UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SeptemberSEPTEMBER 30, 20162017

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

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                     TO                      

Commission file number 001-13795

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

 

 

Delaware

95-2588080

(State or other jurisdiction of

Incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

 

4695 MacArthur Court, Newport Beach, California

92660

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(949) 260-1200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes      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.filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitionthe definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and large accelerated filer”“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer

 

Accelerated Filer

Non-Accelerated Filer

(Do not check if a small reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

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

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—29,360,03929,794,607 shares as of October 25, 2016.26, 2017.

 

 

 

 

 


 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

INDEX

 

 

 

 

Page Number

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015

3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015

4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, and September 30, 2016

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 20152016

 

64

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016

5

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017

6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 20152016

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

8

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

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

 

2019

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

29

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

29

 

 

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

30

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

30

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

3132

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

3233

 

 


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the three months

ended September 30

 

 

For the nine months

ended September 30

 

 

For the Three Months

Ended September 30,

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Net sales

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

72,486

 

 

$

224,645

 

 

$

205,574

 

 

$

89,975

 

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

238,553

 

 

$

224,645

 

Cost of sales

 

 

49,461

 

 

 

41,053

 

 

 

132,761

 

 

 

124,370

 

 

 

51,943

 

 

 

49,461

 

 

 

136,102

 

 

 

132,761

 

Gross profit

 

 

32,986

 

 

 

31,433

 

 

 

91,884

 

 

 

81,204

 

 

 

38,032

 

 

 

32,986

 

 

 

102,451

 

 

 

91,884

 

Operating expenses

 

 

28,255

 

 

 

26,059

 

 

 

77,429

 

 

 

74,325

 

 

 

31,570

 

 

 

28,286

 

 

 

84,175

 

 

 

77,429

 

Operating income

 

 

4,731

 

 

 

5,374

 

 

 

14,455

 

 

 

6,879

 

 

 

6,462

 

 

 

4,700

 

 

 

18,276

 

 

 

14,455

 

Interest expense

 

 

301

 

 

 

638

 

 

 

1,304

 

 

 

1,941

 

Income before provision for income taxes and loss on

equity investment

 

 

4,430

 

 

 

4,736

 

 

 

13,151

 

 

 

4,938

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

375

 

 

 

301

 

 

 

1,073

 

 

 

1,304

 

Income before provision for income taxes and loss on equity

method investments

 

 

6,087

 

 

 

4,399

 

 

 

17,203

 

 

 

13,151

 

Income tax expense

 

 

1,409

 

 

 

1,643

 

 

 

3,672

 

 

 

958

 

 

 

1,954

 

 

 

1,378

 

 

 

5,015

 

 

 

3,672

 

Income before loss on equity investment

 

 

3,021

 

 

 

3,093

 

 

 

9,479

 

 

 

3,980

 

Net loss from equity investment

 

 

(180

)

 

 

(389

)

 

 

(309

)

 

 

(580

)

Income before loss on equity method investments

 

 

4,133

 

 

 

3,021

 

 

 

12,188

 

 

 

9,479

 

Loss from equity method investments

 

 

115

 

 

 

180

 

 

 

226

 

 

 

309

 

Net income

 

 

2,841

 

 

 

2,704

 

 

 

9,170

 

 

 

3,400

 

 

 

4,018

 

 

 

2,841

 

 

 

11,962

 

 

 

9,170

 

Add back net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest

 

 

36

 

 

 

68

 

 

 

(253

)

 

 

204

 

Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest

 

 

71

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

(117

)

 

 

(253

)

Net income attributable to American Vanguard

 

$

2,877

 

 

$

2,772

 

 

$

8,917

 

 

$

3,604

 

 

$

4,089

 

 

$

2,877

 

 

$

11,845

 

 

$

8,917

 

Earnings per common share—basic

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.31

 

 

$

0.13

 

 

$

.14

 

 

$

.10

 

 

$

.41

 

 

$

.31

 

Earnings per common share—assuming dilution

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.09

 

 

$

0.30

 

 

$

0.12

 

 

$

.14

 

 

$

.10

 

 

$

.40

 

 

$

.30

 

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

 

 

28,957

 

 

 

28,753

 

 

 

28,886

 

 

 

28,653

 

 

 

29,193

 

 

 

28,957

 

 

 

29,064

 

 

 

28,886

 

Weighted average shares outstanding—assuming dilution

 

 

29,496

 

 

 

29,289

 

 

 

29,385

 

 

 

29,208

 

 

 

29,783

 

 

 

29,496

 

 

 

29,648

 

 

 

29,385

 

See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Three Months

Ended September 30,

 

 

For the Nine Months

Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Net income

 

$

4,018

 

 

$

2,841

 

 

$

11,962

 

 

$

9,170

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

(67

)

 

 

(436

)

 

 

970

 

 

 

(888

)

Comprehensive income

 

 

3,951

 

 

 

2,405

 

 

 

12,932

 

 

 

8,282

 

Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest

 

 

71

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

(117

)

 

 

(253

)

Comprehensive income attributable to American Vanguard

 

$

4,022

 

 

$

2,441

 

 

$

12,815

 

 

$

8,029

 

 

See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

 

 

Sept. 30,

2016

 

 

Dec. 31,

2015

 

 

September 30,

2017

 

 

December 31,

2016

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

6,594

 

 

$

5,524

 

 

$

9,045

 

 

$

7,869

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $159 and $423, respectively

 

 

91,091

 

 

 

72,835

 

Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $45 and $42, respectively

 

 

100,043

 

 

 

83,777

 

Other

 

 

3,500

 

 

 

2,554

 

 

 

3,630

 

 

 

3,429

 

Total receivables

 

 

94,591

 

 

 

75,389

 

Total receivables, net

 

 

103,673

 

 

 

87,206

 

Inventories

 

 

141,678

 

 

 

136,477

 

 

 

123,315

 

 

 

120,576

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

12,270

 

 

 

11,172

 

 

 

13,543

 

 

 

11,424

 

Income taxes receivable

 

 

 

 

 

168

 

Deferred income tax assets

 

 

8,101

 

 

 

8,101

 

Total current assets

 

 

263,234

 

 

 

236,831

 

 

 

249,576

 

 

 

227,075

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

47,760

 

 

 

47,972

 

 

 

49,495

 

 

 

50,295

 

Intangible assets, net of applicable amortization

 

 

123,420

 

 

 

129,160

 

 

 

141,127

 

 

 

121,433

 

Other assets

 

 

28,695

 

 

 

29,576

 

 

 

28,917

 

 

 

31,153

 

Total assets

 

$

463,109

 

 

$

443,539

 

 

$

469,115

 

 

$

429,956

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current installments of other notes payable

 

$

-

 

 

$

55

 

Current installments of other liabilities

 

 

74

 

 

 

514

 

 

$

99

 

 

$

26

 

Accounts payable

 

 

23,268

 

 

 

15,343

 

 

 

29,355

 

 

 

24,358

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

41

 

 

 

8,888

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,848

 

Accrued program costs

 

 

74,907

 

 

 

44,371

 

 

 

65,650

 

 

 

42,930

 

Accrued expenses and other payables

 

 

10,209

 

 

 

7,111

 

 

 

8,704

 

 

 

12,072

 

Income taxes payable

 

 

1,269

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,684

 

 

 

13,840

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

109,768

 

 

 

76,282

 

 

 

105,492

 

 

 

97,074

 

Long-term debt and other notes payable, excluding current installments

 

 

44,488

 

 

 

68,321

 

Long-term debt, net of deferred loan fees

 

 

57,379

 

 

 

40,951

 

Other liabilities, excluding current installments

 

 

3,036

 

 

 

3,054

 

 

 

2,789

 

 

 

2,868

 

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

 

27,556

 

 

 

27,556

 

 

 

6,712

 

 

 

6,706

 

Total liabilities

 

 

184,848

 

 

 

175,213

 

 

 

172,372

 

 

 

147,599

 

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 31,807,223 shares at September 30, 2016 and 31,638,225 shares at December 31, 2015

 

 

3,182

 

 

 

3,164

 

Common stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued

32,236,629 shares at September 30, 2017 and 31,819,695 shares at December 31,

2016

 

 

3,224

 

 

 

3,183

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

70,458

 

 

 

68,534

 

 

 

74,423

 

 

 

71,699

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(4,429

)

 

 

(3,541

)

 

 

(3,881

)

 

 

(4,851

)

Retained earnings

 

 

217,135

 

 

 

208,507

 

 

 

230,962

 

 

 

220,428

 

 

 

286,346

 

 

 

276,664

 

 

 

304,728

 

 

 

290,459

 

Less treasury stock, at cost, 2,450,634 shares at September 30, 2016 and

December 31, 2015

 

 

(8,269

)

 

 

(8,269

)

Less treasury stock at cost, 2,450,634 shares at September 30, 2017 and

December 31, 2016

 

 

(8,269

)

 

 

(8,269

)

American Vanguard Corporation stockholders’ equity

 

 

278,077

 

 

 

268,395

 

 

 

296,459

 

 

 

282,190

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

184

 

 

 

(69

)

 

 

284

 

 

 

167

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

278,261

 

 

 

268,326

 

 

 

296,743

 

 

 

282,357

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

463,109

 

 

$

443,539

 

 

$

469,115

 

 

$

429,956

 

See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 


 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTSSTATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For The Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

(In thousands, except share data)

For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, and September 30, 2016

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Additional

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Loss

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

AVD

Total

 

 

Non-

Controlling

Interest

 

 

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2015

 

 

31,638,225

 

 

$

3,164

 

 

$

68,534

 

 

$

(3,541

)

 

$

208,507

 

 

 

2,450,634

 

 

$

(8,269

)

 

$

268,395

 

 

$

(69

)

 

$

268,326

 

Stocks issued under ESPP

 

 

19,627

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

269

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

271

 

 

 

 

 

 

271

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

85

 

 

 

 

 

 

85

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

456

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

456

 

 

 

 

 

 

456

 

Stock options exercised and grants, vesting and

   forfeited restricted stock units

 

 

(61,550

)

 

 

(6

)

 

 

(580

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(586

)

 

 

 

 

 

(586

)

Excess tax benefits from share based

   payment arrangements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,794

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,794

 

 

 

153

 

 

 

2,947

 

Balance, March 31, 2016

 

 

31,596,302

 

 

$

3,160

 

 

$

68,714

 

 

$

(3,456

)

 

$

211,301

 

 

 

2,450,634

 

 

$

(8,269

)

 

$

271,450

 

 

$

84

 

 

$

271,534

 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.01

   per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(289

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(289

)

 

 

 

 

 

(289

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(537

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(537

)

 

 

 

 

 

(537

)

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

612

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

612

 

 

 

 

 

 

612

 

Stock options exercised and grants, vesting and

   forfeited restricted stock units

 

 

192,342

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

120

 

 

 

 

 

 

120

 

Excess tax benefits from share based

   payment arrangements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,246

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,246

 

 

 

136

 

 

 

3,382

 

Balance, June 30, 2016

 

 

31,788,644

 

 

$

3,180

 

 

$

69,438

 

 

$

(3,993

)

 

$

214,258

 

 

 

2,450,634

 

 

$

(8,269

)

 

$

274,614

 

 

$

220

 

 

$

274,834

 

Stocks issued under ESPP

 

 

23,103

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

289

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

291

 

 

 

 

 

 

291

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(436

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(436

)

 

 

 

 

 

(436

)

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

588

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

588

 

 

 

 

 

 

588

 

Stock options exercised and grants, vesting and

   forfeited restricted stock units

 

 

(4,524

)

 

 

 

 

 

108

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

108

 

 

 

 

 

 

108

 

Excess tax benefits from share based

   payment arrangements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,877

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,877

 

 

 

(36

)

 

 

2,841

 

Balance, September 30, 2016

 

 

31,807,223

 

 

$

3,182

 

 

$

70,458

 

 

$

(4,429

)

 

$

217,135

 

 

 

2,450,634

 

 

$

(8,269

)

 

$

278,077

 

 

$

184

 

 

$

278,261

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional

 

 

Accumulated

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Comprehensive

Loss

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

AVD

Total

 

 

Controlling Interest

 

 

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2016

 

 

31,819,695

 

 

$

3,183

 

 

$

71,699

 

 

$

(4,851

)

 

$

220,428

 

 

 

2,450,634

 

 

$

(8,269

)

 

$

282,190

 

 

$

167

 

 

$

282,357

 

Stocks issued under ESPP

 

 

16,349

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

248

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

250

 

 

 

 

 

 

250

 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.015

   per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(435

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(435

)

 

 

 

 

 

(435

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

757

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

757

 

 

 

 

 

 

757

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,080

 

Stock options exercised; grants, termination

   and vesting of restricted stock units (net

   of shares in lieu of taxes)

 

 

377,916

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

 

53

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,452

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,452

 

 

 

(39

)

 

 

3,413

 

Balance, March 31, 2017

 

 

32,213,960

 

 

 

3,222

 

 

 

73,043

 

 

 

(4,094

)

 

 

223,445

 

 

 

2,450,634

 

 

 

(8,269

)

 

 

287,347

 

 

 

128

 

 

 

287,475

 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.015

   per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(437

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(437

)

 

 

 

 

 

(437

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

280

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

280

 

 

 

 

 

 

280

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,242

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,242

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,242

 

Stock options exercised; grants, termination

   and vesting of restricted stock units (net

   of shares in lieu of taxes)

 

 

(1,836

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,517

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,517

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,517

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,304

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,304

 

 

 

227

 

 

 

4,531

 

Balance, June 30, 2017

 

 

32,212,124

 

 

 

3,222

 

 

 

72,768

 

 

 

(3,814

)

 

 

227,312

 

 

 

2,450,634

 

 

 

(8,269

)

 

 

291,219

 

 

 

355

 

 

 

291,574

 

Stocks issued under ESPP

 

 

17,667

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

303

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

305

 

 

 

 

 

 

305

 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.015

   per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(439

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(439

)

 

 

 

 

 

(439

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(67

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(67

)

 

 

 

 

 

(67

)

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,263

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,263

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,263

 

Stock options exercised; grants, termination

   and vesting of restricted stock units (net

   of shares in lieu of taxes)

 

 

6,838

 

 

 

 

 

 

89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

89

 

 

 

 

 

 

89

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,089

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,089

 

 

 

(71

)

 

 

4,018

 

Balance, September 30, 2017

 

 

32,236,629

 

 

$

3,224

 

 

$

74,423

 

 

$

(3,881

)

 

$

230,962

 

 

 

2,450,634

 

 

$

(8,269

)

 

$

296,459

 

 

$

284

 

 

$

296,743

 

 

See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the three months

ended September 30

 

 

For the nine months

ended September 30

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Net income attributable to American Vanguard

 

$

2,877

 

 

$

2,772

 

 

$

8,917

 

 

$

3,604

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

(436

)

 

 

(897

)

 

 

(888

)

 

 

(1,468

)

Comprehensive income

 

$

2,441

 

 

$

1,875

 

 

$

8,029

 

 

$

2,136

 

See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

For The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

(Unaudited)

 

Increase (decrease) in cash

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

For the Nine Months

Ended September 30,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

9,170

 

 

$

3,400

 

 

$

11,962

 

 

$

9,170

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating

activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of fixed and intangible assets

 

 

12,367

 

 

 

12,190

 

 

 

12,358

 

 

 

12,367

 

Amortization of other long term assets

 

 

3,935

 

 

 

3,992

 

 

 

3,995

 

 

 

3,935

 

Amortization of discounted liabilities

 

 

28

 

 

 

118

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

28

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

1,656

 

 

 

2,943

 

 

 

3,585

 

 

 

1,656

 

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

 

 

(82

)

 

 

(8

)

Operating loss from equity method investment

 

 

309

 

 

 

580

 

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

(82

)

Increase in deferred income taxes

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

Loss from equity method investment

 

 

226

 

 

 

309

 

Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in net receivables

 

 

(19,202

)

 

 

(6,172

)

 

 

(15,746

)

 

 

(19,202

)

(Increase) decrease in inventories

 

 

(5,201

)

 

 

4,135

 

(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

(1,011

)

 

 

1,143

 

Decrease in income tax receivable/payable, net

 

 

1,519

 

 

 

4,739

 

Increase in inventories

 

 

(2,213

)

 

 

(5,201

)

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

(3,678

)

 

 

(1,011

)

(Decrease) increase in income tax receivable/payable, net

 

 

(12,137

)

 

 

1,519

 

Increase in accounts payable

 

 

7,925

 

 

 

3,010

 

 

 

4,556

 

 

 

7,925

 

Decrease in deferred revenue

 

 

(8,847

)

 

 

(860

)

 

 

(3,848

)

 

 

(8,847

)

Increase in program payables

 

 

30,536

 

 

 

20,982

 

Increase in other payables and accrued expenses

 

 

3,098

 

 

 

1,615

 

Increase in accrued program costs

 

 

22,720

 

 

 

30,536

 

(Decrease) increase in other payables and accrued expenses

 

 

(3,562

)

 

 

3,098

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

36,200

 

 

 

51,807

 

 

 

18,244

 

 

 

36,200

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(6,122

)

 

 

(5,196

)

 

 

(5,333

)

 

 

(6,122

)

Investments

 

 

(3,283

)

 

 

(125

)

Acquisitions of product lines and other intangible assets

 

 

(224

)

 

 

(36,435

)

Investment

 

 

(950

)

 

 

(3,283

)

Acquisition of product lines and other intangible assets

 

 

(25,904

)

 

 

(224

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(9,629

)

 

 

(41,756

)

 

 

(32,187

)

 

 

(9,629

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net payments under line of credit agreement

 

 

(24,000

)

 

 

(16,120

)

Increase in other notes payable

 

 

 

 

 

10,000

 

Payments under line of credit agreement

 

 

(59,025

)

 

 

(24,000

)

Borrowings under line of credit agreement

 

 

76,000

 

 

 

 

Payments on other long-term liabilities

 

 

(541

)

 

 

(1,252

)

 

 

(26

)

 

 

(541

)

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

 

 

82

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

82

 

Net payments from the issuance of common stock (sale of stock under ESPP,

exercise of stock options, and shares purchased for tax withholding)

 

 

(820

)

 

 

204

 

Payment of cash dividends

 

 

(289

)

 

 

(1,141

)

 

 

(1,161

)

 

 

(289

)

Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock (sale of stock under ESPP and

exercise of stock options)

 

 

204

 

 

 

254

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(24,544

)

 

 

(8,251

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

14,968

 

 

 

(24,544

)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

2,027

 

 

 

1,800

 

 

 

1,025

 

 

 

2,027

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

151

 

 

 

(957

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

5,524

 

 

 

4,885

 

 

 

7,869

 

 

 

5,524

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(957

)

 

 

(1,256

)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

6,594

 

 

$

5,429

 

 

$

9,045

 

 

$

6,594

 

 

See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

1. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of American Vanguard Corporation and Subsidiaries (“AVD” or “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) 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 footnotesnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of AmericaUS GAAP 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, 20162017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016.2017. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.2016.

 

 

2. Property, plant and equipment at September 30, 20162017 and December 31, 20152016 consists of the following:

 

 

September 30,

2016

 

 

December 31,

2015

 

 

September 30,

2017

 

 

December 31,

2016

 

Land

 

$

2,458

 

 

$

2,458

 

 

$

2,458

 

 

$

2,458

 

Buildings and improvements

 

 

15,067

 

 

 

14,726

 

 

 

16,610

 

 

 

15,515

 

Machinery and equipment

 

 

117,140

 

 

 

113,506

 

 

 

106,641

 

 

 

102,146

 

Office furniture, fixtures and equipment

 

 

4,857

 

 

 

4,997

 

 

 

4,701

 

 

 

5,016

 

Automotive equipment

 

 

383

 

 

 

491

 

 

 

398

 

 

 

387

 

Construction in progress

 

 

5,398

 

 

 

3,413

 

 

 

2,220

 

 

 

8,047

 

 

 

145,303

 

 

 

139,591

 

Total gross value

 

 

133,028

 

 

 

133,569

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

(97,543

)

 

 

(91,619

)

 

 

(83,533

)

 

 

(83,274

)

 

$

47,760

 

 

$

47,972

 

Total net value

 

$

49,495

 

 

$

50,295

 

 

For the three months and nine months periods ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment of $2,021 and $6,334, respectively.   During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company eliminated from assets and accumulated depreciation $410 and $388 of fully depreciated assets, respectively.  The Company recognized depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment of $2,231$2,033 and $6,762$2,021 for the three months and nine months periods ended September 30, 2015,2017 and 2016, respectively.   During the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company eliminated from assets and accumulated depreciation $1,126 and $285, respectively, of fully depreciated assets.

The Company recognized depreciation expense related to property, plant and equipment of $6,112 and $6,334 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.   During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company eliminated from assets and accumulated depreciation $5,884 and $410, respectively, of fully depreciated assets.

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

 

 

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,

2016

 

 

December 31,

2015

 

 

September 30,

2017

 

 

December 31,

2016

 

Finished products

 

$

123,311

 

 

$

120,456

 

 

$

107,966

 

 

$

103,832

 

Raw materials

 

 

18,367

 

 

 

16,021

 

 

 

15,349

 

 

 

16,744

 

 

$

141,678

 

 

$

136,477

 

 

$

123,315

 

 

$

120,576

 

As of September 30, 2017, we believe our inventories are valued at lower of cost or market.

In July 2015, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASU”) 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330). Topic 330 currently requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market, where market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. This ASU limits the scope to inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost and requires inventory be measured at the lower of costs or net realizable value. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this new standard effective January 1, 2017.  There was no impact on this adoption.

 

 

 


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

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

25,478

 

 

$

23,539

 

 

$

89,496

 

 

$

85,484

 

 

$

24,866

 

 

$

25,478

 

 

$

102,249

 

 

$

89,496

 

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

34,242

 

 

 

32,682

 

 

 

80,009

 

 

 

71,973

 

 

 

32,717

 

 

 

34,242

 

 

 

68,783

 

 

 

80,009

 

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

13,328

 

 

 

7,420

 

 

 

23,148

 

 

 

23,497

 

 

 

17,191

 

 

 

13,328

 

 

 

30,680

 

 

 

23,148

 

Crop

 

 

73,048

 

 

 

63,641

 

 

 

192,653

 

 

 

180,954

 

Net sales:

 

 

74,774

 

 

 

73,048

 

 

 

201,712

 

 

 

192,653

 

Non-crop

 

 

9,399

 

 

 

8,845

 

 

 

31,992

 

 

 

24,620

 

 

 

15,201

 

 

 

9,399

 

 

 

36,841

 

 

 

31,992

 

Total net sales

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

72,486

 

 

$

224,645

 

 

$

205,574

 

Total net sales:

 

$

89,975

 

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

238,553

 

 

$

224,645

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US

 

$

60,033

 

 

$

53,167

 

 

$

161,661

 

 

$

146,231

 

 

$

65,842

 

 

$

60,033

 

 

$

173,877

 

 

$

161,661

 

International

 

 

22,414

 

 

 

19,319

 

 

 

62,984

 

 

 

59,343

 

 

 

24,133

 

 

 

22,414

 

 

 

64,676

 

 

 

62,984

 

Total net sales

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

72,486

 

 

$

224,645

 

 

$

205,574

 

Total net sales:

 

$

89,975

 

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

238,553

 

 

$

224,645

 

 

 

5. Accrued Program Costs—In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)FASB ASC 605, the Company classifies certain paymentsamounts expected to be paid to its customers as a reduction of sales revenues. The Company describes these payments as “Programs.” Programs are a critical part of doing business in both the US agricultural and non-crop chemicals business market place.places. For accounting purposes, Programsprograms are recorded as a reduction in gross sales and include market discounts from gross sales, other pricing adjustments, some grower volume take upincentives or other key performance indicator driven payments made to distributors, retailers or growers, at the end of a growing season. Each quarter management compares individual sale transactions with published programs to determine what, if any, program liability has been incurred. Once this initial calculation is made for the specific quarter, sales and marketing management, along with executive and financial management, review the accumulated program balance and, for volume driven payments, make assessments of whether or not customers are tracking in a manner that indicates that they will meet the requirements set out in theagreed upon terms and conditions attached to each Program. IfFollowing this assessment, management believes that customers are falling short of or exceeding their annual goals, then periodicwill make adjustments will be made to the accumulated accrual to properly reflect the Company’s best estimate of the liability at the balance sheet date. The majority of adjustments are made at, or close to, the end of the crop season, at which time customer performance can be more fully assessed. Programs are paid out predominantly on an annual basis, usually in the final quarter of the financial year or the first quarter of the following year.  DuringNo significant changes in estimates were made during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and 2015, no significant change in estimates was recorded.

respectively.    

 

6. The Company has declared andand/or paid the following cash dividends in the periodperiods covered by this Form 10-Q:

 

Declaration Date

 

Record Date

 

Distribution Date

 

Dividend

Per Share

 

 

Total

Paid

 

June 13, 2016

 

June 30, 2016

 

July 12, 2016

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

289

 

March 16, 2015

 

April 3, 2015

 

April 17, 2015

 

$

0.02

 

 

$

572

 

December 11, 2014

 

December 26, 2014

 

January 9, 2015

 

$

0.02

 

 

$

569

 

Declaration Date

 

Record Date

 

Distribution Date

 

Dividend

Per Share

 

 

Total

Paid

 

September 18, 2017

 

October 5, 2017

 

October 19, 2017

 

$

0.015

 

 

$

439

 

June 8, 2017

 

June 30, 2017

 

July 14, 2017

 

$

0.015

 

 

$

437

 

March 7, 2017

 

March 31, 2017

 

April 14, 2017

 

$

0.015

 

 

$

435

 

December 18, 2016

 

December 23, 2016

 

January 6, 2017

 

$

0.010

 

 

$

289

 

 

 

7. ASC 260 Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) requires dual presentation of basic EPS and diluted EPS on the face of ourthe condensed consolidated statements of operations. 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, consistconsists 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 (in thousands):follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to AVD

 

$

2,877

 

 

$

2,772

 

 

$

8,917

 

 

$

3,604

 

 

$

4,089

 

 

$

2,877

 

 

$

11,845

 

 

$

8,917

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator: (in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding-basic

 

 

28,957

 

 

 

28,753

 

 

 

28,886

 

 

 

28,653

 

 

 

29,193

 

 

 

28,957

 

 

 

29,064

 

 

 

28,886

 

Dilutive effect of stock options and grants

 

 

539

 

 

 

536

 

 

 

499

 

 

 

555

 

 

 

590

 

 

 

539

 

 

 

584

 

 

 

499

 

 

 

29,496

 

 

 

29,289

 

 

 

29,385

 

 

 

29,208

 

 

 

29,783

 

 

 

29,496

 

 

 

29,648

 

 

 

29,385

 


 

For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, no stock options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.

 

 

8. The Company has a revolving line of credit and two other notes payable that together constitute the short-term andis shown as long-term loan balances showndebt in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 20162017 and December 31, 2015. During 2015 the2016. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03, Interest – Imputationhas no short term debt as of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.  These are summarized in the following table:

 

Indebtedness

 

September 30, 2016

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

$000’s

 

Long-

term

 

 

Short-

term

 

 

Total

 

 

Long-

term

 

 

Short-

term

 

 

Total

 

Revolving line of credit

 

$

45,000

 

 

$

 

 

$

45,000

 

 

$

69,000

 

 

$

 

 

$

69,000

 

Deferred loan fees

 

 

(512

)

 

 

 

 

 

(512

)

 

 

(679

)

 

 

 

 

 

(679

)

Notes payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

55

 

Total indebtedness

 

$

44,488

 

 

$

 

 

$

44,488

 

 

$

68,321

 

 

$

55

 

 

$

68,376

 

Long-term indebtedness ($000's)

 

September 30,

2017

 

 

December 31,

2016

 

Revolving line of credit

 

$

58,375

 

 

$

41,400

 

Deferred loan fees

 

 

(996

)

 

 

(449

)

Net long-term debt

 

$

57,379

 

 

$

40,951

 

 

As of June 30, 2017, AMVAC Chemical Corporation (“AMVAC”), the Company’s principal operating subsidiary, as borrower, and affiliates (including the Company)Company, AMVAC CV and AMVAC BV), as guarantors and/or borrowers, are partiesentered into a Third Amendment to a credit agreement dated as of July 11, 2014Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a group of commercial lenders led by Bank of the West (AMVAC’s primary bank) as agent, swing line lender and Letter of Credit (“LC”L/C”) issuer.  The Credit Agreement is a senior secured lending facility, with a five year term and consisting of a revolving line of credit of $200up to $250 million, and an accordion feature forof up to $100 million.million and a maturity date of June 30, 2022.  The Credit Agreement includes both AMVAC CV (“AMVAC CV”)contains two key financial covenants; namely, borrowers are required to maintain a Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio of no more than 3.25-to-1 and AMVAC Netherlands BV (“AMVAC BV”)a Consolidated Fixed Charge Covenant Ratio of at least 1.25-to-1.   The Company’s borrowing capacity varies with its financial performance, measured in terms of EBITDA as borrowers.defined in the Credit Agreement, for the trailing twelve month period.  Under the Credit Agreement, revolving loans bear interest at a variable rate based, at borrower’s election with proper notice, on either (i) LIBOR plus the “Applicable Rate” which is based upon the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio (“Eurocurrency Rate Loan”) or (ii) the greater of (x) the Prime Rate, (y) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (z) the Daily One-Month LIBOR Rate plus 1.00%, plus, in the case of (x), (y) or (z) the Applicable Rate (“Alternate Base Rate Loan”). Interest payments for Eurocurrency Rate Loans are payable on the last day of each interest period (either one, two, three or six months, as selected by the borrower) and the maturity date, while interest payments for Alternate Base Rate Loans are payable on the last business day of each month and the maturity date. The senior secured revolving line of credit matures on June 17, 2018.

Under the Credit Agreement, the Company has three key covenants (with which it was in compliance throughout the nine months ended September 30, 2016). The covenants are as follows: (1) the Company must maintain its borrowings below a certain consolidated funded debt ratio, (2) the Company has a limitation on its annual spending on the acquisition of fixed asset capital additions, and (3) the Company must maintain a certain consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio.

On April 14, 2015, AMVAC, as borrower, and affiliates (including the Company), as guarantors and/or borrowers, entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement under which, the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio was increased for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2015 (to 3.5-to-1 from 3.25-to-1) and a fixed charge covenant, requiring, in effect, that the ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities exceed 1.2-to-1 for the duration of the term of the credit facility, was added.

At September 30, 2016,2017, according to the terms of the Credit Agreement and based on its performance against the most restrictive covenants listed above, the Company had the capacity to increase its borrowings by up to $95,985, according to the terms of the Credit Agreement.$124,724. This compares to an available borrowing capacity of $40,189$95,985 as of September 30, 2015.2016. The level of borrowing capacity wasis driven by three factors: (1) our financial performance, as measured in Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”)EBITDA for the trailing twelve month period, which has improved, (2) the level ofnet borrowings, during the third quarter of 2015 was higher than normal due to the then recent completion of two product line acquisitions,which have decreased and (3) the leverage covenant (being the number of times EBITDA the Company may borrow under its credit facility agreement) was lower when compared with the earlier period..

 

 

9. Reclassification—Certain items may have been reclassified in the prior period condensed consolidated financial statements to conform with the September 30, 20162017 presentation.

 

 

10. Total comprehensive income includes, in addition to net income, changes in equity that are excluded from the condensed consolidated statements of operations and are recorded directly into a separate section of stockholders’ equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. For the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, total comprehensive income consisted of net income attributable to American Vanguard and foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

 

 


11. Stock Based Compensation—The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees and directors in accordance with FASB ASC 718, “Share-Based Payment,” which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation 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.

The belowfollowing tables illustrate the Company’s stock based compensation, unamortized stock-based compensation, and remaining weighted average period for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015.2016.

 

 

Stock-Based

Compensation

for the Three

months ended

 

 

Stock-Based

Compensation

for the Nine

months ended

 

 

Unamortized

Stock-Based

Compensation

 

 

Remaining

Weighted

Average

Period (years)

 

 

Stock-Based

Compensation

for the Three

months ended

 

 

Stock-Based

Compensation

for the Nine

months ended

 

 

Unamortized

Stock-Based

Compensation

 

 

Remaining

Weighted

Average

Period (years)

 

September 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive Stock Options

 

$

80

 

 

$

250

 

 

$

94

 

 

 

0.3

 

Restricted Stock

 

 

635

 

 

 

2,068

 

 

 

4,475

 

 

 

1.2

 

Performance Based Restricted Stock

 

 

299

 

 

 

920

 

 

 

1,901

 

 

 

2.0

 

Performance Based Options

 

 

249

 

 

 

347

 

 

 

69

 

 

 

0.3

 

Total

 

$

1,263

 

 

$

3,585

 

 

$

6,539

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive Stock Options

 

$

71

 

 

$

252

 

 

$

497

 

 

 

1.2

 

 

$

71

 

 

$

252

 

 

$

497

 

 

 

1.2

 

Restricted Stock

 

 

406

 

 

 

1,100

 

 

 

2,545

 

 

 

1.8

 

 

 

406

 

 

 

1,100

 

 

 

2,545

 

 

 

1.8

 

Performance Based Restricted Stock

 

 

100

 

 

 

240

 

 

 

857

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

100

 

 

 

240

 

 

 

857

 

 

 

1.4

 

Performance Based Options

 

 

11

 

 

 

64

 

 

 

173

 

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

64

 

 

 

173

 

 

 

1.2

 

Total

 

$

588

 

 

$

1,656

 

 

$

4,072

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

588

 

 

$

1,656

 

 

$

4,072

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive Stock Options

 

$

94

 

 

$

325

 

 

$

1,009

 

 

 

2.3

 

Restricted Stock

 

 

334

 

 

 

2,296

 

 

 

2,751

 

 

 

1.5

 

Performance Based Restricted Stock

 

 

18

 

 

 

222

 

 

 

686

 

 

 

1.8

 

Performance Based Options

 

 

12

 

 

 

100

 

 

 

373

 

 

 

2.2

 

Total

 

$

458

 

 

$

2,943

 

 

$

4,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options—During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016,2017, the Company did not grant any employees options to acquire shares of common stock.

Option activity within each plan is as follows:

 

 

Incentive

Stock Option

Plans

 

 

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

 

Exercisable

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

 

Incentive

Stock Option

Plans

 

 

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

 

Exercisable

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

Balance outstanding, December 31, 2015

 

 

626,845

 

 

$

9.25

 

 

$

7.73

 

Balance outstanding, December 31, 2016

 

 

541,905

 

 

$

9.33

 

 

$

7.97

 

Options exercised

 

 

(25,500

)

 

 

7.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(15,000

)

 

 

7.50

 

 

 

 

Options forfeited

 

 

(9,813

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,919

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

Balance outstanding, March 31, 2016

 

 

591,532

 

 

$

9.29

 

 

$

7.84

 

Balance outstanding, March 31, 2017

 

 

522,986

 

 

 

9.37

 

 

 

7.99

 

Options exercised

 

 

(12,900

)

 

 

7.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21,300

)

 

 

7.50

 

 

 

 

Options forfeited

 

 

(5,000

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,183

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

Balance outstanding, June 30, 2016

 

 

573,632

 

 

$

9.31

 

 

$

7.85

 

Balance outstanding, June 30, 2017

 

 

498,503

 

 

 

9.43

 

 

 

8.03

 

Options exercised

 

 

(15,500

)

 

 

7.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,000

)

 

 

7.50

 

 

 

 

Options forfeited

 

 

(11,118

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4,285

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

Balance outstanding, September 30, 2016

 

 

547,014

 

 

$

9.31

 

 

$

7.87

 

Balance outstanding, September 30, 2017

 

 

482,218

 

 

$

9.46

 

 

$

8.05

 

 

Information relating to stock options at September 30, 20162017, summarized by exercise price is as follows:

 

 

Outstanding Weighted

Average

 

 

Exercisable Weighted

Average

 

 

Outstanding Weighted

Average

 

 

Exercisable Weighted

Average

 

Exercise Price Per Share

 

Shares

 

 

Remaining

Life

(Months)

 

 

Exercise

Price

 

 

Shares

 

 

Exercise

Price

 

 

Shares

 

 

Remaining

Life

(Months)

 

 

Exercise

Price

 

 

Shares

 

 

Exercise

Price

 

Incentive Stock Option Plan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$7.50

 

 

303,350

 

 

 

50

 

 

$

7.50

 

 

 

303,350

 

 

$

7.50

 

 

 

250,050

 

 

 

38

 

 

$

7.5

 

 

 

250,050

 

 

$

7.50

 

$11.32—$11.49

 

 

243,664

 

 

 

95

 

 

$

11.57

 

 

 

25,507

 

 

$

12.28

 

$11.32—$14.75

 

 

232,168

 

 

 

83

 

 

 

11.58

 

 

 

34,334

 

 

 

12.07

 

 

 

547,014

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

9.31

 

 

 

328,857

 

 

$

7.87

 

 

 

482,218

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

9.46

 

 

 

284,384

 

 

$

8.05

 

 

 


The weighted average exercise prices for options granted, and exercisable, and the weighted average remaining contractual life for options outstanding as of September 30, 2016 was2017, were as follows:

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

 

 

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life

(Months)

 

 

Intrinsic

Value

(thousands)

 

As of September 30, 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive Stock Option Plans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2017

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

 

 

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life

(Months)

 

 

Intrinsic

Value

(thousands)

 

Incentive Stock Option Plan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

 

547,014

 

 

$

9.31

 

 

 

70

 

 

$

3,690

 

 

 

482,218

 

 

$

9.46

 

 

 

60

 

 

$

6,480

 

Expected to Vest

 

 

540,064

 

 

$

9.29

 

 

 

70

 

 

$

3,658

 

 

 

480,800

 

 

$

9.46

 

 

 

60

 

 

$

6,464

 

Exercisable

 

 

328,857

 

 

$

7.87

 

 

 

51

 

 

$

2,693

 

 

 

284,384

 

 

$

8.05

 

 

 

41

 

 

$

4,222

 

 

During the three months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation related to stock options of $71$80 and $94,$71, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation related to stock options of $252$250 and $325,$252, respectively.

As of September 30, 2016,2017, the Company had approximately $497$94 of unamortized stock-based compensation related to unvested stock options outstanding. This amount will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.20.3 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 SharesCommon stock grants A status summary of non-vested shares as of, and for, the nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 20152016 is presented below:

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2016

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2015

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2017

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2016

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

Nonvested shares at January 1st

 

 

362,841

 

 

$

20.43

 

 

 

560,842

 

 

$

21.44

 

Nonvested shares at December 31st

 

 

324,756

 

 

$

14.75

 

 

 

362,841

 

 

$

20.43

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,000

 

 

 

11.42

 

 

 

251,475

 

 

 

16.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

 

(127,274

)

 

 

31.29

 

 

 

(192,266

)

 

 

20.47

 

 

 

(10,100

)

 

 

12.95

 

 

 

(127,274

)

 

 

31.29

 

Forfeited

 

 

(16,008

)

 

 

23.67

 

 

 

(422

)

 

 

14.92

 

 

 

(6,544

)

 

 

15.26

 

 

 

(16,008

)

 

 

23.67

 

Nonvested shares at March 31st

 

 

219,559

 

 

$

14.59

 

 

 

398,154

 

 

$

21.17

 

 

 

559,587

 

 

 

15.38

 

 

 

219,559

 

 

 

14.59

 

Granted

 

 

140,541

 

 

 

15.08

 

 

 

21,005

 

 

 

14.28

 

 

 

38,502

 

 

 

17.08

 

 

 

140,541

 

 

 

15.08

 

Vested

 

 

(22,639

)

 

 

15.63

 

 

 

(28,505

)

 

 

13.53

 

 

 

(188,400

)

 

 

15.22

 

 

 

(22,639

)

 

 

15.63

 

Forfeited

 

 

(6,457

)

 

 

14.98

 

 

 

(1,201

)

 

 

14.92

 

 

 

(6,593

)

 

 

15.55

 

 

 

(6,457

)

 

 

14.98

 

Nonvested shares at June 30th

 

 

331,004

 

 

$

14.72

 

 

 

389,453

 

 

$

21.37

 

Nonvested shares at June 30th

 

 

403,096

 

 

 

15.61

 

 

 

331,004

 

 

 

14.72

 

Granted

 

 

1,668

 

 

 

16.75

 

 

 

13,196

 

 

 

12.88

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

19.90

 

 

 

1,668

 

 

 

16.75

 

Vested

 

 

(2,566

)

 

 

19.18

 

 

 

(19,000

)

 

 

27.93

 

 

 

(1,065

)

 

 

12.88

 

 

 

(2,566

)

 

 

19.18

 

Forfeited

 

 

(12,822

)

 

 

14.98

 

 

 

(26,723

)

 

 

22.64

 

 

 

(5,209

)

 

 

15.80

 

 

 

(12,822

)

 

 

14.98

 

Nonvested shares at September 30th

 

 

317,284

 

 

$

14.69

 

 

 

356,926

 

 

$

20.62

 

Nonvested shares at September 30th

 

 

397,822

 

 

$

15.63

 

 

 

317,284

 

 

$

14.69

 

 

RestrictedCommon stock grants — During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company issued a total of 290,977 shares of common stock to employees and directors. 24,312 shares vested immediately, 3,900 shares will vest in three equal tranches on the employee’s anniversary, 1,000 shares will cliff vest after one year of service, 2,500 shares will cliff vest after two years of service, and the remaining shares will cliff vest after three years of service. The shares granted in 2017 were average fair valued at $16.24 per share.  The fair value was determined by using the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant. The Company will recognize as expense the value of restricted shares over the required service period.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company grantedissued a total of 142,209 shares of restricted common stock.stock to employees. Of these, 21,139 shares vestvested immediately and the remaining 121,070 shares will cliff vest after three years of service. The shares granted in 2016 were average fair valued at $15.10 per share. The fair value was determined by using the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant.the grant was approved. The Company is recognizingwill recognize as expense the value of restricted shares over the required service period.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company granted a total of 64,201 shares of common stock. Of these, 21,005 shares vest immediately, 7,500 shares will vest after 90 days from date of grant, 3,196 shares will vest one-third each year on the anniversaries of the employee’s employment date and the balance will cliff vest after three years of service. The shares granted in 2015 were average fair valued at $12.66 per share. The fair value was determined by using the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant. The Company is recognizing as expense the value of restricted shares over the required service period.

 


During the three months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation related to restricted shares of $406$635 and $334,$406, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation related to restricted shares of $2,068 and $1,100, and $2,296, respectively.

As of September 30, 2016,2017, the Company had approximately $2,545$4,475 of unamortized stock-based compensation related to unvested restricted shares. This amount will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.81.2 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.

Performance Based Restricted SharesA summary of non-vested performance based shares as of, and for, the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and 2015respectively is presented below:

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2016

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2015

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2017

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2016

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

Nonvested shares at January 1st

 

 

104,403

 

 

$

17.05

 

 

 

103,907

 

 

$

17.77

 

Nonvested shares at December 31st

 

 

119,022

 

 

$

14.18

 

 

 

104,403

 

 

$

17.05

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,500

 

 

 

10.96

 

 

 

121,194

 

 

 

15.40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

(9,395

)

 

 

17.65

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,395

)

 

 

17.65

 

Nonvested shares at March 31st

 

 

95,008

 

 

$

16.99

 

 

 

111,407

 

 

$

17.31

 

 

 

240,216

 

 

 

14.80

 

 

 

95,008

 

 

 

16.99

 

Granted

 

 

52,170

 

 

 

14.39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,400

 

 

 

15.88

 

 

 

52,170

 

 

 

14.39

 

Vested

 

 

(48,046

)

 

 

14.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

(19,612

)

 

 

28.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,560

)

 

 

12.92

 

 

 

(19,612

)

 

 

28.25

 

Nonvested shares at June 30th

 

 

127,566

 

 

$

14.20

 

 

 

111,407

 

 

$

17.31

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,196

 

 

 

12.37

 

Nonvested shares at June 30th

 

 

187,010

 

 

 

14.93

 

 

 

127,566

 

 

 

14.20

 

Forfeited

 

 

(8,544

)

 

 

14.39

 

 

 

(10,200

)

 

 

18.43

 

 

 

(953

)

 

 

15.21

 

 

 

(8,544

)

 

 

14.39

 

Nonvested shares at September 30th

 

 

119,022

 

 

$

14.18

 

 

 

104,403

 

 

$

17.05

 

Nonvested shares at September 30th

 

 

186,057

 

 

$

14.93

 

 

 

119,022

 

 

$

14.18

 

 

Performance Based Restricted Shares — During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company issued a total of 128,594 performance based shares to employees. The shares granted during the nine months of 2017 have an average fair value of $15.43.  The fair value was determined by using the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant. The Company will recognize as expense the value of the performance based shares over the required service period from grant date. The shares will cliff vest on February 8, 2020 with a measurement period commencing January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2019. Eighty percent of these performance based shares are based upon the financial performance of the Company, specifically, an earnings before income taxes (“EBIT”) goal weighted at 50% and a net sales goal weighted at 30%. The remaining 20% of performance based shares are based upon AVD stock price appreciation over the same performance measurement period. The EBIT and net sales goals measure the relative growth of the Company’s EBIT and net sales for the performance measurement period, as compared to the median growth of EBIT and net sales for an identified peer group. The stockholder return goal measures the relative growth of the fair market value of the Company’s stock price over the performance measurement period, as compared to that of the Russell 2000 Index and the median fair market value of the common stock of the comparator companies, identified in the Company’s 2016 Proxy Statement. All parts of these awards vest in three years, but are subject to reduction to a minimum (or even zero) for recording less than the targeted performance and to increase to a maximum of 200% for achieving in excess of the targeted performance.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company granted a total of 52,170 performance based shares that will cliff vest on January 6, 2019 provided that the recipients are individually continuously employed by the Company during the vesting period. These shares havewith a measurement period commencing January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2018. Eighty percent of these performance based shares are based upon the financial performance of the Company, specifically, an earnings before income tax (“EBIT”)EBIT goal weighted at 50% and a net sales goal weighted at 30%. The remaining 20% of performance based shares are based upon AVD stock price appreciation over the same performance measurement period. The EBIT and net sales goals measure the relative growth of the Company’s EBIT and net sales for the performance measurement period, as compared to the median growth of EBIT and net sales for an identified peer group. The stockholder return goal measures the relative growth of the fair market value of the Company’s stock price over the performance measurement period, as compared to that of the Russell 2000 Index and the median fair market value of the common stock of the comparator companies, identified in the Company’s 2015 Proxy Statement. All parts of these awards vest in three years, but are subject to reduction to a minimum (or even zero) for meetingrecording less than the targeted performance and to increase to a maximum of 200% for meetingachieving in excess of the targeted performance.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company granted a total of 10,696 performance based shares. Of these, 7,500 shares will cliff vest on January 5, 2018 with a measurement period commencing January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2017 and 3,196 shares will cliff vest on August 1, 2018 with a measurement period commencing July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2018, provided that the recipient is continuously employed by the Company during the vesting period. Eighty percent of these performance based shares are based upon financial performance of the Company, specifically, an earnings before income tax (“EBIT”) goal weighted at 50% and a net sales goal weighted at 30%. The remaining 20% of performance based shares are based upon AVD stock price appreciation over the same performance measurement period. The EBIT and net sales goals measure the relative growth of the Company’s EBIT and net sales for the performance measurement period, as compared to the median growth of EBIT and net sales for an identified peer group. The stockholder return goal measures the relative growth of the fair market value of the Company’s stock price over the performance measurement period, as compared to that of the Russell 2000 Index and the median fair market value of the common stock of the comparator companies, identified in the Company’s 2014 Proxy Statement. All parts of these awards vest in three years, but are subject to reduction to a minimum (or even zero) for meeting less than the targeted performance and to increase to a maximum of 200% for meeting in excess of the targeted performance.


As of September 30, 2016,2017, performance based shares related to net incomeEBIT and net sales have an average fair value of $15.08$16.10 per share. The fair value was determined by using the publicly traded share price as of the date of grant. The performance based shares


related to the Company’s stock price have an average fair value of $11.63$12.60 per share. The fair value was determined by using the Monte Carlo valuation method. For awards with performance conditions, the Company recognizes share-based compensation cost on a straight-line basis for each performance criteria over the implied service period.

During the three months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation related to performance based shares of $100$299 and $18,$100, respectively.  During the nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation related to performance based shares of $240$920 and $222,$240, respectively.  

As of September 30, 2016,2017, the Company had approximately $857$1,901 of unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested performance based shares. This amount will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.42.0 years. This projected expense will change if any performance based shares are granted or cancelled prior to the respective reporting periods or if there are any changes required to be made for estimated forfeitures.

Performance BasedIncentive Stock Options—During the nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company did not grant any employees performance incentive stock options to acquire shares of common stock.

Performance based stock option activity is as follows:

 

 

 

Incentive

Stock Option

Plans

 

 

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

 

Exercisable

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

Balance outstanding, December 31, 2015

 

 

98,410

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

$

 

Options forfeited

 

 

(8,946

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

 

Balance outstanding, March 31, 2016

 

 

89,464

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

$

 

Balance outstanding, June 30, 2016

 

 

89,464

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

 

 

Options forfeited

 

 

(7,130

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

 

Balance outstanding, September 30, 2016

 

 

82,334

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

$

 

 

 

Incentive

Stock Option

Plans

 

 

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

 

Exercisable

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

Balance outstanding, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017

 

 

82,334

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

$

 

Options forfeited

 

 

(50

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

Balance outstanding, June 30, 2017

 

 

82,284

 

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

Options forfeited

 

 

(618

)

 

 

11.49

 

 

 

 

Balance outstanding, September 30, 2017

 

 

81,666

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

$

 

 

Information relating to outstanding performance incentive stock options at September 30, 20162017 summarized by exercise price is as follows:

 

 

Outstanding Weighted

Average

 

 

Exercisable Weighted

Average

 

 

Outstanding Weighted

Average

 

 

Exercisable Weighted

Average

 

Exercise Price Per Share

 

Shares

 

 

Remaining

Life

(Months)

 

 

Exercise

Price

 

 

Shares

 

 

Exercise

Price

 

 

Shares

 

 

Remaining

Life

(Months)

 

 

Exercise

Price

 

 

Shares

 

 

Exercise

Price

 

Performance Incentive Stock Option Plan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

81,666

 

 

 

3

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$11.49

 

 

82,334

 

 

 

15

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

82,334

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

The weighted average exercise prices for options granted and exercisable and the weighted average remaining contractual life for options outstanding as of September 30, 20162017 are as follows:

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

 

 

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life

(Months)

 

 

Intrinsic

Value

(thousands)

 

As of September 30, 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive Stock Option Plans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2017

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

 

 

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life

(Months)

 

 

Intrinsic

Value

(thousands)

 

Performance Incentive Stock Option Plan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

 

82,334

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

15

 

 

$

376

 

 

 

81,666

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

3

 

 

$

932

 

Expected to Vest

 

 

73,632

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

15

 

 

$

336

 

 

 

79,814

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

3

 

 

$

911

 

Exercisable

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 


During the three months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation related to performance stock options of $11$249 and $12,$11, respectively.  During the nine months ended September 30, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation related to performance stock options of $347 and $64, and $100, respectively.


As of September 30, 2016,2017, the Company assessed the likelihood of achieving the performance measures based on peer group information currently available for the performance based options granted in 2014. Based on the performance thus far, the Company has concluded that it is likely that the performance measure based on EBIT and net sales will be met at 200% of targeted performance and have considered the related additional expense as of September 30, 2017. The performance options based on market price will also be met at 200%, however, the market condition is reflected in the grant date fair value valuation and no additional expenses were recognized as of September 30, 2017.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had approximately $173$69 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested performance incentive stock options outstanding. This amount will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.20.3 years. This projected expense will change if any performance incentive 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.

12. Legal Proceedings—During the reporting period, there have been no material developments in the legal proceedings that were reported in the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2015 other than as discussed below:

DBCP Matters – Delaware

Over the course of the past 30 years, AMVAC and/or the Company have been named or otherwise implicated in a number of lawsuits concerning injuries allegedly arising from either contamination of water supplies or personal exposure to 1, 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 United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) to control nematodes. DBCP was also applied on banana farms in Latin America. The USEPA suspended registrations of DBCP in October 1979, except for use on pineapples in Hawaii. The USEPA suspension was partially based on 1977 studies by other manufacturers that indicated a possible link between male fertility and exposure to DBCP among their factory production workers involved with producing the product.

Several cases involving 235 banana workers from Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama had been separately filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware in 2012 and subsequently consolidated into one matter (the “Hendler-Delaware Case”).  These matters involved the same claimants and claims that had been filed in U.S. District Court in Louisiana within the prior year (and which we refer to as the Hendler-Louisiana Cases).  On August 21, 2012, the U.S. District Court in the Hendler-Delaware case granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the actions with prejudice, finding that the same claimants and claims had been pending in the Hendler-Louisiana cases where they had been first filed.

In October 2012, the federal district court in Louisiana granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment and dismissed the Hendler-Louisiana Cases for plaintiffs’ failure to bring the action within the applicable statute of limitations. Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal of the Hendler-Louisiana cases and, on September 19, 2013, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s decision, finding no reason to reverse the dismissal.  

On October 16, 2013, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal in the Hendler-Delaware case.  Oral argument was heard before the Third Circuit Court of Appeal on June 24, 2014 in connection with that appeal, and, on August 11, 2015, the Third Circuit upheld the lower court’s dismissal of the Hendler-Delaware case.  However, plaintiffs petitioned for rehearing en banc, arguing that, despite the fact that the same plaintiffs had made the same claims before another court (namely, the Louisiana court in the Hendler-Louisiana Cases), because the Louisiana court had not decided the case on the merits (but, rather, on the basis of the statute of limitations), the Delaware trial court lacked the power to dismiss the Hendler-Delaware case with prejudice. On September 22, 2015, the Third Circuit vacated its previous ruling (to uphold the lower court dismissal) and reheard the matter en banc on February 17, 2016.  

On September 2, 2016, the Third Circuit Court reversed the District Court decision, finding that it was not proper for the trial court to have dismissed these cases with prejudice even though the Louisiana courts had dismissed the same claims for expiration of the statute of limitations.  In reaching its decision, the Third Circuit  reasoned that no court had yet addressed the merits of the matter,  that Delaware’s statute of limitations may differ from that of Louisiana, and that it would have been proper for the Delaware trial court to have dismissed the matter without prejudice (that is, with the right to amend and refile).  Accordingly, the matter has been remanded to the U.S. District Court in Delaware.  The Company believes the Hendler-Delaware case has no merit and, further, that a loss is neither probable nor reasonably estimable; accordingly, it has not recorded a loss contingency.

Other Matters

U.S. EPA RCRA/FIFRA Matter  On or about March 24, 2015, Region 4 of the USEPA issued to registrant’s principal operating subsidiary, AMVAC, an Opportunity to Show Cause (“OSC”) why USEPA should not take formal action under Section 3008(a) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for supposed noncompliance arising from AMVAC’s importation, transportation and storage of used, depleted Lock ‘N Load containers having residual amounts of its product Thimet.  The scope of these discussions subsequently expanded to involve USEPA Region 5 and to include the importation of depleted Lock ‘N Load containers from Australia in October 2015 and full Lock ‘N Load containers from Canada in January 2016.  On or about March 25, 2016, USEPA Region 5 issued a Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order (“SSURO”) ordering AMVAC to cease the distribution or sale of US Thimet 20G, Canadian Thimet 15G and Australian Thimet 200G on the grounds that the importation of both depleted and full containers of Thimet and the subsequent use of their contents was allegedly inconsistent with FIFRA. After hosting a plant inspection by Regions 4 and 5 and providing documentation to the agency, AMVAC requested and received relief from the SSURO in the form of eight amendments.  As a consequence of this relief, the Company had adequate inventory to meet customers’ needs for the 2016 season.  


In the course of its investigation, the agency has also pointed out alleged anomalies relating to the Company’s confidential statements of formula relating to the use of certain inert materials in formulation.  USEPA’s Region 5 has expressed its intention to bring an enforcement action relating to its overall findings.  AMVAC believes that it has lawfully imported Thimet from Canada and Australia for the purpose of potentially refilling, reprocessing or properly disposing of them. Further, the Company believes that it has carried out its Thimet business in good faith, maintained a focus on product stewardship and, in the process, did not pose any increased risk of harm to human health or the environment.  On October 11, 2016, the Company met with USEPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance (as well as with Regions 4 and 5) to clarify a path forward to ensure future compliance.  However, the Company has not yet received a final position from USEPA with regard to past acts, and, at this stage, it is too early to tell whether a loss arising from either the OSC or SSURO is probable or reasonably estimable. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded a loss contingency on this matter.

Galvan v. AMVAC  In an action entitled Graciela Galvan v. AMVAC Chemical Corp. filed on April 7, 2014 with the Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Orange (No. 00716103CXC) plaintiff, a former employee, alleges several violations of wages and hours requirements under the California Labor Code. The Company completed the deposition of plaintiff and participated in mediation on the matter. In February 2016, the court granted plaintiff’s motion for class certification with respect to only one of the seven original claims (namely, that discretionary bonus payments made to class members during the subject period allegedly should have been taken into account when calculating overtime).  The Company believes that such bonus payments were discretionary and, as such, were properly excluded from overtime calculations.  The Company has been in settlement discussions with plaintiff’s counsel, but has been unable to reach a mutually agreeable position. Thus, the Company intends to continue to defend the matter.  We believe that a loss is possible and reasonably estimable and have recorded a loss contingency for the matter in an amount that is not material to our financial statements.

DeChene Farms  The Company is investigating a potential claim by a Minnesota-based grower who is alleging that the in-furrow use of the Company’s insecticide, Mocap, resulted in delayed germination and subsequently diminished size of approximately 300 acres of red Norland potatoes.  Such a result could mean that the subject potatoes could be graded lower than normal and could command a lower premium at market.  The Company has retained two independent investigators and conducted its own investigation of the matter as to causation, but does not yet have any information regarding market conditions and crop valuation (the harvest just having been completed).  Based upon our current understanding of the matter, we believe that a loss is possible and reasonably estimable and have recorded a loss contingency for the matter in an amount that is not material to our financial statements.

13. Recently Issued Accounting Guidance—In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230).  The new standard addresses eight specific classification issues within the current practice regarding the manner in which certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

In March 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718). The new standard changes the accounting for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. The standard requires the recognition of the income tax effects of awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, thus eliminating additional paid in capital (“APIC”) pools. The standard also allows for the employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting. Cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity in the statement of cash flows. In addition, the standard allows for a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur rather than on an estimated basis. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluatingassessed the impact of our pendingthe adoption of thethis new standard and determined there was no material impact on ourthe 2016 consolidated financial statements.  The Company has considered the different options for treatment of forfeitures in accounting for stock compensation and has elected to continue to account for such adjustments on the estimated basis. The Company adopted this new standard as of January 1, 2017 on a prospective basis.  The impact of this adoption was not material.

12. Legal Proceedings— During the reporting period, there have been no material developments in legal proceedings that are pending or threatened against the Company, except as described below.

EPA FIFRA/RCRA Matter.  On November 10, 2016, the Company was served with a grand jury subpoena out of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama in which the U.S. Department of Justice (“DoJ”) sought production of documents relating to the Company’s reimportation of depleted Thimet containers from Canada and Australia.  The Company has retained defense counsel and during 2017 year to date has substantially completed the production.  During the third quarter, the Company received a request from DoJ to interview several individuals who may be knowledgeable of the matter.  Those interviews are likely to take place during the fourth quarter. At this stage, DoJ has not made clear its intentions with regard to either its theory of the case or potential criminal enforcement.  Thus, it is too early to tell whether a loss is probable or reasonably estimable. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded a loss contingency on this matter.

Harold Reed v. AMVAC et al.  During January 2017, the Company was served with two Statements of Claim that had been filed on March 29, 2016 with the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, Canada (as case numbers 160600211 and 160600237) in which plaintiffs Harold Reed (an applicator) and 819596 Alberta Ltd. dba Jem Holdings (an application equipment rental company) allege physical injury and damage to equipment, respectively, arising from a fire that occurred during an application of the Company’s potato sprout inhibitor, SmartBlock, at a potato storage facility in Coaldale, Alberta on April 2, 2014.  Plaintiffs allege, among other things, that Amvac was negligent and failed to warn them of the risks of such application.  Reed seeks damages of $250 for alleged pain and suffering, while Jem Holdings seeks $60 in alleged lost equipment; both plaintiffs also seek unspecified damages as well.  Also during January 2017, the Company received notice that four related actions relating to the same incident were filed with the same court: (i) Van Giessen Growers, Inc. v Harold Reed et al (No. 160303906)(in which grower seeks $400 for alleged loss of potatoes); (ii) James Houweling et al. v. Harold Reed et al. (No. 160104421)(in which equipment owner seeks damages for alleged lost equipment); (iii) Chin Coulee Farms, etc. v. Harold Reed et al. (No. 150600545)(in which owner of potatoes and truck seeks $530 for alleged loss thereof); and (iv) Houweling Farms v. Harold Reed et al. (No. 15060881)(in which owner of several Quonset huts seeks damages for  alleged lost improvements, equipment and business income equal to $4,300).  The Company was subsequently named as cross-defendant in those actions by Reed. During the third quarter, counsel for the Company filed a Statement of Defence (the Canadian equivalent of an answer), alleging that Reed was negligent in his application of the product and that the other cross-defendants were negligent for using highly flammable insulation and failing to maintain sparking electrical fixtures in the storage units affected by the fire.  The Company believes that the claims against it in these matters are without merit and intends to defend them vigorously.  At this stage in the proceedings, however, it is too early to determine whether a loss is probable or reasonably estimable; accordingly, the Company has not recorded a loss contingency.


13.  Environmental— During the reporting period, there has been a material development in respect of a pending environmental matter as follows:

Environmental Site Characterization.  As reported in greater detail in the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2016, soil and groundwater characterization commenced at our Los Angeles manufacturing facility in December 2002 in conjunction with a Site Investigation Plan that was approved by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (“DTSC”).  Site investigation (including extensive soil, soil gas, groundwater and air testing) continued through 2014, at the conclusion of which the Company submitted a remedial action plan (“RAP”) to DTSC.  Under the provisions of the RAP, the Company proposed not to disturb sub-surface contaminants, but to continue monitoring, maintain the cover above affected soil, enter into restrictive covenants regarding the potential use of the property in the future, and provide financial assurances relating to the requirements of the RAP.  In MarchJanuary 2017, the RAP was circulated for public comment.  DTSC responded to those comments and, on September 29, 2017, approved the RAP as submitted by the Company. The Company intends to prepare an operation and maintenance plan, to record covenants on certain affected parcels and to obtain further clarification on financial assurance obligations relating to the RAP.  At this stage, the Company does not believe that costs to be incurred in connection with the RAP will be material and has not recorded a loss contingency for these activities.

14. Recently Issued Accounting Guidance— In November 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-07,2016-18, Investments—Equity Method and Joint VenturesStatement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)..  The new standard eliminates the requirement that an investor retrospectively apply equity method accounting when an investment that it had accounted for by another method initially qualifies for the equity method. The guidance requires that an equity method investor adda statement of cash flows explain the cost of acquiringchange during the additional interestperiod in the investee tototal of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the current basisbeginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting.cash flows.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017.  Based on the composition of the Company’s cash and cash equivalent, adoption of the new standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated cash flows statements.  The Company expects to adopt the standard for the financial year beginning January 1, 2018.

In August 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230).  The new standard addresses eight specific classification issues within the current practice regarding the manner in which certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluatinghas reviewed the impact of our pendingeight specific issues addressed and does not believe that the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have a material impact on its statement of cash flows. The Company expects to adopt the revised standard for the financial year beginning January 1, 2018.

In October 2016 FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740).  Current US GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party.  Under the new standard, an entity is to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs.  The new standard does not include new disclosure requirements; however, existing disclosure requirements might be applicable when accounting for the current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory.  The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual periods.  The Company has considered its activities with regard to such intra-entity transfers, does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-16 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.statements and will adopt the standard for the financial year beginning January 1, 2018.

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the


beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the consolidated financial statements, with certain practical expedients available.  The Company is currently evaluatingWe will evaluate our operating lease arrangements to determine the impact of this amendment on the consolidated financial statements. The evaluation will include an extensive review of our pending adoption ofleases, which are primarily related to our manufacturing sites, regional sales offices, lease vehicles, and office equipment. The ultimate impact will depend on the Company’s lease portfolio at the time the new standard is adopted.  The Company expects to adopt ASU 2016-02 for the financial year beginning on our consolidated financial statements.January 1, 2019.

In JanuaryMay 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In March 2016, FASB issued an amendment to the standard, ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement2016-08, to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. Under the amendment, an entity is required to determine whether the nature of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The update providesits promise is to provide the specified good or service itself (that is, the entity is a principal) or to arrange for that equity investments with readily determinable values be measured at fair value and changes in the fair value flow through net income. These changes historically have run through other comprehensive income. Equity investments without readily determinable fair values have the optiongood or service to be measured at fair value or at cost adjusted


provided by the other party (that is, the entity is an agent). In April 2016, FASB issued another amendment to the standard, ASU 2016-10, to clarify identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, which retaining the related principles for changes in observable prices minus impairment. Changes in either method are also recognized in net income.those areas. The standard requires a qualitative assessment of impairment indicators at each reporting period. For financial liabilities, entities that electand the fair value option must recognize the change in fair value attributable to instrument-specific credit risk in other comprehensive income rather than net income. Lastly, regarding deferred tax assets, the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset will need to be assessed related to available-for-sale debt securities. ASU 2016-01 isamendments are effective for fiscal yearsannual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Earliertherein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption is permitted.(which includes additional footnote disclosures).  These amendments will be effective upon adoption of Topic 606.  This standard also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows.

We have completed an initial scoping analysis of the effect of the standards to identify the revenue streams that may be affected by this ASU. The Company is currently completing detailed contract reviews to evaluate whether the adoption could result in a change in the timing or amount of revenue recognition.  For certain products that are deemed to have no alternative use accompanied by an enforceable right to payment, recognition will change from point in time, to over time.  The Company is also evaluating the impact on timing and amounts of our pendingrevenue recognition on certain licenses granted for the use of its intellectual property, as well as other revenue transactions.  The Company is in the process of determining what changes are needed to existing accounting policies and controls, as well as disclosures.  As of November 2, 2017, the Company has not yet determined whether the impact of adoption of Topic 606 will have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  The Company anticipates utilizing the modified retrospective method adoption for the financial year beginning January 1, 2018.    

15. Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The carrying values of cash, receivables and accounts payable approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt payable to the bank is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities. Such fair value approximates the respective carrying values of the Company’s long-term debt payable to bank.

16. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”)The following table lists the beginning balance, annual activity and ending balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss, which consists of foreign currency translation adjustments:

 

 

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2016

 

$

(4,851

)

FX translation

 

 

757

 

Balance, March 31, 2017

 

 

(4,094

)

FX translation

 

 

280

 

Balance, June 30, 2017

 

 

(3,814

)

FX translation

 

 

(67

)

Balance, September 30, 2017

 

$

(3,881

)

17. Equity Method InvestmentsTyraTech Inc. (“TyraTech”) is a Delaware corporation that specializes in developing, marketing and selling pesticide products containing natural oils. As of September 30, 2017, the Company’s ownership position in TyraTech was approximately 15.11%. The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting with respect to this investment. As a result, our net income includes losses from equity method investments, which represents our proportionate share of TyraTech’s estimated net losses for the current accounting period. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized losses of $29 and $140, respectively, as a result of the Company’s ownership position in TyraTech.  The Company recognized losses of $180 and $309, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

The Company’s investment in TyraTech is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. At September 30, 2017, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in TyraTech was $2,044 and the quoted market value of its shareholding was $1,210 based on the London Stock Exchange, Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”). At September 30, 2017, the Company performed an impairment review of its investment in TyraTech and concluded that the implied decrease in value was not other than temporary and no impairment charge was required.

On June 27, 2017, both Amvac Netherlands BV and Huifeng Agrochemical Company, Ltd (“Huifeng”) made individual capital contributions of $950 to the Huifeng Amvac Innovation Co. Ltd (“Hong Kong Joint Venture”). As of September 30, 2017, the Company’s ownership position in the Hong Kong Joint Venture was 50%. The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting with respect to this investment. On July 7, 2017, the Hong Kong Joint Venture purchased the shares of Profeng Australia, Pty Ltd.(“Profeng”), for a total consideration of $1,900. The purchase consists of Profeng Australia, Pty Ltd Trustee and Profeng Australia Unit Trust. Both Trust and Trustee were previously owned by Huifeng via its wholly owned subsidiary Shanghai Biological Focus center.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized losses of $86 and $86, respectively, as a result of the Company’s ownership position in the Hong Kong Joint Venture. There were no similar losses recognized in the prior year comparative period.


18. Cost Method Investment–In February 2016, the Company made an equity investment in Biological Products for Agriculture (“Bi-PA”) through its Netherlands wholly-owned subsidiary. Bi-PA develops biological plant protection products that can be used for the control of pests and disease of agricultural crops. As of September 30, 2017, the Company’s ownership position in Bi-PA is 15%. At September 30, 2017, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in Bi-PA is $3,283. The Company utilizes the cost method of accounting with respect to this investment and periodically review the investment for possible impairment. There was no impairment on the investment as of September 30, 2017. The investment is recorded within other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

19. Income Taxes – Income tax expense increased by $576 to end at an expense of $1,954 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $1,378 for the comparable period in 2016. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 32.1%, as compared to 31.3% in the same period of the prior year.  Income tax expense was $5,015 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $3,672 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was 29.2% and 27.9%, respectively. The effective tax rate is based on the projected income for the full year and is subject to ongoing review and adjustment by management.

During the first quarter of 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2016-09, “Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payments, including treatment of excess tax benefits and forfeitures, as well as consideration of minimum statutory tax withholding requirements. Under the new standard, on our consolidated financial statements.all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies will be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, a discrete tax benefit of $333 was recognized as part of the income tax expense.

In November 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes.

The standard requires allCompany has effectively settled its examination with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for the tax years ended December 31, 2012 and 2014.  As a result, the Company increased deferred tax assets and liabilities, as well as any related valuation allowance,income taxes payable at December 31, 2016 by $12,598.  The Company’s 2015 federal income tax return is still subject to be classified as non-currentIRS examination.  The Company’s state income tax returns are subject to examination for the 2012 through 2015 tax years.  On April 3, 2017, the Company paid the IRS $11,580.

20.  Acquisitions – During the first nine months of 2017, the Company completed two acquisitions with a combined purchase consideration of $25,100.  The preliminary allocation of the purchase price was $22,000 to product rights, $1,900 to trademarks, and $1,200 to customer lists.      

The operating results of these acquisitions are immaterial to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements individually and in the aggregate.  Therefore, pro forma financial data is not presented.  

On June 6, 2017, the Company’s principal operating subsidiary, Amvac Chemical Corporation, completed an acquisition of certain assets relating to the abamectin, chlorothalonil and paraquat product lines from a group of companies, including Adama Agricultural Solutions, Ltd.  The consideration for the acquired assets was paid in cash and has initially been allocated to inventory and intangible assets.  The acquired products were included in the Company’s results of operations from June 6, 2017 (the date of acquisition).  

On August 22, 2017, the Company’s Netherlands-based subsidiary, AMVAC Netherlands BV, completed the acquisition of certain selective herbicides and contact fungicides including chlorothanonil, ametryn, and isopyrazam, sold in the Mexican agricultural market. The assets were purchased from Syngenta AG.  The consideration for the acquired assets was paid in cash and has initially been allocated to inventory and intangible assets.  The acquired products were included in the Company’s results of operations from August 22, 2017 (the date of acquisition).

21.  Subsequent Events – On October 2, 2017, the Company’s subsidiary, AMVAC Chemical, completed its acquisition of OHP, Inc., a US-based distribution company specializing in the greenhouse and nursery production markets throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.  OHP will continue to operate in its horticultural markets using OHP brands.  

On October 27, 2017, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AMVAC Netherlands BV, completed its acquisition of Grupo Agricenter, a distribution company based in Central America.  

The combined cash consideration was approximately $41,750, plus inventory and other deferred performance driven payments.  These acquisitions were funded from the borrowings on the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years and earlier adoption is permitted. our credit facility agreement.


Item 2.

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

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS/RISK FACTORS:

The Company, is currently evaluatingfrom 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 1A., Risk factors and Item 7A., Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW

Overall financial performance for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 included sales of $89,975, which were up approximately 9%, as compared to sales of $82,447 for the third quarter of 2016. Our gross profit performance ended at $38,032 or 42% of sales, as compared to $32,986 or 40% of sales for the comparable quarter last year. Operating costs increased to 35% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to 34% for the same period in prior year.  Overall net income increased by $1,212 or 42% at $0.14 per basic and diluted share as compared to $0.10 per basic and diluted share this time last year.

Overall financial performance for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 included improved sales and net income, as compared to the same period in 2016. Sales for the period were up approximately 6% to $238,553, as compared to $224,645 for the first nine months of 2016. Under absorption of factory costs for the nine month period reduced from 4% of sales to 3% of sales. Our gross profit performance ended at $102,451 or 43% of sales, as compared to $91,884 or 41% of sales for the comparable prior period. Operating expenses remained flat at 35% of net sales and net income improved by $2,928 or 33% to $0.41 per basic share and $0.40 per diluted share, as compared to $0.31 per basic and $0.30 per diluted share.

Net sales for our pending adoptioncrop business were up 2% in the quarter and 5% year to date, as compared to the same periods of the prior year. This included a benefit of approximately $7,150 in sales of products from acquisitions concluded earlier in 2017, partially offset by a reduction in the price of Impact in the form of a $2,100 program accruals against inventory in the channel  Our non-crop business was up 62% in the three month period ended September 30, 2017 and 15% in the nine month period, as compared to this time last year due primarily to strong sales of our mosquito control insecticide Dibrom® in the aftermath of domestic hurricanes.  Our international sales were up 8% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and were up 3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  A more detailed discussion of general market conditions and sales performance by category of products appears below.  

When considering the condensed consolidated balance sheet, as of September 30, 2017, net debt was increased by $12,891 and $16,428, as compared to September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, respectively. This increase is partly the result of funding product line acquisitions announced during the third quarter of 2017.  Debt, net of deferred loan fees, at September 30, 2017 and at December 31, 2016 were $57,379 and $40,951, respectively. Inventory ended the quarter at $123,315 including the impact of newly acquired products and was $120,576 as of December 31, 2016. This compared to $141,678 as of September 30, 2016.  


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Quarter Ended September 30:

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

24,866

 

 

$

25,478

 

 

$

(612

)

 

 

-2

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

32,717

 

 

 

34,242

 

 

 

(1,525

)

 

 

-4

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

17,191

 

 

 

13,328

 

 

 

3,863

 

 

 

29

%

Total crop

 

 

74,774

 

 

 

73,048

 

 

 

1,726

 

 

 

2

%

Non-crop

 

 

15,201

 

 

 

9,399

 

 

 

5,802

 

 

 

62

%

 

 

$

89,975

 

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

7,528

 

 

 

9

%

Cost of sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

16,141

 

 

$

17,029

 

 

$

(888

)

 

 

-5

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

19,551

 

 

 

18,146

 

 

 

1,405

 

 

 

8

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

10,230

 

 

 

9,609

 

 

 

621

 

 

 

6

%

Total crop

 

 

45,922

 

 

 

44,784

 

 

 

1,138

 

 

 

3

%

Non-crop

 

 

6,021

 

 

 

4,677

 

 

 

1,344

 

 

 

29

%

 

 

$

51,943

 

 

$

49,461

 

 

$

2,482

 

 

 

5

%

Gross profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

8,725

 

 

$

8,449

 

 

$

276

 

 

 

3

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

13,166

 

 

 

16,096

 

 

 

(2,930

)

 

 

-18

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

6,961

 

 

 

3,719

 

 

 

3,242

 

 

 

87

%

Gross profit crop

 

 

28,852

 

 

 

28,264

 

 

 

588

 

 

 

2

%

Gross profit non-crop

 

 

9,180

 

 

 

4,722

 

 

 

4,458

 

 

 

94

%

 

 

$

38,032

 

 

$

32,986

 

 

$

5,046

 

 

 

15

%

Gross margin crop

 

 

39

%

 

 

39

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin non-crop

 

 

60

%

 

 

50

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gross margin

 

 

42

%

 

 

40

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US

 

$

65,842

 

 

$

60,033

 

 

$

5,809

 

 

 

10

%

International

 

 

24,133

 

 

 

22,414

 

 

 

1,719

 

 

 

8

%

 

 

$

89,975

 

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

7,528

 

 

 

9

%

The improved quarterly sales performance was driven by three primary factors.  First, we experienced increased demand of our mosquito control product Dibrom® in the Gulf states following Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.  Second, our cotton harvest defoliant Folex® generated strong sales arising from an increase in U.S. cotton acres planted (which were up about 20% over the prior year).    Third, we posted incremental quarterly revenues as a result of three products acquired from Adama during the second quarter.  Partially offsetting these year-over-year increases were lower sales of our corn herbicide in the Midwest market, slower sales of soil fumigants due primarily to weather-related factors, and a decline in one of our insecticides sold in international markets.  

Across our crop business, net sales of our insecticides group were down approximately 2% to end at $24,866, as compared to $25,478 during the third quarter of 2016. Within this category, net sales of our granular insecticides were up approximately 4%, as compared to prior year, with some gains in Aztec, Counter and Thimet products, offset by timing declines in our Mocap and Nemacur products sold primarily in International markets.  Net sales of our non-granular crop insecticides were down marginally, although this category did benefit from sales of the newly acquired Abamectin insecticide product, Abba Ultra®.


Within the group of herbicides/fungicides/fumigants used in crop applications, net sales for the third quarter of 2017 declined by approximately 4% to $32,717 from $34,242 in the comparable period of 2016. Net sales of our herbicide products increased approximately 20%, with the introduction of our newest paraquat herbicide, Parazone®, more than offsetting reduced sales of our post emergent corn herbicide, Impact®, which resulted from highly competitive market conditions this year in the Midwest region. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, we announced reduced Impact selling prices and accrued an appropriate rebate for channel inventory in response to anticipated competition in the post emergent herbicide market for the new standardgrowing season. This resulted in a charge to income (as a reduction in net sales) in the amount of approximately $2,100 during the period.  

Sales of Dacthal® for use on a wide variety of high-valued vegetable crops held steady with the prior year and we enjoyed increased sales of our international herbicide products Hyvar® and Krovar®, up almost 100% compared to the same quarter of 2016.  Our soil fumigants business declined from the prior year’s third quarter due to an application rate reduction by one of our customers, and significant disruptions in post-harvest applications caused in the Southeast U.S. by Hurricane Irma.  In fungicides, we had steady sales of our PCNB product and posted additional sales of the newly acquired chlorothalonil fungicide, Equus.

Within the group of other products (which includes plant growth regulators, molluscicides and tolling activity), net sales were up 29%, as compared to the third quarter of 2016.  Significant quarterly sales of our Folex® cotton defoliant along with our growth regulator product NAA drove this positive performance. Offsetting these strong factors were somewhat lower sales of our Metaldehyde granules, our SmartBlock potato sprout inhibitor, and our toll manufacturing revenue which will be recognized in the fourth quarter of 2017.  

Our non-crop sales ended the third quarter of 2017 at $15,201 up 62%, as compared to $9,399 for the same period of the prior year.  The main driver of this gain was the year-over-year increase in our aerial-applied mosquito adulticide Dibrom® due to the increased demand for insect control following the Hurricanes Harvey and Irma that struck Texas, Florida and other Southeastern states. We experienced slightly lower quarterly sales of our insecticide products for commercial pest control and our pharmaceutical products.        

Our international sales increased 8% ending at $24,133, as compared to $22,414 for the third quarter of the prior year.  This performance was driven by strong sales of our Hyvar® and Krovar® herbicide brands, offset by lower Mocap and Nemacur insecticides.

Our cost of sales for the third quarter of 2017 was $51,943 or 58% of sales. This compared to $49,461 or 60% of sales for the same period of 2016. The Company aggregates a number of key variable, semi-variable and fixed cost components within reported cost of sales.  The raw materials element of our cost of sales remained approximately flat as compared to this time last year. The third quarter was a strong manufacturing quarter with high output, as the Company prepares for the new US growing season which, commences on October 1. Factory performance in the third quarter of 2017 was slightly stronger than the prior year. As a result, the unrecovered element of factory costs decreased to 2% of sales as compared to a cost of 3% of sales in the same period of the prior year. Finally, the Company made more sales with higher margins in 2017 primarily driven by strong market performance in some of our key markets.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2017 improved by $5,046, or 15%, to end at $38,032, as compared to $32,986 for the third quarter of 2016.  Gross margin percentage ended at 42% in the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to 40% in the same period of the prior year.  This strong performance was primarily driven by sales of higher margin products, production planning, and a $1,000 improvement in factory under absorption costs in light of strong factory utilization rates and inventory cost adjustments based upon capacity use studies.  

As discussed below in detail by department, operating expenses increased by $3,284 to $31,570 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016. That increase arose as the Company incurred one-time costs (of approximately $800) related to multiple acquisitions.  In addition, we incurred higher regulatory costs relating to re-registration requirements for several of our organophosphate active ingredients, which constitute an important part of the Company’s portfolio, and heightened investment in product development to help fill our pipeline with new products (of approximately $1,440).  Further, we invested more heavily in SIMPAS (an increase of approximately $400), particularly in connection with the GPS integration effort, in order to bring that technology closer to commercialization. These expenditures should serve to generate a long term return on investment.


The differences in operating expenses by department are as follows:

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Selling

 

$

6,671

 

 

$

7,096

 

 

$

(425

)

 

 

-6

%

General and administrative

 

 

9,227

 

 

 

7,546

 

 

 

1,681

 

 

 

22

%

Research, product development and regulatory

 

 

7,324

 

 

 

5,200

 

 

 

2,124

 

 

 

41

%

Freight, delivery and warehousing

 

��

8,348

 

 

 

8,444

 

 

 

(96

)

 

 

-1

%

 

 

$

31,570

 

 

$

28,286

 

 

$

3,284

 

 

 

12

%

Selling expenses decreased by $425 to end at $6,671 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period of 2016.  The main driver for the decrease is related to lower costs associated with quality claims.  

General and administrative expenses increased by $1,681 to end at $9,227 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period of 2016.  The increase in cost was driven primarily by financial and legal diligence related acquisition costs and to a lesser extent, intangible asset amortization associated with product acquisitions.

Research, product development costs and regulatory expenses increased by $2,124 to end at $7,324 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period of 2016. The increase is related to more regulatory activity defending our expanding portfolio of products and additional product development studies, again driven by expanding portfolio and continued progress on our investment in developing SIMPAS technology.  

Freight, delivery and warehousing costs for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $8,348 or 9.4% of sales as compared to $8,444 or 10.2% of sales for the same period in 2016. This improvement was primarily driven by reduced inventory levels driving overall lower warehouse costs and  mix of sales, including lower sales of our high volume bulk fumigant products, in comparison to the same period of the prior year.

Interest costs net of capitalized interest, were $375 in the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $301 in the same period of 2016. Interest costs are summarized in the following table:

Average Indebtedness and Interest expense

 

 

Three months ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Three months ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

Revolving line of credit (average)

 

$

44,897

 

 

$

320

 

 

 

2.9

%

 

$

44,617

 

 

$

241

 

 

 

2.2

%

Amortization of deferred loan fees

 

 

 

 

 

57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

44,897

 

 

 

377

 

 

 

3.4

%

 

 

44,617

 

 

 

303

 

 

 

2.7

%

Notes payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of other deferred liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

Other interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

44,897

 

 

 

391

 

 

 

3.5

%

 

 

44,626

 

 

 

323

 

 

 

2.9

%

Capitalized interest

 

 

 

 

 

(16

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

44,897

 

 

$

375

 

 

 

3.3

%

 

$

44,626

 

 

$

301

 

 

 

2.7

%

The Company’s average overall debt for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was approximately flat at $44,897, as compared to $44,626 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. During the quarter, we continued to focus on managing our working capital and controlling our usage of revolving debt. Furthermore, we continued to follow our strategy in making product line acquisitions that fit our portfolio. As can be seen from the table above, our effective bank interest rate on our revolving line of credit was 3.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to 2.7% in 2016.

Income tax expense increased by $576 to end at an expense of $1,954 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $1,378 for the comparable period in 2016. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 32.1%, as compared to 31.3% in the same period of the prior year. Our effective tax rate increased due to a relatively stronger performance for our domestic business, which is in a higher tax rate jurisdiction, offset by an increase in excess tax benefits related to stock options. Furthermore, the effective tax rate for all interim periods is based on the projected income for the full year and is subject to ongoing review and adjustment by management.


During the three months ended September 30, 2017 the Company recognized a loss of $29 on our investment in TyraTech based upon its forecasted financial performance for 2017. This compared to a loss of $180 recognized in the comparable period of 2016. The Company’s investment in TyraTech is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

During the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized a loss of $86 through its Hong Kong Joint Venture on our investment in Profeng.  No comparable loss was recognized in 2016.  The Company’s investment in the Hong Kong Joint Venture is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  

Non-controlling interest amounted to a loss of $71 in the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $36 in the same period of the prior year. Non-controlling interest represents the share of net income that is attributable to the minority stockholder of our majority owned subsidiary, Envance.

Our overall net income for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $4,089 or $0.14 per basic and diluted share, as compared to $2,877 or $0.10 per basic and diluted share in the same period of 2016.

Nine Months Ended September 30:

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

102,249

 

 

$

89,496

 

 

$

12,753

 

 

 

14

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

68,783

 

 

 

80,009

 

 

 

(11,226

)

 

 

-14

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

30,680

 

 

 

23,148

 

 

 

7,532

 

 

 

33

%

Total crop

 

 

201,712

 

 

 

192,653

 

 

 

9,059

 

 

 

5

%

Non-crop

 

 

36,841

 

 

 

31,992

 

 

 

4,849

 

 

 

15

%

Total net sales

 

$

238,553

 

 

$

224,645

 

 

$

13,908

 

 

 

6

%

Cost of sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

64,495

 

 

$

59,244

 

 

$

5,251

 

 

 

9

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

38,221

 

 

 

42,907

 

 

 

(4,686

)

 

 

-11

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

17,418

 

 

 

15,184

 

 

 

2,234

 

 

 

15

%

Total crop

 

 

120,134

 

 

 

117,335

 

 

 

2,799

 

 

 

2

%

Non-crop

 

 

15,968

 

 

 

15,426

 

 

 

542

 

 

 

4

%

Total cost of sales

 

$

136,102

 

 

$

132,761

 

 

$

3,341

 

 

 

3

%

Gross profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

37,754

 

 

$

30,252

 

 

$

7,502

 

 

 

25

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

30,562

 

 

 

37,102

 

 

 

(6,540

)

 

 

-18

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

��

 

13,262

 

 

 

7,964

 

 

 

5,298

 

 

 

67

%

Gross profit crop

 

 

81,578

 

 

 

75,318

 

 

 

6,260

 

 

 

8

%

Gross profit non-crop

 

 

20,873

 

 

 

16,566

 

 

 

4,307

 

 

 

26

%

Total gross profit

 

$

102,451

 

 

$

91,884

 

 

$

10,567

 

 

 

12

%

Gross margin crop

 

 

40

%

 

 

39

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin non-crop

 

 

57

%

 

 

52

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gross margin

 

 

43

%

 

 

41

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US

 

$

173,877

 

 

$

161,661

 

 

$

12,216

 

 

 

8

%

International

 

 

64,676

 

 

 

62,984

 

 

 

1,692

 

 

 

3

%

Total net sales

 

$

238,553

 

 

$

224,645

 

 

$

13,908

 

 

 

6

%

Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 improved by nearly 6% to end at $238,553, as compared to $224,645, this time last year. This year-over-year improvement was driven by three major factors: first, our cotton products generated strong sales arising from an increase in U.S. cotton acres planted; second, we experienced incremental sales attributable to the acquisition of three new products; and third, increased post-hurricane demand for our mosquito adulticide. Partially offsetting these year-over-year increases were lower sales of our corn herbicide into the Midwest market and slower sales of soil fumigants primarily due to several weather-related application interruptions.


Across our crop business, net sales of our insecticides group were up approximately 14% to end at $102,249, as compared to $89,496 during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Within this category, net sales of our non-granular insecticides increased by 38% driven by our cotton insecticide Bidrin® which posted significantly increased sales due to the increase in 2017 U.S. cotton acres and an increase in foliar pest pressure, as compared to extremely low infestation levels of 2016. Further, net sales of our granular soil insecticides were up 9%. This increase was due to the strong performance of our granular products including corn insecticides Aztec® and SmartChoice; Thimet® (used primarily in peanuts and sugar cane) and Counter®, which is largely used for nematode control in corn and sugar beets. We also recorded additional sales with our newly acquired insecticide Abba Ultra®. Offsetting these increases, in our International business, sales of Mocap were relatively flat, and we experienced softer sales of our Nemacur® brand.

Within the group of herbicides/fungicides/fumigants used in crop applications, net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 declined by approximately 14% to $68,783 from $80,009 in the comparable period of 2016. During the period, we saw significantly weaker sales of our corn herbicide, Impact® in the Midwest region caused by wide-spread generic price reductions on competitive post-emergent herbicide products. Further, as mentioned above, our soil fumigants business declined by approximately 14% from the prior year due to excessively wet weather in several regions of the United States which inhibited the application of these liquid products.   We experienced a modest decline in sales of our Scepter® soybean herbicide, sold in the U.S. market, and our Hyvar® and Krovar® herbicides, which are sold in international markets. Offsetting these declines were a slight increase in sales of Dacthal®, for use on a wide variety of high valued vegetable crops, and incremental sales of the newly acquired chlorothalonil fungicide, Equus® and paraquat herbicide, Parazone®.

Within the group of other products (which includes plant growth regulators, molluscicides and tolling activity), net sales were up about 33%, as compared to the first half of 2016. This improvement was driven by both significantly higher sales of our Folex® cotton defoliant, due to increased harvested cotton acres in 2017, and stronger sales of our growth regulator product NAA. Offsetting these upside performances, our tolling revenues were lower as a result of timing and will catch up in the final quarter of the year.  

Our year-to-date non-crop sales ended up about 15% at $36,841, as compared to $31,992 for the same period of the prior year. This category benefitted from much higher sales of our aerial-applied mosquito adulticide Dibrom® resulting from hurricane Harvey (Texas) and Hurricane Irma (Florida & Georgia). These positive factors were partially offset by lower sales of our pharmaceutical products and a lower royalty payment received on our Envance consumer pest control products.      

Our international sales ended up 3% at $64,676, as compared to $62,984 for the first nine month of the prior year.  This was a result of increase in sales in our Counter and Aztec products that is somewhat offset by reduced sales of our Hyvar® and Krovar® herbicides, our Nemacur insecticide, and relatively flat sales of our Mocap insecticide and a variety of other products.

Our cost of sales for the nine months ended at $136,102 or 57% of net sales. This compares to $132,761 or 59% of net sales in the same period of 2016. The decrease in cost of sales as a percentage of net sales in 2017 was primarily the result of three drivers: first, our purchasing team has contained raw material prices; second, our manufacturing performance has improved including some minor inflation in manufacturing costs more than offset by better manufacturing output as we have continued to manage inventory and output levels in our plants; and third, the Company made more sales with higher margins in 2017 primarily driven by strong market performance in some of our key markets.

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 improved by $10,567, or 12%, to end at $102,451, as compared to $91,884 for the nine months of 2016.  Gross margin percentage ended at 43% in the first nine months of 2017, as compared to 41% in the same period of the prior year.  This strong performance was primarily driven by containing raw material pricing, effective production planning and favorable sales mix performance.  

As discussed below in detail by department, operating expenses increased by $6,746 to $84,175 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016. That increase arose from one-time charges for outside services related to acquisition diligence activities (of approximately $936), legal defense of the criminal investigation related to the importation of Thimet containers (of approximately $1,900), regulatory costs for re-registration of several organophosphate patents and field trials for development uses and products (of approximately $1,600), and further investment in business development personnel, SIMPAS technology and support for Smartbox systems in the field (of approximately $1,200).  


The changes in operating expenses by department are as follows:

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Selling

 

$

19,833

 

 

$

19,597

 

 

$

236

 

 

 

1

%

General and administrative

 

 

27,137

 

 

 

23,263

 

 

 

3,874

 

 

 

17

%

Research, product development and regulatory

 

 

19,013

 

 

 

15,995

 

 

 

3,018

 

 

 

19

%

Freight, delivery and warehousing

 

 

18,192

 

 

 

18,574

 

 

 

(382

)

 

 

-2

%

 

 

$

84,175

 

 

$

77,429

 

 

$

6,746

 

 

 

9

%

Selling expenses increased by $236 to end at $19,833 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period of 2016. The main drivers were an increase in advertising and marketing activities in both our domestic and international regions offset by lower quality complaints.

General and administrative expenses increased by $3,874 to end at $27,137 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period of 2016.  The main drivers for the increase are primarily driven by increased legal costs (including approximately $2,246 in costs of defending discovery in connection with a criminal investigation), both legal and financial statements.acquisitions related diligence costs, and intangible asset amortization associated with product acquisitions.

Research, product development costs and regulatory expenses increased by $3,018 to end at $19,013 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period of 2016. The main drivers were additional regulatory studies, increased staffing as we drive product development across our expanding portfolio and business development activities, primarily focused on our new SIMPAS technology.

Freight, delivery and warehousing costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $18,192 or 7.6% of sales as compared to $18,574 or 8.2% of sales for the same period in 2016. This improvement was primarily driven by reduced inventory levels driving overall carrying costs and the mix of sales and customer destinations in 2017 year to date, as compared to the same period of the prior year.

Interest costs net of capitalized interest were $1,073 in the first nine months of 2017, as compared to $1,304 in the same period of 2016. Interest costs are summarized in the following table:

In July 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330). Topic 330 currently requiresAverage Indebtedness and Interest expense

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

Revolving line of credit (average)

 

$

44,706

 

 

$

870

 

 

 

2.6

%

 

$

63,949

 

 

$

1,098

 

 

 

2.3

%

Amortization of deferred loan fees

 

 

 

 

 

182

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

187

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

44,706

 

 

 

1,052

 

 

 

3.1

%

 

 

63,949

 

 

 

1,285

 

 

 

2.7

%

Notes payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

Amortization of other deferred liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

 

 

 

 

Other interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

63

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

44,706

 

 

 

1,138

 

 

 

3.4

%

 

 

63,976

 

 

 

1,349

 

 

 

2.8

%

Capitalized interest

 

 

 

 

 

(65

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(45

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

44,706

 

 

$

1,073

 

 

 

3.2

%

 

$

63,976

 

 

$

1,304

 

 

 

2.7

%

The Company’s average overall debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $44,706, as compared to $63,976 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. During the period, we continued to focus on managing our working capital and controlling our usage of revolving debt. As can be seen from the table above, our effective bank interest rate on our revolving line of credit was 3.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to 2.7% in 2016.

Income tax expense increased by $1,343 to end at an entityexpense of $5,015 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to measure$3,672 for the comparable period in 2016. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was 29.2%, as compared to 27.9% in the same period of the prior year. Our effective tax rate increased due to a relatively stronger performance for our domestic business, which is in a higher tax rate jurisdiction, offset by an increase in excess tax benefits related to stock options.  Furthermore, the effective tax rate for all interim periods is based on the projected income for the full year and is subject to ongoing review and adjustment by management.


During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 we recognized a loss of $140 on our investment in TyraTech. This compared to a loss of $309 recognized in the comparable period of 2016. This reflected their forecast financial performance for 2017 and a true up of their 2016 performance, which improved in comparison to 2015. The Company’s investment in TyraTech is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized a loss of $86 through our Hong Kong Joint Venture on its investment in Profeng.  No comparable loss was recognized in 2016.  The Company’s investment in the Hong Kong Joint Venture is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  

Non-controlling interest amounted to an income of $117 in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $253 in the same period of the prior year. Non-controlling interest represents the share of net income that is attributable to the minority stockholder of our majority owned subsidiary, Envance.

Our overall net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $11,845 or $.41 per basic and $0.40 per diluted share, as compared to $8,917 or $0.31 per basic and $0.30 per diluted share in the same period of 2016.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Although our net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased by $2,792 as compared to the same period in 2016, cash generated by operating activities decreased by $17,956.  This was principally due to a tax payment to the IRS for back taxes of $11,580 and a net decrease of $557 to other tax liability activities.  Other items that changed cash generated by operating activities are as described:  non-cash depreciation, amortization of intangibles and other long term assets and discounted future liabilities generated $16,373, as compared to $16,330 in the prior year; stock based compensation of $3,585 as compared to $1,656 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016; and other non-cash adjustments including loss from equity method investment provided a net cash inflow of $32,152, as compared to $27,383 in the same period of 2016.

As of September 30, 2017, our working capital increased to $144,084, as compared to $130,001 at December 31, 2016. This change was mainly driven by the increase in accounts receivable. This time last year our working capital amounted to $153,466.  The cash generated as a result of this reduction as of September 30, 2017 has been used to make product line acquisitions and to pay down debt.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, net sales ended up 6% at $238,553, as compared to the same period of 2016. At September 30, 2017 accounts receivable increased by 9%, as compared to the balance as of September 30, 2016. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 the level of accounts receivable increased by $15,746, as compared to December 31, 2016. This change is driven by timing and by the mix of sales of products, customers and regions in the period to September 30, 2017.

Inventories at September 30, 2017 ended at $123,315 ($141,678 at September 30, 2016), which was an increase of $2,213 as compared to December 31, 2016. It is normal at this point in the agricultural season to see our inventories increase as we work to supply grower demand in a timely manner. This year we continued to control inventory levels to focus on managing our working capital levels. As of September 30, 2017, we believe our inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, where market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. This ASU limitsmarket.

The Company accrues product specific programs based on agreements with customers and calculated as a percentage of sales. Program accruals at any balance sheet date depend on the scope to inventorymix of customers and products sold in the previous period. The level of the accrual at any point is also affected by the growing season that is the focus of the product and the agreed periodicity of payments. Typically crop products have a growing season that ends on September 30th each year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company made accruals in the amount of $37,738. Programs are primarily paid out to customers either in the final quarter of the fiscal year or the first quarter of the next fiscal year. However, some programs for some products and markets are paid either more frequently or at different times in the calendar year. During the first nine months of 2017, the Company made payments in the amount of $15,018. Payments are not generally significant in the second and third quarters of each fiscal year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company accrued $45,456 and made payments in the amount of $14,920.

Prepaid expenses at September 30, 2017 amounted to $13,543 ($12,270 at September 30, 2016), as compared to $ 11,424 at December 31, 2016.  As of September 30, 2017, accounts payable amounted to $29,355 ($23,268 at September 30, 2016), as compared to $24,358 at December 31, 2016.  In 2017, we have continued to focus on improving our demand forecasting, planning for production and management of inventories. The increase in accounts payables as of September 30, 2017, as compared to September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, is primarily due to demand driven higher raw material purchases towards the end of the third quarter and planning for the start of the final quarter of the year.  


The Company utilized $32,187 for investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to $9,629 during the same period of 2016. The Company made investments in capital expenditures in the current year, primarily focused on expanding plant capabilities. Furthermore, during the nine month period, the Company paid a total of $25,904 to complete four product line acquisitions and, furthermore, made a $950 capital contribution to the Hong Kong Joint Venture. That capital contribution was then used to invest in Profeng, a business in Australia.  During the same period of the prior year the Company made a $3,283 investment in a Belgian Company that develops biological plant protection products that can be used for the control of pests and disease of agricultural crops and a small level of capital spending on our the manufacturing plants.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 financing activities provided $14,966, principally from the borrowings on the Company’s senior credit facility, as compared to utilizing $24,544 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. This included a net borrowing of $16,975 against our facility, as compared to a net repayment of $24,000 for the same period last year. This overall performance for 2017 year to date was driven by generating cash from operations, managing our working capital while spending on fixed assets to ensure our manufacturing facilities are well maintained and fit for purpose.  Further, the Company received $820 from the sale of common stock under its Employee Stock Purchase Plan and issuance of stock options, as compared to providing $204 for the same period of last year. Finally, during the nine months to September 30, 2017 we paid dividends to investors in the amount of $1,161 as compared to $289 for the same period of the prior year.  

The Company has a revolving line of credit that is shown as long-term debt in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. These are summarized in the following table:

Long-term indebtedness ($000's)

 

September 30, 2017

 

 

December 31, 2016

 

 

 

Long-term

 

 

Total

 

 

Long-term

 

 

Total

 

Revolving line of credit

 

$

58,375

 

 

$

58,375

 

 

$

41,400

 

 

$

41,400

 

Deferred loan fees

 

 

(996

)

 

 

(996

)

 

 

(449

)

 

 

(449

)

Net long-term debt

 

$

57,379

 

 

$

57,379

 

 

$

40,951

 

 

$

40,951

 

As of June 30, 2017, AMVAC Chemical Corporation (“AMVAC”), the Company’s principal operating subsidiary, as borrower, and affiliates (including the Company, AMVAC CV and AMVAC BV), as guarantors and/or borrowers, entered into a Third Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a group of commercial lenders led by Bank of the West (AMVAC’s primary bank) as agent, swing line lender and Letter of Credit (“L/C”) issuer.  The Credit Agreement is a senior secured lending facility, consisting of a line of credit of up to $250 million, an accordion feature of up to $100 million and a maturity date of June 30, 2022.  The Credit Agreement contains two key financial covenants; namely, borrowers are required to maintain a Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio of no more than 3.25-to-1 and a Consolidated Fixed Charge Covenant Ratio of at least 1.25-to-1.   The Company’s borrowing capacity varies with its financial performance, measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO)in terms of EBITDA, for the trailing twelve month period.  Under the Credit Agreement, revolving loans bear interest at a variable rate based, at borrower’s election with proper notice, on either (i) LIBOR plus the “Applicable Rate” which is based upon the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio (“Eurocurrency Rate Loan”) or average cost(ii) the greater of (x) the Prime Rate, (y) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and (z) the Daily One-Month LIBOR Rate plus 1.00%, plus, in the case of (x), (y) or (z) the Applicable Rate (“Alternate Base Rate Loan”). Interest payments for Eurocurrency Rate Loans are payable on the last day of each interest period (either one, two, three or six months, as selected by the borrower) and the maturity date, while interest payments for Alternate Base Rate Loans are payable on the last business day of each month and the maturity date.

At September 30, 2017, according to the terms of the Credit Agreement and based on its performance against the most restrictive covenants listed above, the Company had the capacity to increase its borrowings by up to $124,724. This compares to an available borrowing capacity of $95,985 as of September 30, 2016. The level of borrowing capacity is driven by three factors: (1) our financial performance, as measured in EBITDA for trailing twelve month period, which has improved, (2) net borrowings, which have decreased and (3) the leverage covenant (being the number of times EBITDA the Company may borrow under its credit facility agreement).

We believe that anticipated cash flow from operations, existing cash balances and available borrowings under our senior credit facility will be sufficient to provide us with liquidity necessary to fund our working capital and cash requirements for the next twelve months.


RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230).  The new standard requires inventorythat a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be measured atincluded with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the lowerbeginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of costs or net realizable value.cash flows.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017.  Based on the composition of the Company’s cash and cash equivalent, adoption of the new standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated cash flows statements.  The Company expects to adopt the standard for the financial year beginning January 1, 2018.

In August 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230).  The new standard addresses eight specific classification issues within the current practice regarding the manner in which certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company has reviewed the eight specific issues addressed and does not believe that the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have a material impact on its statement of cash flows. The Company expects to adopt the revised standard for the financial year beginning January 1, 2018.

In October 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740).  Current US GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party.  Under the new standard, an entity is to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs.  The new standard does not include new disclosure requirements; however, existing disclosure requirements might be applicable when accounting for the current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory.  The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual periods.  The Company has considered its activities with regard to such intra-entity transfers, does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-16 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and will adopt the standard for the financial year beginning January 1, 2018.

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The CompanyA modified retrospective transition approach is currently evaluatingrequired for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the consolidated financial statements, with certain practical expedients available.  We will evaluate our operating lease arrangements to determine the impact of this amendment on the consolidated financial statements. The evaluation will include an extensive review of our pending adoption ofleases, which are primarily related to our manufacturing sites, regional sales offices, lease vehicles, and office equipment. The ultimate impact will depend on the Company’s lease portfolio at the time the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, FASB issuedis adopted.  The Company expects to adopt ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This ASU requires that management of an entity assesses whether there is substantial doubt about the ability of the entity to continue as a going concern and2016-02 for making the appropriate disclosures. The assessment must be performed at each annual and interim reporting period, and there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern if it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within 12 months of the date the financial statements are issued. In the assessment, management must consider the information available at the date of issuance of the financial statements, as well as mitigating factors and plans to alleviate the substantial doubt. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. Upon adoption, the Company will follow the guidance in this ASU when assessing going concern.year beginning on January 1, 2019.

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers(Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In March 2016, FASB issued an amendment to the standard, ASU 2016-08, to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. Under the amendment, an entity is required to determine whether the nature of its promise is to provide the specified good or service itself (that is, the entity is a principal) or to arrange for that good or service to be provided by the other party (that is, the entity is an agent). In April 2016, FASB issued another amendment to the standard, ASU 2016-10, to clarify identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, which retaining the related principles for those areas. The standard and the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures).  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of its pendingThese amendments will be effective upon adoption of ASU 2014-09 onTopic 606.  This standard also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the consolidated financial statementsnature, amount, timing, and has not yet determined the method by which it will adopt the standard in 2018 or its impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

14. Fair Valueuncertainty of Financial Instruments—The carrying values ofrevenue and cash receivables and accounts payable approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt and note payable to bank is


estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities. Such fair value approximates the respective carrying values of the Company’s long-term debt and note payable to bank.

15. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”)The following table lists the beginning balance, annual activity and ending balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss, which consists of foreign currency translation adjustments:

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2015

 

$

(3,541

)

Other comprehensive gain

 

 

85

 

Balance, March 31, 2016

 

$

(3,456

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(537

)

Balance, June 30, 2016

 

$

(3,993

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(436

)

Balance, September 30, 2016

 

$

(4,429

)

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2014

 

$

(1,970

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(248

)

Balance, March 31, 2015

 

$

(2,218

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(323

)

Balance, June 30, 2015

 

$

(2,541

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(897

)

Balance, September 30, 2015

 

$

(3,438

)

16. The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting with respect to its investment in TyraTech Inc. (“TyraTech”), a Delaware corporation that specializes in developing, marketing and selling pesticide products containing natural oils. As of September 30, 2016, the Company’s ownership position in TyraTech was approximately 15.11%. As a result, our net income includes losses from this equity method investment, which represent our proportionate share of TyraTech’s estimated net losses for the current accounting period. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized a loss of $180 and $309, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized a loss of $389 and $580, respectively.

At September 30, 2016, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in TyraTech was $2,228 and the quoted market value based on TyraTech’s share price (Level 1 input) was $1,450. At September 30, 2016, the Company performed an impairment review of its investment in TyraTech and concluded that the current condition was temporary and consequently determined that no impairment change was appropriate. TyraTech’s shares trade on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ‘TYR’. The Company’s equity investment is included in Other Assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

On August 2, 2016, the Company’s Netherlands-based subsidiary, AMVAC Netherlands BV, entered into a joint venture with China-based Huifeng Agrochemical Company, Ltd. The new entity, named Huifeng/AMVAC Innovation Co., Ltd., is based in Hong Kong and is intended to focus on activities such as market access and technology transfer between the two members. AMVAC Netherlands BV is a 50% owner of the new entity.  The Company has concluded that it will account for the joint venture under the equity method.  There has been no funding made to this joint venture as of September 30, 2016.

17. In February 2016, the Company made an equity investment in Biological Products for Agriculture (“Bi-PA”) through its Netherlands wholly-owned subsidiary. Bi-PA develops biological plant protection products that can be used for the control of pests and disease of agricultural crops. As of September 30, 2016, the Company’s ownership position in Bi-PA was 15%. The Company utilizes the cost method of accounting with respect to this investment and will periodically review the investment for possible impairment. There was no impairment on the investment as of September 30, 2016. The investment is recorded within other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

18. Income Taxes—For the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, income tax expense was $1,409 and $1,643, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, income tax expense was $3,672 and $958, respectively and the effective tax rate was 27.9% in 2016 and 19.4% in 2015. These amounts are based upon management’s estimates for the full fiscal year, which are subject to review and revision.

flows.

 


The Company’s Federal income tax returns for the years December 31, 2012 through December 31, 2014 are under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).  The resultsWe have completed an initial scoping analysis of the audit are not determinable.

19. Subsequent Event— On October 11, 2016, the Company declared a $.01 per share cash dividend to stockholders as of October 28, 2016.  The cash dividend is to be paid on November 11, 2016.  


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 instandards to identify 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 on risk factors arising during the reporting period, refer to Item 1A., Risk Factors. For more detailed information on risk factors affecting the Company generally, refer to Item 1A., Risk factors and Item 7A., Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW

Overall financial performance for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 included sales of $82,447 which were up approximately 14%, as compared to sales of $72,486 for the third quarter of 2015. Our gross profit performance ended at $32,986 or 40% of sales, as compared to $31,433 or 43% of sales for the comparable quarter last year. Gross margin was impactedrevenue streams that may be affected by a shift in timing to Q3 2016, of some international toll manufacturing which occurred earlier in the season in 2015, and a short term cost increase for a key raw material for one of our international products. Operating costs in the quarter improved from 36% of sales in 2015 to 34.3% of sales this year; notwithstanding this improvement, costs did increase as we continue to develop our international footprint and invest in future business and product development. Overall net income was up at $0.10 per share as compared to $0.09 per share this time last year.

Financial performance for the nine month period ended September 30, 2016 included improved sales and net income, as compared to the same period in 2015. Sales for the period were up approximately 9% to $224,645, as compared to $205,574 for the first nine months of 2015. Under absorption of factory costs for the nine month period reduced from 5% of sales to 4% of sales. Our gross profit performance ended at $91,884 or 41% of sales, as compared to $81,204 or 40% of sales for the comparable prior period. Operating expenses reduced from 36% of net sales to 34% and net income improved by 147% to $0.30 per share, as compared to $0.12 per share.

When considering the balance sheet, net debt reduced by $5,088 in the three month ended September 30, 2016 to $44,488. This compares with $68,321 at December 31, 2015 and $92,731 at the same time last year. Inventory ended the quarter at $141,678, which is in line with our sales and inventory planning for the 2016. In comparison, inventory at this time last year was $161,496. We remain on track for our forecast at December 31, 2016.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Quarter Ended September 30:

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

25,478

 

 

$

23,539

 

 

$

1,939

 

 

 

8.2

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

34,242

 

 

 

32,682

 

 

 

1,560

 

 

 

4.8

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

13,328

 

 

 

7,420

 

 

 

5,908

 

 

 

79.6

%

Total crop

 

 

73,048

 

 

 

63,641

 

 

 

9,407

 

 

 

14.8

%

Non-crop

 

 

9,399

 

 

 

8,845

 

 

 

554

 

 

 

6.3

%

Total net sales

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

72,486

 

 

$

9,961

 

 

 

13.7

%

Cost of sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

17,029

 

 

$

14,240

 

 

$

2,789

 

 

 

19.6

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

18,146

 

 

 

17,953

 

 

 

193

 

 

 

1.1

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

9,609

 

 

 

4,005

 

 

 

5,604

 

 

 

139.9

%

Total crop

 

 

44,784

 

 

 

36,198

 

 

 

8,586

 

 

 

23.7

%

Non-crop

 

 

4,677

 

 

 

4,855

 

 

 

(178

)

 

 

-3.7

%

Total cost of sales

 

$

49,461

 

 

$

41,053

 

 

$

8,408

 

 

 

20.5

%

Gross profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

8,449

 

 

$

9,299

 

 

$

(850

)

 

 

-9.1

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

16,096

 

 

 

14,729

 

 

 

1,367

 

 

 

9.3

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

3,719

 

 

 

3,415

 

 

 

304

 

 

 

8.9

%

Gross profit crop

 

 

28,264

 

 

 

27,443

 

 

 

821

 

 

 

3.0

%

Gross profit non-crop

 

 

4,722

 

 

 

3,990

 

 

 

732

 

 

 

18.3

%

Total gross profit

 

$

32,986

 

 

$

31,433

 

 

$

1,553

 

 

 

4.9

%

Gross margin crop

 

 

39

%

 

 

43

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin non-crop

 

 

50

%

 

 

45

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gross margin

 

 

40

%

 

 

43

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US

 

$

60,033

 

 

$

53,167

 

 

$

6,866

 

 

 

12.9

%

International

 

 

22,414

 

 

 

19,319

 

 

 

3,095

 

 

 

16.0

%

Total net sales

 

$

82,447

 

 

$

72,486

 

 

$

9,961

 

 

 

13.7

%

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, sales for our Crop business were up approximately 15% at $73,048, as compared to $63,641 for the same period of the prior year, while sales for non-crop products were up 6% at $9,399, as compared to $8,845 last year. A more detailed discussion of general market conditions and sales performance by category of products appears below.

Third quarter 2016 financial performance was influenced by some key factors.  First, we recorded strong quarterly sales of several of our cotton products due to increased cotton acres this season, up approximately 17% overall and over 50% in the MidSouth region, which is one of our key Folex markets.  Second, we enjoyed increased sales of our market leading soil fumigant products primarily used in the late summer and fall periods. Third, our tolling business sales were strong in the third quarter of this year, whereas in the prior year these sales occurred in an earlier period.  

Sales of our Insecticide group for crop applications were up 8%, to $25,478, as compared to $23,539 for the third quarter of 2015. The increase was led by sales of Mocap and Nemacur which were up 22% compared to the prior year, offset by Thimet sales that suffered from unfavorable weather conditions in the Southeast U.S.

Within the group of Herbicides/Fungicides/Fumigants, sales for the third quarter of 2016 increased by approximately 5% to $34,242, as compared to $32,682 in the same period of 2015. The main driver was sales of our soil fumigants which rose in the third quarter as post-harvest, on-ground applications in the Southeast and Northwest sections of the U.S. caught up from a slow start last quarter.


Within the group of Other products (which includes plant growth regulators, molluscicides and tolling activity), our sales increased about 80% to $13,328, as compared to $7,420 in the third quarter of 2015. There were two main drivers for this performance. First, toll manufacturing activity increased significantly in the third quarter as compared to 2015 as a result of production scheduling (these annual tolling sales were recorded in the second quarter in 2015). Second, we experienced an increase in purchases of our Folex® cotton defoliant during the quarter, as cotton growers shifted their procurement of this harvest aid closer to time of use in the September/October harvest.

Our Non-crop sales ended the third quarter of 2016 at $9,399, which was 6% above sales of $8,845 for the same period of the prior year. This sales increase was primarily driven by improved sales of our Metaldehyde granules.  

On a regional basis, our domestic US sales improved by 13% to end at $60,033 for the three months of 2016, as compared to $53,167 in the same period of 2015. As detailed above, the growth in domestic sales quarter over quarter was largely driven by growth in sales of our Metam fumigants, our Folex cotton defoiliant and our Dacthal herbicide. During the same period, our international sales were up 16% to end at $22,414, as compared to $19,319 for the prior year. International sales increased because of tolling revenues, that occurred in an earlier period in 2015, and increased Nemacur sales, offset by lower sales of Dacthal where we had a schedule delay in formulating a specific item resulting in sales probably moving to later in the year.

Our cost of sales for the third quarter of 2016 was $49,461 or 60% of sales, as compared to $41,053 or 57% of sales for the same period of 2015. There were a number of factors driving the increase. First, our tolling revenues occurred in the second quarter of 2015, whereas this year they occurred in the third quarter. This mix change impacts our overall cost of sales by 1.4%. Second, during the quarter we experienced a temporary price increase for a raw material that is used in an international product line. That increase impacted our overall cost of sales by 1.6%.  We expect that we will work through the higher priced raw material and return to more normal margins for this product by the end of the second quarter of 2017. Our labor and burden costs increased as we expanded manufacturing output in the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to the same period of the prior year.  Partly offsetting these factors, we have enjoyed cost reduction on a number of key raw materials.

Gross margin ended the quarter at 40% for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to 43% in the same period of the prior year. The change in margin percentage was expected primarily because of the shift in international tolling revenues and is detailed above in the cost of sales discussion.

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 increased by $2,196 to $28,255 for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015. The differences in operating expenses by department are as follows:

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Selling

 

$

7,065

 

 

$

6,493

 

 

$

572

 

 

 

8.8

%

General and administrative

 

 

7,546

 

 

 

6,980

 

 

 

566

 

 

 

8.1

%

Research, product development and regulatory

 

 

5,200

 

 

 

4,494

 

 

 

706

 

 

 

15.7

%

Freight, delivery and warehousing

 

 

8,444

 

 

 

8,092

 

 

 

352

 

 

 

4.3

%

 

 

$

28,255

 

 

$

26,059

 

 

$

2,196

 

 

 

8.4

%

Selling expenses increased $572 over the same quarter of the prior year. The main driver for the increase is from the further development of our international business.

General and administrative expenses increased by $566. The main drivers are increased incentive compensation, as a result of our improved financial performance and increased legal expense.

Research, product development costs and regulatory expenses increased by $706. In the three months ended September 30, 2016, we increased our spending on regulatory compliance, field trials for product development and our SIMPAS development project.

Freight, delivery and warehousing costs increased by $352. As a percentage of sales, freight costs improved to 10.3% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to 11.0% for the same period of the prior year.


Interest costs, net of capitalized interest were $301 in the three months to September 30, 2016 as compared to $638 in the same period of 2015. Interest costs are summarized in the following table:

Average Indebtedness and Interest expense

 

 

Q3 2016

 

 

Q3 2015

 

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

Average revolving line of credit

 

$

44,617

 

 

$

241

 

 

 

2.2

%

 

$

88,826

 

 

$

498

 

 

 

2.2

%

Notes payable

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,081

 

 

 

101

 

 

 

 

Amortization of deferred loan fees

 

 

 

 

 

62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62

 

 

 

 

Amortization of other deferred liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

Other interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

$

44,626

 

 

$

323

 

 

 

2.9

%

 

$

98,907

 

 

$

700

 

 

 

2.8

%

Capitalized interest

 

 

 

 

 

(22

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(62

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

44,626

 

 

$

301

 

 

 

2.7

%

 

$

98,907

 

 

$

638

 

 

 

2.6

%

The Company’s average overall debt for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $44,626, as compared to $98,907 for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Included in interest expense of $301 during the three months ended September 30, 2016, are non-cash costs related to amortization of discounting for deferred payments and other interest expense, net of capitalized interest, in the amount of $22 as compared to $62 for the same period of the prior year. The effective rate on our bank borrowings was flat at 2.2% for the period to September 30, 2016 and the same period of the prior year. Our overall effective interest rate was 2.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to 2.6% at September 30, 2015.

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, income tax expense totaled $1,409 and the effective tax rate for the quarter was 31.8%. These amounts are based upon management’s estimates for the full fiscal year, which are subject to review and revision. For the three months ended September 30, 2015, income tax expense totaled $1,643 and the effective tax rate for the quarter was 34.7%.  

Our overall net income for the three months ended September 30, 2016 totaled $2,877 or $0.10 per diluted share as compared to $2,772 or $0.09 per diluted share in the same quarter of 2015.


Nine Months Ended September 30:

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

89,496

 

 

$

85,484

 

 

$

4,012

 

 

 

4.7

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

80,009

 

 

 

71,973

 

 

 

8,036

 

 

 

11.2

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

23,148

 

 

 

23,497

 

 

 

(349

)

 

 

-1.5

%

Total crop

 

 

192,653

 

 

 

180,954

 

 

 

11,699

 

 

 

6.5

%

Non-crop

 

 

31,992

 

 

 

24,620

 

 

 

7,372

 

 

 

29.9

%

Total net sales

 

$

224,645

 

 

$

205,574

 

 

$

19,071

 

 

 

9.3

%

Cost of sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

59,244

 

 

$

55,244

 

 

$

4,000

 

 

 

7.2

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

42,907

 

 

 

41,139

 

 

 

1,768

 

 

 

4.3

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

15,184

 

 

 

14,372

 

 

 

812

 

 

 

5.6

%

Total crop

 

 

117,335

 

 

 

110,755

 

 

 

6,580

 

 

 

5.9

%

Non-crop

 

 

15,426

 

 

 

13,615

 

 

 

1,811

 

 

 

13.3

%

Total cost of sales

 

$

132,761

 

 

$

124,370

 

 

$

8,391

 

 

 

6.7

%

Gross profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insecticides

 

$

30,252

 

 

$

30,240

 

 

$

12

 

 

 

0.0

%

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

 

 

37,102

 

 

 

30,834

 

 

 

6,268

 

 

 

20.3

%

Other, including plant growth regulators

 

 

7,964

 

 

 

9,125

 

 

 

(1,161

)

 

 

-12.7

%

Gross profit crop

 

 

75,318

 

 

 

70,199

 

 

 

5,119

 

 

 

7.3

%

Gross profit non-crop

 

 

16,566

 

 

 

11,005

 

 

 

5,561

 

 

 

50.5

%

Total gross profit

 

$

91,884

 

 

$

81,204

 

 

$

10,680

 

 

 

13.2

%

Gross margin crop

 

 

39

%

 

 

39

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin non-crop

 

 

52

%

 

 

45

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gross margin

 

 

41

%

 

 

40

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US

 

$

161,661

 

 

$

146,231

 

 

$

15,430

 

 

 

10.6

%

International

 

 

62,984

 

 

 

59,343

 

 

 

3,641

 

 

 

6.1

%

Total net sales

 

$

224,645

 

 

$

205,574

 

 

$

19,071

 

 

 

9.3

%

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, sales for our Crop business were $192,653, up approximately 7% from $180,954 in 2015, while sales for Non-crop products were $31,992, up by about 30% from $24,620 in the comparable period of the prior year. A more detailed discussion of general market conditions and sales performance by category of products appears below.

During the period, the Company experienced an 18% increase in sales of its corn products (including our Impact® herbicide and our granular corn insecticides). In addition, during the 2015-16 growing season which ended on September 30, 2016, channel inventories of the same products have reduced by approximately 20%. The Company has also seen significant growth in sales associated with the Bromacil and European Nemacur acquisitions, concluded early in 2015, the Scepter license, signed in the late fall of 2015 and in revenues from a third party for the exclusive right for licenses to certain of our natural oil products.

Net sales of our Insecticides used in crop applications for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were about 5% higher at $89,496, as compared to $85,484 during the same period of 2015. Within this category, sales of our granular soil insecticides (“GSIs”) were up approximately 3% as compared to the same period in 2015, primarily driven by increased sales of Nemacur. Sales of our non-GSI insecticides for crop applications were led by higher year-to-date sales of Bidrin and Bifenthrin, our primary cotton insecticides.

Within the group of Herbicides/Fungicides/Fumigants for crop applications, sales for the first nine months of 2016 were $80,009, approximately 11% higher than the $71,973 recorded in the first nine months of 2015. While sales of our soil fumigant products declined slightly as a result of some weather-related wet field application difficulties, sales of herbicides increased significantly driven by strong Impact sales in U.S. corn, the addition of Scepter the portfolio, and stronger sales of Bromacil as that product line was more fully integrated into our international business.


Within the group of Other products (which includes plant growth regulators, molluscicides and tolling activity), we recorded net sales of $23,148, as compared to $23,497 in the first three quarters of 2015. Sales in all of the above categories were relatively flat compared with the prior year nine month performance.

Our Non-crop sales for the first nine months of 2016 were $31,992, up 30% from $24,620 for the same period of the prior year. This performance was driven by our pest strip, pharmaceutical and Envance sales that were all considerably higher in the first nine months of 2016, as compared to the similar period in 2015. Pest strips sales were up because one of our major customers made the decision to purchase a multiyear order in December 2014 in order to secure a price point.  That customer inventory cleared out in early 2016.  Normal replenishment is now on-going.  Pharmaceutical sales improved because of forecast product supply interruption in 2017 related to a specific raw material supplier in the Czech Republic that has decided to exit the market. New suppliers have been found but the approval process will take time and as a result there will be a gap in supply. Customers are making decisions this year to insulate themselves during that possible gap period by increasing their order size. Envance revenues are being driven by proceeds from licensed rights to our natural oil products, in certain markets; this license arrangement was not in place in 2015.

On a regional basis, our domestic US sales improved by 11% to end at $161,661 for the first three quarters of 2016, as compared to $146,231 in the same period of 2015. The drivers are performance in the corn market, the revenues from license rights to our natural oil products, strong domestic sales of Dacthal and revenues related to the Scepter license. During the same period, our international sales were up 6% to end at $62,984, as compared to $59,343 for the prior year. The main drivers were increased revenues from Bromacil and European sales of Nemacur acquired early in 2015, offset (to a degree) by lower international sales of Dacthal as a result of a short term formulating capacity issue that should resolve during the final quarter of the year.  

Our cost of sales for the nine months of 2016 was $132,761 or 59% of net sales. This compared to $124,370 or 60% of net sales for the same period of 2015. The main drivers for the change were improvements generated by revenues for license rights to our natural oil products offset by the short term issue, primarily affecting the third quarter, related to raw material costs for an international product line.

Our labor and burden costs were 1% lower in the nine months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to the same period of the prior year. Further, as our channel inventories have reduced, we have been slowly ramping up production of some products resulting in improved factory cost recovery, as compared to the first nine months of 2015. These improvements resulted in reduced net factory costs which amounted to 4% (of sales) in the nine months of 2016, as compared to 5% in the same period of 2015 and added $1,662 to our gross profit performance in the nine months of 2016, as compared to this time 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 increased by $3,104 to $77,429 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to the same period of 2015. The differences in operating expenses by department are as follows:

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Selling

 

$

19,597

 

 

$

20,638

 

 

$

(1,041

)

 

 

-5.0

%

General and administrative

 

 

23,263

 

 

 

20,389

 

 

 

2,874

 

 

 

14.1

%

Research, product development and regulatory

 

 

15,995

 

 

 

14,771

 

 

 

1,224

 

 

 

8.3

%

Freight, delivery and warehousing

 

 

18,574

 

 

 

18,527

 

 

 

47

 

 

 

0.3

%

 

 

$

77,429

 

 

$

74,325

 

 

$

3,104

 

 

 

4.2

%

Selling expenses for the period decreased by $1,041. The main drivers for the overall decrease in selling expenses were lower spending on advertising and promotional activities.

General and administrative expenses increased by $2,874. The main drivers are increases in incentive compensation, intangible asset amortization associated with product acquisitions in 2015, and additional legal expenses.

Research, product development costs and regulatory expenses increased by $1,224. The main drivers were increased costs incurred in our spending on regulatory compliance, field trials for product development and our SIMPAS development project.

Freight, delivery and warehousing costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $18,574 or 8.2% of sales as compared to $18,527 or 9.0% of sales for the same period in 2015. The main driver for the decrease (as a percentage of sales) is related to the increase in sales of products with low freight costs and products where buyers bear freight charges.


Interest costs net of capitalized interest, were $1,304 in the nine months of 2016, as compared to $1,941 in the same period of 2015. Interest costs are summarized in the following table:

Average Indebtedness and Interest expense

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2016

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2015

 

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

Average revolving line of credit

 

$

63,949

 

 

$

1,098

 

 

 

2.3

%

 

$

100,292

 

 

$

1,541

 

 

 

2.0

%

Notes payable

 

 

27

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,834

 

 

 

170

 

 

 

 

Interest Income

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

Amortization of deferred loan fees

 

 

 

 

 

187

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

228

 

 

 

 

Amortization of other deferred liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

114

 

 

 

 

Other interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

$

63,976

 

 

$

1,349

 

 

 

2.8

%

 

$

106,126

 

 

$

2,090

 

 

 

2.6

%

Capitalized interest

 

 

 

 

 

(45

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(149

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

63,976

 

 

$

1,304

 

 

 

2.7

%

 

$

106,126

 

 

$

1,941

 

 

 

2.4

%

The Company’s average overall debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $63,976 as compared to $106,126 for the same period of 2015. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company remained focused on driving down the revolving debt following the 2015 product acquisitions.  Included in interest expense of $1,304 during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, are non-cash costs related to amortization of discounting of deferred payments and other interest expense in the amount of $206, as compared to $400 for the same period of the prior year. The effective rate on our bank borrowings was 2.3% for the period to September 30, 2016, as compared to 2.0% for the same period of the prior year. Our overall effective interest rate was 2.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to 2.4% in the same period of 2015.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, income tax expense increased by $2,714 to end at $3,672 and the effective tax rate was 27.9%.  The amount is based upon management’s estimates for the full fiscal year, which are subject to review and revision.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, income tax expense totaled $958 and the effective tax rate was 19.4%. The change in effective tax rate is primarily driven by improved year on year earnings in jurisdictions with higher income tax rates.

Our overall net income attributable to American Vanguard for the nine months of 2016 was $8,917 or $0.30 per diluted share, as compared to $3,604 or $0.12 per diluted share in the same period of 2015.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company generated $36,200 of cash in operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. This compares to generating $51,807 in the same period of last year. Net income of $9,170, non-cash depreciation and amortization of fixed and intangible assets, other assets and discounted future liabilities in the amount of $16,330, stock based compensation expense of $1,656 plus a non cash loss recorded on our equity investment and tax benefit from exercise of stock options provided a net cash inflow of $27,383 as compared to $23,215 for the same period last year.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company increased trade receivables by $19,202. This compares with an increase in trade receivables of $6,172 during the same period of 2015. The movement in receivables is primarily driven by strong domestic sales in the later part of the period to September 30, 2016.

At the end of September 2016, our inventories were at $141,678, which was down from $161,496 at this time last year. In comparison to the start of the financial year, our inventories have increased by $5,201 in the nine month period of 2016, as compared to decreasing by $4,135 during the same period of the prior year. This 2016 performance reflects the improving condition of channel inventory levels of the Company’s products which is allowing us to start slowly increasing the manufacturing level for some products as we look forward to the 2016-2017 season. As of September 30, 2016, we believe our inventories are valued at lower of cost or market.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, deferred revenues decreased by $8,847, as compared to a decrease of $860 for the same period of the prior year. The decrease in deferred revenues reflects customers utilizing their prepayments made in prior periods.


The Company accrues programs in line with the growing season upon which specific products are targeted. Typically crop products have a growing season that ends on September 30th each year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company made accruals in the amount of $45,456. Programs are primarily paid out to customers either in the final quarter of the fiscal year or the first quarter of the next fiscal year. However, there are some programs that are paid more frequently or that have different settlement dates that reflect particular growing seasons. During the first nine months of 2016, the Company made payments in the amount of $14,920. Payments are not generally significant in the second and third quarters of each financial year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company accrued $38,102 and made payments in the amount of $17,120.

Finally, prepaid and other assets increased by $1,011, tax payable increased by $1,519, accounts payable increased by $7,925, and other payables and accruals increased by $3,098. In aggregate, this amounted to a $11,531 inflow. During the same period of 2015, these items amounted to a $10,507 inflow.

The Company is working to manage its capital spending closely and utilized $6,122 during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to utilizing $5,196 during the same period of 2015. This is primarily driven by an increase in capital spending in our factories including the capital cost of putting in place a dedicated manufacturing cell at one of the toll manufacturing locations. During the first nine months of 2016, the Company made an equity investment in Biological Products for Agriculture (“Bi-PA”) through its Netherlands wholly-owned subsidiary. Bi-PA develops biological plant protection products that can be used for the control of pests and disease of agricultural crops. As of September 30, 2016, the Company’s ownership position in Bi-PA was 15%. During the comparable period in 2015, the Company increased its ownership share of its Envance subsidiary by paying $125 to its joint venture partner, TyraTech and, in addition, making a capital contribution to the joint venture in the amount of $1,263. Finally, during the first nine months of 2015, the Company completed two acquisitions of product lines and spent a total of $36,435 on those transactions. During the first nine months of 2016, the Company made final payments associated with the 2015 product acquisitions in the amount of $224.

The Company has a revolving line of credit and a note payable that together constitute the short-term and long-term loan balances shown in the balance sheets at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. These are summarized in the following table:

Indebtedness

 

September 30, 2016

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

$000’s

 

Long-

term

 

 

Short-

term

 

 

Total

 

 

Long-

term

 

 

Short-

term

 

 

Total

 

Revolving line of credit

 

$

45,000

 

 

$

 

 

$

45,000

 

 

$

69,000

 

 

$

 

 

$

69,000

 

Deferred loan fees

 

 

(512

)

 

 

 

 

 

(512

)

 

 

(679

)

 

 

 

 

 

(679

)

Notes payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

55

 

Total Indebtedness

 

$

44,488

 

 

$

 

 

$

44,488

 

 

$

68,321

 

 

$

55

 

 

$

68,376

 

Under the Credit Agreement, the Company has three key covenants (with which it was in compliance throughout the nine months ended September 30, 2016). The covenants are as follows: (1) the Company must maintain its borrowings below a certain consolidated funded debt ratio, (2) the Company has a limitation on its annual spending on the acquisition of fixed asset capital additions, and (3) the Company must maintain a certain consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio.

On April 14, 2015, AMVAC, as borrower, and affiliates (including the Company), as guarantors and/or borrowers, entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement under which, the Consolidated Funded Debt Ratio was increased for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2015 (to 3.5-to-1 from 3.25-to-1) and a fixed charge covenant, requiring, in effect, that the ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities exceed 1.2-to-1 for the duration of the term of the credit facility, was added.

At September 30, 2016, based on its performance against the most restrictive covenants listed above, the Company had the capacity to increase its borrowings by up to $95,985 under the credit facility agreement. This compares to an available borrowing capacity of $40,189 as of September 30, 2015. The level of borrowing capacity was driven by three factors: (1) our financial performance, as measured in EBITDA for the trailing twelve month period, has improved, (2) the level of borrowings during the third quarter of 2015 was higher than normal due to the then recent completion of two product line acquisitions, and (3) the leverage covenant (being the number of times EBITDA the Company may borrow under its credit facility agreement) was lower when compared with the earlier period.

The Company believes that anticipated cash flow from operations, existing cash balances and available borrowings under our senior credit facility will be sufficient to provide us with liquidity necessary to fund our working capital and cash requirements for the next twelve months.


RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance—In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230).  The new standard addresses eight specific classification issues within the current practice regarding the manner in which certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted.ASU. The Company is currently completing detailed contract reviews to evaluate whether the adoption could result in a change in the timing or amount of revenue recognition.  For certain products that are deemed to have no alternative use accompanied by an enforceable right to payment, recognition will change from point in time, to over time.  The Company is also evaluating the impact on timing and amounts of our pending adoption of the new standardrevenue recognition on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

In March 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718). The new standard changes the accounting for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. The standard requires the recognition of the income tax effects of awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, thus eliminating additional paid in capital (“APIC”) pools. The standard also allowslicenses granted for the employer to repurchase moreuse of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting. Cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes should be classifiedits intellectual property, as a financing activity in the statement of cash flows. In addition, the standard allows for a policy election to account for forfeitureswell as they occur rather than on an estimated basis. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted.other revenue transactions.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-07, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures. The new standard eliminates the requirement that an investor retrospectively apply equity method accounting when an investment that it had accounted for by another method initially qualifies for the equity method. The guidance requires that an equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investeeprocess of determining what changes are needed to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interestexisting accounting policies and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The update provides that equity investments with readily determinable values be measured at fair value and changes in the fair value flow through net income. These changes historically have run through other comprehensive income. Equity investments without readily determinable fair values have the option to be measured at fair value or at cost adjusted for changes in observable prices minus impairment. Changes in either method are also recognized in net income. The standard requires a qualitative assessment of impairment indicators at each reporting period. For financial liabilities, entities that elect the fair value option must recognize the change in fair value attributable to instrument-specific credit risk in other comprehensive income rather than net income. Lastly, regarding deferred tax assets, the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset will need to be assessed related to available-for-sale debt securities. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. The standard requires all deferred tax assets and liabilities,controls, as well as any related valuation allowance, to be classified as non-current ondisclosures.  As of November 2, 2017, the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330). Topic 330 currently requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market, where market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. This ASU limits the scope to inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost and requires inventory be measured at the lower of costs or net realizable value. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.


In August 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This ASU requires that management of an entity assesses whether there is substantial doubt about the ability of the entity to continue as a going concern and for making the appropriate disclosures. The assessment must be performed at each annual and interim reporting period, and there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern if it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within 12 months of the date the financial statements are issued. In the assessment, management must consider the information available at the date of issuance of the financial statements, as well as mitigating factors and plans to alleviate the substantial doubt. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. Upon adoption, the Company will follow the guidance in this ASU when assessing going concern.

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In March 2016, FASB issued an amendment to the standard, ASU 2016-08, to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. Under the amendment, an entity is required to determine whether the nature of its promise is to provide the specified good or service itself (that is, the entity is a principal) or to arrange for that good or service to be provided by the other party (that is, the entity is an agent). In April 2016, FASB issued another amendment to the standard, ASU 2016-10, to clarify identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, which retaining the related principles for those areas. The standard and the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). The Company is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on the consolidated financial statements and has not yet determined whether the method by which itimpact of adoption of Topic 606 will adopt the standard in 2018 or itshave a material impact on the consolidatedCompany’s financial statements.condition, results of operations or cash flows.  The Company anticipates utilizing the modified retrospective method adoption for the financial year beginning January 1, 2018.  

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The Company continually re-assesses the critical accounting policies used in preparing its financial statements. In the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2015,2016, 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. After our review of these matters, we have determined that, during the subject reporting period, there has been no material change to the critical accounting policies that are listed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.2016.

 

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, 2015.2016 and the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on or about July 6, 2017.

The Company conducts business in various foreign currencies, primarily in Europe, Mexico, Central and South America. 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. 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

Item 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

TheAs of September 30, 2017, 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 of September 30, 2016,2017, the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has 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

During the reporting period, there have been no material developments in the legal proceedings that were reported in the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2015, other than as discussed below:

DBCP Matters – Delaware

Over the course of the past 30 years, AMVAC and/are pending or threatened against the Company, have been named or otherwise implicated inexcept as described below.

EPA FIFRA/RCRA Matter.  On November 10, 2016, the Company was served with a numbergrand jury subpoena out of lawsuits concerning injuries allegedly arising from either contamination of water supplies or personal exposure to 1, 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 USEPA to control nematodes. DBCP was also applied on banana farms in Latin America. The USEPA suspended registrations of DBCP in October 1979, except for use on pineapples in Hawaii. The USEPA suspension was partially based on 1977 studies by other manufacturers that indicated a possible link between male fertility and exposure to DBCP among their factory production workers involved with producing the product.

Several cases involving 235 banana workers from Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama had been separately filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware in 2012 and subsequently consolidated into one matter (the “Hendler-Delaware Case”).  These matters involved the same claimants and claims that had been filed in U.S. District Court in Louisiana within the prior year (and which we refer to as the Hendler-Louisiana Cases).  On August 21, 2012, the U.S. District Court in the Hendler-Delaware case granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the actions with prejudice, finding that the same claimants and claims had been pending in the Hendler-Louisiana cases where they had been first filed.

In October 2012, the federal district court in Louisiana granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment and dismissed the Hendler-Louisiana Cases for plaintiffs’ failure to bring the action within the applicable statute of limitations. Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal of the Hendler-Louisiana cases and, on September 19, 2013, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s decision, finding no reason to reverse the dismissal.  

On October 16, 2013, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal in the Hendler-Delaware case.  Oral argument was heard before the Third Circuit Court of Appeal on June 24, 2014 in connection with that appeal, and, on August 11, 2015, the Third Circuit upheld the lower court’s dismissal of the Hendler-Delaware case.  However, plaintiffs petitioned for rehearing en banc, arguing that, despite the fact that the same plaintiffs had made the same claims before another court (namely, the Louisiana court in the Hendler-Louisiana Cases), because the Louisiana court had not decided the case on the merits (but, rather, on the basis of the statute of limitations), the Delaware trial court lacked the power to dismiss the Hendler-Delaware case with prejudice. On September 22, 2015, the Third Circuit vacated its previous ruling (to uphold the lower court dismissal) and reheard the matter en banc on February 17, 2016.  

On September 2, 2016, the Third Circuit Court reversed the District Court decision, finding that it was not proper for the trial court to have dismissed these cases with prejudice even though the Louisiana courts had dismissed the same claims for expirationSouthern District of the statute of limitations.  In reaching its decision, the Third Circuit  reasoned that no court had yet addressed the merits of the matter,  that Delaware’s statute of limitations may differ from that of Louisiana, and that it would have been proper for the Delaware trial court to have dismissed the matter without prejudice (that is, with the right to amend and refile).  Accordingly, the matter has been remanded toAlabama in which the U.S. District Court in Delaware.  The Company believes the Hendler-Delaware case has no merit and, further, that a loss is neither probable nor reasonably estimable; accordingly, it has not recorded a loss contingency.

Other Matters

U.S. EPA RCRA/FIFRA Matter  On or about March 24, 2015, Region 4Department of the USEPA issued to registrant’s principal operating subsidiary, AMVAC, an Opportunity to Show CauseJustice (“OSC”DoJ”) why USEPA should not take formal action under Section 3008(a)sought production of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for supposed noncompliance arising from AMVAC’s importation, transportation and storage of used, depleted Lock ‘N Load containers having residual amounts of its product Thimet.  The scope of these discussions subsequently expanded to involve USEPA Region 5 and to include the importation of depleted Lock ‘N Load containers from Australia in October 2015 and full Lock ‘N Load containers from Canada in January 2016.  On or about March 25, 2016, USEPA Region 5 issued a Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order (“SSURO”) ordering AMVAC to cease the distribution or sale of US Thimet 20G, Canadian Thimet 15G and Australian Thimet 200G on the grounds that the importation of both depleted and full containers of Thimet and the subsequent use of their contents was allegedly inconsistent with FIFRA. After hosting a plant inspection by Regions 4 and 5 and providing documentation to the agency, AMVAC requested and received relief from the SSURO in the form of eight amendments.  As a consequence of this relief, the Company had adequate inventory to meet customers’ needs for the 2016 season.  


In the course of its investigation, the agency has also pointed out alleged anomaliesdocuments relating to the Company’s confidential statementsreimportation of formula relating to the use of certain inert materials in formulation.  USEPA’s Region 5 has expressed its intention to bring an enforcement action relating to its overall findings.  AMVAC believes that it has lawfully importeddepleted Thimet containers from Canada and Australia forAustralia. The Company has retained defense counsel and during 2017 year to date has substantially completed the purpose of potentially refilling, reprocessing or properly disposing of them. Further,production.  During the third quarter, the Company believes that it has carried out its Thimet business in good faith, maintainedreceived a focus on product stewardship and, inrequest from DoJ to interview several individuals who may be knowledgeable of the process, did not pose any increased risk of harmmatter.  Those interviews are likely to human health ortake place during the environment.  On October 11, 2016, the Company met with USEPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance (as well as with Regions 4 and 5) to clarify a path forward to ensure future compliance.  However, the Companyfourth quarter. At this stage, DoJ has not yet received a final position from USEPAmade clear its intentions with regard to past acts, and, at this stage,either its theory of the case or potential criminal enforcement.  Thus, it is too early to tell whether a loss arising from either the OSC or SSURO is probable or reasonably estimable. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded a loss contingency on this matter.

Galvan v. AMVAC  In an action entitled Graciela GalvanHarold Reed v. AMVAC Chemical Corp.et al.  During January 2017, the Company was served with two Statements of Claim that had been filed on April 7, 2014March 29, 2016 with the Superior Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, Canada (as case numbers 160600211 and 160600237) in which plaintiffs Harold Reed (an applicator) and 819596 Alberta Ltd. dba Jem Holdings (an application equipment rental company) allege physical injury and damage to equipment, respectively, arising from a fire that occurred during an application of the Company’s potato sprout inhibitor, SmartBlock, at a potato storage facility in Coaldale, Alberta on April 2, 2014.  Plaintiffs allege, among other things, that Amvac was negligent and failed to warn them of the risks of such application.  Reed seeks damages of $250 for alleged pain and suffering, while Jem Holdings seeks $60 in alleged lost equipment; both plaintiffs also seek unspecified damages as well.  Also during January 2017, the Company received notice that four related actions relating to the same incident were filed with the same court: (i) Van Giessen Growers, Inc. v Harold Reed et al (No. 160303906)(in which grower seeks $400 for alleged loss of potatoes); (ii) James Houweling et al. v. Harold Reed et al. (No. 160104421)(in which equipment owner seeks damages for alleged lost equipment); (iii) Chin Coulee Farms, etc. v. Harold Reed et al. (No. 150600545)(in which owner of potatoes and truck seeks $530 for alleged loss thereof); and (iv) Houweling Farms v. Harold Reed et al. (No. 15060881)(in which owner of several Quonset huts seeks damages for  alleged lost improvements, equipment and business income equal to $4,300).  The Company was subsequently named as cross-defendant in those actions by Reed. During the third quarter, counsel for the StateCompany filed a Statement of California for the CountyDefence (the Canadian equivalent of Orange (No. 00716103CXC) plaintiff, a former employee, alleges several violations of wages and hours requirements under the California Labor Code. The Company completed the deposition of plaintiff and participatedan answer), alleging that Reed was negligent in mediation on the matter. In February 2016, the court granted plaintiff’s motion for class certification with respect to only onehis application of the seven original claims (namely,product and that discretionary bonus payments madethe other cross-defendants were negligent for using highly flammable insulation and failing to class members duringmaintain sparking electrical fixtures in the subject period allegedly should have been taken into account when calculating overtime).storage units affected by the fire.  The Company believes that such bonus payments were discretionarythe claims against it in these matters are without merit and as such, were properly excluded from overtime calculations.  Theintends to defend them vigorously.  At this stage in the proceedings, however, it is too early to determine whether a loss is probable or reasonably estimable; accordingly, the Company has been in settlement discussions with plaintiff’s counsel, butnot recorded a loss contingency.

13.  Environmental— During the reporting period, there has been unablea material development in respect of a pending environmental matter as follows:


Environmental Site Characterization.  As reported in greater detail in the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2016, soil and groundwater characterization commenced at our Los Angeles manufacturing facility in December 2002 in conjunction with a Site Investigation Plan that was approved by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (“DTSC”).  Site investigation (including extensive soil, soil gas, groundwater and air testing) continued through 2014, at the conclusion of which the Company submitted a remedial action plan (“RAP”) to reach a mutually agreeable position. Thus,DTSC.  Under the provisions of the RAP, the Company proposed not to disturb sub-surface contaminants, but to continue monitoring, maintain the cover above affected soil, enter into restrictive covenants regarding the potential use of the property in the future, and provide financial assurances relating to the requirements of the RAP.  In January 2017, the RAP was circulated for public comment.  DTSC responded to those comments and, on September 29, 2017, approved the RAP as submitted by the Company. The Company intends to continueprepare an operation and maintenance plan, to defendrecord covenants on certain affected parcels and to obtain further clarification on financial assurance obligations relating to the matter.  WeRAP.  At this stage, the Company does not believe that a loss is possiblecosts to be incurred in connection with the RAP will be material and reasonably estimable and havehas not recorded a loss contingency for the matter in an amount that is not material to our financial statements.these activities.

DeChene Farms  The Company is investigating a potential claim by a Minnesota-based grower who is alleging that the in-furrow use of the Company’s insecticide, Mocap, resulted in delayed germination and subsequently diminished size of approximately 300 acres of red Norland potatoes.  Such a result could mean that the subject potatoes could be graded lower than normal and could command a lower premium at market.  The Company has retained two independent investigators and conducted its own investigation of the matter as to causation, but does not yet have any information regarding market conditions and crop valuation (the harvest just having been completed).  Based upon our current understanding of the matter, we believe that a loss is possible and reasonably estimable and have recorded a loss contingency for the matter in an amount that is not material to our financial statements.  

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, 2015,2016, filed on March 2, 2016.7, 2017. In preparing this document, we have reviewed all the risk factors included in that document and believefind 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.

 

 

 

101

 

The following materials from American Vanguard Corp’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016,2017, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidatedconsolidated Statements of Operations; (ii) Condensed Consolidatedconsolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) Condensed consolidated Balance Sheets; (iii)(iv) Condensed Consolidatedconsolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (v) Condensed Consolidatedconsolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidatedconsolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.

 

 


SIGNATURESSIGNATURES

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 2, 20162017

BY:By:

/s/    eric g. wintemute

 

 

Eric G. Wintemute

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

 

 

 

Dated: November 2, 20162017

BY:By:

/s/    david t. johnson

 

 

David T. Johnson

 

 

Chief Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer

 

 

 

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