8-K
AMERICAN VANGUARD CORP false 0000005981 0000005981 2021-03-10 2021-03-10

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): March 10, 2021

 

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-13795   95-2588080

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

Commission

File Number

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

4695 MacArthur Court

Newport Beach, California 92660

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number: (949) 260-1200

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol

 

Exchanges

on which registered

Common Stock, $.10 par value   AVD   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b02 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b02 of this chapter).

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. ☐

 

 

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On March 11, 2021, American Vanguard Corporation (“Registrant”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. The full text of the press release is linked hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the Exhibits attached hereto, is being furnished under Items 2.02, 8.01 and 9.01 and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 8.01 Other Items

On March 10, 2021, the Board of Directors of Registrant declared a cash dividend of two cents ($0.02) per share of common stock of Registrant to shareholders of record as of March 25, 2021 to be distributed on April 15, 2021. On March 15, 2021, Registrant issued a press release announcing this dividend declaration. The full text of that press release is linked hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Also on March 10, 2021, the Board of Directors of Registrant set the date of its 2021 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) to take place on June 2, 2021 with a record date of April 9, 2021. The Annual Meeting will be a web-hosted, virtual meeting (as was the case in 2020). Further details will appear in the Registrant’s 2021 proxy statement to be filed and made available in April 2021.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit 99.1    Press release dated March 11, 2021 of American Vanguard Corporation regarding financial results for fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
Exhibit 99.2    Press release dated March 15, 2021 of American Vanguard Corporation announcing a cash dividend.
Exhibit 104    Cover Page Interacitve Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURES

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

 

    AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

Date: March 16, 2021

     
   

By:

 

/s/ Timothy J. Donnelly

     

Timothy J. Donnelly

     

Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel & Secretary

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN VANGUARD REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER & FULL YEAR 2020 RESULTS

Newport Beach, CA – March 11, 2021 – American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE: AVD) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

Fiscal 2020 Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights versus Fiscal 2019 Fourth Quarter:

 

   

Net sales were $141 million in 2020, compared to $131 million in 2019

 

   

Net income was $7.9 million in 2020, compared to $3.4 million in 2019

 

   

Earnings per diluted share of $0.26 in 2020, compared to $0.12 in 2019

 

   

EBITDA1 of $17.1 million in 2020, compared to $12.0 million in 2019

Fiscal 2020 Full Year Financial Highlights – versus Fiscal 2019 Full Year:

 

   

Net sales were $459 million in 2020, compared to $468 million in 2019

 

   

Net income was $15.2 million in 2020, compared to $13.6 million in 2019

 

   

Earnings per diluted share of $0.51 in 2020, compared to $0.46 in 2019

 

   

EBITDA1 of $47.6 million in 2020, compared to $48.9 million in 2019

Eric Wintemute, Chairman and CEO of American Vanguard, stated: “2020 proved to be a very challenging year as the world coped with the COVID-19 pandemic. Global implementation of restrictive public health protocols resulted in conservative distribution channel procurement behavior, significant sales and marketing customer access limitations, and dramatic adaptation to remote work processes in many operational and administrative functions. Throughout the year, we maintained very strict health and safety regimens and thankfully have been able to keep AMVAC manufacturing facilities fully functioning and our workforce largely free of serious illness.”

Mr. Wintemute continued: “Despite a difficult and somewhat depressed revenue global environment, our 2020 year-over-year bottom-line performance has increased significantly. This resulted from pandemic restrictions affecting travel activities, lower interest expenses primarily due to reduced federal base lending rate, the benefit of securing a biological technology acquisition at a favorable purchase price, and other non-operating income. Recent product acquisitions continue to broaden our traditional portfolio and company acquisitions have expanded the footprint of our international business. This diversification along with our financial discipline allowed us to achieve reasonable revenue, strong profitability and a de-levered balance sheet despite the difficult business circumstances of this past year.”

 

 

1 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other financial measure so calculated and presented, nor as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The items excluded from EBITDA are detailed in the reconciliation attached to this news release. Other companies (including the Company’s competitors) may define EBITDA differently.


Mr. Wintemute concluded: “Looking forward, we believe that our Company is situated well in both domestic and international markets and are consequently optimistic about the prospects for low double-digit revenue growth in 2021. This optimism is driven by the belief that global economies are poised to start re-opening, higher commodity prices will encourage crop protection procurement, the expectation of larger corn acreage in the U.S., continued steady supply availability of key raw and intermediate materials, greater AMVAC product participation in the soybean segment, and the continued expansion of our international business. Looking forward, we expect gross profit margins to remain strong and operating expenses will be tightly managed as we return to more normal operations during the middle to later part of 2021. Further, we will continue to develop our innovative Envance, biological and SIMPAS technologies which collectively represent an integrated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) platform. We look forward to giving you a more detailed presentation during our upcoming earnings call.”

Conference Call

Eric Wintemute, Chairman & CEO, Bob Trogele, EVP & COO and David T. Johnson, VP & CFO, will conduct a conference call focusing on the financial results and strategic themes…at 4:30 pm ET on March 11, 2020. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing (201) 493-6744. Please call in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and ask for the American Vanguard call. The conference call will also be webcast live via the News and Media section of the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com. To listen to the live webcast, go to the web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen live, the conference call will be archived on the Company’s web site.

About American Vanguard

American Vanguard Corporation is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops and markets products for crop protection and management, turf and ornamentals management and public and animal health. American Vanguard is included on the Russell 2000® and Russell 3000® Indexes and the Standard & Poor’s Small Cap 600 Index. To learn more about American Vanguard, please reference the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com.

The Company, from time to time, may discuss forward-looking information. Except for the historical information contained in this release, all forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management’s current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy and other risks as detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s SEC reports and filings. All forward-looking statements, if any, in this release represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release.

 

Company Contact:

  

Investor Representative

American Vanguard Corporation

  

The Equity Group Inc.

William A. Kuser, Director of Investor Relations

  

www.theequitygroup.com

(949) 260-1200

  

Lena Cati

[email protected]

  

[email protected]


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2020 and 2019

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     2020     2019  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 15,923     $ 6,581  

Receivables:

    

Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,297 and $2,300, respectively

     119,071       136,075  

Other

     8,444       16,949  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total receivables, net

     127,515       153,024  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Inventories, net

     163,784       163,313  

Prepaid expenses

     11,112       10,457  

Income taxes receivable

     3,046       2,824  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     321,380       336,199  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     65,382       56,521  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

     12,198       11,258  

Intangible assets, net of amortization

     197,514       198,261  

Goodwill

     52,108       46,673  

Other assets

     18,602       21,186  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 667,184     $ 670,098  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current installments of other liabilities

   $ 2,647     $ 1,513  

Accounts payable

     59,254       64,881  

Deferred revenue

     32,652       6,826  

Accrued program costs

     45,441       47,699  

Accrued expenses and other payables

     16,797       12,815  

Operating lease liabilities, current

     4,188       4,904  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     160,979       138,638  

Long-term debt, net of deferred loan fees

     107,442       148,766  

Other liabilities, excluding current installments

     9,054       12,890  

Operating lease liabilities, long-term

     8,177       6,503  

Deferred income tax liabilities, net

     20,796       19,145  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     306,448       325,942  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

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 33,922,433 shares in 2020 and 33,233,614 shares in 2019

     3,394       3,324  

Additional paid-in capital

     96,642       90,572  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (9,322     (5,698

Retained earnings

     288,182       274,118  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     378,896       362,316  

Less treasury stock at cost, 3,061,040 shares in 2020 and 2019

     (18,160     (18,160
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     360,736       344,156  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 667,184     $ 670,098  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the years and quarters ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the quarters
ended December 31,
     For the years ended
December 31,
 
     2020     2019      2020     2019  

Net sales

   $ 140,747     $ 130,521      $ 458,704     $ 468,186  

Cost of sales

     90,109       83,985        286,114       290,832  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     50,638       46,536        172,590       177,354  

Operating expenses

     44,740       40,279        153,622       151,133  

Bargain purchase gain on business acquisition

     (4,657     —          (4,657     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     10,555       6,257        23,625       26,221  

Interest expense, net

     1,374       1,605        5,178       7,209  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes and loss on equity method investment

     9,181       4,652        18,447       19,012  

Provision for income taxes

     1,228       1,155        3,080       5,202  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before loss on equity method investment

     7,953       3,497        15,367       13,810  

Less net loss from equity method investment

     45       61        125       209  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 7,908     $ 3,436      $ 15,242     $ 13,601  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per common share—basic

   $ 0.27     $ 0.12      $ 0.52     $ 0.47  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per common share—assuming dilution

   $ 0.26     $ 0.12      $ 0.51     $ 0.46  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

     29,598       29,081        29,450       29,030  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding—assuming dilution

     30,194       29,853        29,993       29,656  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

ANALYSIS OF SALES

For the years and quarters ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

(Unaudited)

 

     For the quarters ended
December 31,
     For the years ended
December 31,
 
     2020      2019      2020      2019  

Net sales:

           

U.S. crop

   $ 74,537      $ 62,567      $ 223,167      $ 220,635  

U.S. non-crop

     10,675        19,521        48,557        61,590  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total U.S.

     85,212        82,088        271,724        282,225  

International

     55,535        48,433        186,980        185,961  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

   $ 140,747      $ 130,521      $ 458,704      $ 468,186  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit:

           

U.S. crop

   $ 30,221      $ 26,370      $ 98,340      $ 95,429  

U.S. non-crop

     3,690        8,269        22,225        29,713  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total U.S.

     33,911        34,639        120,565        125,142  

International

     16,727        11,897        52,025        52,212  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gross profit

   $ 50,638      $ 46,536      $ 172,590      $ 177,354  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     2020     2019  

Increase cash

    

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 15,242     $ 13,601  

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

    

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

     19,902       18,643  

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     119       —    

Amortization of other long-term assets

     4,246       4,207  

Amortization of discounted liabilities

     9       72  

Provision for bad debts

     1,002       1,035  

Revision of contingent consideration

     —         (4,120

Stock-based compensation

     6,561       7,160  

Increase (decrease) in deferred income taxes

     969       2,616  

Changes in liabilities for uncertain tax positions

     (2,092     263  

Change in investment fair value

     (717     —    

Loss from equity method investment

     125       209  

Bargain purchase gain

     (4,657     —    

Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations, net of business combinations:

    

(Increase) decrease in net receivables

     26,517       (11,383

(Increase) decrease in inventories

     7,421       3,817  

(Increase) decrease in income tax receivable, net

     (287     (6,855

(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets

     (474     (876

Increase in net operating lease liability

     18       149  

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

     (8,124     (7,977

Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue

     25,845       (13,355

Increase (decrease) in accrued program costs

     (2,517     5,797  

Increase (decrease) in other payables and accrued expenses

     89       (3,434
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     89,197       9,569  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (11,249     (12,985

Investments

     (1,190     —    

Acquisitions of businesses and product lines, and intangible assets additions

     (23,356     (41,852
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (35,795     (54,837
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Net (payments) borrowings under line of credit agreement

     (41,623     51,900  

Cash paid to acquire non-controlling interest

     —         —    

Payment on deferred consideration

     —         (850

Net receipt (payment) from the issuance of common stock (sale of stock under ESPP, exercise of stock options and shares purchased for tax withholding)

     (421     283  

Repurchase of common stock

     —         (2,604

Payment of cash dividends

     (1,168     (2,323
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (43,212     46,406  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     10,190       1,138  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (848     (725

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     6,581       6,168  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 15,923     $ 6,581  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

    

Cash paid during the year for:

    

Interest

   $ 5,313     $ 7,121  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income taxes, net

   $ 3,881     $ 9,276  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA

Quarters ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

     2020      2019  

Net income attributable to American Vanguard

   $ 7,908      $ 3,436  

Provision for income taxes

     1,396        1,143  

Interest expense, net

     1,374        1,603  

Depreciation and amortization

     6,418        5,726  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA2

   $ 17,096      $ 11,908  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA

Years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

     2020      2019  

Net income attributable to American Vanguard

   $ 15,242      $ 13,601  

Provision for income taxes

     3,080        5,202  

Interest expense, net

     5,178        7,209  

Depreciation and amortization

     23,968        22,626  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA2

   $ 47,468      $ 48,638  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

2 

EBITDA is not a financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other financial measures so calculated and presented, nor as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The items excluded from EBITDA are detailed in the reconciliation attached to this news release. Other companies (including the Company’s competitors) may define EBITDA differently.

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN VANGUARD DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

Newport Beach, CA – March 15, 2021 – American Vanguard Corp. (NYSE:AVD) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a $0.02 cash dividend payment to be distributed on April 15, 2021 to shareholders of record as of March 25, 2021.

Eric Wintemute, Chairman and CEO of American Vanguard, stated, “This dividend payment continues our history of providing cash returns to shareholders based on successful operational and financial performance. It reflects the confidence that the Board of Directors has in the strength of our business model and our longer-term strategic growth initiatives in biological product development, geographic market expansion, consumer pest control and SIMPAS precision application technology. We appreciate the support of our shareholders as we develop and deliver important solutions that enhance agricultural productivity, safeguard public health and facilitate environmental sustainability.”

Annual Cash Dividend Payments: Based on Date of Cash Distribution

 

2021 — Payments in 2021 (including pending payment)

   $ 0.040  

2020 — Full Calendar Year

   $ 0.040  

2019 — Full Calendar Year

   $ 0.080  

2018 — Full Calendar Year

   $ 0.075  

2017 — Full Calendar Year

   $ 0.055  

2016 — Full Calendar Year

   $ 0.020  

About American Vanguard

American Vanguard Corporation is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops and markets products for crop protection and management, turf and ornamentals management and public and animal health. American Vanguard is included on the Russell 2000® & Russell 3000® Indexes and the Standard & Poors Small Cap 600 Index. To learn more about American Vanguard, please reference the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com.

In its public commentary, the Company may discuss forward-looking information. Except for the historical information contained in this release, all forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management’s current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy and other risks as detailed in the Company’s SEC reports and filings. All forward-looking statements, if any, in this release represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release.

 

Contact Information:   
American Vanguard Corporation    The Equity Group Inc.
William A. Kuser, Director of Investor Relations    www.theequitygroup.com
(949) 260-1200    Lena Cati (212) 836-9611
[email protected]    [email protected]