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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 JUNE 30, 2022
☐
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)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.10 par value
AVD
New York Stock Exchange
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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
Accelerated Filer
Non-Accelerated Filer
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—30,869,520 shares as of August 2, 2022.
INDEX
Page Number
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Financial Statements (unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
4
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
6
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
8
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
9
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
20
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
28
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
29
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risks Factors
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer
30
Item 6.
Exhibits
31
SIGNATURES
32
2
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
For the Three Months
Ended June 30,
For the Six Months
2022
2021
Net sales
$
148,084
134,610
297,519
250,765
Cost of sales
(88,305
)
(82,471
(176,547
(153,495
Gross profit
59,779
52,139
120,972
97,270
Operating expenses
(48,966
(43,080
(95,410
(84,524
Adjustment to bargain purchase gain on business acquisition
—
(88
(121
Operating income
10,813
8,971
25,562
12,625
Change in fair value of an equity investment
(486
(295
(403
771
Other income
672
Interest expense, net
(772
(1,013
(1,170
(1,959
Income before provision for income taxes and loss on equity
method investment
9,555
7,663
23,989
12,109
Income tax expense
(2,725
(2,445
(7,224
(3,807
Income before loss on equity method investment
6,830
5,218
16,765
8,302
Loss on equity method investment
(74
(87
Net income
5,144
8,215
Earnings per common share—basic
.23
.17
.57
.28
Earnings per common share—assuming dilution
.55
.27
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic
29,602
29,930
29,639
29,834
Weighted average shares outstanding—assuming dilution
30,225
30,499
30,289
30,511
See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects
(6,064
2,914
1,016
411
Comprehensive income
766
8,058
17,781
8,626
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
June 30,
December 31,
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
22,057
16,285
Receivables:
Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,411 and $3,938, respectively
165,711
149,326
Other
13,208
9,595
Total receivables, net
178,919
158,921
Inventories
182,203
154,306
Prepaid expenses
16,368
12,488
Income taxes receivable
523
Total current assets
400,070
342,000
Property, plant and equipment, net
67,453
66,111
Operating lease right-of-use assets
24,449
25,386
Intangible assets, net
191,560
197,841
Goodwill
46,997
46,260
Other assets
13,099
16,292
Deferred income tax assets, net
16
270
Total assets
743,644
694,160
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current installments of other liabilities
1,367
802
Accounts payable
86,944
67,140
Customer prepayments
272
63,064
Accrued program costs
99,152
63,245
Accrued expenses and other payables
20,180
20,745
Income taxes payable
3,006
Current operating lease liabilities
5,029
5,059
Total current liabilities
212,944
223,061
Long-term debt, net
100,779
52,240
Long-term operating lease liabilities
19,852
20,780
Other liabilities, net of current installments
5,584
5,335
Deferred income tax liabilities, net
19,651
20,006
Total liabilities
358,810
321,422
Commitments and contingent liabilities
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
34,443,234 shares at June 30, 2022 and 34,248,218 shares at December 31, 2021
3,445
3,426
Additional paid-in capital
103,456
101,450
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(12,768
(13,784
Retained earnings
319,672
304,385
Less treasury stock at cost, 3,694,050 shares at June 30, 2022 and 3,361,040 shares at
December 31, 2021
(28,971
(22,739
Total stockholders’ equity
384,834
372,738
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For The Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
Common Stock
Additional
Accumulated
Treasury Stock
Shares
Amount
Paid-in
Capital
Comprehensive
Loss
Retained
Earnings
Total
Balance, December 31, 2021
34,248,218
3,361,040
Common stock issued under ESPP
26,751
434
436
Cash dividends on common stock ($0.025 per share)
(736
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net
7,080
Stock-based compensation
1,563
Stock options exercised; grants, termination
and vesting of restricted stock units
(net of shares in lieu of taxes)
(183,093
(18
(2,156
(2,174
Shares repurchased
332,404
(6,219
9,935
Balance, March 31, 2022
34,091,876
3,410
101,291
(6,704
313,584
3,693,444
(28,958
382,623
(742
1,273
351,358
35
892
927
606
(13
Balance, June 30, 2022
34,443,234
3,694,050
For The Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021
Balance, December 31, 2020
33,922,433
3,394
96,642
(9,322
288,182
3,061,040
(18,160
360,736
25,120
338
340
Cash dividends on common stock ($0.02 per share)
(596
(2,503
1,792
(73,231
(7
(2,787
(2,794
3,071
Balance, March 31, 2021
33,874,322
3,389
95,985
(11,825
290,657
360,046
(600
1,806
387,329
39
22
61
Balance, June 30, 2021
34,261,651
3,428
97,813
(8,911
295,201
369,371
7
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
11,004
10,697
Amortization of other long-term assets
1,739
2,044
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
256
Accretion of discounted liabilities
17
(11
Amortization of deferred loan fees
139
162
Provision for bad debts
470
945
Loan principal and interest forgiveness
(672
Fair value adjustment to contingent consideration
635
1,013
2,836
3,598
Change in deferred income taxes
109
(353
403
(771
87
121
Net foreign currency adjustments
(20
(145
Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:
Increase in net receivables
(18,645
(25,317
Increase in inventories
(27,774
(11,464
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets
(3,652
(3,696
(Increase) decrease in income tax receivable/payable, net
(3,526
1,374
(Decrease) in net operating lease liability
(21
(120
Increase in accounts payable
19,439
6,190
Decrease in customer prepayments
(62,789
(30,407
Increase in accrued program costs
35,987
19,098
(Decrease) increase in other payables and accrued expenses
(602
507
Net cash used in operating activities
(27,230
(18,905
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
(5,654
(5,075
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
27
Acquisition of product line
(10,000
Intangible assets
(1,044
(241
Investments
(184
Net cash used in investing activities
(6,671
(15,500
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments under line of credit agreement
(56,600
(24,226
Borrowings under line of credit agreement
105,000
66,000
Payment of contingent consideration
(250
Net receipt from the issuance of common stock under ESPP
Net receipt from the exercise of stock options
765
167
Payment for tax withholding on stock-based compensation awards
(2,012
(2,900
Repurchase of common stock
(6,232
Payment of cash dividends
(1,330
(1,188
Net cash provided by financing activities
40,027
37,943
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
6,126
3,538
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(354
98
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
15,923
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
19,559
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies — The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of American Vanguard Corporation and Subsidiaries (“AVD” or “the 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. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of consolidating adjustments, eliminations and normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022. The financial statements and related notes do not include all information and footnotes required by US GAAP for annual reports. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The Company is closely monitoring the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on all aspects of its business, including how the pandemic will impact its customers, business partners, and employees. The Company is considered an essential business by most governments in the jurisdictions and territories in which the Company operates and, as a result, did not incur significant disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021. During the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, the Company experienced strong demand for its domestic crop and international products, and generally more normal business activities including face-to-face meetings with customers and suppliers etc. The Company established a pandemic working group at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking forward, the Company is unable to predict the impact that the pandemic may have on its future financial condition, results of operations and cash flows due to numerous uncertainties. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the Company’s operations and those of its customers in the near term will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and, beyond extrapolating our experience since the start of the pandemic, cannot be predicted with confidence. The Company continues to monitor its business for adverse impacts of the pandemic, including some continuing volatility in foreign exchange markets, supply-chain disruptions in certain markets, and increased costs of employee safety, among others.
2. Leases — The Company has operating leases for warehouses, manufacturing facilities, offices, cars, railcars and certain equipment. The lease term includes the non-cancellable period of the lease plus any additional periods covered by either an option to extend (or not terminate) that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. The Company has leases with a lease term ranging from 1 year to 20 years.
Finance leases are immaterial to the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. There were no lease transactions with related parties as of and for the three- and six-month periods presented in the table below.
The operating lease expense for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, was $1,619 and $1,442, respectively, and $3,223 and $2,896 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Lease expenses related to variable lease payments and short-term leases were immaterial. Additional information related to operating leases are as follows:
Three months
ended
June 30, 2022
June 30, 2021
Six months
Cash paid for amounts included in the
measurement of lease liabilities
1,559
1,546
3,233
3,011
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new
liabilities
898
11,691
1,825
12,067
The weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate related to the operating leases as of June 30, 2022 were as follows:
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)
6.33
Weighted-average discount rate
4.02
%
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as of June 30, 2022 were as follows:
2022 (excluding six months ended June 30, 2022)
3,041
2023
5,378
2024
4,578
2025
4,067
2026
3,050
Thereafter
8,290
Total lease payments
28,404
Less: imputed interest
3,523
24,881
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Operating lease liabilities, current
Operating lease liabilities, long-term
3. Revenue Recognition —The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of its products, which include crop and non-crop products. The Company sells its products to customers, which include distributors, retailers, and growers. In addition, the Company recognizes royalty income from licensing agreements. Based on similar economic and operational characteristics, the Company’s business is aggregated into one reportable segment. Selective enterprise information of sales disaggregated by category and geographic region is as follows:
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
Net sales:
U.S. crop
63,195
62,575
151,388
117,330
U.S. non-crop
21,316
21,488
34,712
38,941
Total U.S.
84,511
84,063
186,100
156,271
International
63,573
50,547
111,419
94,494
Total net sales:
Timing of revenue recognition:
Goods and services transferred at a point
in time
148,047
134,493
297,376
250,464
Goods and services transferred over time
37
117
143
301
Contract assets relate to royalties earned on certain functional licenses granted for the use of the Company’s intellectual property and amounted to $3,000 and $3,900 at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The short-term and long-term contract assets of $1,850 and $1,150 are included in other receivables and other assets, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2022. The short-term and long-term assets of $1,825 and $2,075 are included in other receivables and other assets, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021.
The Company sometimes receives payments from its customers in advance of goods and services being provided in return for early cash incentive programs. These payments are included in Customer prepayments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Revenue recognized for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, that was included in customer prepayments at the beginning of 2022, was $18,264 and $62,792, respectively. The Company expects to recognize all its remaining customer prepayments as revenue in fiscal 2022.
10
4. Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 consists of the following:
Land
2,756
Buildings and improvements
19,814
19,844
Machinery and equipment
138,689
132,159
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment
10,444
10,094
Automotive equipment
1,625
1,832
Construction in progress
6,778
8,199
Total gross value
180,106
174,884
Less accumulated depreciation
(112,653
(108,773
Total net value
The Company recognized depreciation expense related to property and equipment of $1,974 and $1,673 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company recognized depreciation expense related to property and equipment of $4,077 and $3,844 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Substantially all of the Company’s assets are pledged as collateral to its banks.
5. Inventories — Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) or average cost method. The components of inventories consist of the following:
Finished products
154,742
138,159
Raw materials
27,461
16,147
6. Segment Reporting — Based on similar economic and operational characteristics, the Company’s business is aggregated into one reportable segment. Selective enterprise information is as follows:
For the three months
ended June 30,
Change
% Change
620
1
(172
-1
U.S. total
448
13,026
26
13,474
Gross profit:
29,753
26,805
2,948
11
10,049
9,782
267
39,802
36,587
3,215
19,977
15,552
4,425
Total gross profit:
7,640
15
For the six months
34,058
(4,229
-11
29,829
19
16,925
18
46,754
70,098
48,076
22,022
46
16,014
19,165
(3,151
-16
86,112
67,241
18,871
34,860
30,029
4,831
23,702
24
7. Accrued Program Costs — The Company offers various discounts to customers based on the volume purchased within a defined time period, other pricing adjustments, some grower volume incentives or other key performance indicator driven payments, which are usually made at the end of a growing season, to distributors, retailers or growers. The Company describes these payments as “Programs”. Programs are a critical part of doing business in both the U.S. crop and non-crop chemicals marketplaces. These discount Programs represent variable consideration. Revenues from sales are recorded at the net sales price, which is the transaction price net of the impact of Programs and includes estimates of variable consideration. Variable consideration includes amounts expected to be paid to its customers estimated using the expected value method. Each quarter management reviews individual sale transactions with Programs to determine what, if any, estimated program liabilities have been incurred. Once this initial calculation is made for the specific quarter, sales and marketing management, along with support from financial analysts, reviews 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 agreed upon terms and conditions attached to each Program. Following this assessment, management makes adjustments to the accumulated accrual to properly reflect the Company’s best estimate of the liability at the balance sheet date. Programs are then reviewed with executive management for final approval. 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. No significant changes in estimates were made during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, and 2021.
8. Cash Dividends on Common Stock —The Company has declared and paid the following cash dividends in the periods covered by this Form 10-Q:
Declaration Date
Record Date
Distribution Date
Dividend
Per Share
Paid
June 6, 2022
June 24, 2022
July 8, 2022
0.025
742
March 14, 2022
March 25, 2022
April 15, 2022
736
December 13, 2021
December 27, 2021
January 10, 2022
0.020
594
June 8, 2021
June 24, 2021
July 8, 2021
600
March 10, 2021
March 15, 2021
April 15, 2021
596
December 7, 2020
December 23, 2022
January 6, 2021
592
9. Earnings Per Share — The components of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:
Numerator:
Net income attributable to AVD
Denominator: (in thousands)
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic
Dilutive effect of stock options and grants
623
569
650
677
12
For the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively, no stock options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.
10. Debt — The Company has a revolving line of credit that is shown as long-term debt in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The Company has no short-term debt as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The debt is summarized in the following table:
Long-term indebtedness ($000's)
Revolving line of credit
101,700
53,300
Deferred loan fees
(921
(1,060
Net long-term debt
The Company’s main bank is Bank of the West, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the French bank, BNP Paribas. Bank of the West has been the Company’s bank for more than 40 years and is the syndication manager for the Company’s loans.
The Company and certain of its affiliates are parties to a revolving line of credit agreement entitled the “Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement” dated as of August 5, 2021 (the “Credit Agreement”), which is a senior secured lending facility among AMVAC, the Company’s principal operating subsidiary, as Borrower Agent, and (including the Company and AMVAC BV), as Borrowers, on the one hand, and a group of commercial lenders led by Bank of the West as administrative agent, documentation agent, syndication agent, collateral agent, sole lead arranger and book runner, on the other hand. The Credit Agreement, consists of a line of credit of up to $275,000, an accordion feature of up to $150,000, a letter of credit and swingline sub-facility (each having limits of $25,000) and a maturity date of August 5, 2026. The Credit Agreement amends and restates the previous credit facility, which had a maturity date of June 30, 2022. With respect to key financial covenants, the Credit Agreement contains two; namely, borrowers are required to maintain a Total Leverage (“TL”) Ratio of no more than 3.5-to-1, during the first three years, stepping down to 3.25-to-1 as of September 30, 2024, and a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.25-to-1. In addition, to the extent that it completes acquisitions totaling $15 million or more in any 90-day period, AMVAC may step-up the TL Ratio by 0.5-to-1, not to exceed 4.00-to-1, for the next three full consecutive quarters. Acquisitions below $50 million do not require Agent consent. Distributions to the Company’s shareholders are limited to net income for the four fiscal quarter period ending on the fiscal quarter immediately prior to the fiscal quarter in which the current distribution was declared.
The Company’s borrowing capacity varies with its financial performance, measured in terms of Consolidated EBITDA as 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 Margin” which is based upon the Total Leverage (“TL”) Ratio (“LIBOR Revolver 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 Margin (“Adjusted Base Rate Revolver Loan”). Interest payments for LIBOR Revolver 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 Adjusted Base Rate Revolver Loans are payable on the last business day of each calendar quarter and the maturity date. The interest rate as of June 30, 2022 was 2.99%.
At June 30, 2022, the Company was compliant with all covenants to its current credit agreement. Also, at June 30, 2022, the Company’s total Funded Debt amounted to $101,700. At that date the Company’s rolling four quarter Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) amounted to $75,512, which results in a leverage ratio of 1.35, as compared to a maximum leverage ratio permitted under the Credit Agreement of 3.5. At June 30, 2022, the Company has the capacity to increase its borrowings by up to $162,592, according to the terms thereof. This compares to an available borrowing capacity of $56,906 as of June 30, 2021. At December 31, 2021, the Company had borrowing capacity of $178,705. The level of borrowing capacity is driven by three factors: (1) our financial performance, as measured in EBITDA for both the trailing twelve-month period and proforma basis arising from acquisitions, (2) net borrowings, and (3) the leverage covenant (the TL Ratio).
As of the date it was acquired by the Company in October 2020, Agrinos had an existing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in the amount of $705. This PPP loan was granted on April 27, 2020. On January 7, 2021, the Small Business Administration forgave $667 in principal and $5 in interest of this PPP loan. As a result, the PPP loan was extinguished on January 7, 2021 and the total amount forgiven of $672 was recorded as other income in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and represents a non-cash financing activity on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
13
11. Reclassifications — Certain items may have been reclassified in the prior period condensed consolidated financial statements to conform with the June 30, 2022, presentation.
12. Comprehensive Income — Total comprehensive income includes, in addition to net income, changes in equity that are excluded from the condensed consolidated statement of operations and are recorded directly into a separate section of stockholders’ equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. For the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, total comprehensive income consisted of net income attributable to American Vanguard and foreign currency translation adjustments.
13. Stock-Based Compensation — The following tables illustrate the Company’s stock-based compensation, unamortized stock-based compensation, and remaining weighted average amortization period.
Stock-Based
Compensation
for the Three
months ended
for the Six
Unamortized
Remaining
Weighted
Average
Period (years)
Restricted Stock
1,079
2,072
9,277
2.2
Unrestricted Stock
122
239
476
0.9
Performance-Based Restricted Stock
72
525
3,781
2.1
13,534
1,167
2,223
9,734
107
217
367
532
1,158
4,186
14,287
The Company also granted stock options in past periods. All outstanding stock options are fully vested and exercisable and no expense was recorded during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, and 2021.
Restricted and Unrestricted Stock — A summary of non-vested shares as of, and for, the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, and 2021 is presented below:
Three and Six Months Ended
Number
of Shares
Grant
Date Fair
Value
Nonvested shares at December 31st
817,290
17.04
820,624
16.64
Vested
(230,080
17.31
(197,615
19.91
Forfeited
(24,109
17.10
(11,580
16.95
Nonvested shares at March 31st
563,101
16.93
611,429
15.57
Granted
242,067
23.79
289,757
20.10
(27,482
22.35
(30,112
16.72
(14,070
18.53
(11,231
16.60
Nonvested shares at June 30th
763,616
18.88
859,843
14
Performance-Based Restricted Stock — A summary of non-vested performance-based shares as of, and for, the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively is presented below:
379,061
16.43
391,771
16.26
Additional granted (forfeited) based on performance achievement
(41,088
16.56
71,180
20.53
(78,704
17.18
(175,087
19.78
(7,074
16.77
(505
19.26
252,195
16.17
287,359
15.16
83,190
23.63
102,043
20.03
(7,829
17.50
327,556
16.58
389,402
16.44
Stock Options — The Company has stock options outstanding under its incentive stock option plans and performance incentive stock option plan. All outstanding stock options are vested and exercisable. The following tables present details for each type of plan:
Incentive Stock Option Plans
Activity for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022:
Number of
Average Price
Balance outstanding, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022
108,036
11.49
Options exercised
(33,745
Balance outstanding, June 30, 2022
74,291
All the incentive stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2022, have an exercise price per share of $11.49 and a remaining life of 30 months.
Activity for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2021:
Balance outstanding, December 31, 2020
123,087
11.48
(5,838
Balance outstanding, March 31, 2021
117,249
(8,826
11.35
Balance outstanding, June 30, 2021
108,423
Performance Incentive Stock Option Plan
114,658
(32,850
81,808
Balance outstanding, March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021
All the performance incentive stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2022, have an exercise price per share of $11.49 and a remaining life of 30 months.
14. Legal Proceedings — During the reporting period, there have been no material developments in legal proceedings that were reported in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, except as described below.
EPA FIFRA/RCRA Matter. On November 10, 2016, the Company was served with a grand jury subpoena from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama, seeking documents regarding the importation, transportation, and management of a specific pesticide. The Company retained defense counsel to assist in responding to the subpoena and otherwise defending the Company’s interests. AMVAC is cooperating in the investigation.
Since April 2018, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has conducted several interviews of AMVAC employees and issued supplemental document requests in connection with the investigation. In November 2020, DOJ issued a second grand jury subpoena seeking records and related communications with regard to a submission made by the Company to the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in connection with a request to amend a pesticide’s registration. Soon thereafter, DOJ also identified the Company and one of its non-executive employees as targets of the government’s investigation. In January 2021, DOJ and EPA informed the Company that it is investigating violations of two environmental statutes, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), as well as obstruction of an agency proceeding and false statement statutes. DOJ also identified evidence that it contends supports alleged violations with respect to both the Company and the individual target. As part of discussions regarding possible resolution, in October 2021, the Company presented its evaluation of the legal and factual issues raised by the government (which do not include any allegations of harm to human health or the environment) to both DOJ and USEPA. Further, three corporate witnesses were interviewed by the grand jury in Mobile, Alabama in February 2022. Following that interview, the individual target entered into a plea agreement which was entered by the court having jurisdiction in this matter in May 2022. The Company expects that talks regarding potential resolution will resume in the near future.
The governmental agencies involved in this investigation have a range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against corporations and individuals for violations of FIFRA, RCRA and other federal statutes including, but not limited to, injunctive relief, fines, penalties and modifications to business practices and compliance programs, including the appointment of a monitor. If violations are established, the amount of any fines or monetary penalties which could be assessed and the scope of possible non-monetary relief would depend on, among other factors, findings regarding the amount, timing, nature and scope of the violations, and the level of cooperation provided to the governmental authorities during the investigation. As a result, the Company cannot yet anticipate the timing or predict the ultimate resolution of this investigation, financial or otherwise, which could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, operations, financial condition and cash flow. Accordingly, we have not recorded a loss contingency for 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. Four other related matters were subsequently consolidated into this case (alleging loss of potatoes, damage to equipment, damage to Quonset huts and loss of business income). The parties have exchanged written discovery, and depositions of persons most knowledgeable took place during the first quarter of 2019. Citing the length of the cases’ pendency and the expense, in December 2019, plaintiff Reed voluntarily dismissed two actions (160600211 and 160600237) for no consideration. Over the course of 2020, discovery was completed, and the parties held a mediation on March 11, 2021; however, no settlement was reached. The parties have set a second mediation to occur in August 2022. The Company continues to believe that it is not primarily at risk but that a loss is probable and reasonably estimable and, to that end, has recorded a loss contingency in an amount that is not material to its financial performance or operations cash flows.
Catalano v. AMVAC Chemical Corp. On June 6, 2022, AMVAC was served with a summons and complaint for a matter entitled Andrew Catalano and Ruth Catalano v. AMVAC in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange (30-2022-01263987-CU-PL-CXC) in which plaintiff, who worked as a professional applicator of pesticides, including Orthene (for which AMVAC is registrant) seeks damages for an injury (specifically, cardiomyopathy) allegedly arising from his exposure to this product. AMVAC is unaware of any link between cardiovascular disease and Orthene (which has been commercially available for over 30 years) and believes that this case has no merit and intends to defend it vigorously. The Company retained counsel and filed an answer in early July 2022, including multiple affirmative defenses. At this stage, there is not sufficient information to form a judgment as to either the probability or amount of any loss; thus, the Company has not set aside a reserve in connection with this matter.
15. Recent Issued Accounting Guidance
Accounting Standards Adopted
In November 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2021-10, “Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance.” This ASU codifies new requirements to disclose information about the nature of certain government assistance received, the accounting policy used to account for the transactions, the location in the financial statements where such transactions were recorded and significant terms and conditions associated with such transactions. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Effective January 1, 2022, the Company adopted ASU No. 2021-10 on a prospective basis. The adoption of this standard was not material to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Liabilities from Contracts with Customers.” This ASU requires an acquiring entity to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with ASC 606. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU.
The Company reviewed all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they were either not applicable or not expected to have a significant impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements.
16. Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The accounting standard for fair value measurements provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires certain disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. This accounting standard established a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The following summarizes the three levels of inputs required:
•
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 – Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, which principally include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, long-term investments, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximates fair value because of the relatively short maturity of such instruments. The carrying amount of the Company’s short-term and long-term borrowings, which are considered Level 2 liabilities, approximates fair value based upon current rates and terms available to the Company for similar debt.
The Company measures its contingent earn-out liabilities in connection with business acquisitions at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company may use various valuation techniques depending on the terms and conditions of the contingent consideration including a Monte-Carlo simulation. This simulation uses probability distribution for each significant input to produce hundreds or thousands of possible outcomes and the results are analyzed to determine probabilities of different outcomes occurring.
The following table illustrates the Company’s contingent consideration movements related to its business acquisitions:
Three months ended
Balance, March 31
1,437
2,205
Purchase price adjustment
(955
Fair value adjustment
36
(27
Foreign exchange effect
(117
Balance, June 30
2,116
Six months ended
Balance, December 31
786
2,468
Payments on existing obligations
(71
(149
The current portion of the contingent consideration in the amount of $1,367 and $1,501 is included in current installments of other liabilities and the long-term portion in the amount of $0 and $615 is included in other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
17. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (“AOCL”)—The following table lists the beginning balance, annual activity and ending balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss, which consists of foreign currency (FX) translation adjustments:
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects of ($48)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects of $109
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects of $1,179
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects of ($1,731)
18. Equity Investments — In February 2016, AMVAC Netherlands BV made an investment in Biological Products for Agriculture (“Bi-PA”). Bi-PA develops biological plant protection products that can be used for the control of pests and disease of agricultural crops. As of June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s ownership position in Bi-PA was 15%. Since this investment does not have readily determinable fair value, the Company has elected to measure the investment at cost less impairment, if any, and also records an increase or decrease for changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of Bi-PA. The Company periodically reviews the investment for possible impairment. There was no impairment or observable price changes on the investment during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021. The investment is recorded within other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and amounted to $2,884 as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
On April 1, 2020, AMVAC purchased 6.25 million shares, an ownership of approximately 8%, of common stock of Clean Seed Capital Group Ltd. (TSX Venture Exchange: “CSX”) for $1,190. The shares are publicly traded, have a readily determinable fair value, and are considered a Level 1 investment. The fair value of the stock amounted to $1,113 and $1,516 as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The Company recorded a loss of $486 and $295 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company recorded a loss of $403 and a gain of $771 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively The investment is recorded within other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
19. Product and Business Acquisitions — The Company did not complete any acquisitions during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, and 2021. However, the Company made a payment in the amount of $10,000 in June 2021 for the acquisition of a product line. The Company obtained control over the product line on July 1, 2021 and the acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition in Q3 2021.
20. Income Taxes —Income tax expense was $2,725 and $2,445 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 28.5% and 31.9% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Income tax expense was $7,224 and $3,807 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, was 30.1% and 31.4%, respectively. For the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022, the rate decreased compared to the same periods of 2021 reflecting the mix of income in different jurisdictions and an increase in tax benefit from the vesting of certain stock grants. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2021, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) of 2017 amends Internal Revenue Code Section 174 Costs wherein research and development expenditures will no longer be deducted in the tax year that such costs are incurred but must now be capitalized and amortized over either a five- or fifteen-year period, depending on the location of the activities performed. The effective tax rate is based on the projected income for the full year and is subject to ongoing review and adjustment by management.
21. Stock Re-purchase Program — On March 8, 2022, pursuant to a Board of Directors resolution, the Company announced its intention to repurchase an aggregate number of up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.10 per share, in the open market over the succeeding one year at a price not to exceed $20 per share, subject to limitations and restrictions under applicable securities laws.
The table below summarizes the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that were repurchased during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022. There were no such purchases during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2021.
Month ended
Total number of
shares purchased
Average price
paid per share
Total amount paid
Maximum number
of shares that may
yet be purchased
under the plan
March 31, 2022
18.71
6,219
667,596
April 30, 2022
100
19.99
667,496
May 31, 2022
506
666,990
Total number of shares repurchased
333,010
6,232
22. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest
1,100
1,873
Income taxes, net
10,749
2,757
Non-cash transactions:
ROU assets exchanged for lease liabilities
Cash dividends declared and included in accrued expenses
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 Annual 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 3., Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, and Part II, Item 1A., Risk Factors, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW
Overview of the Company’s Performance
During the second quarter of 2022, the agriculture industry proceeded further into the second year of an upcycle, following a multi-year downcycle. While subject to intra-day fluctuations, commodity prices for row crops, which are largely driven by global conditions, were consistently strong. Consequently, the domestic farm economy showed continued resiliency. Geopolitical conditions, particularly the prolonged invasion of Ukraine, provided further price support for corn (and, consequently, soybeans), wheat and sunflower oil, as well as fertilizers. With improved supply chain conditions and a stronger U.S. dollar, domestic companies experienced enhanced buying power. Despite the advent of the BA5 variant, in the face of higher vaccination rates, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted into an endemic in most regions. Amidst these factors and following on the heels of an extremely strong first quarter, the Company’s overall operating results for the second quarter of 2022 improved in most respects, as compared with those of the same period of 2021. Led by the strong sales growth of our international business, consolidated net sales increased by 10% (to end at $148,084 as compared to $134,610) and net income increased by 33% (to $6,830 from $5,144).
On a consolidated basis, domestic sales rose 1% and international sales increased 26%, resulting in an overall net sales improvement of 10%. In comparison, cost of sales increased by 7% or $5,834. This lower comparative increase was a result of higher selling prices and a favorable mix of higher-margin products in the second quarter of 2022, as compared to the same period of the prior year. Cost of sales were 60% of sales in the second quarter of 2022, as compared to 61% for the same period of 2021. These factors, taken together, yielded a 15% increase in gross profit (to $59,779 from $52,139 in the comparable quarter of 2021), while overall gross margin percent improved to 40% from 39% quarter-over-quarter.
Operating expenses increased to 33% of net sales (or $48,966), as compared to 32% (or $43,080) in the same period of the prior year primarily due to legal and other expenses amounting to $1,785 relating to proxy defense activity in the reporting period. Absent those expenses, our operating expenses would have been at 32%, in line with the same period of the prior year.
Operating income for the period increased by 21% (to $10,813 from $8,971), driven by the overall sales increase, higher selling prices and improved factory utilization. Interest expense was 24% lower than the same period of 2021, driven by lower average levels of debt, which was aided by a second consecutive year of strong customer participation in early pay programs. These factors yielded net income for the period of $6,830, a 33% increase over compared to $5,144 in the second quarter of 2021. Details on our financial performance are set forth below.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Quarter Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
Cost of sales:
33,442
35,770
(2,328
-7
11,267
11,706
(439
-4
44,709
47,476
(2,767
-6
43,596
34,995
8,601
25
Total cost of sales:
88,305
82,471
5,834
Total gross profit
Gross margin:
47
43
44
Total gross margin
40
Our domestic crop business recorded net sales that were 1% higher than those of the second quarter of 2021 ($63,195, as compared to $62,575). Led by Dacthal, Impact, Assure II and Envoke, offset to a degree by lower sales of our Classic and Python brands. The herbicide brands showed strong growth across all markets, as weed management planning has become instrumental in controlling resistant weeds in cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn and high value crops. Our lead brands in cotton generated positive growth during the quarter due, in the case of Bidrin, to increased early season pest pressure, and, in the case of Folex, to an anticipated early harvest season as hot dry weather pushes cotton maturity ahead of seasonal norms. Partially offsetting these gains, sales of Thimet, Aztec and Counter were down in the quarter following unusually high demand in the first quarter. Further, lingering drought conditions in our Western and Southwestern markets adversely impacted our soil fumigant sales, as water allocations have limited annual crop production in those regions. Drier conditions also suppressed sales of Dibrom during the period.
Cost of sales within the domestic crop business decreased by 7% (from $35,770 in 2021 to $33,442 in 2022) primarily as a result of selling more, higher-margin products. As the result of better pricing and favorable factory performance, domestic crop generated an 11% increase in gross profit (from $26,805 in the first quarter of 2021 to $29,753 this year) on a 1% increase in sales.
Our domestic non-crop business posted nearly flat net sales in the second quarter of 2022, as compared to the same period in the prior year (down 1% to $21,316 from $21,488 in 2021). In the quarter, relief from pandemic restrictions – primarily return to in-person school and work – has had a two-pronged effect on our non-crop business. On the one hand, the demand for nursery, ornamental and consumer products for the home declined, as people spent less time in their homes. On the other hand, we saw an uptick in demand for goods that we supply to professional applicators and landscapers, as homeowners shifted from do-it-yourself to using professional services. In addition, we enjoyed higher sales of our pharmaceutical products from GemChem, while seeing an offsetting softness in the turf supply market, as golfing activity declined.
Cost of sales within the domestic non-crop business declined by 4% in the second quarter of 2022, as compared to the same period in the prior year (from $11,706 in 2021 to $11,267 in 2022), primarily resulting from improved factory performance and associated overhead cost recovery. Gross profit for domestic non-crop increased by 3% (from $9,782 in 2021 to $10,049 in 2022).
21
Net sales of our international businesses rose by 26% during the period ($63,573 in 2022 vs. $50,547 in 2021) and constituted 43% of our consolidated sales. These businesses benefited from sales increases in soil fumigants, foliar insecticides, soil insecticides and fungicides across many regions. Our Central American business enjoyed increased demand in the pineapple, banana and citrus markets, including stronger sales of our Greenplants micronutrient solutions. In Mexico, despite drought conditions in the north, our Mexico business experienced good performance from at-plant fumigants and herbicides on high-value crops. Our Brazilian business benefited from increased sales of Counter on corn, while our Australian operations posted stronger sales in light of increased rainfall, heavy demand for molluscicides as well as insecticide products for use on canola, winter wheat and pulse.
Cost of sales in our international business increased by 25% (from $34,995 in 2021 to $43,596 in 2022), on sales that increased by 26% and was impacted by cost increases (including logistics and freight) of the third-party products that we distribute. Gross profit for the international businesses increased by 28% (to $19,977 in 2022 from $15,552 in 2021).
On a consolidated basis, gross profit for the second quarter of 2022 increased by 15% (from $52,139 in 2021 to $59,779 in 2022). Overall gross margin percentage ended at 40% in the second quarter of 2022, as compared to 39% in the second quarter of the prior year. The primary driver for this increase was higher selling prices coupled with improved factory performance, partially offset by inflation on raw materials and logistics and, for our international businesses, higher purchases costs related to increases in the US Dollar.
Operating expenses increased by $5,886 to $48,966 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. The differences in operating expenses by department are as follows:
Selling
12,598
11,611
987
General and administrative:
16,258
15,264
994
Proxy contest activities
1,785
Research, product development and regulatory
7,758
6,929
829
Freight, delivery and warehousing
10,567
9,276
1,291
Subtotal
48,966
43,080
5,886
Selling expenses increased by $987 to end at $12,598 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared with the same period of the prior year. This included increased costs associated with travel expenses (as the business resumed in-person interaction with customers), increased spending on advertising and promoting the Company’s products and the impact of movements in some key exchange rates.
General and administrative, other expenses increased by $994 to end at $16,258 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same period of 2021. The main drivers were adverse impacts on the foreign currency exchange rates, and increased wages, travel expenses and other administrative costs in support of our growing business.
The Company spent $1,785 in fees associated with our Proxy defense activities; there were no such fees in the comparative period of the prior year.
Research, product development costs and regulatory expenses increased by $829 to end at $7,758 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same period of 2021. The main drivers were increased costs associated with our proprietary delivery systems, and our research and product development activities.
Freight, delivery and warehousing costs for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 were $10,567 or 7.1% of sales as compared to $9,276 or 6.9% of sales for the same period in 2021. This change was primarily driven by increased overall sales volume, the associated delivery destinations during the period, and the expenses incurred related to supply chain issues and inflation in logistics costs.
On April 1, 2020, the Company made a strategic investment in Clean Seed Inc., in the amount of $1,190. The Company recorded negative fair value adjustments in the amount of $486 and $296 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Interest costs net of capitalized interest were $772 in the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to $1,013 in the same period of 2021. Interest costs are summarized in the following table:
Average Indebtedness and Interest expense
Three months ended June 30, 2022
Three months ended June 30, 2021
Debt
Expense
Rate
Revolving line of credit (average)
124,184
745
2.4
163,140
984
69
80
Amortization of other deferred liabilities
(25
Other interest expense
837
2.7
1,078
2.6
Capitalized interest
(65
772
2.5
The Company’s average overall debt for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 was $124,184, as compared to $163,140 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2021. Our borrowings in the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, were lower mainly due to cash generated over the last 12 months used to pay down debt, partially offset by the acquisition activity over the same period and growth in working capital in support of business growth. As can be seen from the table above, the effective bank interest rate on our revolving line of credit was 2.4% at each of the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
Income tax expense increased by $280 to $2,725 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to $2,445 for the comparable period in 2021. The effective tax rates for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, and 2021, were 28.5% and 31.9%, respectively. 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. The decrease in effective tax rate was primarily driven by the mix of our domestic and international income and benefit from the tax impact of the vesting of certain stock grants.
Our net income for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, was $6,830 or $0.23 per basic and diluted share, as compared to $5,144 or $0.17 per basic and diluted share in the same quarter of 2021.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
Within the global agricultural industry, the first six months of 2022 were a prolongation of the upcycle that began in 2021. Commodity prices remained high, driven in part by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has served to reduce exports from both Russia and Ukraine, of corn, wheat, sunflower oil and fertilizer inputs into the global market, and a stronger farm economy in the U.S. Following extraordinary activity in the first quarter, domestic distribution within our industry slowed procurement modestly during the second quarter. Our international businesses, for the most part, enjoyed strong market conditions in nearly all regions during the first half of the year. All told, the Company’s overall operating results for the first six months of 2022 improved considerably over those of the same period of 2021.
On a consolidated basis, with domestic sales up 19% and international sales up by 18%, overall net sales increased by 19% (to $297,519 from $250,765). Cost of sales were up 15% on an absolute basis but decreased as a percent of net sales to 59% from 61%. Factory performance improved during the first half of 2022, as compared to that of 2021. These factors, taken together, yielded an increase in gross profit, which was up $23,702 or 24% (to $120,972 from $97,270) and improved to 41% of net sales, up from 39% during the first half of 2021. In the first half of 2022, while operating expenses rose on an absolute basis by 13%, these costs declined as a percent of net sales to 32% from 34% for the same period of the prior year.
Interest expense declined by 40%, while income tax expense increased primarily as a result of stronger financial performance partially offset by a decrease in effective tax rate compared to the first half of the prior year (at 30.1% in 2022 and 31.4% in the prior year). Overall, the Company’s net income for the period increased by a factor of two, ending at $16,765, as compared to $8,215 during the first half of the prior year. Details on our financial performance are set forth below.
23
Six months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021
81,290
69,254
12,036
18,698
19,776
(1,078
-5
99,988
89,030
10,958
76,559
64,465
12,094
176,547
153,495
23,052
41
49
Our domestic crop business recorded net sales that were 29% above those of first half of 2021 (to $151,388 from $117,330) Assisted by consistently high commodity prices and a strong domestic farm economy, the Company experienced strong demand across all product categories. Further, with our domestic production capacity, we were able to meet demand in spite of international supply constraints. Our herbicide portfolio for use on corn, soybeans, cotton and sugar cane, and our granular soil insecticides both grew by approximately 60%. Foliar insecticides grew by 20% in the first half versus 2021. The only area of reduced demand was for soil fumigants, which experienced lower sales due to drought conditions in Western and Southwestern states where water allocation has been implemented. During the first half of 2022, customer procurement activity was exceptionally high in the first quarter and then stepped down to a more normalized level in the second quarter.
Cost of sales within the domestic crop business increased 17%, as compared to the first six months of 2021, driven by sales that increased by 29% including increased sales of higher margin products (many of which we manufacture in our domestic facilities) and benefitting from improved factory performance. Gross profit rose by 46% to $70,212 from $48,076.
Our domestic non-crop business recorded an 11% decrease in net sales for the first half of the year (to $34,712 from $38,941). This decrease was largely due to a one-time license fee from P&G relating to Envance technology that had been received in the first half of 2021 and was recorded as revenue. Under the terms of that license, depending upon the achievement of commercialization milestones by the licensee, the Company will receive royalties in future reporting periods. Furthermore, in this category, sales of our Dibrom® mosquito adulticide remained flat as did demand for commercial pest control products (pest strips, bifenthrin). Sales of our OHP nursery and ornamental business were comparable to the same period of the prior year, with reduced demand for homeowner garden and landscape products resulting from continually reducing pandemic restrictions, offset by increased demand from professional landscape service providers.
Cost of sales within the domestic non-crop business decreased by 5%, (to $18,698 in 2022 from $19,776 in 2021). Gross profit for domestic non-crop decreased by 16% to $16,014 in 2022 from $19,165 in 2021, due largely to the non-recurrence of a one-time, upfront license fee as described above.
Net sales of our international businesses increased by 18% during the first half of 2022 (to $111,419 in 2022 from $94,494 in 2021). Central America experienced double-digit growth in all but one of its six countries. Mexico generated strong results with continuing demand for soil fumigants (on high-value crops), herbicides and granular insecticides. Similarly, Australia enjoyed improved sales driven by improved rainfall and the extended footprint arising from the integration of the AgNova business. Brazil is now on an upward trend, due to a rebound in the agricultural sector and further market penetration of our granular insecticides.
Cost of sales in our international business increased by 19% (to $76,559 in 2022 from $64,465 in 2021) primarily driven by volume growth and impacted by increased prices from the strengthening US Dollar, and general inflation on materials and associated logistics costs. Gross profit for the international businesses increased by 16% to $34,860 in 2022 from $30,029 in 2021.
On a consolidated basis, gross profit for the six months of 2022 increased by 24% (to $120,972 in 2022 from $97,270 in 2021). This is the same rate of growth that we had seen last year, when we compared the first half of 2021 with that of 2020. Our gross profit in the first six months of 2022 increased in part as a result of improved sales volumes and pricing in part due to improved factory performance. Gross margin performance, when expressed as a percentage of sales, rose to 41% from 39% year-over-year.
Operating expenses increased by $10,886 to $95,410 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. The differences in operating expenses by department are as follows:
23,683
22,765
918
34,691
31,091
3,600
14,728
13,545
1,183
20,523
17,123
3,400
95,410
84,524
10,886
Selling expenses increased by $918 to end at $23,683 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same period of 2021. The main drivers were increased costs associated with travel expenses (as the business resumed in-person interaction with customers), increased spending on advertising and promoting the Company’s products and movements in some key exchange rates.
General and administrative expenses increased by $3,600 to end at $34,691 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same period of 2021. The main drivers were the adverse impact of the movements in the foreign currency exchange rates, increased incentive compensation as the result of improved performance, increased wages, travel expenses and other administrative costs in support of our growing business.
Research, product development costs and regulatory expenses increased by $1,183 to end at $14,728 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same period of 2021. The main drivers were increased costs associated with in-field activities in support of our proprietary delivery systems, and our research and product development activities.
Freight, delivery and warehousing costs for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022 were $20,523 or 6.9% of sales as compared to $17,123 or 6.8% of sales for the same period in 2021. This increased expense is primarily driven by strong sales growth.
During the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, the Company recorded a decrease in the fair value of our equity investment in Clean Seed in the amount of $403 and recorded an increase in the amount of $771 during the six months ended June 30, 2021. These changes in fair value of our investment directly reflect changes in the stock’s quoted market price.
During the six-month period ended June 30, 2021, a Paycheck Protection Program loan assumed on the acquisition of Agrinos in the fourth quarter of 2020 was fully extinguished with the majority of the balance forgiven and recorded as other income in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amount of $672.
Interest costs net of capitalized interest were $1,170 in the first six-month period of 2022, as compared to $1,959 in the same period of 2021. Interest costs are summarized in the following table:
Six months ended June 30, 2022
Six months ended June 30, 2021
105,076
1,146
144,324
1,843
138
161
(9
Other interest (income) expense
89
1,322
2,084
2.9
(152
(125
1,170
1,959
The Company’s average overall debt for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, was $105,076, as compared to $144,324 for the six months ended June 30, 2021. During the period, we continued to focus on our use of revolving debt, while funding working capital for the growing business. As can be seen from the table above, our effective bank interest rate on our revolving line of credit was 2.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to 2.6% in 2021.
Income tax expense increased by $3,417 to end at $7,224 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to income tax expense of $3,807 for the comparable period in 2021. The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2022, was 30.1% as compared to 31.4% for same period last year. The rate has decreased compared to prior year reflecting a mix of income in different jurisdictions and an increased benefit from the vesting of certain stock grants. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2021, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) of 2017 amends Internal Revenue Code Section 174 costs wherein research and development expenditures will no longer be deducted in the tax year that such costs are incurred but must now be capitalized and amortized over either a five- or fifteen-year period, depending on the location of the activities performed. 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.
Our net income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022 was $16,765 or $0.57 per basic and $0.55 per diluted share, as compared to $8,215 or $0.28 per basic and $0.27 per diluted share in the same period of 2021.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company’s operating activities utilized net cash of $27,230 during the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to $18,905 during the six months ended June 30, 2021. Included in the $27,230 are net income of $16,765, plus non-cash depreciation, amortization of intangibles and other assets and discounted future liabilities, in the amount of $12,760, loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment of $256, amortization of deferred loan fees of $139 and provision for bad debts in the amount of $470. Also included are stock-based compensation of $2,836, adjustment to contingent consideration in the amount of $635, increase in deferred income taxes of $109, change in fair value of an equity investment of $403, and net foreign currency adjustments of $20. These together provided net cash inflows of $34,353, as compared to $24,930 for the same period of 2021.
During the six-month period of 2022, the Company increased working capital by $68,187, as compared to an increase of $43,715 during the same period of the prior year. Included in this change: inventories increased by $27,774, as compared to $11,464 for the same period of 2021. While increases in inventory are normal for the Company’s annual cycle, this year, the Company has made decisions to bring in raw materials earlier than in prior seasons in order to secure our needs of key materials for the balance of the year and the start of the next growing season.
Customer prepayments decreased by $62,789, as compared to $30,407 in the same period of 2021, driven by customer decisions regarding demand, payment timing and our cash incentive programs. Our accounts payable balances increased by $19,439, as compared to an increase of $6,190 in the same period of 2021, driven by increased factory activity levels. Accounts receivables increased by $18,645, as compared to an increase of $25,317 in the same period of 2021. This is primarily driven by increased group sales and strong international growth. Prepaid expenses increased by $3,652, as compared to $3,696 in the same period of 2021. Income tax receivable increased by $3,526, as compared to a decrease of $1,374 in the prior year. Accrued programs increased by $35,987, as compared to $19,098 in the prior year, which is normal at this point in the growing season. Finally, other payables and accrued expenses decreased by $602, as compared to an increase of $507 in the prior year.
With regard to our program accrual, the increase (as noted above) primarily reflects our volume and mix of sales (certain products are marketed with higher levels of program accruals), and customers in the first six months of 2022, as compared to the prior year. 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 of each year. During the first six months of 2022, the Company made accruals for programs in the amount of $67,274 and payments in the amount of $31,367. During the first six months of the prior year, the Company made accruals in the amount of $39,235 and made payments in the amount of $20,142. The increase in accruals for programs in the first six months of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, is a direct result of an increase in sales of qualifying products.
Cash used for investing activities for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, and 2021 was $6,671 and $15,500, respectively. The $15,500 in 2021 includes a product acquisition in the amount of $10,000. No such acquisition took place in the current year. In 2022, the Company spent $5,654 on purchases of fixed assets primarily focused on continuing to invest in manufacturing infrastructure. In addition, the Company made a payment of $1,000 to Clean Seed to amend a license agreement under which royalty-bearing license rights were converted to fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual license rights, and spent $44 on patents for the Envance technology business.
During the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, financing activities provided $40,027, as compared to $37,943 during the same period of the prior year. Net borrowings under the Credit Agreement amounted to $48,400 during the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to $41,774 in the same period of the prior year. The Company paid dividends to stockholders amounting to $1,330 during the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to $1,188 in the same period of 2021. The Company paid $6,232 for the repurchase of 333,010 shares of its common stock during the six-month period ended June 30, 2022. There were no such purchases during the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. Lastly, in exchange for shares of common stock returned by employees, the Company paid $2,012 and $2,900 for tax withholding on stock-based compensation awards during the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The Company has a revolving line of credit that is shown as long-term debt in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. These are summarized in the following table:
At June 30, 2022, the Company was compliant with all covenants to its credit agreement. Also, at June 30, 2022, the Company’s total Funded Debt amounted to $101,700. At that date the Company’s rolling four quarter Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement, see Note 10) amounted to $75,512, which results in a leverage ratio of 1.35, as compared to a maximum leverage ratio permitted under the Credit Agreement of 3.5. At June 30, 2022, the Company has the capacity to increase its borrowings by up to $162,592, according to the terms thereof. This compares to an available borrowing capacity of $56,906 as of June 30, 2021. At December 31, 2021, the Company had borrowing capacity of $178,705. The level of borrowing capacity is driven by three factors: (1) our financial performance, as measured in EBITDA for both the trailing twelve-month period and proforma basis arising from acquisitions, (2) net borrowings, and (3) the leverage covenant (the TL Ratio).
We believe that anticipated cash flow from operations, existing cash balances and available borrowings under our amended 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
Please refer to Note 15 in the accompanying Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for recently issued accounting standards.
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, 2021, 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, 2021.
Certain of the Company’s policies require the application of judgment by management in selecting the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. These judgments are based on historical experience, terms of existing contracts, commonly accepted industry practices and other assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements in the period that revisions are determined to be necessary. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different outcomes or conditions. Our estimates did not change materially during the three- and six-months ended June 30, 2022.
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, 2021 and note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
The Company faces market risk to the extent that changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect our non-U.S. dollar functional currency as to foreign subsidiaries’ revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities. The Company currently does not engage in hedging activities with respect to such exchange rate risks.
Assets and liabilities outside the U.S. are located in regions where the Company has subsidiaries or joint ventures: Central America, South America, North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The Company’s investments in foreign subsidiaries and joint ventures with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are generally considered long-term. Accordingly, the Company does not hedge these net investments.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
As of June 30, 2022, the Company has 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 June 30, 2022, 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.
Please refer to Note 14 in the accompanying Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for legal updates.
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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed on March 14, 2022. The following disclosure amends and supplements those risk factors and, except to the extent restated below, there are no material changes to the risk factors as so stated.
An NGO petition to revoke tolerances a family of chemistries (namely, organophosphate) could jeopardize several of the Company’s products. On November 18, 2021, a group of non-governmental organizations led by Pesticide Action Network North America filed a petition with the USEPA to revoke the food tolerances for eight of the Company’s registered active ingredients, all of which are in the family of organophosphates. In July 2022, USEPA published in the Federal Register an invitation for public comment on the petition, giving commenters 30 days’ within which to submit their comments. In light of the large number of active ingredients implicated by the petition, the Company and multiple other stakeholders (including grower groups and trade organizations) are seeking an extension of time for submitting such comments. While the Company does not believe that there is a valid basis for revoking tolerances under applicable law (as the petition is largely based upon unsound studies solely involving chlorypyrifos), there is no guarantee that USEPA will grant an extension or, for that matter, will deny the remedy being sought by the petition. It is possible that USEPA could find a basis upon which to revoke tolerances and therefore cancel one or all active ingredients which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s financial performance. Further, this matter is unprecedented insofar as it, in effect, targets an entire class of chemistry (as opposed to one active ingredient); thus, it is possible that, if granted, this petition will establish an adverse precedent by which NGOs can seek to cancel other families of chemistries within the broader industry.
USEPA’s notice of intention to suspend the DCPA registration could have a broader impact on the Company’s portfolio and the industry in general. In May 2022, the USEPA issued a notice of intention to suspend DCPA, the active ingredient of an herbicidal product marketed by the Company under the name Dacthal on the basis that the Company acted allegedly inappropriately in providing data studies that had been requested by the agency. In fact, the agency had requested 89 data studies and, over the course of several years, the Company had supplied 69 such studies and had been working constructively on mutually acceptable timetables either to complete, or to obtain waivers for, the balance of the studies. The Company petitioned an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) to appeal the NOITS. In response to USEPA’s motion, the ALJ granted an accelerated decision to uphold the NOITS. The Company, in turn, has appealed the ALJ’s decision to the Environmental Appeals Board, on the ground that the basis was erroneous, both with respect to statutory construction and factual inferences being improperly made in the agency’s favor. While the Company believes that there is no merit to the agency’s position, there is no guarantee that the Company will prevail in defending against the attempted suspension. Further, if this suspension is granted, it is possible that the agency will seek to invalidate registrations summarily, including both the Company’s and those of its peers. This, in turn, could have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s financial performance.
The Catalano product liability case could set an adverse precedent for the active ingredient acephate, as well as for organophosphates more generally. As more fully described in Part 14, Item II herein, plaintiffs in Catalano seek damages for cardiovascular injury allegedly arising from making applications of Orthene, a systemic insecticide marketed by the Company, having acephate as its active ingredient. While the Company believes that the claim has not merit and that there have been no data studies linking acephate to cardiovascular disease, it is possible that a court could reach a judgment that is adverse to the Company and, in so doing, set an adverse precedent with respect not only to commercial acephate products, but also to consumer acephate products and organophosphate products more generally. Such adverse judgment and/or precedent could have a materially adverse effect upon the Company’s financial performance.
Item 2. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer
On March 8, 2022, pursuant to a Board of Directors resolution, the Company announced its intention to repurchase an aggregate number of up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.10 per share, in the open market over the succeeding one year at a price not to exceed $20 per share, subject to limitations and restrictions under applicable securities laws.
The table below summarizes the number of shares of our common stock that were repurchased during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022. There were no such purchases during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2021. The shares and respective amount are recorded as treasury shares on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Average price paid
per share
Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plan
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 June 30, 2021, formatted in iXBRL (Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity; (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.
104
The cover page from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, has been formatted in Inline XBRL.
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: August 8, 2022
By:
/s/ eric g. wintemute
Eric G. Wintemute
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
/s/ david t. johnson
David T. Johnson
Chief Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer