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Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN VANGUARD REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER & FULL YEAR 2017 RESULTS

Full-Year Revenues Increase 14% and Net Income Grows 59%

Newport Beach, CA – March 12, 2018 – American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.

Fiscal 2017 Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights versus Fiscal 2016 Fourth Quarter:

 

    Net sales were $116.5 million versus $87.5 million, an increase of 33%.

 

    Net income was $8.4 million versus $3.9 million, an increase of 115%.

 

    EPS was $0.28 (an increase of 115%), of which about $0.11 arose from a one-time tax benefit.

Fiscal 2017 Financial Highlights – versus Fiscal 2016:

 

    Net sales were $355.0 million versus $312.1 million, an increase of 14%.

 

    Net income was $20.3 million versus $12.8 million, an increase of 59%.

 

    EPS was $0.68 (an increase of 55%), of which about $0.11 arose from a one-time tax benefit.

Note: Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Net Income and EPS reflect a one-time tax benefit gained by the Company upon the enactment of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017.

Eric Wintemute, Chairman and CEO of American Vanguard, stated: “Our improved revenue performance in 2017 was driven by solid growth (+$11.8 million) of our existing products and the acquisition of new products and businesses during the year (+$31.1 million). These acquisitions which broadened and diversified our product portfolio and expanded our geographic market access were procured at attractive investment values. This acquisition approach has been the generator of steady company growth over the last three decades, and with our strong balance sheet we expect to be able to take advantage of additional acquisition opportunities over the next several years.”

Mr. Wintemute continued: “We experienced dynamic market conditions in 2017; however, due to our balanced portfolio of products, were able to improve both the top and bottom lines. For example, strong contributions from our cotton products and mosquito adulticide more than offset weather-related impact on soil fumigant sales and competitive pricing in corn herbicides. Our full-year gross profit margins remained strong at 42%, aided by improved factory utilization and cost control which reduced our unabsorbed overhead expense by nearly $5 million. Improved sales, operating earnings and working capital management have enabled us to achieve a year-end debt level of $78 million and to increase our credit borrowing capacity to $140 million, despite having completed six acquisitions during the year. Further, we continued to reduce our inventory of existing products year-over-year and generated $59.0 million in cash from operating activities during 2017. Finally, net income rose significantly for both the fourth quarter and the year, aided in part by an estimated $3.4 million tax benefit recorded by the Company upon the enactment of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017.”


Mr. Wintemute concluded: “Our outlook for the current year is positive. Within our crop business, we expect that our leading position in the U.S. potato market will remain firm, while our high-margin fruit & vegetable segment is expected to constitute over 30% of our overall business in 2018. In addition, we expect relative stability in the Midwest corn markets which should drive sales of our corn soil insecticides and our expanded herbicide offerings. While U.S. cotton and peanut acreage may be flat-to-slightly down compared to 2017, we expect stable sales in both of these crops. Our non-crop business is expected to expand by nearly 50% with the incorporation of the new OHP horticultural acquisition for the full year in 2018. Internationally, we are poised for modest growth of our traditional product portfolio, boosted by full-year sales of our Latin American acquisition Grupo AgriCenter. While addressing these markets, we will continue to plan for the future by investing in technology innovation, new products and portfolio defense. Please join us on our earnings call, where we will give you more color on our business.”

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 Monday, March 12, 2018. 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

William A. Kuser, Director of Investor Relations

(949) 260-1200

williamk@amvac-chemical.com

 

The Equity Group Inc.

www.theequitygroup.com

Lena Cati

Lcati@equityny.com


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2017 and 2016

(In thousands, except share data)

 

     2017     2016  
Assets     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 11,337     $ 7,869  

Receivables:

    

Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $46 and $42, respectively

     102,534       83,777  

Other

     7,071       3,429  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     109,605       87,206  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Inventories

     123,124       120,576  

Prepaid expenses

     10,817       11,424  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     254,883       227,075  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     49,321       50,295  

Intangible assets, net of applicable amortization

     180,950       121,433  

Goodwill

     22,184       —    

Other assets

     28,254       31,153  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 535,592     $ 429,956  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity     

Current liabilities:

    

Current installments of other liabilities

   $ 5,395     $ 26  

Accounts payable

     53,748       24,358  

Deferred revenue

     14,574       3,848  

Accrued program costs

     39,054       42,930  

Accrued expenses and other payables

     12,061       12,072  

Income taxes payable

     1,370       13,840  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     126,202       97,074  

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

     77,486       40,951  

Other liabilities, excluding current installments

     10,306       2,868  

Deferred income tax liabilities, net

     16,284       6,706  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     230,278       147,599  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

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 32,241,866 shares in 2017 and 31,819,695 shares in 2016

     3,225       3,183  

Additional paid-in capital

     75,658       71,699  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (4,507     (4,851

Retained earnings

     238,953       220,428  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     313,329       290,459  

Less treasury stock at cost, 2,450,634 shares in 2017 and in 2016

     (8,269     (8,269
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

American Vanguard Corporation stockholders’ equity

     305,060       282,190  

Non-controlling interest

     254       167  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     305,314       282,357  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 535,592     $ 429,956  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     2017     2016     2015  

Net sales

   $ 355,047     $ 312,113     $ 289,382  

Cost of sales

     207,655       183,825       177,480  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     147,392       128,288       111,902  

Operating expenses

     120,598       107,748       100,378  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     26,794       20,540       11,524  

Interest expense, net

     1,941       1,623       2,562  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes and loss on equity investments

     24,853       18,917       8,962  

Provision for income taxes

     4,443       5,540       2,009  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before loss on equity investments

     20,410       13,377       6,953  

Less net loss from equity method investments

     (49     (353     (636
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     20,361       13,024       6,317  

Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest

     (87     (236     274  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to American Vanguard

   $ 20,274     $ 12,788     $ 6,591  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per common share – basic

   $ 0.70     $ 0.44     $ 0.23  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per common share – assuming dilution

   $ 0.68     $ 0.44     $ 0.23  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

     29,100       28,859       28,673  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding – assuming dilution

     29,703       29,394       29,237  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ANALYSIS OF SALES

For the Three Years Ended December 31, 2017

(In thousands)

 

     2017      2016      2015  

Net sales:

        

Insecticides

   $ 132,137      $ 119,226      $ 117,180  

Herbicides/soil fumigants/fungicides

     121,581        123,540        111,897  

Other, including plant growth regulators

     47,691        29,438        29,013  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total crop

     301,409        272,204        258,090  

Non-crop

     53,638        39,909        31,292  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 355,047      $ 312,113      $ 289,382  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Sales:

        

U.S.

   $ 256,142      $ 228,854      $ 212,087  

International

     98,905        83,259        77,295  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 355,047      $ 312,113      $ 289,382  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In thousands)

 

     2017     2016     2015  

Increase cash

      

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 20,361     $ 13,024     $ 6,317  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in)

operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization of fixed and intangible assets

     16,959       16,327       16,474  

Amortization of other long term assets and debt issuance costs

     5,221       5,203       5,275  

Amortization of discounted liabilities

     110       16       140  

Stock-based compensation

     4,714       3,167       3,881  

Excess tax benefit from share based compensation

     —         (96     (23

Increase (decrease) in deferred income taxes

     398       (151     27  

Operating loss from equity method investment

     49       353       629  

Loss from dilution of equity method investment

     —         —         7  

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

      

Decrease (increase) in net receivables

     754       (11,817     13,034  

Decrease in inventories

     16,183       15,901       29,154  

(Increase) decrease in income tax receivable/payable, net

     (12,073     1,186       4,872  

Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets

     647       (3,872     2,082  

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

     3,322       9,015       (5,068

Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue

     10,726       (5,040     7,990  

Decrease in accrued program costs

     (4,529     (1,441     (8,175

(Decrease) increase in other payables

     (3,841     4,631       1,952  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     59,001       46,406       78,568  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Capital expenditures

     (6,666     (10,630     (6,899

Investment

     (950     (3,283     (125

Acquisitions of businesses and intangible assets

     (81,896     (224     (36,667
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (89,512     (14,137     (43,691
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Payments under line of credit agreement

     (103,975     (107,600     (121,400

Borrowings under line of credit agreement

     141,000       80,000       90,880  

Debt issuance cost

     (751     —         —    

Payment on other long-term liabilities

     (26     (704     (1,543

Excess tax benefit from share based compensation

     —         96       23  

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

     (713     241       317  

Payment of cash dividends

     (1,600     (578     (1,141
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     33,935       (28,545     (32,864
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     3,424       3,724       2,013  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     44       (1,379     (1,374

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     7,869       5,524       4,885  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 11,337     $ 7,869     $ 5,524  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

      

Cash paid (received) during the year for:

      

Interest

   $ 1,500     $ 1,748     $ 2,750  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income taxes, net

   $ 17,841     $ 4,947     $ (3,697