8-K

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)     October 7, 2004

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)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

4695 MacArthur Court Newport Beach, California	92660
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code     (949) 260-1200

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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))

Item 1.01. ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

On October 7, 2004, we executed an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2004, with a syndicate of commercial lenders led by Bank of the West, as the administrative agent and a lender, Harris Trust and Savings Bank as a lender, and First Bank & Trust as a lender, and Greenstone Farm Credit Services, ACA/FLCA as a participant, for an $80 million fully-secured credit facility. This credit facility replaces our previous credit facility with Bank of the West. AMVAC Chemical Corporation, our wholly-owned subsidiary, is the borrower and we and certain of our other subsidiaries are guarantors under this credit facility. This credit facility consists of a $45 million revolving line of credit and a $35 million term loan. These loans bear interest at the prime rate or at an adjusted LIBOR rate plus certain margins and commitment fees (in each case dependent on our consolidated funded debt ratio). The principal payments of the term loan are payable in equal quarterly installments on or before the last business day of each February, May, August and November, commencing November 30, 2004 and in one final installment in the amount necessary to repay the remaining outstanding principal balance of the term loan in full on the maturity date. The principal payments on the revolving loan must be repaid no later than October 7, 2009. Interest accruing on prime rate loans are payable quarterly, in arrears, on the last day of each March, June, September and December, and on the maturity date of such loan in the amount of interest then accrued but unpaid. Interest accruing on the LIBOR loans are payable on the last day of the interest period, provided that, with an interest period longer than three months, interest is payable on the last day of each three-month period after the commencement of such interest period.

Item 8.01. OTHER EVENTS

On October 14, 2004, we issued a press release announcing that we entered into the above credit facility. The full text of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c) Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1     Press release dated October 14, 2004 of American Vanguard Corporation.

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SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION (Registrant)
By:	/s/ JAMES A. BARRY
	James A. Barry
	Senior Vice President
	Chief Financial Officer

Date: October 13, 2004

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release dated October 14, 2004 of American Vanguard Corporation announcing that it entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Facility.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN VANGUARD SECURES NEW FIVE-YEAR CREDIT FACILTY

Newport Beach, CA – October 14, 2004 – American Vanguard Corporation (AMEX: AVD), today announced that it executed a five-year $80 million fully-secured credit facility with a syndicate of banks led by Bank of the West. The facility consists of a $45 million revolving line of credit, and a $35 million term loan, replacing the Company’s previous $45 million revolving credit line and $10 million term loan. The Company intends to utilize the credit facility as needed for ongoing working capital requirements and general corporate purposes.

James Barry, Senior Vice President and CFO of American Vanguard, commented, “We have a long and valued history with Bank of the West and appreciate the relationship. Although we had funds available under our former facility, we are pleased to have the further financial flexibility to execute our growth strategy of pursuing additional product acquisitions and licensing opportunities.”

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. The Company’s basic strategy is to acquire brand name, niche product lines from larger companies that divest mature products to focus on newly discovered molecules. During 2004, American Vanguard has been recognized as one of BusinessWeek’s Hot Growth Companies (#93) and Fortune Small Business’ America’s 100 Fastest Growing Small Companies (#26). American Vanguard is included on the Russell 2000^® and Russell^® 3000 Indexes. 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.

CONTACT:	-OR-	AVD’S INVESTOR RELATIONS FIRM
American Vanguard Corporation		The Equity Group Inc.
Eric G. Wintemute, President & CEO		www.theequitygroup.com
James A. Barry, Senior Vice President & CFO		Lauren Barbera
(949) 260-1200		lbarbera@equityny.com
		(212) 836-9610
		Loren G. Mortman
		(212) 836-9604

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