EX-99.1 2 d796763dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN VANGUARD REPORTS Q2 2024 RESULTS

Office of the CEO Kickstarts Liquidity and Transformation Initiatives

New Credit Agreement Bolsters Working Capital Needs

Newport Beach, CA – August 8, 2024 – American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE: AVD) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights versus Second Quarter 2023:

 

 

Net sales of $128.2 million v. $132.8 million

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA1 of $6.2 million v. $10.7 million

 

 

Earnings per share of $(0.42) v. $(0.04)

First Half of 2024 Financial Highlights versus First Half of 2023:

 

 

Net sales of $263.4 million v. $257.7 million

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA of $21.7 million v. $22.2 million

 

 

Earnings per diluted share of $(0.36) v. $0.03

“In the face of adverse market conditions, quarterly net sales were slightly below, and first half net sales were slightly above, those of the comparable periods last year. We did record double-digit increases in net sales of our domestic non-crop business and Green Solutions products, driven by strong demand in Central America. However, our profitability was reduced largely due to non-recurring charges, including severance compensation for the former CEO and other one-time costs including various expenses in support of our business transformation activity. That said, the company does not find these results to be acceptable and is focused on changing direction with urgency,” stated Timothy Donnelly, Acting CEO of American Vanguard.

Mr. Donnelly continued, “We have taken immediate steps to enhance liquidity and improve our cost structure. On August 8, 2024, the company entered into an amended credit facility with our senior lenders to relax our EBITDA-based covenant through Q3 of 2025, while significantly upsizing the amount of non-recurring charges that we can exclude from our adjusted EBITDA calculation. These measures will improve our borrowing capacity in light of trailing four-quarter performance. The amended agreement includes an increase in interest rates at the highest leverage ratios and adds a requirement for lender consent in connection with share repurchases, dividends and acquisitions. We thank the lender group for moving quickly and for their continued support.”

 

1 

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted 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 adjusted EBITDA are detailed in the reconciliation attached to this news release. Other companies (including the Company’s competitors) may define adjusted EBITDA differently.


Mr. Donnelly continued, “In addition, after a detailed review, we have recently trimmed our workforce by about 4% and set in motion multiple initiatives to maximize cash while managing inventory downward, including selling out select non-strategic inventory positions to generate cash, building to demand and controlling the accounts receivable/accounts payable cycle. Further, we have redoubled our effort to reduce controllable expenses over the second half, including selling expenses, travel and entertainment and use of contractors.”

Mr. Donnelly added, “With respect to recent developments affecting our product, Dacthal, as reported widely by the press earlier in the week, the EPA has issued an emergency suspension of that product which prevents its sale, distribution and use. As you may recall, we had voluntarily suspended sales of Dacthal last April and submitted a mitigated label in an effort to meet the agency’s concerns. In light of our cessation of sales at that time, we removed Dacthal sales from our 2024 forecast assumptions. We are, of course, working in good faith with both EPA and our customers to ensure compliance with the suspension order and will have more to report on this in the near term.”

Mark Basset, board member on special assignment with the Company’s Office of the CEO, stated, “We’ve done a lot of hard work laying the foundation for a successful business transformation that touches every aspect of the company from a new organizational design, to new commercial strategies, to more cost effective operations. Now is the time to begin to implement those plans with sense of urgency and purpose.”

Dr. Basset continued, “Accordingly, in the interest of allocating capital prudently, we are seeking a partner within the precision application space to take over the broader commercialization and funding of SIMPAS. In addition, working with our consultant Kearney, we are pursuing multiple paths toward improving operating leverage, including material procurement, manufacturing efficiency, SKU rationalization, customer and pricing strategies and structural reorganization, which, we believe, will meaningfully improve our cost structure, in an effort to push our adjusted EBITDA margins to 15% on a fully-realized basis in 2026.”

Mr. Donnelly concluded, “In light of the current state of the market and forecasted demand, which we expect to be stable, we are lowering our full year 2024 targets to adjusted EBITDA of $40 - $50 million (compared to our previous estimate of $60 - $70 million) and net sales to be down 2%-to-flat (compared to our previous estimate of sales up 6% to 9%) or $565 million to $580 million. On a related note, we continue to make progress in our effort to hire a CEO. However, during the pendency of the search, the Office of the CEO has a mandate to improve liquidity and change the company for the better and to do so with a sense of urgency. Please join us on our earnings call for more details.”

Conference Call

Timothy Donnelly, Acting CEO, Mark Bassett, Board Member and David T. Johnson, VP & CFO, will conduct a conference call focusing on the financial results and strategic themes at 4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 201-493-6744. Please call in 10 minutes before the scheduled start time 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. Over the past 20 years, through product and business acquisitions, the Company has expanded its operations into 21 countries and now has over 1,000 product registrations in 56 nations worldwide. Its strategy rests on three growth initiatives – i) Core Business (through innovation of conventional products) and ii) Green Solutions (with over 120 biorational products – including fertilizers, microbials, nutritionals and non-conventional products). 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.

 

Company Contact:    Investor Representative:
American Vanguard Corporation    The Equity Group Inc.
Anthony Young, Director of Investor Relations    www.theequitygroup.com
(949) 260-1200    Lena Cati
anthonyy@amvac-chemical.com    Lcati@equityny.com


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash

   $ 17,949     $ 11,416  

Receivables:

    

Trade, net of allowance for credit losses of $7,982 and $7,107, respectively

     192,081       182,613  

Other

     6,287       8,356  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total receivables, net

     198,368       190,969  

Inventories

     244,935       219,551  

Prepaid expenses

     9,146       6,261  

Income taxes receivable

     7,183       3,824  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     477,581       432,021  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     74,652       74,560  

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

     22,635       22,417  

Intangible assets, net of amortization

     166,958       172,508  

Goodwill

     48,878       51,199  

Deferred income tax assets

     3,367       2,849  

Other assets

     13,384       11,994  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 807,455     $ 767,548  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 93,912     $ 68,833  

Customer prepayments

     12,090       65,560  

Accrued program costs

     86,094       68,076  

Accrued expenses and other payables

     14,444       16,354  

Operating lease liabilities, current

     6,612       6,081  

Income taxes payable

     1,776       5,591  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     214,928       230,495  

Long-term debt

     211,254       138,900  

Operating lease liabilities, long term

     16,735       17,113  

Deferred income tax liabilities

     8,670       7,892  

Other liabilities

     2,643       3,138  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     454,230       397,538  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.10 par value per share; authorized 400,000 shares; none issued

     —        —   

Common stock, $0.10 par value per share; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued 34,655,429 shares at June 30, 2024 and 34,676,787 shares at December 31, 2023

     3,465       3,467  

Additional paid-in capital

     113,165       110,810  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (13,256     (5,963

Retained earnings

     321,052       332,897  

Less treasury stock at cost, 5,915,182 shares at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023

     (71,201     (71,201
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     353,225       370,010  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 807,455     $ 767,548  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


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,
 
     2024     2023     2024     2023  

Net sales

   $ 128,209     $ 132,790     $ 263,352     $ 257,674  

Cost of sales

     (90,446     (89,881     (183,171     (176,230
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     37,763       42,909       80,181       81,444  

Operating expenses

        

Selling, general and administrative

     (31,051     (29,742     (60,520     (56,140

Research, product development and regulatory

     (8,599     (9,413     (14,305     (18,283

Transformation

     (7,345     —        (8,497     —   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (9,232     3,754       (3,141     7,021  

Change in fair value of equity investment

     (125     (55     513       (77

Interest expense, net

     (3,917     (3,211     (7,610     (4,898
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income before provision for income taxes

     (13,274     488       (10,238     2,046  

Income tax benefit (expense)

     1,553       (1,541     69       (1,181
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

   $ (11,721   $ (1,053   $ (10,169   $ 865  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income per common share—basic

   $ (0.42   $ (0.04   $ (0.36   $ 0.03  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income per common share—assuming dilution

   $ (0.42   $ (0.04   $ (0.36   $ 0.03  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

     28,024       28,428       27,934       28,397  

Weighted average shares outstanding—assuming dilution

     28,024       28,428       27,934       28,985  


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

ANALYSIS OF SALES

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the three months
ended June 30,
             
     2024     2023     Change     % Change  

Net sales:

        

U.S. crop

   $ 52,289     $ 56,212     $ (3,923     -7

U.S. non-crop

     19,011       16,878       2,133       13
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

U.S. total

     71,300       73,090       (1,790     -2

International

     56,909       59,700       (2,791     -5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net sales

   $ 128,209     $ 132,790     $ (4,581     -3

Total cost of sales

   $ (90,446   $ (89,881   $ (565     1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total gross profit

   $ 37,763     $ 42,909     $ (5,146     -12
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross margin

     29     32    
     For the six months
ended June 30,
             
     2024     2023     Change     % Change  

Net sales:

        

U.S. crop

   $ 119,542     $ 118,105     $ 1,437       1

U.S. non-crop

     36,787       30,759       6,028       20
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

U.S. total

     156,329       148,864       7,465       5

International

     107,023       108,810       (1,787     -2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net sales

   $ 263,352     $ 257,674     $ 5,678       2

Total cost of sales

   $ (183,171   $ (176,230   $ (6,941     4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total gross profit

   $ 80,181     $ 81,444     $ (1,263     -2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross margin

     30     32    


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
     2024     2023  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net (loss) income

   $ (10,169   $ 865  

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

     4,365       4,322  

Amortization of intangibles assets

     6,539       6,707  

Amortization of other long-term assets

     194       1,117  

Provision for bad debts

     883       902  

Stock-based compensation

     2,752       2,541  

Change in deferred income taxes

     (276     (1,015

Changes in liabilities for uncertain tax positions or unrecognized tax benefits

     71       419  

Change in equity investment fair value

     (513     77  

Other

     213       117  

Foreign currency transaction gains

     (127     (382

Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:

    

Decrease (increase) in net receivables

     (11,962     6,092  

Increase in inventories

     (27,770     (50,900

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

     (3,730     (1,749

Change in income tax receivable/payable, net

     (7,129     (3,510

Increase (decrease) in net operating lease liability

     (66     132  

Increase in accounts payable

     27,197       9,105  

Decrease in customer prepayments

     (53,468     (83,225

Increase in accrued program costs

     18,209       19,607  

Decrease in other payables and accrued expenses

     (1,665     (7,824
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (56,452     (96,602
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (4,944     (6,498

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

     75       44  

Intangible assets

     (1,529     (718
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (6,398     (7,172
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Payments under line of credit agreement

     (64,005     (54,050

Borrowings under line of credit agreement

     136,359       162,500  

Net receipt from the issuance of common stock under ESPP

     430       480  

Net receipt from the exercise of stock options

     —        32  

Net payment for tax withholding on stock-based compensation awards

     (829     (1,948

Repurchase of common stock

     —        (7,226

Payment of cash dividends

     (1,670     (1,702
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     70,285       98,086  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     7,435       (5,688

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (902     (8

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     11,416       20,328  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 17,949     $ 14,632  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDA

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2024     2023     2024     2023  

Net (loss) income

   $ (11,721   $ (1,053   $ (10,169   $ 865  

Income tax (benefit) expense

     (1,553     1,541       (69     1,181  

Interest expense, net

     3,917       3,211       7,610       4,898  

Depreciation and amortization

     5,463       5,889       11,093       12,146  

Stock compensation

     748       1,067       2,752       2,541  

Transformation costs & legal reserves

     9,310       —        10,462       —   

Proxy contest activities

     —        —        —        541  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA2

   $ 6,164     $ 10,655     $ 21,679     $ 22,172  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

2 

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted 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 adjusted EBITDA are detailed in the reconciliation attached to this news release. Other companies (including the Company’s competitors) may define adjusted EBITDA differently.