Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Cost of Sales

Cost of Sales—In addition to normal cost centers (i.e., direct labor, raw materials) included in cost of sales, the Company also includes such cost centers as Health and Safety, Environmental, Maintenance and Quality Control in cost of sales.

Other Than Cost of Sales-Operating Expenses

Other Than Cost of Sales—Operating Expenses—Operating expenses include cost centers for Selling, General and Administrative, Research and Product Development, Regulatory/Registration, Freight, Delivery and Warehousing.

	2013		2012		2011
Selling	$	32,929	$	25,869	$	23,318
General and administrative		33,536		29,715		21,429
Research, product development and regulatory		21,644		20,750		18,041
Freight, delivery and warehousing		27,503		25,468		21,054
	$	115,612	$	101,802	$	83,842

Freight, Delivery and Warehousing Expense

Freight, Delivery and Warehousing Expense—Freight, delivery and warehousing costs incurred by the Company are reported as operating expenses.

Advertising Expense

Advertising Expense—The Company expenses advertising costs in the period invoiced. Advertising expenses, which include promotional costs, are recognized in operating costs (specifically in selling expenses) in the consolidated statements of operations and were $4,011 in 2013, $2,680 in 2012 and $2,095 in 2011.

Inventories

Inventories—The Company values its inventories at lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method, including material, labor, factory overhead and subcontracting services. The Company writes down and makes adjustments to its inventory carrying values as a result of the effects of unutilized capacity, net realizable value assessments of slow moving and obsolete inventory and other annual adjustments to ensure that our standard costs continue to closely reflect manufacturing cost.

The components of inventories consist of the following:

	2013		2012
Finished products	$	126,872	$	74,900
Raw materials	$	12,958		13,051
	$	139,830	$	87,951

Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—Revenue from sales is recognized at the time title and the risks of ownership pass. This is when the customer has made the fixed commitment to purchase the goods, the products are shipped per the customer’s instructions, the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. The Company has in place procedures to ensure that revenue is recognized when earned. The procedures are subject to management’s review and from time to time certain sales are excluded until it is clear that the title has passed and there is no further recourse to the Company. Allowance for doubtful accounts is established based on estimates of losses related to customer receivable balances. Estimates are developed using either standard quantitative measures based on historical losses, adjusted for current economic conditions or by evaluating specific customer accounts for risk of loss.

Accrued Program Costs

Accrued Program Costs—In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, the Company classifies certain payments to its customers as a reduction of sales revenues. The Company describes these payments as “Programs.” Programs are a critical part of doing business in the agricultural chemicals business market place. For accounting purposes, programs are recorded as a reduction in gross sales and include market pricing adjustments, volume take up or other key performance indicator, driven payments made to distributors, retailers or growers at the end of a growing season. Each quarter management compares each sale transaction with published programs to determine what program liability has been incurred. Once this initial calculation is made for the specific quarter, sales and marketing management along with executive and financial management review the accumulated program balance and make assessments of whether or not customers are tracking in a manner that indicates that they will meet the requirements set out in the terms and conditions attached to each program. If management believes that customers are falling short of their annual goals then periodic adjustments will be made to the accumulated accrual to properly reflect the Company’s best estimate of the liability at the balance sheet date. The majority of adjustments are made at the end of the crop season, at which time customer performance can be fully assessed. 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.

Long-lived Assets

Long-lived Assets—The carrying value of long-lived assets is reviewed for impairment quarterly and/or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset. Generally, the fair value will be determined using valuation techniques such as the present value of expected future cash flows. There was no impairment of long-lived assets in 2013 or 2012.

Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation

Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation—Property, plant and equipment includes the cost of land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office furniture and fixtures, automobiles, construction projects and significant improvements to existing plant and equipment. Interest costs related to significant construction projects are capitalized at the Company’s current weighted effective interest rate. Expenditures for maintenance and minor repairs are expensed as incurred. When property or equipment is sold or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation is removed from the respective accounts, and the gain or loss realized on disposition is reflected in earnings. All plant and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method, utilizing the estimated useful property lives. Building lives range from 10 to 30 years; machinery and equipment lives range from 3 to 15 years; office furniture and fixture lives range from 3 to 10 years; automobile lives range from 3 to 6 years; construction projects and significant improvements to existing plant and equipment lives range from 3 to 15 years when placed in service. The agricultural chemicals business involves complex manufacturing processes that drive high capital cost plant.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation—Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, where the local currency is the functional currency, have been translated at period end exchange rates, and profit and loss accounts have been translated using weighted average yearly exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from translation have been recorded in the equity section of the balance sheet as cumulative translation adjustments in other comprehensive income (loss). The effects of foreign currency exchange gains and losses on transactions that are denominated in currencies other than the entity’s functional currency are remeasured to the functional currency using the end of the period exchange rates. The effects of remeasurement related to foreign currency transactions are included in current profit and loss accounts.

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedge Activities

Derivative financial instruments and hedge activities—In accordance with FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, the Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either other assets or other liabilities at fair value on the balance sheet. In accordance with the hierarchy contained in FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, the Company calculated fair value using observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (Level 2). During 2011, the Company entered into a Euro exchange forward contract in the amount of €4,500 for Euro-denominated liabilities that was settled in January 2013. These transactions were accounted for in accordance with the ASC 815, as non-designated hedges. During the period that the Company held the forward contract, the fair value was recorded in the Balance Sheet, with the change in value recorded in earnings, and generally offset by the gains and losses associated with the underlying foreign-currency-denominated balances, which were also reported in earnings.

At December 31, 2013, the Company had in place one interest rate swap contract with an amortizing notional amount of $36,750 that is accounted for under FASB ASC 815 as a cash flow hedge. The effective portion of the gains or losses on the interest rate swap are reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. Amounts in other comprehensive income expected to be reclassified to earnings in the coming 12 months are $(564). Amounts recorded in earnings for hedge ineffectiveness for the period ending December 2013 were immaterial.

The following tables illustrate the impact of derivatives on the Company’s statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013.

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Financial Performance For the Period Ended December 31
Derivatives in ASC 815 Cash Flow	Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)
Hedging Relationships	2013			2012			(Effective Portion)		2013			2012			(Ineffective Portion)		2013			2012
Interest rate contracts	$	(75	)	$	(472	)		Interest expense	$	(712	)	$	(721	)		Interest expense	$	(1	)	$	(1	)
Total	$	(75	)	$	(472	)			$	(712	)	$	(721	)			$	(1	)	$	(1	)

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on	Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative
under ASC 815	Derivative	2013		2012
Foreign exchange contracts	Other income/(expense)	$	—	$	(160	)
Total		$	—	$	(160	)

The counterparty to the Company’s interest rate derivative financial instrument is Bank of the West, the Company’s primary bank. Pledged cash collateral is not required under the interest rate swap contract. At December 31, 2013, the Company did not hold any other derivative financial instruments. As a result, there occurs no offsetting of derivative liabilities in the Company’s financial statements. The gross amount of derivative liabilities is equal to the net amount recognized in current installments of other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, as shown in the below table:

									Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
Description	Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities			Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position		Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Financial Position			Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Pledged		Net Amount
Derivatives by counterparty:
Bank of the West	$	(564	)	$	—	$	(564	)	$	—	$	—	$	(564	)
Total	$	(564	)	$	—	$	(564	)	$	—	$	—	$	(564	)

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—The primary identifiable intangible assets of the Company relate to assets associated with its product acquisitions. The Company adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 350, under which identifiable intangibles with finite lives are amortized and those with indefinite lives are not amortized. The estimated useful life of an identifiable intangible asset to the Company is based upon a number of factors including the effects of demand, competition, and expected changes in the marketability of the Company’s products. The Company re-evaluates whether these intangible assets are impaired on an annual basis, relying on a number of factors including operating results, business plans and future cash flows. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment using a process similar to that used to evaluate elements of property. The impairment test for identifiable intangible assets not subject to amortization consists of either a qualitative assessment or a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying amount. An impairment loss, if any, is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is typically estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis, which requires the Company to estimate the future cash flows anticipated to be generated by the particular asset(s) being tested for impairment as well as selecting a discount rate to measure the present value of the anticipated cash flows. When determining future cash flow estimates, the Company considers historical results adjusted to reflect current and anticipated operating conditions. Estimating future cash flows requires significant judgment by the Company, in such areas as: future economic conditions, industry-specific conditions, product pricing and necessary capital expenditures. The use of different assumptions or estimates for future cash flows could produce different impairment amounts (or none at all) for long-lived assets, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. The Company has performed an impairment review for the years ending December 31, 2013 and 2012, and there were no impairment losses recorded.

Fair Value of Equity Investment

Fair Value of Equity Investment—The Company utilizes the equity method of accounting with respect to its investment in TyraTech Inc. (“TyraTech”), a Delaware corporation that specializes in developing, marketing and selling pesticide products containing essential oils and other natural ingredients. At December 31, 2013, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in TyraTech was $2,701 and the quoted market value based on TyraTech’s share price (Level 1 input) was $4,073. The Company’s equity investment is included in other assets on the balance sheet.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The carrying values of cash, receivables and accounts payable approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt and note payable to our lender group is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities. Such fair value approximates the respective carrying values of the Company’s long-term debt and note payable to bank.

The Company measures fair value based on the prices that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are based on a three-tier hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. These tiers include the following:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data. These inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted market prices in markets that are not active; 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: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible, as well as considering counterparty credit risk in the assessment of fair value.

	Fair Value Measurements Using Input Type
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
As of December 31, 2013:
Liability:
Interest rate derivative financial instruments (1)	$	—	$	564	$	—
Foreign currency derivative financial instrument	$	—	$	—	$	—
As of December 31, 2012:
Liability:
Interest rate derivative financial instruments (1)	$	—	$	1,201	$	—
Foreign currency derivative financial instrument	$	—	$	160	$	—

(1) Includes accrued interest expense.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes—The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes as set forth in ASC 740. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using tax rates expected to be in effect during the years in which the basis differences reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In determining the need for valuation allowances, the Company considers projected future taxable income and the availability of tax planning strategies. If in the future the Company determines that it would not be able to realize its recorded deferred tax assets, an increase in the valuation allowance would be recorded, decreasing earnings in the period in which such determination is made.

The Company assesses its income tax positions and records tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon the Company’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. For those tax positions where there is greater than 50% likelihood that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company has recorded the largest amount of tax benefit that may potentially be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where there is less than 50% likelihood that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements.

Per Share Information

Per Share Information—FASB ASC 260, requires dual presentation of basic earnings per share (“EPS”) and diluted EPS on the face of all income statements. Basic EPS is computed as net income divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts, which, for the Company, consists of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, are exercised as calculated using the treasury stock method.

The components of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:

	2013		2012		2011
Numerator:
Net income attributable to American Vanguard	$	34,449	$	36,867	$	22,068
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic		28,301		27,914		27,559
Dilutive effect of stock options and grants		598		842		316
		28,899		28,756		27,875

Accounting Estimates

Accounting Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses at the date that the financial statements are prepared. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications—Certain prior year’s amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Total Comprehensive Income

Total comprehensive income—In addition to net income, total comprehensive income includes changes in equity that are excluded from the consolidated statements of operations and are recorded directly into a separate section of stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, total comprehensive income consisted of net income attributable to American Vanguard, the change in fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation—The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees and directors using FASB ASC 718. When applying the provisions of FASB ASC 718, the Company also applies the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107 and SAB No. 110.

FASB ASC 718 requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the fair value of the portion of share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. Stock-based compensation expense recognized is reduced for forfeitures as required by FASB ASC 718. Estimated forfeitures recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations reduced compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 by $247. The Company estimates that 8% of all restricted stock grants that are currently vesting will be forfeited. The Company estimates that 28.6% of the performance based shares that are currently vesting will be forfeited. The Company estimates that 0.8% of all stock option grants that are currently vesting will be forfeited. These estimates are reviewed quarterly and revised as necessary.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $21 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested options, which will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 0.5 years. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $5,550 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested restricted stock, which will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.9 years. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $564 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested performance based stock, which will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 2.4 years. This projected expense will change if any stock options and restricted stock are granted or cancelled prior to the respective reporting periods or if there are any changes required to be made for estimated forfeitures.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model (“Black-Scholes model”) to value option grants using the following weighted average assumptions:

	2011
Risk free interest rate		2.26	%
Dividend yield		0.05	%
Volatility factor		55.31	%
Weighted average life (years)		6.0 years

There were no option shares granted during 2013 and 2012. The weighted average grant-date fair values of options granted during 2011 was $6.62.

The expected volatility and expected life assumptions are highly complex and use subjective variables. The variables take into consideration, among other things, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behavior. The Company estimates expected term using the “safe harbor” provisions of SAB 107 and SAB 110. The Company used historical volatility as a proxy for estimating expected volatility.

In December 2012, two employees retired, both of whom held options to acquire common stock. At the time of their retirement, options to acquire a total of 13,334 shares of common stock at $7.50 per share were unvested. The Company modified these unvested awards allowing the retiring employees to fully vest. Additionally, the retired employees were given one year to exercise these newly vested awards. At the time of modification, these modified awards were treated as a new grant and their fair value was measured as of the modification date using the Black Scholes model at $23.55 per share, resulting in $314 of additional stock-based compensation expense being recognized in 2012.

The Company values restricted stock grants using the Company’s traded stock price on the date of grant. The weighted average grant-date fair values of restricted stock grants during 2013, 2012, and 2011 were $30.91, $21.51, and $12.30, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

In February 2013, The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, establishes new requirements for disclosing reclassifications of items out of accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI). Specifically, (1) disclosure is required of the changes in components of accumulated OCI, (2) disclosure is required of the effects on individual line items in net income for each item of accumulated OCI that is reclassified in its entirety to net income, and (3) cross references are required to other disclosures that provide additional details for OCI items that are not reclassified in their entirety to net income. The requirements of ASU 2013-02 apply to all entities (i.e., both public and nonpublic) that report items of OCI in any period presented. ASU 2013-02 is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2013.

In October 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2012-04, Technical Corrections and Improvements. This update primarily makes amendments to various Codifications to (1) conform the format and writing style of certain guidance carried forward without modification from pre-Codification pronouncements, (2) to correct references and provide clarification through updated language, and (3) to relocate guidance within the Codification to a more appropriate location. In addition, ASU No. 2012-4 conforms the use of the term fair value throughout the Codification to reflect fully the measurement and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures (e.g. to replace the terms “market value” and “mark-to-market” with “fair value” and “subsequently measure at fair value,” respectively). The majority of the amendments do not change the accounting practice. However, where applicable, the Company has applied the updates.