ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨

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—27,151,01927,333,530 shares as of November 4, 2009.May 3, 2010.

 

 

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

INDEX

 

      Page Number

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements (unaudited)

  
  

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

  1
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 and December 31, 20082009

  2
  

Consolidated StatementsStatement of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2009, June 30, 2009 and September 30, 20092010

  4
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2010 and 2009 and 2008

  5
  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  6

Item 2.

  

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

  1612

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

  2416

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

  2417

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

  2518

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

  2518

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

  2820

SIGNATURES

  2921


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)data)

(Unaudited)

 

  For the three months
ended September 30
 For the nine months
ended September 30
   For the three months
ended March 31
 
  2009 2008 2009 2008   2010 2009 

Net sales

  $66,371   $67,636   $158,493   $166,478    $46,712   $44,637  

Cost of sales

   45,007    38,850    102,154    96,344     27,788    26,081  
                    

Gross profit

   21,364    28,786    56,339    70,134     18,924    18,556  

Operating expenses

   17,470    18,111    49,570    47,493     15,168    16,563  
                    

Operating income

   3,894    10,675    6,769    22,641     3,756    1,993  

Interest expense

   825    1,098    2,622    3,345     761    886  

Interest income

   —      —      —      (75

Interest capitalized

   (12  (63  (38  (171   (10  (21
                    

Income before income taxes

   3,081    9,640    4,185    19,542  

Income before income tax

   3,005    1,128  

Income tax expense

   984    3,611    1,393    7,438     1,178    429  
                    

Net income

  $2,097   $6,029   $2,792   $12,104    $1,827   $699  
                    

Earnings per common share—basic

  $.08   $.23   $.10   $.46    $.07   $.03  
                    

Earnings per common share—assuming dilution

  $.08   $.22   $.10   $.44    $.07   $.03  
                    

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

   27,124    26,788    27,071    26,596     27,346    27,004  
                    

Weighted average shares outstanding—assuming dilution

   27,609    27,580    27,660    27,500     27,623    27,663  
                    

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)thousands, except share data)

ASSETS (note 7)

 

  September 30,
2009
  Dec. 31,
2008
  Mar. 31,
2010
  Dec. 31,
2009
  (Unaudited)  (Note)  (Unaudited)  (Note)

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

  $901  $1,229

Cash

  $1,520  $383

Receivables:

        

Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $330 and $472

   56,355   51,405

Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $650 and $635, respectively

   53,298   40,681

Other

   328   563   219   382
            
   56,683   51,968   53,517   41,063
            

Inventories

   99,475   90,626   74,339   72,512

Prepaid expenses

   1,568   1,688   2,356   2,143

Income taxes receivable

   3,514   3,575
            

Total current assets

   158,627   145,511   135,246   119,676

Property, plant and equipment, net

 �� 40,247   41,241   39,462   39,196

Intangible assets

   88,083   91,079   85,837   86,973

Other assets

   9,443   9,106   9,363   8,866
            
  $296,400  $286,937  $269,908  $254,711
            

(Continued)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.statements

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)thousands, except share data)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

  September 30,
2009
 Dec. 31,
2008
   Mar. 31,
2010
 Dec. 31,
2009
 
  (Unaudited) (Note)   (Unaudited) (Note) 

Current liabilities:

      

Current installments of long-term debt

  $9,506   $6,656    $8,528   $8,528  

Accounts payable

   17,390    16,196     17,725    11,401  

Accrued program costs

   24,989    16,204     15,665    27,188  

Accrued expenses and other payables

   5,283    6,767     3,863    3,762  

Income taxes payable

   954    3,332     996    —    
              

Total current liabilities

   58,122    49,155     46,777    50,879  

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

   72,268    75,748     62,284    45,432  

Other Long-term Liabilities

   192    192  

Deferred income taxes

   6,021    6,091     5,121    5,121  
              

Total liabilities

   136,411    130,994     114,374    101,624  
              

Commitments and contingent liabilities

      

Stockholders’ Equity:

   

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 29,412,015 shares at September 30, 2009 and 29,209,863 shares at December 31, 2008

   2,941    2,920  

Common stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued 29,594,526 shares at March 31, 2010 and 29,575,562 shares at December 31, 2009

   2,959    2,958  

Additional paid-in capital

   40,215    38,873     42,007    41,529  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   (2,091  (3,593   (1,331  (1,743

Retained earnings

   122,077    120,896     115,052    113,496  
              
   163,142    159,096     158,687    156,240  

Less treasury stock, at cost, 2,260,996 shares at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008

   (3,153  (3,153

Less treasury stock, at cost, 2,260,996 shares at March 31, 2010 and at December 31, 2009

   (3,153  (3,153
              

Total stockholders’ equity

   159,989    155,943     155,534    153,087  
              
  $296,400   $286,937    $269,908   $254,711  
              

Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 20082009 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.statements

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollars inIn thousands, except per share data)

For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2009, June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2009, 2010

(Unaudited)

 

  Common
stock
Shares
 Common
stock
Amount
 Additional
paid-in
capital
 Retained
earnings
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
  Comprehensive
Income
  Treasury
stock
Shares
 Treasury
stock
Amount
  Total 

Balance, December 31, 2008

 29,209,863 $2,920 $38,873 $120,896   $(3,593  2,260,996 $(3,153 $155,943  
                           

Stocks issued under ESPP

 22,345  2  238  —      —      —     —    —      240  

Cash Dividends on common stock ($0.05 per share)

 —    —    —    (1,341  —      —     —    —    �� (1,341

Foreign currency Translation adjustment, net

 —    —    —    —      5    5   —    —      5  

FASB ASC 718 (FAS 123R) expense

 —    —    279  —      —      —     —    —      279  

Unrealized Loss on currency forward cover contracts

 —    —    —    —      539    539   —    —      539  

Changes in fair value of interest swap

 —    —    —    —      155    155   —    —      155  

Grants of restricted stock units

 101,188  10  —    —      —      —     —    —      10  

Net Income

 —    —    —    699    —      699   —    —      699  
            

Total comprehensive income

 —    —    —    —      —     $1,398   —    —      —    
                              

Balance, March 31, 2009

 29,333,396  2,932  39,390  120,254    (2,894  2,260,996  (3,153  156,529  
                           

Foreign currency Translation adjustment, net

 —    —    —    —      408    408   —    —      408  

FASB ASC 718 expense

 —    —    286  —      —      —     —    —      286  

Changes in fair value of interest swap

 —    —    —    —      334    334   —    —      334  

Grants of restricted stock units

 32,145  3  —    —      —      —     —    —      3  

Net Loss

 —    —    —    (4  —      (4 —    —      (4
            

Total comprehensive income

 —    —    —    —      —     $738   —    —      —    
                              

Balance, June 30, 2009

 29,365,541  2,935  39,676  120,250    (2,152  2,260,996  (3,153  157,556  
                           

Cash Dividends on common stock ($0.01 per share)

 —    —    —    (270  —      —     —    —      (270

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 —    —    —    —      (68  (68 —    —      (68

FASB ASC 718 expense

 —    —    330  —      —      —     —    —      330  

Changes in fair value of interest swap

 —    —    —    —      129    129   —    —      129  

Grants of restricted stock units

 46,474  6  209  —      —      —     —    —      215  

Net Income

 —    —    —    2,097    —      2,097   —    —      2,097  
            

Total comprehensive income

 —    —    —    —      —     $2,158   —    —      —    
                              

Balance, September 30, 2009

 29,412,015 $2,941 $40,215 $122,077   $(2,091  2,260,996 $(3,153 $159,989  
                           
  Common Stock  Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 Retained
Earnings
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
  Comprehensive
Income
  Treasury Stock  Total 
  Shares  Amount      Shares Amount  

Balance, December 31, 2009

 29,575,562   $2,958   $41,529 $113,496   $(1,743  —     2,260,996 $(3,153 $153,087  

Stocks issued under ESPP

 33,958    3    276  —      —      —     —    —      279  

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.01 per share)

 —      —      —    (271  —      —     —    —      (271

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 —      —      —    —      303    303   —    —      303  

Stock based compensation

 —      —      202  —      —      —     —    —      202  

Change in fair value of interest rate swaps

 —      —      —    —      233    233   —    —      233  

Unrealized loss on currency forward cover contracts

 —      —      —    —      (124  (124 —    —      (124

Retirement of restricted stock units

 (14,994  (2  —    —      —      —     —    —      (2

Net income

 —      —      —    1,827    —      1,827   —    —      1,827  
            

Total comprehensive income

 —      —      —    —      —     $2,239   —    —      —    
                                

Balance, March 31, 2010

 29,594,526   $2,959   $42,007 $115,052   $(1,331  —     2,260,996 $(3,153 $155,534  
                                

See notes to consolidated financial statements

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

For The NineThree Months Ended September 30,March 31, 2010 and 2009 and 2008

(Unaudited)

 

Increase (decrease) in cash

  2009  2008 

Cash flows from operating activities:

   

Net income

  $2,792   $12,104  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

   

Depreciation and amortization

   10,124    8,711  

Deferred income tax

   (70  774  

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

   895    554  

Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:

   

Increase in receivables

   (4,715  (10,461

Increase in inventories

   (8,849  (25,792

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

   (2,281  (1,702

Increase in accounts payable

   2,351    4,317  

Increase in other current liabilities

   4,103    9,303  
         

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   4,350    (2,192
         

Cash flows from investing activities:

   

Capital expenditures

   (3,746  (8,101

Acquisitions of intangible assets

   —      (8,892
         

Net cash used in investing activities

   (3,746  (16,993
         

Cash flows from financing activities:

   

Net borrowings under line of credit agreement

   3,000    23,000  

Principal payments on long-term debt

   (3,080  (3,080

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock from exercise of stock options and sale of stock under ESPP

   468    1,329  

Acquisition of Treasury stock

   —      (408

Payment of cash dividends

   (1,341  (1,323
         

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

   (953  19,518  
         

Net (decrease) increase in cash

   (349  333  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

   1,229    3,201  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

   21    (380
         

Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30,

  $901   $3,154  
         

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financial activities:

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company completed the purchase of certain assets which totaled $2,350, of which $600 was paid in cash in the period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company paid $550 associated with scheduled payments against transactions referenced in the period to September 30, 2008. There are no additional comparable purchases for the period to September 30, 2009.

Increase (decrease) in cash

  2010  2009 

Cash flows from operating activities:

   

Net income

  $1,827   $699  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

   

Depreciation and amortization of fixed and intangible assets

   2,738    2,712  

Amortization of other long term assets

   788    663  

Stock-based compensation

   202    238  

Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:

   

Increase in net receivables

   (12,454  (12,159

Increase in inventories

   (1,827  (21,901

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

   (1,622  (1,844

Increase in accounts payable

   6,556    5,559  

Decrease in income tax receivable

   61    —    

Decrease in other current liabilities

   (10,696  (6,424
         

Net cash used in operating activities

   (14,427  (32,457
         

Cash flows from investing activities:

   

Capital expenditures

   (1,868  (945
         

Net cash used in investing activities

   (1,868  (945
         

Cash flows from financing activities:

   

Net borrowings under line of credit agreement

   18,900    34,500  

Principal payments on long-term debt

   (2,027  (1,176

Decrease in other notes payable

   (21  —    

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock (sale of stock under ESPP)

   277    291  
         

Net cash provided by financing activities

   17,129    33,615  
         

Net increase in cash

   834    213  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

   383    1,229  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

   303    5  
         

Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31

  $1,520   $1,447  
         

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Numbers inIn thousands, except for Note 11)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, 2009March 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009.2010. 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, 2008.2009.

2. Property, plant and equipment at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 and December 31, 20082009 consists of the following:

 

  September 30,
2009
  December 31,
2008
  March 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009

Land

  $2,458  $2,458  $2,458  $2,458

Buildings and improvements

   7,368   7,330   7,762   7,368

Machinery and equipment

   73,554   69,841   75,349   75,170

Office furniture, fixtures and equipment

   5,766   5,479   5,831   5,848

Automotive equipment

   244   209   300   245

Construction in progress

   2,220   2,554   2,362   1,104
            
   91,610   87,871   94,062   92,193

Less accumulated depreciation

   51,363   46,630   54,600   52,997
            
  $40,247  $41,241  $39,462  $39,196
            

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,
2009
  December 31,
2008
  March 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009

Finished products

  $90,741  $79,530  $66,288  $66,116

Raw materials

   8,734   11,096   8,051   6,396
            
  $99,475  $90,626  $74,339  $72,512
            

4. Based on similar economic and operational characteristics, the Company’s business is aggregated into twoone reportable segments, Crop and Non-crop.segment. Selective enterprise information is as follows:

 

  Three Months Ended
September 30
  Nine Months Ended
September 30
  Three Months Ended
March 31
  2009  2008  2009  2008  2010  2009

Net sales:

            

Crop

  $56,628  $52,326  $130,133  $133,016  $36,805  $36,805

Non-crop

   9,743   15,310   28,360   33,462   9,907   7,832
                  
  $66,371  $67,636  $158,493  $166,478  $46,712  $44,637
                  

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

(In thousands, except share data)

 

5. On September 14, 2009, the Company announced thatMarch 4, 2010, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.01 per share. The dividend was distributed on October 9, 2009,April 16, 2010 to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 25, 2009.April 2, 2010. Cash dividends paid October 9, 2009April 16, 2010 totaled approximately $270.$271.

On March 9, 2009, the Company announced that the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share. The dividend was distributed on April 15, 2009, to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2009. Cash dividends paid April 15, 2009 totaled approximately $1,341.

On September 15, 2008, the Company announced that the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.03 per share. The dividend was distributed on October 10, 2008, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 26, 2008. Cash dividends paid October 2, 2008 totaled approximately $804.

On March 10, 2008, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share. The dividend was distributed on April 15, 2008, to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2008. Cash dividends paid April 15, 2008 totaled approximately $1,323.

6. Financial Accounting StandardStandards Board (“FASB”) Accounting StandardStandards Codification (“ASC”) FASB ASC 260 [Statement of Financial Accounting StandardsStandard (“SFAS”) No. 128], “Earnings Per Share”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
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2009  2008  2009  2008  2010  2009

Numerator:

            

Net income

  $2,097  $6,029  $2,792  $12,104  $1,827  $699
                  

Denominator:

            

Weighted averages shares outstanding

   27,124   26,788   27,071   26,596   27,346   27,004

Assumed exercise of stock options

   485   792   589   904   277   659
                  
   27,609   27,580   27,660   27,500   27,623   27,663
                  

7. Substantially all of the Company’s assets are pledged as collateral with its banks.

The Company has various different loans in place that together constitute the short-term and long-term loan balances shown in the balance sheet at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2008.2009. These are summarized in the following table:

 

Indebtedness

  September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008

$000’s

  Long-term  Short-term  Total  Long-term  Short-term  Total

Term Loan

  $42,000  $7,000  $49,000  $48,000  $4,000  $52,000

Real estate

   1,968   106   2,074   2,048   106   2,154

Working Capital Revolver

   27,500   —     27,500   24,500   —     24,500

Other notes payable

   800   2,400   3,200   1,200   2,550   3,750
                        

Total Indebtedness

  $72,268  $9,506  $81,774  $75,748  $6,656  $82,404
                        

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

Indebtedness

  March 31, 2010  December 31, 2009

$000’s

  Long-term  Short-term  Total  Long-term  Short-term  Total

Term Loan

  $38,000  $8,000  $46,000  $40,000  $8,000  $48,000

Real estate

   1,915   106   2,021   1,942   106   2,048

Working Capital Revolver

   21,500   —     21,500   2,600   —     2,600

Asset Purchase

   69   22   91   90   22   112

Other notes payable

   800   400   1,200   800   400   1,200
                        

Total Indebtedness

  $62,284  $8,528  $70,812  $45,432  $8,528  $53,960
                        

The Company has four key covenants to its senior, secured credit facility with its banking syndicate. The covenants are as follows: (1) the Company must maintain its borrowings below a certain consolidated funded debt ratio, (2) the Company has amust limit on its annual spending on the acquisition of fixed asset capital additions,

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

(In thousands, except share data)

(3) the Company must maintain a certain consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, and (4) the Company must maintain a certain modified current ratio which compares the on hand value of receivables plus inventory with the level of its working capital revolver debt. As of September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 the Company met all covenants in that credit facility1.

At March 31, 2010, based on its performance against the covenants listed above.above, the Company had the capacity to increase its’ borrowings by up to $55,576 under the credit facility agreement.

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, 2008.2009.

8. Foreign Exchange Price and Interest Rates—The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risks managed by using derivative instruments are foreign exchange price risk and interest rate risk. Forward contracts are entered into to manage the price risk associated with forecasting purchases of raw materials used in the Company’s manufacturing process. Interest rate swaps are entered into to manage interest rate risk associated with the Company’s fixed-rate borrowings.

FASB ASC 815 [SFAS No. 133] “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, requires companies to recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the statement of financial position. In accordance with FASB ASC 815, the Company designates foreign exchange forward contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted purchases of materials and interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of variable-rate borrowings.

Cash Flow HedgesFor derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and classified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains or losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.

As of December 31, 2008, the Company had a foreign exchange contract to purchase 5,784 Euro. The fair value of the contract as of December 31, 2008 was $713. As of December 31, 2008, the Company recorded unrealized losses in other comprehensive income of $539. The Company reclassified from other comprehensive income to interest expense $174 due to ineffectiveness as of December 31, 2008. The Company settled the contracts in March 2009 and recognized a loss of $62 in interest expense at that time. The Company does not have any outstanding contracts as of September 30, 2009.

Fair Value Hedges—For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings.

As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company has two perfectly effective interest rate swap contracts. The fair value at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $1,363 and $1,981, respectively and is recorded in accounts payable. The total notional amount of the Company’s receive-variable/pay-fixed interest rate swaps is $26,575. As of September 30, 2009, there was a gain of $618 and at December 31, 2008, there was a loss of $1,981 in other comprehensive income.

9. Reclassification—Certain items may have been reclassified (if appropriate), in the prior period consolidated financial statements to conform with the September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 presentation.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

10.9. 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,
   Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2009 2008 2009  2008   2010 2009

Net income

  $2,097   $6,029   $2,792  $12,104    $1,827   $699

Change in fair value of interest rate swaps

   129    (1,905  618   (841   233    155

Unrealized gain on currency forward cover contracts

   —      —      539   (688)

Unrealized (loss) gain on currency forward cover contracts

   (124  539

Foreign currency translation adjustment

   (68  (510  345   (505   303    5
                   

Comprehensive income

  $2,158   $3,614   $4,294  $10,070    $2,239   $1,398
                   

11.10. Stock Based Compensation Expense—The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees and directors in accordance with FASB ASC 718 [FASB[SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004)], “Share-Based Payment,” which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors including shares of common stock granted for services, employee stock options, and employee stock purchases related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“employee stock purchases”) based on estimated fair values.

Stock OptionsDuring the ninethree months ended September 30, 2008,March 31, 2010, the Company granted a 10-yearamended an option to anextend the expiration date for a terminated employee to acquire 6,779 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $14.75. The option vests one-third on the first anniversary of the grant and one-third on each anniversary thereafter (three equal installments). The option was valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at $7.11 per share. Assumptions used to value the option were: expected term of 5 years, expected volatility of 50%, expected annual dividends of 0.5%, and a risk-free interest rate of 2.45%. No options were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, employees and non-executive directors exercised options to acquire 60,000purchase 72,000 shares of common stock. Cash received upon exercise was $213,000 or $3.55 per share. AtThe award would have expired 3 months after termination. The Company extended the timeexpiration date to one year and recognized an award-based compensation expense of exercise, total intrinsic value of$8 for the options exercised was approximately $326,000 (or $5.44 per share).modification.

During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2008, employees and non-executive directors exercised options to acquire 350,507 shares of common stock. Cash received upon exercise was $868,277 or $2.48 per share. At the time of exercise, total intrinsic value of the options exercised was approximately $4,169,000 (or $11.90 per share).

There were options to acquire 48,400 shares that were forfeited during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, which had an average exercise price of $14.45. The shares were vested when terminated.

There were options to acquire 9,400 shares that were forfeited during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, which had an average exercise price of $14.74. The shares were vested when terminated.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense, excluding expense related to modifications, related to stock options of $86,000 and $12,000, respectively.$4 each quarter.

1The terms of the credit facility are set forth in the Credit Agreement dated December 19, 2006 by and among AMVAC Chemical Corporation (“AMVAC”) and a syndicate of commercial lenders led by Bank of the West (which was filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2006), as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of March 5, 2010 by and among AMVAC and a syndicate of commercial lenders (which was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K which was filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on March 8, 2010).

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

(In thousands, except share data)

 

As of September 30, 2009,March 31,2010, the Company had approximately $23,000$15 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested stock options outstanding. This amount will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.40.9 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.

Restricted SharesDuring the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2009, the Company granted employees a total of 101,188 shares of common stock. The shares will cliff vest after three years of service. The shares were valued at $11.75 per share (or $1,189,022$1,189 in total), which was the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant, and the Company is recognizing the corresponding expense over the required service period of three years.

During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2008, the Company granted employees a total of 126,525 shares of common stock of which 2,450 were forfeited in the period. The shares vest 100% on the third anniversary of the date of grant. TheMarch 31, 2010, no restricted shares were valued at $12.19 per share, which was the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant. The Company valued the shares at $1,542,340 and is recognizing compensation expense over the three-year service period.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company granted non-executive board members a total of 33,845 shares of common stock. The shares were immediately vested on the date of grant. The shares were valued at $10.34 per share, which was the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant, and the Company is recognizing a corresponding expense of $350,000 over the service period, which is the non-executive board member’s term of office.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company granted non-executive board members a total of 23,580 shares of common stock. The shares were immediately vested on the date of grant. The shares were valued at $12.72 per share, which was the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant, and the Company is recognizing a corresponding expense of $300,000 over the service period, which is the non-executive board member’s term of office.granted.

There were 14,42614,994 restricted shares of common stock that were forfeited during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2009, which had an average exercise price of $14.74.March 31, 2010. The shares were not vested when terminated.

During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2008March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to restricted shares of $242,000$102 and $644,000,$204, respectively.

As of September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, the Company had approximately $1,854,000$1,313 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested restricted shares. This amount will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.91.6 years. This projected expense will change if any restricted shares are granted or cancelled prior to the respective reporting periods or if there are any changes required to be made for estimated forfeitures.

12.11. Legal Proceedings—Summarized below are litigation matters in which there has been material activity or developments since the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q10-K for the period ended June 30,December 31, 2009.

A. DBCP Cases

Introductory Notes. A number of suits have been filed against AMVAC, alleging injury from exposure to the agricultural chemical 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane1, 2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (“DBCP”). DBCP was manufactured by several chemical companies, including Dow Chemical Company, Shell Oil Company and AMVAC 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

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

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.

Nicaraguan Cases. Thus far there There are approximately 100 lawsuits, foreign and domestic, filed by former banana workers in which AMVAC has been named as a party. Fifteen of these suits have been filed in the United States (with prayers for unspecified damages) and the remainder have been filed in Nicaragua. Three of these domestic suits were brought by citizens of Nicaragua while the other domestic suits have been brought by citizens of other countries. These claims are all in various stages and allege injury from exposure to DBCP, including claims for sterility. All but two of the suits filed in Nicaragua are unserved. All but one of the suits in NicaraguaThere have been filed pursuant to Special Law 364, an October 2000 Nicaraguan statute that contains substantive and procedural provisions that Nicaragua’s Attorney General previously expressed as unconstitutional. Each of the Nicaraguan plaintiffs claims $1 millionno material developments in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. In allany of these cases, AMVAC is a joint defendant with Dow Chemical and Dole Food Company, Inc. Inactions since 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 20, 2009, in a case captionedOsorio v. Dole Food Company, the U. S. District Court for the Southern Districtfiling of Florida entered an order in which it refused to recognize a $97 million judgment that had been rendered by a trial court in Chinandega, Nicaragua in favor of 150 plaintiffs against Dow and Dole under Special Law 364 for alleged exposure to DBCP. In reaching its decision inOsorio, the court found that it was improper to recognize the Nicaraguan court’s judgment under the Florida Recognition Act because Nicaraguan courts lacked jurisdiction over the defendants; Special Law 364 is fatally unfair and discriminatory and fails to provide defendants with a minimum level of due process; the irrefutable presumption of causation under Special Law 364 violates public policy; and the Nicaraguan judgment was rendered under a system which does not provide impartial tribunals. In light of both the decision inOsorio and the Los Angeles Superior Court’s finding of pervasive fraud inMejia andRivera as described in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009, AMVAC believes that its exposure to liability in Nicaragua cases is significantly diminished. Accordingly, the Company believes that a loss in these matters is neither probable nor reasonably estimable and has not incurred a loss contingency therefor.

Ivory Coast Cases. 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 bodily injuries from exposure to DBCP while residing or working on banana or pineapple plantations in that country from the 1970s to the present. The suits name AMVAC, Dow Chemical, Shell Oil Company, and Dole Food as defendants. All these suits also seek punitive damages, and the action filed in federal court alleged a claim under the Alien Tort Claims Act, alleging that the sale and use of DBCP amounted to genocide in the Ivory Coast. As more fully described in the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008, defendants have successfully obtained the dismissal of these federal claims. In the seven state court actions, plaintiffs’ counsel petitioned the court to withdraw from representing plaintiffs. On September 28, 2009, the court granted the motion of plaintiffs’ counsel and ordered that unless the plaintiffs either appear in person before the court or appoint new counsel by October 30, 2009, the court intended to dismiss the actions without prejudice. In light of the fact that plaintiffs failed either to appoint new counsel or to appear personally, the court dismissed these actions without prejudice on October 30, 2009.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

B. Other Matters

On July 19, 2006, AMVAC’s registered agent was served with a putative class action complaint entitledLatrice McLendon, et al. v. Philip Service Corporation etc. et al (including AMVAC), which was filed in the SuperiorArchem/Thames Chelsea 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 sought 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, alleged trespass, nuisance and negligence on behalf of defendants in handling, storing and treating waste which was generated by AMVAC’s Axis, Alabama facility. 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 agreed to settle the matter with a settlement class of approximately 2,000 households for payment of cash consideration of $4 million, which amount shall be divided evenly between co-defendants and paid by their respective insurance carriers. The cost of claims administration, class notice, plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, and class relief was to be paid out of the $4 million settlement fund. On June 2, 2009 the court entered an order giving its final approval of the class settlement and dismissing with prejudice the lawsuit. The effective date of that final approval was July 3, 2009 pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement. The Company has issued claim payments to settlement class members who submitted timely valid claim forms as per the settlement agreement. We expect the claims administration process to be completed within the next 30 days.

On June 3, 2008 an action styledJohn B. Abernathy, Jr. and Delores Abernathy v. Philip Services Corporation etc. et al. [including AMVAC Chemical Corporation]Superfund Claim., Civ. No. 2008-EV-004787J, was filed in the State Court of Fulton County, State of Georgia. Plaintiffs asserted personal injury (including kidney failure) and property damage claims based on the same alleged airborne chemical release from the same PSC facility at issue in theMcLendonlitigation. Plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages in unspecified amounts and asserted causes of action for negligence, negligence per se, trespass, and nuisance. The Company did not believe that the claims had any merit. The parties held a mediation on July 30, 2009 and, within a few weeks after that mediation, AMVAC reached agreement with plaintiffs on the terms of a settlement under which AMVAC ultimately paid plaintiffs a fraction of the costs of defense through funds from the Company’s insurance carrier. On October 20, 2009, Plaintiffs dismissed AMVAC from the case with prejudice.

On July 20, 2009, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued an administrative order (the “Order”) under which it identified parties that are potentially responsible for solid waste and/or hazardous substances at the ArChem/Thames Chelsea State

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

(In thousands, except share data)

Superfund Site (the “Site”). In that order, AMVAC was identified as one of 50 potentially responsible parties (PRP’s) relating to TCEQ removal actions that were conducted at the Site in 1992 and 1993. The total cost of such removal actions for which that group of PRP’s could be liable is approximately $775. AMVAC’s involvement in this matter purportedly arises from the single shipment of an intermediate compound sent to the Site for further synthesis in the late 1980’s. Amvac has joined a group of PRP’s which has challenged the Order by way of filing a petition with the District Court of Travis County, Texas in a matter captionedAkzo Nobel etc. et al. v. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Cause No. D-1-6N-09-002820. Petitioners have challenged the Order on several grounds, including failure to provide PRP’s with an evidentiary hearing and the fact that petitioners should not be liable as arrangers under CERCLA, as they sent useful product—not waste—to the Site. Petitioners filed a motion for declaratory relief, seeking dismissal of the action under both U.S. Supreme Court precedent (BNSF v. U.S.) and Texas Supreme Court precedent (R.R. Street & Co., Inc. v. Pilgrim Enterprises, Inc.); on April 14, 2010, the court denied the motion, reasoning that it was premature and that the issue was better suited to a motion for summary judgment. At this stage in the proceedings, the Company believes that a loss is remotely possible and that such loss could be reasonably estimated at between $15 and $30; the Company has not set up a loss contingency therefor.

Shenkel v. Western Exterminator.On or about September 25, 2009,May 30, 2008, an action styledentitledJoseph K. WilsonKurt Shenkel and Carol Ann Shenkel v. Gemchem, Inc. etc.Western Exterminator Company, et al, Civ. No. 02-CV-2009-901876.00,. [including AMVAC Chemical Corporation] was filed with the Superior Court of the State of California, Central District as Case No. BC391795, in which plaintiff Kurt Shenkel, who worked as a landscaper and gardener in Southern California between 1967 and 2007, alleges that he suffered personal injury—specifically, Parkinson’s disease—from toxins in the Civil Courtseveral dozen herbicides and pesticides (including AMVAC’s Vapam) distributed and sold by the 29 co-defendants during plaintiff’s work history. Plaintiff alleges negligence, strict liability, breach of Mobile, Alabamaimplied warranty and loss of consortium by defendants for which he seeks compensatory and punitive damages in unspecified amounts. Defendants have filed numerous demurrers and motions to dismiss with the court, which, in turn, has stayed consideration of such motions for the time being. In March 2010, AMVAC brought a former employee who seeks

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIESmotion for summary judgment and subsequently AMVAC and plaintiffs agreed in principle to settle this matter for cash consideration in the amount of $10.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

compensation and medical expenses arising from physical injuries that he allegedly sustained when he tripped and fell at AMVAC’s facility in Axis, Alabama. The Company does not believe that the claims have any merit and intends to defend the matter vigorously. At this stage, the Company does not believe that a loss is either probable or reasonably estimable and has not set up a loss contingency therefor.

IBAMA Citation.On or about October 5, 2009, IBAMA (the BrasilianBrazilian equivalent of the EPA) served the Company’s subsidiary, Amvac do Brasil, with a Notice of Violation alleging that two lots of Granutox 150 (formulated product having phorate as the active ingredient) stored at BASF S.A. (AMVAC’s exclusive distributor in Brasil)Brazil) and FMC Quimica do Brasil Ltda. (which formulates end-use product in that country) were not in compliance with the end-use registration on file with IBAMA. Specifically, IBAMA alleged that the color of the lots (gray) was inconsistent with the description in IBAMA’s files (pink). IBAMA also indicated an intention to assess a fine of approximately $285 against Amvac do Brasil. The Company intends to challenge the citation, among other reasons, on the ground that the change in color has to do with the removal of a coloring component and that such removal poses no environmental or toxicity risk. At this stage, the Company believes that a loss in the amount of between $35 and $70 is probable and has set up a loss contingency in the amount of $70.

13.12. Recently Issued Accounting GuidanceGuidance—In March 2010, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-11. The objective of the standards is to clarify the intended breadth of the embedded credit derivative scope exception in paragraphs 815-15-15-8 through 15-9 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. Entities that are affected by this standard are those that enter into contracts containing an embedded credit derivative feature related to the transfer of credit risk that is not only in the form of subordination of one financial instrument to another. Although the Company has a derivative instrument, it is not an embedded credit derivative. The standard is effective for all reporting periods after November 15, 2009. The Company will monitor its hedging activities and apply this guidance when appropriate.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

(In thousands, except share data)

In February 2010, FASB issued ASU 2010-09, an amendment of FASB ASC 855 [SFAS 165]“Subsequent Events”. The objective of the standard is to provide reporting entities with principles and requirements related to subsequent events. The objective of the standard is to clarify when a Company must disclose details of a subsequent event. The standard clarifies that SEC filers are still required to evaluate subsequent events through the date its financial statements are issued, however, SEC filers are no longer required to disclose in the financial statements that it has done so or the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated. The standard is effective upon issuance for filings after February 24, 2010. The Company has adopted the standard in the current quarter.

In October 2009, FASB updated the Revenue Recognition (Topic 605): Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements—a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. The objective of this Update is to address the accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for products or services (deliverables) separately rather than as a combined unit. Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition-Multiple Element Arrangements, establishes the accounting and reporting guidance for arrangements under which the vendor will perform multiple revenue-generating activities. The amendments in this Update will affect accounting and reporting for all vendors that enter into multiple-deliverable arrangements with their customers. This update will be effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company will monitor its sales activities in the future that may be affected by this update.

In September 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)FASB updated FASB ASC 820 [FAS[SFAS 157], “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures: Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)”. This guidance pertains to investments that do not have readily determinable fair values as defined in the Master Glossary of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (those investments are not listed on national exchanges or over-the-counter markets such as the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System). Examples of these investees (also referred to as alternate investments) may include hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, venture capital funds, offshore fund vehicles, and funds of funds. This particular update does not apply to the Company as the Company does not have any alternate investments such as offshore fund vehicles, real estate funds and others as defined by this Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”).ASU. We will continue to monitor the Company’s activities in the future that might be affected by this update.

In June 2009,13. Subsequent events—On or about April 6, 2010, the FASB issued FASB ASC 105 [FAS 168] “Pest Management Regulatory Agency (“PMRA”) notified the Company of its intention to cancel the Canadian registration for the compound, pentachloronitrobenzene in that country, citing the Company’s failure to provide certain manufacturing data to the agency in a timely fashion. The FASB Accounting Standards Codification andCompany is working with PMRA to avoid a cancellation warning notification by, among other things, providing the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. This new statement identifies the source of accounting principles and the framework for selecting principles usedrequired data promptly. If a cancellation were to be imposed in the preparation of financial statements for nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformitynear term, the Company might be required to contact potentially affected customer to determine appropriate actions with US GAAP. The pronouncement is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Company has reviewed the details of the statement and concluded that changes in codification structure will have no effect on the financial reporting of the Company. The Company adopted the pronouncement for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and the 10-Q filing reflected the citations under the codification.

In May 2009, FASB issued FASB ASC 855 [FAS 165] “Subsequent Events”. The objective of the statement isrespect to provide reporting entities with principles and requirements related to subsequent events. The objective of the standard is to clarify when a Company must disclose details of a subsequent event. Equally, the standard makes clear circumstances when details of a subsequent event need not be includedproduct in the Company’s public filings. The Company’s disclosure committee has revieweddistribution channel at that time. PMRA’s action was uncharacteristically sudden, and, at this point, the requirements of the standard and notes itCompany is effective for all interim and annual financial statements dated September 30, 2009. The Company has updated subsequent events through November 6, 2009.

On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued FASB ASC 820 [FAS 157-4], “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and IdentifyingTransactions that are not Orderly”. This is additional clarification and advice on FASB ASC 820 which was

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Noteswithout sufficient information to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

issued in September 2006. The Company operates in the Chemical Industry. As such an important factor in our business relates to the ownership or usage rights related to intellectual property (Intangible Assets). At each quarter end we assess the fair value of our holdings. This FSP takes effect for reporting periods ending on or after January 15, 2009. We have assessed our assets and liabilities and do not believe that any fall into the scope of this statements. We will continue to regularly assess our portfolio and will make the necessary adjustments and disclosures when we conclude that onea loss is either probable or more of our assets fall within the scope of this statement.

On April 9, 2009, FASB issued FASB ASC 825 [FAS 107-1]. This position paper amends FASB ASC 825 “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments”. At the same time the FASB issued FASB ASC 270 [APB 28-1], which amends APB Opinion No. 28 “Interim Financial Reporting”. Both of these position papers are focused on increasing disclosures related to the fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies. In the 10-Q for the third quarter of 2008, American Vanguard increased its disclosure related to such Financial Instrumentsreasonably estimable and continued that depth of disclosure in its 10-K statement for the year ended December 31, 2008. We will continue to fully disclose full details of the fair value of our financial instruments in our future published summarized financial information.

On October 10, 2008, FASB issued FASB ASC 820 [FSP FAS 157-3]. This position paper seeks to clarify the application of FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements”, inaccordingly has not set up a market that is not active and provides illustrative examples for determining fair value of a financial asset when the market for that financial asset is not active. This statement is effective on issuance or October 10, 2008. Currently, the Company has no financial assets where there is little or no market activity at the measurement date. Accordingly, we believe that this FSP has no applicability for the Company as of September 30, 2009. We will reconsider the applicability of this statement should our business circumstances change.

On September 12, 2008, FASB issued FASB ASC 815 [FSP FAS 133-1]. This ASC seeks to clarify the application of FASB ASC 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, to require disclosures by sellers of credit derivatives, including embedded credit derivatives. Furthermore, the FSP amends FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”, requiring additional disclosures related to payment/risk. Finally, this FSP clarifies the effective date of FASB ASC 815 [FAS 161], “Disclosure about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. Effective for reporting periods (annual or interim) ending after November 15, 2008. We have reviewed the position paper and find that; for FASB ASC 815, we conclude that we do not participate in the market selling any derivatives, for FASB ASC 952 [FASB No 45], we have no guarantees related to the debts of others and with regard to the effective date of FASB ASC 815, this statement confirmed our existing understanding. We will reconsider the applicability of this statement should our business circumstances change.

In March 2008, FASB issued FASB ASC 815,Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities(“SFAS 161”). The new standard is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. It is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. The new standard also improves transparency about the location and amounts of derivative instruments in an entity’s financial statements; how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under FASB ASC 815Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities(“SFAS No. 133”); and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect its financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. The Company has reviewed the standard and believes its current reporting meets the requirements of the standard.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued

In December 2007, FASB issued FASB ASC 805 [“SFAS No. 141 (Revised)”]Business Combinations. The provisions of this statement are effective for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2008. Earlier application is not permitted. FASB ASC 805 replaces SFAS 141 and provides new guidance for valuing assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination. We adopted FASB ASC 805 in fiscal year beginning January 1, 2009.loss contingency.

Item 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (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 Discussion1A., Risk factors and Analysis of Financial ConditionItem 7A., Quantitative and Results of Operation,Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, Factors, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.2009.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Quarter Ended September 30:March 31:

 

  2009  2008  Change   2010  2009  Change 

Net sales:

            

Crop

  $56,628  $52,326  $4,302    $36,805  $36,805  $—    

Non-crop

   9,743   15,310   (5,567   9,907   7,832   2,075  
                    
  $66,371  $67,636  $(1,265  $46,712  $44,637  $2,075  
                    

Gross profit:

            

Crop

  $18,131  $20,671  $(2,540  $14,412  $15,544  $(1,132

Non-crop

   3,233   8,115   (4,882   4,512   3,012   1,500  
                    
  $21,364  $28,786  $(7,422  $18,924  $18,556  $368  
                    

Our overall sales performance has improved compared to the second quarter of the year. However, overallOverall financial performance (including net sales and net income) for the quarter ended September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 is downimproved as compared to the same period of the prior year.in 2009. Our net sales for the period are down 2%up approximately 5% to $66,371$46,712, compared to $44,637 for the same periodfirst quarter of 2008.2009. Net sales for our crop business are up 9%,essentially flat while net sales for non-crop products are up approximately 26%. Net sales of many of our non-crop segment are down 37% as compared tocrop-related product lines were up (as indicated in the same period of last year.

Whilediscussion below), however, these gains were offset by significantly lower net sales on tolling contracts as a result of timing (sales will come through in second quarter of 2010). A more detailed discussion of general market conditions and sales performance by category of products appears below.

For much of 2009, we believe that our distribution customers and growers followed a conservative approach toward procurement, reducing their inventories and ordering products closer to time of use. As a result, inventories of many products in the aggregate were basically flatchannel of distribution have tended to come down, leaving room for re-stocking in 2010. In addition, credit restrictions on growers, which are believed to have been tight during much of 2009, appear to have begun to relax. Further, certain crops into which the quarter as comparedCompany has significant product sales—namely, cotton and peanuts appear to be increasing in planted acres, while weather in the same period last year,Midwest is permitting corn and other crops to be planted well ahead of the 2009 schedule.

Net sales performance of our largest selling product line, soil fumigants, were up nearly 11% in the first quarter. This increase arose largely from the fact that an early frost in late 2009 had prevented many growers from applying the products before winter had set in; this suppressed fourth quarter 2009 sales. With the ensuing thaw in 2010, these growers were able to treat their fields in the first quarter. Net sales of our insecticide product lines varied. Our granular soil insecticides continued to perform well compared to last year. However, sales of insecticide products were down sharply due to reduced demand for our (Dibrom) mosquito adulticide, sales of which were down byrose strongly, approximately 70% compared to the same period of 2008, due to low insect pressure and a lack of precipitation29% in the South and Southwest. By comparison, the thirdfirst quarter of 2008 presented ideal conditions for use of our adulticide, and we enjoyed record sales during that period. Sales of our cotton insecticide, Bidrin and Bidrin XP, were up2010 as compared to the same period in 2008;2009. Among the insecticides, sales of Dibrom, our mosquito adulticide, increased strongly over the same period in 2009; however, the increase was due largely to timing of customer orders. In addition, our cotton insecticides performed well in light of the fact that cotton acres continue athave risen year-over-year.

Our corn soil insecticides as a group posted a gain in net sales of about 19% for the low levels presentperiod. Among these products, Counter led the pack with net sales rising nearly 70% over the comparable period last year; these results arose largely from increased support for Counter as a treatment for nematodes in corn and a more effective positioning of the product in distribution. Sales of Force were also strong, reflecting growers’ preference for purchasing the product closer to growing the season. Net sales of our herbicide products were down slightly, about 5%, for the quarter. However, with corn planting ahead of last year confirming market recognition thatand lean inventory levels in the distribution channel, we have a superior product offering.recorded an increase of approximately 35% in net sales of our post-emergent corn herbicide, Impact. These gains were offset by reduced sales of Dacthal, which arose in part from regulatory pressure in Europe.

Net sales of our Orthene (acephate)fungicide product line were flat compared to first quarter of 2009, while our plant growth regulator, NAA, and Discipline (bifenthrin) products tendedslug/snail bait, Metaldehyde, generated net sales increases during the period. NAA continues to be downenjoy solid support in the facemarketplace, while Metaldehyde sales benefitted from the ample rainfall within the western states over the course of heavy competition and large inventory in the distribution channel. Further, as discussed below, the gross marginswinter. Net sales of our insecticide product lines declinedforeign subsidiaries were up approximately 22% over the comparable quarter in 2008 due in part to the fact thatquarter; however, we were

focused on selling higher cost inventory items as partare seeing heavy pricing pressure for some of our inventory reduction initiative. Our herbicides, including our post-emergent corn herbicide, Impact, sold wellproduct lines in those regions. In addition, sales performance benefitted by the quarter, despite a challenging market in corn, including late planting due to rain and a just-in-time buying pattern among customers. Herbicide sales gained some ground on sales not realized earlier in the year. Our plant growth regulators had another good quarter with sales continuing strongly aheadCompany’s collection of the comparable quarter last year; however, some of that performance appears to be timing; during 2008, sales of thisdata compensation for its acephate product line occurred primarily in the second quarter, while in 2009, they occurred in the third quarter.

Sales by our foreign subsidiaries continue to grow strongly in comparison to the prior year, with particularly strong growth in Costa Rica. However, our overall international sales were down 20% compared to the same period of 2008. This mainly relates to a drop in global sales of approximately 35% of our fungicide, PCNB; this decline arose from the fact that distribution in one international region had purchased a two year supply of that product in the third quarter of 2008 and did not purchase any product in the same quarter of 2009. Similarly, we had a relatively large one time transaction in Africa in 2008 which did not repeat this year. As noted above, our key Central American markets performed well despite continued tight control on credit affecting some demand.line.

Cost of sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, ended at $45,007March 31, 2010, was $27,788 or 68%about 59% of sales compared to $38,850$26,081 or 57%about 58% of sales for the same period of 2008. When looking solely at our selling activities,2009. Gross margins for the sales mixquarter were down slightly (to 41% from 42%) for the comparable period. This drop was a result of our products generatedcontinued efforts to very tightly control inventory levels and as a gross profit percentage performance below theresult, incurred a higher level achievedof under-absorption of factory costs in the same period of 2008. There were a few significant factors driving this result. As part of our initiative to reduce inventory and in the face of intense, short-term competitive pressure, we have sold certain products internationally at lower prices in order to retain our market share. Furthermore, in order to drive down inventory we have made decisions to hold back on manufacturing output, accepting the short-term burden of under-absorbed overheads. Furthermore, we continue to make intense efforts to focus on selling certain line items in inventory. These actions together have yielded a significant drop in inventory value but have also had a negative impact on margins. As a result, gross profitquarter ended the period at $21,364 or 32% of sales for the period ended September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010 as compared to $28,786 or 43% of sales for the same period of 2008.quarter last year. These inventory controls have helped to reduce the inventory level by $38,190 (or 34%) as compared to the same quarter last year.

It should be noted that, when making comparisons with other companies’ financial statements, the Company reports distribution costs in operating expenses and not as part of cost of sales.

Operating expenses are down 4% at $17,470decreased by $1,395 to $15,168 for the three months ending September 30, 2009ended March 31, 2010 as compared to last year’s expense of $18,111.the same period in 2009. The differences in operating expenses by department are as follows:

 

  2009  2008  Change   2010  2009  Change 

Selling

  $5,751  $5,049  $702    $5,661  $5,306  $355  

General and administrative

   4,175   4,393   (218   4,560   5,834   (1,274

Research, product development and regulatory

   2,928   2,504   424     2,009   2,611   (602

Freight, delivery and warehousing

   4,616   6,165   (1,549   2,938   2,812   126  
                    
  $17,470  $18,111  $(641  $15,168  $16,563  $(1,395
                    

 

Selling expenses increased by $702$355 to $5,751end at $5,661 for the three months ended September 30, 2009March 31, 2010, as compared to the same period of last year. There are several drivers2009. The main driver for this increase in cost. Costs associated with running our operations in Mexico, Costa Ricaincreased overall cost was higher advertising and to a lesser extent, Brazil increased by $260promotional expenditures as we invest indrive our brands at the growth and developmentstart of our presence in those regions. In addition, we incurred $70 higher costs, mainly related to timing, supporting our proprietary row systems in the field. We have made the decision to increase our presence in certain markets and incurred $154 additional labor costs as a result. Other increases related to commissions, programs and insurance.main growing seasons.

General and administrative expenses reduceddecreased by $218$1,274 to $4,175end at $4,560 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to $4,393 for the same period of 2008. The main drivers are investment2009. This decrease was primarily a result of high acquisition activity related costs in additional management resources up $124, increasedthe three months ended March 31, 2009 that did not recur this year. These cost savings were partly offset by legal costs compared toassociated with securing the same quarter of 2008, during which period we reported a one time creditdata compensation agreement noted above. Other costs remained relatively in line with the amount of $390. Furthermore, we have again reduced the accrual for bonuses reflecting continued weak financial performance.prior year.

Research, product development costs and regulatory expenses increaseddecreased by $424$602 to $2,009 for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to the same period of 2008. This is mainly driven by $357 increased2009. The main driver relates to our product defense costs as a result of decisionsactivities which were down $530 compared to support certain molecules. In addition, we have increased resources focused on formulation chemistry.the same period in 2009.

 

Freight, delivery and warehousing costs for the three month periodmonths ended September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 were $4,616$2,938 or 7%6.3% of sales representing a reduction of $1,549 as compared to $2,812 or 6.3% of sales for the same period in 2008, during which such costs were $6,165 or 9% of sales. The driver for this change is the product mix and the intense efforts being made2009. We continue to work hard to focus on and improvemanaging logistic expense throughout our control of these logistics costs. Finally, we reported earlier that our sales mix in the quarter included reduced levels of our mosquito products which, as reported last year, drive high freight costs.supply chain.

Interest costs net of capitalized interest, were $813$751 in the first three months ended September 30, 2009of 2010 as compared to $1,035$865 in the same period of 2008.2009. Interest costs are summarized in the following table:

Average Indebtedness and Interest expense

 

  Q3 2009 Q3 2008   Q1 2010 Q1 2009 
  Average
Debt
    Interest
Expense
   Interest
Rate
 Average
Debt
    Interest
Expense
   Interest
Rate
  Average
Debt
    Interest
Expense
   Interest
Rate
 Average
Debt
    Interest
Expense
   Interest
Rate
 

Term Loan

  $49,989    $564          4.5 $53,989    $747          5.5  $47,935    $587          4.9 $51,989    $661          5.2

Real Estate

   2,119     31    5.7  2,226     32    5.7   2,035     29    5.8  2,141     14    5.7

Working Capital Revolver

   41,087     230    2.2  21,174     319    6.0   15,912     145    3.7  36,656     211    2.3
                                                  

Average

   93,195           825    3.5  77,389         1,098    5.6   65,882     761    4.6  90,786     886    4.0
                                                  

Other notes payable

   3,200     —      —      3,750     —      —       1,300        3,675      

Capitalized Interest

   —       (12  —      —       (63  —           (10        (21  
                                                  

Adjusted Average indebtedness

  $96,395    $813    3.3 $81,139    $1,035    5.1  $67,182    $751    4.5 $94,461    $865    3.7
                                                  

The Company’s average overall debt for the three months ended September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 was $96,395$67,182 as compared to $81,139$94,461 for the same period in 2008. The Company made $1,027 in scheduled payments of its term debt in both periods. Revolver debt reduced by $14,500 during the three months to September 2009 as compared to a reduction of $5,000 during the same period of 2008. Our cash positionended March 31, 2009. The increase in the quarter included the benefit from an early pay optionrevolver debt is normal at this time of year but is much reduced as parta result of our distributor programs. Our overall performance continues to be favorably impacted by movement in the LIBOR rate during the period to September 30, 2009 as compared to the same period of 2008.intense focus on inventory and accounts receivable levels. As can be seen from the table above, our effective interest rate during the period was 3.3%4.5% as compared to 5.1%3.7% for 2008.

2009. The Company’s income tax expense was $984 as compared to $3,611 for the same period of 2008. The Company’s effective tax rate was decreased to 32% mainly due to its financial performance year to date and the recent submission of amended returns to claim additional state tax credits. As previously reported, we are currently undergoing an audit with the IRS for the 2007 tax year, however, no adjustments have been made to date. Furthermore, based on its analysis, the Company determined that FASB ASC 740 [FIN 48] does not have a material impact on its financial position as of September 30, 2009. Accordingly, there were no adjustments to the balance sheet during this period. The Company does not anticipate any material changes to its recognized tax benefits over the next 12 months asincrease is partly a result of applying ASC 740.the change in interest rate levels following the first amendment to the Company’s senior credit facility agreement which was finalized in the later part of the quarter.

The Company reported net income of $2,097 or $0.08 per diluted shareIncome tax expense has increased by $749 to end at $1,178 for the three months ended September 30, 2009. This compared to net income of $6,029 or $0.22 per diluted share for the comparable period of 2008. This decline is driven by several factors: the significant reduction in sales in the quarter of our Dibrom mosquito products and PCNB fungicide products, the drive to reduce inventory reflecting change in demand pattern from our key customers driving factory cost under-absorption and decisions made to sell internationally at low margins in response to specific competitive situations.

Nine Months Ended September 30

   2009  2008  Change 

Net sales:

      

Crop

  $130,133  $133,016  $(2,883

Non-crop

   28,360   33,462   (5,102
             
  $158,493  $166,478  $(7,985
             

Gross profit:

      

Crop

  $45,508  $55,295  $(9,787

Non-crop

   10,831   14,839   (4,008
             
  $56,339  $70,134  $(13,795
             

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2009, the Company reported sales of $158,493; these net sales were down 5%March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period of 2008. Our granular soil insecticides started the year strongly following delayed sales from the last quarter of the prior year and have kept on track during the nine months to date. Our fumigants have continued in line with last year. Our plant growth regulators are doing well. Our herbicides and insecticides began the year at or above targeted sales levels. However, the Company experienced a challenging business environment in the second quarter, during which sales of our herbicide product declined significantly as customers reduced their inventory and adopted a “buy-as-needed” approach to procurement, and weather conditions in the Midwest delayed the corn planting season and affected the use of post-emergent herbicides. In that same quarter, sales of our leading insecticides were also down due to reduced acres in cotton and peanuts and a decrease in pest pressure on cotton and other crops. As explained more fully above, net sales in the third quarter have returned to historical levels; however, reduced sales in our mosquito adulticide, due to a lack of precipitation and pest pressure in our primary markets, negatively impacted both top and bottom line performance. Net sales were further eroded in the third quarter by reduced international demand for our fungicide product line. Reasonably strong sales of our herbicides in the third quarter were partly offset by reduced sales of insecticides in the face of generic pressure and high inventory levels in the channel. Despite solid performances out of our two main foreign subsidiaries, our international sales continue to perform below the levels achieved in the same period of 2008. International sales are down 12% overall. This includes some impact from tight regional credit control and some large transactions in 2008 that have not repeated in the current year.

As can be seen from the table above, our crop sales are tracking 3% below last year for the nine months to September 30, 2009. Our non-crop segment sales are 16% below year to date.

Cost of sales ended at $102,154 or 64% of net sales compared to $96,344 or 58% of net sales for the same period of 2008. This result has arisen from a number of factors. First, we experienced increased factory costs relating to waste handling on the start-up of a new product in the first quarter. Second, gross profit as a percentage of sales was reduced by tolling activities which benefited plant utilization but served to lower low gross profit levels. Third, we have experienced some price erosion on international sales made in order to maintain our market share in the face of heavy competitive pressure. Fourth, as part of our initiative to reduce inventory, we have reduced factory throughput, thereby incurring fixed cost absorption from reduced operating rates.

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were down at $56,339 or 36% of net sales as compared to $70,134 or 42% of net sales in the same period of 2008. This decline is predominantly due to the mix of sales in the third quarter (as described above in our review of the three month period), including reduced sales of high-margin products and a proportionately higher volume of sales of high-cost inventory as part of our inventory reduction initiative.

Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, increased by $2,077 to end at $49,570 compared to $47,493 for the comparable period of last year. The differences in operating expenses by department are as follows:

   2009  2008  Change 

Selling

  $16,303  $14,765  $1,538  

General and administrative

   14,498   12,661   1,837  

Research, product development and regulatory

   8,045   6,338   1,707  

Freight, delivery and warehousing

   10,724   13,729   (3,005
             
  $49,570  $47,493  $2,077  
             

Selling expenses for the period ended September 30, 2009 increased by $1,538 to $16,303 as compared to $14,765 for the same period of 2008. Included in this change, advertising and promotional spending in support of our key product lines were up $169, program related expenses were up $380, and our field stewardship costs were up $670. As an offset, expenses related to our proprietary delivery systems were down $250 related to one time costs incurred last year.

General and administrative expenses increased by $1,837 to end at $14,498 for the nine month period ended September 30, 2009. This includes spending, reported in the first quarter of 2009, related to a major potential acquisition. This cost was offset by reduced bonus accruals reflecting the financial performance for the nine-months ended September 30, 2009. Finally, we reported in the third quarter of 2008, a one time credit related to legal costs in the amount of $390; there was no similar credit in the nine months ended of September 30, 2009.

Research, product development costs and regulatory registration expenses increased by $1,707 to $8,045 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $6,338 for the same period of 2008. The main drivers were increased product defense costs related to both recently acquired product lines and established product lines.

Freight, delivery and warehousing costs for the first nine months of 2009 decreased by $3,005 to $10,724 or 7% of sales as compared to $13,729 or 8% of sales for the same period of 2008. This reduction as a percentage of sales, reflects continued effort to control these expenses by careful distribution in the supply chain and savings related to urgent shipments. Specifically, in the three months ended September 30, 2009, lower sales of our mosquito products drove significantly lower freight costs.

Interest costs net of capitalized interest, were $2,584 in the nine month period ended September 30, 2009 compared to $3,099 in the same period in 2008. The Company’s average overall debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $101,521 and the effective interest rate was 3.4%. This compares to $85,743 and an effective interest rate of 4.8% for the same period in 2008. The reduced effective interest rate is driven by movements in LIBOR in the two periods.

Average Indebtedness and Interest expense

   Nine Months ended September 30, 2009  Nine months ended September 30, 2008 
   Average
Debt
  Interest
Expense
  Interest
Rate
  Average
Debt
  Interest
Expense
  Interest
Rate
 

Term Loan

  $50,982  $    1,765         4.6 $  54,985  $    2,300         5.6

Real Estate

   2,128   92   5.8  2,235   95   5.7

Working Capital Revolver

   44,960   765   2.3  25,880   950   4.9
                       

Average

   98,070   2,622   3.5  83,100   3,345   5.4
                       

Other notes payable

   3,451   —     —      2,643   —     —    

Interest Income

   —     —     —      —     (75 —    

Capitalized Interest

   —     (38 —      —     (171 —    
                       

Adjusted Average indebtedness

  $101,521  $2,584   3.4 $85,743  $3,099   4.8
                       

During the nine month period, scheduled payments were made on the term loan, the real estate loan and, in line with our normal seasonal cycle, our revolver debt increased through the first four months and then started to reduce. Our results have been favorably impacted by movement in the LIBOR rate in comparison to the rate during the same period of 2008. As noted above, we have also seen the benefit of take up of options in our distributor programs for early cash discounts. As can be seen from the table above, our effective interest rate during the period was 3.4% as compared to 4.8% for 2008.

The Company’s income tax expense was $1,393 and $7,438 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company’s effective rate has decreased to 33% mainly due to its financial performance year to date and the recent submission of amended returns to claim additional state tax credits. As noted above, the Company is undergoing an audit with the IRS for the 2007 tax year, however, no adjustments have been made to date. Also as noted above, the Company has determined that FASB ASC 740 does not have a material impact on its financial position as of September 30, 2009. Accordingly, there were no adjustments to the balance sheet during this period. The Company does not anticipate any material changes to its recognized tax benefits over the next 12 months as a result of applying ASC 740.

The Company reported net income of $2,792 or $0.10 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. This compares to $12,204 or $0.44 per diluted share$429 for the comparable period in 2008. This decline arose primarily from2009. Included in this change, our effective rate has increased to 39% compared to 38% last year mainly as a decreaseresult of improved performance. Additionally, the rate has increased due to certain current year deductions that negatively impact domestic manufacturing deduction and federal research and development tax credits that have not yet been extended for 2010.

Our overall net income for the first three months of 2010 is $1,827 or $0.07 per share (basic and diluted) as compared to $699 or $0.03 per share (basic and diluted) in net sales, a drop in gross margin, and reduced manufacturing activity.the same quarter of 2009.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company generated $4,350used $14,427 of cash in operating activities during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2009.March 31, 2010. This compared to utilizing $2,192$32,457 in the same period of last year. Net income of $2,792,$1,827, non-cash depreciation and amortization of $10,124$3,526 and stock based compensation expense of $895$202 provided a net cash inflow $13,811$5,555 compared to $21,369$4,312 for the same period last year.

The main driverdrivers for the improvement in cash generated from operational activities is intense activity that has been ongoing formainly associated with improved control of inventory. Inventories ended the quarter $38,190 lower compared to the same time last six months focused on driving down inventory levels. This has resulted in bringing inventory down to $99,475 as at September 30, 2009, $112,434 atyear. As usual we have seen receivables rise during the end of June 2009. This has been achieved despite the clear industry-wide dynamic of taking up a “buy-only-as-needed” methodology.

During the early partfirst quarter of the year we established goals aimed at reducing inventory forhowever, although sales are up 5%, our accounts receivable balance has remained well controlled and ended the financial year toquarter $10,536 below the level achieved in December 2008. During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, we have reduced inventory by $12,959. This has been achieved as a result of limiting manufacturing output reflecting short-term demand and focusing on international opportunities even at low margin.reported this time last year. We intend to continue to manage ourfocus a lot of management attention on both inventory positions very tightly going forward.and receivable levels.

The Company continues to focus on tightly controlling capital spending and has used $3,746$1,868 in investing activities during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2009.March 31, 2010. The business is focused on achievingapproving only those capital spending options that will improve safety, efficiency or manufacturing capabilities. We had a lowervery low spending year in 2009 and expect to see a slightly increased level of capital spending this year after making some heavy investments lastin the current year. Despite considering possible product line acquisitions during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we have not identified suitable potential additions that meet our investment criteria. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company used $16,993 in investing activities.

Financing activities used $953provided $17,129 during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2009, asMarch 31, 2010, compared to providing $19,518$33,615 in the same period of the prior year. Net borrowings under the Company’s senior, secured revolving line of credit has increased by $3,000$18,900 during the nine month period, to September 30, 2009, as compared to an increaseending at $21,500. It is note worthy that the total indebtedness at the end of $23,000 inthis quarter was $70,812 which was $44,916 lower than at the same period of 2008. During the three months ended September 30, 2009,time last year. It is also important to note that the Company has decreased borrowings againstincreased its payments on its term loan from $1,000 per quarter to $2,000 a quarter beginning with this quarter. That step up was part of the revolving line oforiginal credit by $14,500 as compared to a reduction of $5,000 during the same period of 2008.facility agreement. The Company received $468$277 from the exercise of stock options, the sale of common stock under its ESPP plan. Furthermore, the Company made scheduled payments amounting to $3,080 on its term loansplan and $1,341 in dividend payments.is net of retirement of restricted stock units of $2.

The Company has various different loans in place that together constitute the short-term and long-term loan balances shown in the balance sheet as at September 30, 2009March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2008.2009. These are summarized in the following table:-

 

Indebtedness

  September 30, 2009  December 31, 2008  March 31, 2010  December 31, 2009

$000’s

  Long-term  Short-term  Total  Long-term  Short-term  Total  Long-term  Short-term  Total  Long-term  Short-term  Total

Term Loan

  $42,000  $7,000  $49,000  $48,000  $4,000  $52,000  $38,000  $8,000  $46,000  $40,000  $8,000  $48,000

Real estate

   1,968   106   2,074   2,048   106   2,154   1,915   106   2,021   1,942   106   2,048

Working Capital Revolver

   27,500   —     27,500   24,500   —     24,500   21,500   —     21,500   2,600   —     2,600

Other Notes Payable

   800   2,400   3,200   1,200   2,550   3,750

Asset purchase

   69   22   91   90   22   112

Other notes payable

   800   400   1,200   800   400   1,200
                                    

Total Indebtedness

  $72,268  $9,506  $81,774  $75,748  $6,656  $82,404  $62,284  $8,528  $70,812  $45,432  $8,528  $53,960
                                    

The Company has four key covenants to its senior, secured credit facility with its banking syndicate. The covenants are as follows: (1) the Company must maintain its borrowings below a certain consolidated funded debt ratio, (2) the Company has amust limit on its annual spending on the acquisition of fixed asset capital additions, (3) the Company must maintain a certain consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, and (4) the Company must maintain a certain modified current ratio which compares the on hand value of receivables plus inventory with the level of its working capital revolver debt. At September 30,As of March 31, 2009 the Company met all the covenants listed above. This was the position as of December 31, 2008.that credit facility.

At September 30, 2009 total indebtedness was $81,774 as compared to $82,404 at DecemberMarch 31, 2008. At September 30, 2009,2010, based on its performance against the covenants listed above, the Company had the capacity to increase itsits’ borrowings by up to $4,769$55,576 under the credit facility agreement.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

Recently IssuedIn March 2010, FASB issued Accounting GuidanceStandards Update (“ASU”) 2010-11. The objective of the standard is to clarify the intended breadth of the embedded credit derivative scope exception in paragraphs 815-15-15-8 through 15-9 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. Entities that are affected by this standard are those that enter into contracts containing an embedded credit derivative feature related to the transfer of credit risk that is not only in the form of subordination of one financial instrument to another. Although the Company has a derivative instrument, it is not an embedded credit derivative. The standard is effective for all reporting periods after November 15, 2009. The Company will monitor its hedging activities and apply this guidance when appropriate.

In February 2010, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ASU 2010-09, an amendment of FASB ASC 855 [SFAS 165]“Subsequent Events”. The objective of the standard is to provide reporting entities with principles and requirements related to subsequent events. The objective of the standard is to clarify when a Company must disclose details of a subsequent event. The standard clarifies that SEC filers are still required to evaluate subsequent events through the date its financial statements are issued, however, SEC filers are no longer required to disclose in the financial statements that it has done so or the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated. The standard is effective upon issuance for filings after February 24, 2010. The Company has adopted the standard in the current year.

In October 2009, FASB updated the Revenue Recognition (Topic 605): Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements—a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. The objective of this Update is to address the accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for products or services (deliverables) separately rather than as a combined unit. Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition-Multiple Element Arrangements, establishes the accounting and reporting guidance for arrangements under which the vendor will perform multiple revenue-generating activities. The amendments in this standard will affect accounting and reporting for all vendors that enter into multiple-deliverable arrangements with their customers. This update will be effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company will monitor its sales activities in the future that may be affected by this update.

In September 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)FASB updated FASB ASC 820 [FAS[SFAS 157], “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures: Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)”. This guidance pertains to investments that do not have readily determinable fair values as defined in the Master Glossary of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (those investments are not listed on national exchanges or over-the-counter markets such as the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System). Examples of these investees (also referred to as alternate investments) may include hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, venture capital funds, offshore fund vehicles, and funds of funds. This particular update does not apply to the Company as the Company does not have any alternate investments such as offshore fund vehicles, real estate funds and others as defined by this Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”).ASU. We will continue to monitor the Company’s activities in the future that might be affected by this update.

In June 2009, the FASB issued FASB ASC 105 [FAS 168] “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. This new statement identifies the source of accounting principles and the framework for selecting principles used in the preparation of financial statements for nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with US GAAP. The pronouncement is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Company has reviewed the details of the statement and concluded that changes in codification structure will have no effect on the financial reporting of the Company. The Company adopted the pronouncement for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and the 10-Q filing reflected the citations under the codification.

In May 2009, FASB issued FASB ASC 855 [FAS 165] “Subsequent Events”. The objective of the statement is to provide reporting entities with principles and requirements related to subsequent events. The objective of the standard is to clarify when a Company must disclose details of a subsequent event. Equally, the standard makes clear circumstances when details of a subsequent event need not be included in the Company’s public filings. The Company’s disclosure committee has reviewed the requirements of the standard and notes it is effective for all interim and annual financial statements dated September 30, 2009. The Company has updated subsequent events through November 6, 2009.

On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued FASB ASC 820 [FAS 157-4], “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions that are not Orderly”. This is additional clarification and advice on FASB ASC 820 which was issued in September 2006. The Company operates in the Chemical Industry. As such an important factor in our business relates to the ownership or usage rights related to intellectual property (Intangible Assets). At each quarter end we assess the fair value of our holdings. This FSP takes effect for reporting periods ending on or after January 15, 2009. We have assessed our assets and liabilities and do not believe that any fall into the scope of this statements. We will continue to regularly assess our portfolio and will make the necessary adjustments and disclosures when we conclude that one or more of our assets fall within the scope of this statement.

On April 9, 2009, FASB issued FASB ASC 825 [FAS 107-1]. This position paper amends FASB ASC 825 “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments”. At the same time the FASB issued FASB ASC 270 [APB 28-1], which amends APB Opinion No. 28 “Interim Financial Reporting”. Both of these position papers are focused on increasing disclosures related to the fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies. In the 10-Q for the third quarter of 2008, American Vanguard increased its disclosure related to such Financial Instruments and continued that depth of disclosure in its 10-K statement for the year ended December 31, 2008. We will continue to fully disclose full details of the fair value of our financial instruments in our future published summarized financial information.

On October 10, 2008, FASB issued FASB ASC 820 [FSP FAS 157-3]. This position paper seeks to clarify the application of FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements”, in a market that is not active and provides illustrative examples for determining fair value of a financial asset when the market for that financial asset is not active. This statement is effective on issuance or October 10, 2008. Currently, the Company has no financial assets where there is little or no market activity at the measurement date. Accordingly, we believe that this FSP has no applicability for the Company as of September 30, 2009. We will reconsider the applicability of this statement should our business circumstances change.

On September 12, 2008, FASB issued FASB ASC 815 [FSP FAS 133-1]. This ASC seeks to clarify the application of FASB ASC 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, to require disclosures by sellers of credit derivatives, including embedded credit derivatives. Furthermore, the FSP amends FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”, requiring additional disclosures related to payment/risk. Finally, this FSP clarifies the effective date of FASB ASC 815 [FAS 161], “Disclosure about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. Effective for reporting periods (annual or interim) ending after November 15, 2008. We have reviewed the position paper and find that; for FASB ASC 815, we conclude that we do not participate in the market selling any derivatives, for FASB ASC 952 [FASB No 45], we have no guarantees related to the debts of others and with regard to the effective date of FASB ASC 815 , this statement confirmed our existing understanding. We will reconsider the applicability of this statement should our business circumstances change.

In March 2008, FASB issued FASB ASC 815,Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities(“SFAS 161”). The new standard is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. It is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. The new standard also improves transparency about the location and amounts of derivative instruments in an entity’s financial statements; how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under FASB ASC 815Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities(“SFAS No. 133”); and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect its financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. The Company has reviewed the standard and believes its current reporting meets the requirements of the standard.

In December 2007, FASB issued FASB ASC 805 [“SFAS No. 141 (Revised)”]Business Combinations. The provisions of this statement are effective for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after

the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2008. Earlier application is not permitted. FASB ASC 805 replaces SFAS 141 and provides new guidance for valuing assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination. We adopted FASB ASC 805 in fiscal year beginning January 1, 2009.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The Company continually re-assesses the critical accounting policies used in preparing its financial statements for inclusion in the American Vanguard published financial statements. In the Company’s Formstatement 10-K for the financial year ended December 31, 2008,2009, the Company provided a comprehensive statement of critical accounting policies. These policies have been reviewed in detail as part of the preparation work for this Form 10-Q.10-Q statement. All the policies listed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20082009 remain valid and is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

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, 2008.2009. The Company uses derivative financial instruments for trading purposes to protect trading performance from exchange rate fluctuations on material contracts; also, as a condition of the Company’s credit agreement with its banks, the Company is required to maintain in effect interest rate swap agreementsagreement(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.loan.

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. The Company has mitigated and will continue to mitigate a portion of its currency exchange exposure through natural hedges based on the operation of decentralized foreign operating companies in which the majority of all costs are local-currency based. Furthermore, the Company has established a procedure for covering forward exchange rates on specific purchase orders when appropriate. At September 30, 2009 the Company has no such forward contracts in place. 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, 2009,March 31, 2010, the Company has established a comprehensive set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that all information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act (1934) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. As at September 30, 2009,March 31, 2010, the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation, that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance of the achievement of the objectives described above.

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 controls over financial reporting.

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.

Legal Proceedings—Summarized below are litigation matters in which there has been material activity or developments since the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q10-K for the period ended June 30,December 31, 2009.

A. DBCP Cases

Introductory Notes. A number of suits have been filed against AMVAC, alleging injury from exposure to the agricultural chemical 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane1, 2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (“DBCP”). DBCP was manufactured by several chemical companies, including Dow Chemical Company, Shell Oil Company and AMVAC 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.

Nicaraguan Cases. Thus far there There are approximately 100 lawsuits, foreign and domestic, filed by former banana workers in which AMVAC has been named as a party. Fifteen of these suits have been filed in the United States (with prayers for unspecified damages) and the remainder have been filed in Nicaragua. Three of these domestic suits were brought by citizens of Nicaragua while the other domestic suits have been brought by citizens of other countries. These claims are all in various stages and allege injury from exposure to DBCP, including claims for sterility. All but two of the suits filed in Nicaragua are unserved. All but one of the suits in NicaraguaThere have been filed pursuant to Special Law 364, an October 2000 Nicaraguan statute that contains substantive and procedural provisions that Nicaragua’s Attorney General previously expressed as unconstitutional. Each of the Nicaraguan plaintiffs claims $1 millionno material developments in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. In allany of these cases, AMVAC is a joint defendant with Dow Chemical and Dole Food Company, Inc. Inactions since 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 20, 2009, in a case captionedOsorio v. Dole Food Company, the U. S. District Court for the Southern Districtfiling of Florida entered an order in which it refused to recognize a $97 million judgment that had been rendered by a trial court in Chinandega, Nicaragua in favor of 150 plaintiffs against Dow and Dole under Special Law 364 for alleged exposure to DBCP. In reaching its decision inOsorio, the court found that it was improper to recognize the Nicaraguan court’s judgment under the Florida Recognition Act because Nicaraguan courts lacked jurisdiction over the defendants; Special Law 364 is fatally unfair and discriminatory and fails to provide defendants with a minimum level of due process; the irrefutable presumption of causation under Special Law 364 violates public policy; and the Nicaraguan judgment was rendered under a system which does not provide impartial tribunals. In light of both the decision inOsorio and the Los Angeles Superior Court’s finding of pervasive fraud inMejia andRivera as described in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009, AMVAC believes that its exposure to liability in Nicaragua cases is significantly diminished. Accordingly, the Company believes that a loss in these matters is neither probable nor reasonably estimable and has not incurred a loss contingency therefor.

Ivory Coast Cases. 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 bodily injuries from exposure to DBCP while

residing or working on banana or pineapple plantations in that country from the 1970s to the present. The suits name AMVAC, Dow Chemical, Shell Oil Company, and Dole Food as defendants. All these suits also seek punitive damages, and the action filed in federal court alleged a claim under the Alien Tort Claims Act, alleging that the sale and use of DBCP amounted to genocide in the Ivory Coast. As more fully described in the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008, defendants have successfully obtained the dismissal of these federal claims. In the seven state court actions, plaintiffs’ counsel petitioned the court to withdraw from representing plaintiffs. On September 28, 2009, the court granted the motion of plaintiffs’ counsel and ordered that unless the plaintiffs either appear in person before the court or appoint new counsel by October 30, 2009, the court intended to dismiss the actions without prejudice. In light of the fact that plaintiffs failed either to appoint new counsel or to appear personally, the court dismissed these actions without prejudice on October 30, 2009.

B. Other Matters

On July 19, 2006, AMVAC’s registered agent was served with a putative class action complaint entitledLatrice McLendon, et al. v. Philip Service Corporation etc. et al (including AMVAC), which was filed in the SuperiorArchem/Thames Chelsea 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 sought 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, alleged trespass, nuisance and negligence on behalf of defendants in handling, storing and treating waste which was generated by AMVAC’s Axis, Alabama facility. 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 agreed to settle the matter with a settlement class of approximately 2,000 households for payment of cash consideration of $4 million, which amount shall be divided evenly between co-defendants and paid by their respective insurance carriers. The cost of claims administration, class notice, plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, and class relief was to be paid out of the $4 million settlement fund. On June 2, 2009 the court entered an order giving its final approval of the class settlement and dismissing with prejudice the lawsuit. The effective date of that final approval was July 3, 2009 pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement. The Company has issued claim payments to settlement class members who submitted timely valid claim forms as per the settlement agreement. We expect the claims administration process to be completed within the next 30 days.

On June 3, 2008 an action styledJohn B. Abernathy, Jr. and Delores Abernathy v. Philip Services Corporation etc. et al. [including AMVAC Chemical Corporation]Superfund Claim., Civ. No. 2008-EV-004787J, was filed in the State Court of Fulton County, State of Georgia. Plaintiffs asserted personal injury (including kidney failure) and property damage claims based on the same alleged airborne chemical release from the same PSC facility at issue in theMcLendonlitigation. Plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages in unspecified amounts and asserted causes of action for negligence, negligence per se, trespass, and nuisance. The Company did not believe that the claims had any merit. The parties held a mediation on July 30, 2009 and, within a few weeks after that mediation, AMVAC reached agreement with plaintiffs on the terms of a settlement under which AMVAC ultimately paid plaintiffs a fraction of the costs of defense through funds from the Company’s insurance carrier. On October 20, 2009, Plaintiffs dismissed AMVAC from the case with prejudice.

On July 20, 2009, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued an administrative order (the “Order”) under which it identified parties that are potentially responsible for solid waste and/or hazardous substances at the ArChem/Thames Chelsea State Superfund Site (the “Site”). In that order, AMVAC was identified as one of 50 potentially responsible parties (PRP’s) relating to TCEQ removal actions that were conducted at the Site in 1992 and 1993. The total cost of such removal actions for which that group of PRP’s could be liable is approximately $775. AMVAC’s involvement in this matter purportedly arises from the single shipment of an intermediate compound sent to the Site for further synthesis in the late 1980’s. Amvac has joined

a group of PRP’s which has challenged the Order by way of filing a petition with the District Court of Travis County, Texas in a matter captionedAkzo Nobel etc. et al. v. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Cause No. D-1-6N-09-002820. Petitioners have challenged the Order on several grounds, including failure to provide PRP’s with an evidentiary hearing and the fact that petitioners should not be liable as arrangers under CERCLA, as they sent useful product—not waste—to the Site. Petitioners filed a motion for declaratory relief, seeking dismissal of the action under both U.S. Supreme Court precedent (BNSF v. U.S.) and Texas Supreme Court precedent (R.R. Street & Co., Inc. v. Pilgrim Enterprises, Inc.); on April 14, 2010, the court denied the motion, reasoning that it was premature and that the issue was better suited to a motion for summary judgment. At this stage in the proceedings, the Company believes that a loss is remotely possible and that such loss could be reasonably estimated at between $15 and $30; the Company has not set up a loss contingency therefor.

Shenkel v. Western Exterminator.On or about September 25, 2009,May 30, 2008, an action styledentitledJoseph K. WilsonKurt Shenkel and Carol Ann Shenkel v. Gemchem, Inc. etc.Western Exterminator Company, et al, Civ. No. 02-CV-2009-901876.00,. [including AMVAC Chemical Corporation] was filed with the Superior Court of the State of California, Central District as Case No. BC391795, in which plaintiff Kurt

Shenkel, who worked as a landscaper and gardener in Southern California between 1967 and 2007, alleges that he suffered personal injury—specifically, Parkinson’s disease—from toxins in the Civil Courtseveral dozen herbicides and pesticides (including AMVAC’s Vapam) distributed and sold by the 29 co-defendants during plaintiff’s work history. Plaintiff alleges negligence, strict liability, breach of Mobile, Alabamaimplied warranty and loss of consortium by defendants for which he seeks compensatory and punitive damages in unspecified amounts. Defendants have filed numerous demurrers and motions to dismiss with the court, which, in turn, has stayed consideration of such motions for the time being. In March 2010, AMVAC brought a former employee who seeks compensationmotion for summary judgment and medical expenses arising from physical injuries that he allegedly sustained when he trippedsubsequently AMVAC and fell at AMVAC’s facilityplaintiffs agreed in Axis, Alabama. The Company does not believe thatprinciple to settle this matter for cash consideration in the claims have any merit and intends to defend the matter vigorously. At this stage, the Company does not believe that a loss is either probable or reasonably estimable and has not set up a loss contingency therefor.amount of $10.

IBAMA Citation.On or about October 5, 2009, IBAMA (the BrasilianBrazilian equivalent of the EPA) served the Company’s subsidiary, Amvac do Brasil, with a Notice of Violation alleging that two lots of Granutox 150 (formulated product having phorate as the active ingredient) stored at BASF S.A. (AMVAC’s exclusive distributor in Brasil)Brazil) and FMC Quimica do Brasil Ltda. (which formulates end-use product in that country) were not in compliance with the end-use registration on file with IBAMA. Specifically, IBAMA alleged that the color of the lots (gray) was inconsistent with the description in IBAMA’s files (pink). IBAMA also indicated an intention to assess a fine of approximately $285 against Amvac do Brasil. The Company intends to challenge the citation, among other reasons, on the ground that the change in color has to do with the removal of a coloring component and that such removal poses no environmental or toxicity risk. At this stage, the Company believes that a loss in the amount of between $35 and $70 is probable and has set up a loss contingency in the amount of $70.

Item 1A.Risk Factors

The Company continually re-assesses the business risks, and as part of that process detailed a range of risk factors in the disclosures in American Vanguard’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, filed on March 10, 2010. In preparing this document, we have reviewed all the risk factors included in that document and find that there are no material changes to those risk factors.

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.

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 4, 2009May 6, 2010

  By: 

/S/    ERIC G. WINTEMUTE        

   Eric G. Wintemute
   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Dated: November 4, 2009May 6, 2010

  By: 

/S/    DAVID T. JOHNSON        

   David T. Johnson
   Chief Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer

 

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