Annual Statements Open main menu

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORP - Quarter Report: 2022 June (Form 10-Q)

hi

 

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.

 

 

 

 


 

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

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

 

28

 

 

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

29

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

29

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risks Factors

 

29

 

Item 2.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer

 

30

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

31

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

32

 

 

2


 

 

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 June 30,

 

 

For the Six Months

Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

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

 

$

6,830

 

 

$

5,144

 

 

$

16,765

 

 

$

8,215

 

Earnings per common share—basic

 

$

.23

 

 

$

.17

 

 

$

.57

 

 

$

.28

 

Earnings per common share—assuming dilution

 

$

.23

 

 

$

.17

 

 

$

.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.

 

3


 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

For the Three Months

Ended June 30,

 

 

For the Six Months

Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Net income

 

$

6,830

 

 

$

5,144

 

 

$

16,765

 

 

$

8,215

 

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

 

 

See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

4


 

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

June 30,

2022

 

 

December 31,

2021

 

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

 

$

743,644

 

 

$

694,160

 

 

See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

5


 

 

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For The Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional

 

 

Accumulated

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Comprehensive

Loss

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2021

 

 

34,248,218

 

 

$

3,426

 

 

$

101,450

 

 

$

(13,784

)

 

$

304,385

 

 

 

3,361,040

 

 

$

(22,739

)

 

$

372,738

 

Common stock issued under ESPP

 

 

26,751

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

434

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

436

 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.025 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(736

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(736

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,080

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,563

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

)

 

 

(6,219

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,935

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,935

 

Balance, March 31, 2022

 

 

34,091,876

 

 

 

3,410

 

 

 

101,291

 

 

 

(6,704

)

 

 

313,584

 

 

 

3,693,444

 

 

 

(28,958

)

 

 

382,623

 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.025 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(742

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(742

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,064

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,064

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,273

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,273

 

Stock options exercised; grants, termination

   and vesting of restricted stock units

   (net of shares in lieu of taxes)

 

 

351,358

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

892

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

927

 

Shares repurchased

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

606

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

(13

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,830

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,830

 

Balance, June 30, 2022

 

 

34,443,234

 

 

$

3,445

 

 

$

103,456

 

 

$

(12,768

)

 

$

319,672

 

 

 

3,694,050

 

 

$

(28,971

)

 

$

384,834

 

 

See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

6


 

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For The Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional

 

 

Accumulated

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Comprehensive

Loss

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

AVD

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2020

 

 

33,922,433

 

 

$

3,394

 

 

$

96,642

 

 

$

(9,322

)

 

$

288,182

 

 

 

3,061,040

 

 

$

(18,160

)

 

$

360,736

 

Common stock issued under ESPP

 

 

25,120

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

338

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

340

 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.02 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(596

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(596

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,503

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,503

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,792

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,792

 

Stock options exercised; grants, termination

   and vesting of restricted stock units

   (net of shares in lieu of taxes)

 

 

(73,231

)

 

 

(7

)

 

 

(2,787

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,794

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,071

 

Balance, March 31, 2021

 

 

33,874,322

 

 

 

3,389

 

 

 

95,985

 

 

 

(11,825

)

 

 

290,657

 

 

 

3,061,040

 

 

 

(18,160

)

 

 

360,046

 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.02 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(600

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(600

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,914

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,914

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,806

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,806

 

Stock options exercised; grants, termination

   and vesting of restricted stock units

   (net of shares in lieu of taxes)

 

 

387,329

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,144

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,144

 

Balance, June 30, 2021

 

 

34,261,651

 

 

$

3,428

 

 

$

97,813

 

 

$

(8,911

)

 

$

295,201

 

 

 

3,061,040

 

 

$

(18,160

)

 

$

369,371

 

 

 

See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

7


 

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

16,765

 

 

$

8,215

 

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

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

2,836

 

 

 

3,598

 

Change in deferred income taxes

 

 

109

 

 

 

(353

)

Change in fair value of an equity investment

 

 

403

 

 

 

(771

)

Loss on equity method investment

 

 

 

 

 

87

 

Adjustment to bargain purchase gain on business acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

436

 

 

 

340

 

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

 

 

16,285

 

 

 

15,923

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

22,057

 

 

$

19,559

 

See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

8


 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

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

 

 

Three months

ended

June 30, 2021

 

 

Six months

ended

June 30, 2022

 

 

Six months

ended

June 30, 2021

 

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

%

 

 

9


 

 

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

 

Total

 

$

24,881

 

Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

 

 

 

Operating lease liabilities, current

 

$

5,029

 

Operating lease liabilities, long-term

 

$

19,852

 

 

 

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

June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

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:

 

$

148,084

 

 

$

134,610

 

 

$

297,519

 

 

$

250,765

 

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

 

Total net sales:

 

$

148,084

 

 

$

134,610

 

 

$

297,519

 

 

$

250,765

 

 

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:

 

 

 

 

June 30,

2022

 

 

December 31,

2021

 

Land

 

$

2,756

 

 

$

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

 

$

67,453

 

 

$

66,111

 

 

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:

 

 

 

June 30,

2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

Finished products

 

$

154,742

 

 

$

138,159

 

Raw materials

 

 

27,461

 

 

 

16,147

 

 

 

$

182,203

 

 

$

154,306

 

 

 

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,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

63,195

 

 

$

62,575

 

 

$

620

 

 

 

1

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

21,316

 

 

 

21,488

 

 

 

(172

)

 

 

-1

%

U.S. total

 

 

84,511

 

 

 

84,063

 

 

 

448

 

 

 

1

%

International

 

 

63,573

 

 

 

50,547

 

 

 

13,026

 

 

 

26

%

Net sales:

 

$

148,084

 

 

$

134,610

 

 

$

13,474

 

 

 

10

%

Gross profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

29,753

 

 

$

26,805

 

 

$

2,948

 

 

 

11

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

10,049

 

 

 

9,782

 

 

 

267

 

 

 

3

%

U.S. total

 

 

39,802

 

 

 

36,587

 

 

 

3,215

 

 

 

9

%

International

 

 

19,977

 

 

 

15,552

 

 

 

4,425

 

 

 

28

%

Total gross profit:

 

$

59,779

 

 

$

52,139

 

 

$

7,640

 

 

 

15

%

 

 

11


 

 

 

 

 

For the six months

ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

151,388

 

 

$

117,330

 

 

$

34,058

 

 

 

29

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

34,712

 

 

 

38,941

 

 

 

(4,229

)

 

 

-11

%

U.S. total

 

 

186,100

 

 

 

156,271

 

 

 

29,829

 

 

 

19

%

International

 

 

111,419

 

 

 

94,494

 

 

 

16,925

 

 

 

18

%

Net sales:

 

$

297,519

 

 

$

250,765

 

 

$

46,754

 

 

 

19

%

Gross profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

70,098

 

 

$

48,076

 

 

$

22,022

 

 

 

46

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

16,014

 

 

 

19,165

 

 

 

(3,151

)

 

 

-16

%

U.S. total

 

 

86,112

 

 

 

67,241

 

 

 

18,871

 

 

 

28

%

International

 

 

34,860

 

 

 

30,029

 

 

 

4,831

 

 

 

16

%

Total gross profit:

 

$

120,972

 

 

$

97,270

 

 

$

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

 

 

Total

Paid

 

June 6, 2022

 

June 24, 2022

 

July 8, 2022

 

$

0.025

 

 

$

742

 

March 14, 2022

 

March 25, 2022

 

April 15, 2022

 

$

0.025

 

 

$

736

 

December 13, 2021

 

December 27, 2021

 

January 10, 2022

 

$

0.020

 

 

$

594

 

June 8, 2021

 

June 24, 2021

 

July 8, 2021

 

$

0.020

 

 

$

600

 

March 10, 2021

 

March 15, 2021

 

April 15, 2021

 

$

0.020

 

 

$

596

 

December 7, 2020

 

December 23, 2022

 

January 6, 2021

 

$

0.020

 

 

$

592

 

 

9. Earnings Per Share The components of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to AVD

 

$

6,830

 

 

$

5,144

 

 

$

16,765

 

 

$

8,215

 

Denominator: (in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding-basic

 

 

29,602

 

 

 

29,930

 

 

 

29,639

 

 

 

29,834

 

Dilutive effect of stock options and grants

 

 

623

 

 

 

569

 

 

 

650

 

 

 

677

 

 

 

 

30,225

 

 

 

30,499

 

 

 

30,289

 

 

 

30,511

 

 

 

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)

 

June 30, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

Revolving line of credit

 

$

101,700

 

 

$

53,300

 

Deferred loan fees

 

 

(921

)

 

 

(1,060

)

Net long-term debt

 

$

100,779

 

 

$

52,240

 

 

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

 

 

Stock-Based

Compensation

for the Six

months ended

 

 

Unamortized

Stock-Based

Compensation

 

 

Remaining

Weighted

Average

Period (years)

 

June 30, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Total

 

$

1,273

 

 

$

2,836

 

 

$

13,534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted Stock

 

$

1,167

 

 

$

2,223

 

 

$

9,734

 

 

 

2.2

 

Unrestricted Stock

 

 

107

 

 

 

217

 

 

 

367

 

 

 

0.9

 

Performance-Based Restricted Stock

 

 

532

 

 

 

1,158

 

 

 

4,186

 

 

 

2.1

 

Total

 

$

1,806

 

 

$

3,598

 

 

$

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

June 30, 2022

 

 

Three and Six Months Ended

June 30, 2021

 

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

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

 

Vested

 

 

(27,482

)

 

 

22.35

 

 

 

(30,112

)

 

 

16.72

 

Forfeited

 

 

(14,070

)

 

 

18.53

 

 

 

(11,231

)

 

 

16.60

 

Nonvested shares at June 30th

 

 

763,616

 

 

$

18.88

 

 

 

859,843

 

 

$

17.04

 

 

 

 

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:

 

 

 

Three and Six Months Ended

June 30, 2022

 

 

Three and Six Months Ended

June 30, 2021

 

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

Nonvested shares at December 31st

 

 

379,061

 

 

$

16.43

 

 

 

391,771

 

 

$

16.26

 

Additional granted (forfeited) based on performance achievement

 

 

(41,088

)

 

 

16.56

 

 

 

71,180

 

 

 

20.53

 

Vested

 

 

(78,704

)

 

 

17.18

 

 

 

(175,087

)

 

 

19.78

 

Forfeited

 

 

(7,074

)

 

 

16.77

 

 

 

(505

)

 

 

19.26

 

Nonvested shares at March 31st

 

 

252,195

 

 

 

16.17

 

 

 

287,359

 

 

 

15.16

 

Granted

 

 

83,190

 

 

 

23.63

 

 

 

102,043

 

 

 

20.03

 

Forfeited

 

 

(7,829

)

 

 

17.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonvested shares at June 30th

 

 

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

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

Balance outstanding, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022

 

 

108,036

 

 

 

11.49

 

Options exercised

 

 

(33,745

)

 

 

11.49

 

Balance outstanding, June 30, 2022

 

 

74,291

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

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:

 

 

 

Number of

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

Balance outstanding, December 31, 2020

 

 

123,087

 

 

$

11.48

 

Options exercised

 

 

(5,838

)

 

 

11.49

 

Balance outstanding, March 31, 2021

 

 

117,249

 

 

 

11.48

 

Options exercised

 

 

(8,826

)

 

 

11.35

 

Balance outstanding, June 30, 2021

 

 

108,423

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

Performance Incentive Stock Option Plan

Activity for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022:

 

 

 

 

Number of

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

Balance outstanding, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022

 

 

114,658

 

 

$

11.49

 

Options exercised

 

 

(32,850

)

 

 

11.49

 

Balance outstanding, June 30, 2022

 

 

81,808

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

 

15


 

 

Activity for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2021:

 

 

 

Number of

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

 

Balance outstanding, December 31, 2020

 

 

114,658

 

 

$

11.49

 

Options exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance outstanding, March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021

 

 

114,658

 

 

$

11.49

 

 

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.

 

16


 

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.

 

17


 

The following table illustrates the Company’s contingent consideration movements related to its business acquisitions:

 

 

 

Three months ended

June 30, 2022

 

 

Three months ended

June 30, 2021

 

Balance, March 31

 

$

1,437

 

 

$

2,205

 

Purchase price adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

(955

)

Fair value adjustment

 

 

36

 

 

 

1,013

 

Accretion of discounted liabilities

 

 

11

 

 

 

(27

)

Foreign exchange effect

 

 

(117

)

 

 

(120

)

Balance, June 30

 

$

1,367

 

 

$

2,116

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended

June 30, 2022

 

 

Six months ended

June 30, 2021

 

Balance, December 31

 

$

786

 

 

$

2,468

 

Purchase price adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

(955

)

Fair value adjustment

 

 

635

 

 

 

1,013

 

Payments on existing obligations

 

 

 

 

 

(250

)

Accretion of discounted liabilities

 

 

17

 

 

 

(11

)

Foreign exchange effect

 

 

(71

)

 

 

(149

)

Balance, June 30

 

$

1,367

 

 

$

2,116

 

 

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:

 

 

 

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2021

 

$

(13,784

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects of ($48)

 

 

7,080

 

Balance, March 31, 2022

 

 

(6,704

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects of $109

 

 

(6,064

)

Balance, June 30, 2022

 

$

(12,768

)

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2020

 

$

(9,322

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects of $1,179

 

 

(2,503

)

Balance, March 31, 2021

 

 

(11,825

)

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects of ($1,731)

 

 

2,914

 

Balance, June 30, 2021

 

$

(8,911

)

 

 

 

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.

 

18


 

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

 

 

332,404

 

 

$

18.71

 

 

$

6,219

 

 

 

667,596

 

April 30, 2022

 

 

100

 

 

$

19.99

 

 

$

2

 

 

 

667,496

 

May 31, 2022

 

 

506

 

 

$

19.99

 

 

$

11

 

 

 

666,990

 

Total number of shares repurchased

 

 

333,010

 

 

$

18.71

 

 

$

6,232

 

 

 

666,990

 

 

22. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

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

 

$

1,825

 

 

$

12,067

 

Cash dividends declared and included in accrued expenses

 

$

742

 

 

$

600

 

 

 

19


 

 

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 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.

 

20


 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Quarter Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

63,195

 

 

$

62,575

 

 

$

620

 

 

 

1

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

21,316

 

 

 

21,488

 

 

 

(172

)

 

 

-1

%

Total U.S.

 

 

84,511

 

 

 

84,063

 

 

 

448

 

 

 

1

%

International

 

 

63,573

 

 

 

50,547

 

 

 

13,026

 

 

 

26

%

Total net sales:

 

$

148,084

 

 

$

134,610

 

 

$

13,474

 

 

 

10

%

Cost of sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

33,442

 

 

$

35,770

 

 

$

(2,328

)

 

 

-7

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

11,267

 

 

 

11,706

 

 

 

(439

)

 

 

-4

%

Total U.S.

 

 

44,709

 

 

 

47,476

 

 

 

(2,767

)

 

 

-6

%

International

 

 

43,596

 

 

 

34,995

 

 

 

8,601

 

 

 

25

%

Total cost of sales:

 

$

88,305

 

 

$

82,471

 

 

$

5,834

 

 

 

7

%

Gross profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

29,753

 

 

$

26,805

 

 

$

2,948

 

 

 

11

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

10,049

 

 

 

9,782

 

 

 

267

 

 

 

3

%

Total U.S.

 

 

39,802

 

 

 

36,587

 

 

 

3,215

 

 

 

9

%

International

 

 

19,977

 

 

 

15,552

 

 

 

4,425

 

 

 

28

%

Total gross profit

 

$

59,779

 

 

$

52,139

 

 

$

7,640

 

 

 

15

%

Gross margin:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

 

47

%

 

 

43

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. non-crop

 

 

47

%

 

 

46

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total U.S.

 

 

47

%

 

 

44

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International

 

 

31

%

 

 

31

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gross margin

 

 

40

%

 

 

39

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Selling

 

$

12,598

 

 

$

11,611

 

 

$

987

 

 

 

9

%

General and administrative:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

16,258

 

 

 

15,264

 

 

 

994

 

 

 

7

%

Proxy contest activities

 

 

1,785

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,785

 

 

 

100

%

Research, product development and regulatory

 

 

7,758

 

 

 

6,929

 

 

 

829

 

 

 

12

%

Freight, delivery and warehousing

 

 

10,567

 

 

 

9,276

 

 

 

1,291

 

 

 

14

%

Subtotal

 

 

48,966

 

 

 

43,080

 

 

 

5,886

 

 

 

14

%

 

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.

 

22


 

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

 

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

Revolving line of credit (average)

 

$

124,184

 

 

$

745

 

 

 

2.4

%

 

$

163,140

 

 

$

984

 

 

 

2.4

%

Amortization of deferred loan fees

 

 

 

 

 

69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

80

 

 

 

 

Amortization of other deferred liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25

)

 

 

 

Other interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

124,184

 

 

 

837

 

 

 

2.7

%

 

 

163,140

 

 

 

1,078

 

 

 

2.6

%

Capitalized interest

 

 

 

 

 

(65

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(65

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

124,184

 

 

$

772

 

 

 

2.5

%

 

$

163,140

 

 

$

1,013

 

 

 

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:

Overview of the Company’s Performance

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


 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Six months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

151,388

 

 

$

117,330

 

 

$

34,058

 

 

 

29

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

34,712

 

 

 

38,941

 

 

 

(4,229

)

 

 

-11

%

Total U.S.

 

 

186,100

 

 

 

156,271

 

 

 

29,829

 

 

 

19

%

International

 

 

111,419

 

 

 

94,494

 

 

 

16,925

 

 

 

18

%

Total net sales:

 

$

297,519

 

 

$

250,765

 

 

$

46,754

 

 

 

19

%

Cost of sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

81,290

 

 

$

69,254

 

 

$

12,036

 

 

 

17

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

18,698

 

 

 

19,776

 

 

 

(1,078

)

 

 

-5

%

Total U.S.

 

 

99,988

 

 

 

89,030

 

 

 

10,958

 

 

 

12

%

International

 

 

76,559

 

 

 

64,465

 

 

 

12,094

 

 

 

19

%

Total cost of sales:

 

$

176,547

 

 

$

153,495

 

 

$

23,052

 

 

 

15

%

Gross profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

$

70,098

 

 

$

48,076

 

 

$

22,022

 

 

 

46

%

U.S. non-crop

 

 

16,014

 

 

 

19,165

 

 

 

(3,151

)

 

 

-16

%

Total U.S.

 

 

86,112

 

 

 

67,241

 

 

 

18,871

 

 

 

28

%

International

 

 

34,860

 

 

 

30,029

 

 

 

4,831

 

 

 

16

%

Total gross profit

 

$

120,972

 

 

$

97,270

 

 

$

23,702

 

 

 

24

%

Gross margin:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. crop

 

 

46

%

 

 

41

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. non-crop

 

 

46

%

 

 

49

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total U.S.

 

 

46

%

 

 

43

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International

 

 

31

%

 

 

32

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gross margin

 

 

41

%

 

 

39

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

24


 

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:

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Change

 

 

% Change

 

Selling

 

$

23,683

 

 

$

22,765

 

 

$

918

 

 

 

4

%

General and administrative:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

34,691

 

 

 

31,091

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

12

%

Proxy contest activities

 

 

1,785

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,785

 

 

 

100

%

Research, product development and regulatory

 

 

14,728

 

 

 

13,545

 

 

 

1,183

 

 

 

9

%

Freight, delivery and warehousing

 

 

20,523

 

 

 

17,123

 

 

 

3,400

 

 

 

20

%

 

 

$

95,410

 

 

$

84,524

 

 

 

10,886

 

 

 

13

%

 

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.

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 $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.

 

25


 

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:

Average Indebtedness and Interest expense

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30, 2022

 

 

Six months ended June 30, 2021

 

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

 

Average

Debt

 

 

Interest

Expense

 

 

Interest

Rate

 

Revolving line of credit (average)

 

$

105,076

 

 

$

1,146

 

 

 

2.2

%

 

$

144,324

 

 

$

1,843

 

 

 

2.6

%

Amortization of deferred loan fees

 

 

 

 

 

138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

161

 

 

 

 

Amortization of other deferred liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9

)

 

 

 

Other interest (income) expense

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

89

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

105,076

 

 

 

1,322

 

 

 

2.5

%

 

 

144,324

 

 

 

2,084

 

 

 

2.9

%

Capitalized interest

 

 

 

 

 

(152

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(125

)

 

 

 

Total

 

$

105,076

 

 

$

1,170

 

 

 

2.2

%

 

$

144,324

 

 

$

1,959

 

 

 

2.7

%

 

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.

 

26


 

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:

 

Long-term indebtedness ($000's)

 

June 30, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

Revolving line of credit

 

$

101,700

 

 

$

53,300

 

Deferred loan fees

 

 

(921

)

 

 

(1,060

)

Net long-term debt

 

$

100,779

 

 

$

52,240

 

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.

 

27


 

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.

 

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, 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.

Item 4.

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.  

 

 

 

 

28


 

 

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.

Please refer to Note 14 in the accompanying Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for legal updates.

 

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 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.  

 

29


 

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.

 

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

 

 

332,404

 

 

$

18.71

 

 

$

6,219

 

 

 

667,596

 

April 30, 2022

 

 

100

 

 

$

19.99

 

 

$

2

 

 

 

667,496

 

May 31, 2022

 

 

506

 

 

$

19.99

 

 

$

11

 

 

 

666,990

 

Total number of shares repurchased

 

 

333,010

 

 

$

18.71

 

 

$

6,232

 

 

 

666,990

 

 

 

30


 

 

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 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.

 

 

31


 

 

SIGNATURES

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

 

 

american vanguard corporation

 

 

 

Dated: August 8, 2022

By:

/s/    eric g. wintemute

 

 

Eric G. Wintemute

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

 

 

 

Dated: August 8, 2022

By:

/s/    david t. johnson

 

 

David T. Johnson

 

 

Chief Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer

 

 

 

32