American Vanguard (AVD) 10-Q 2002 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM            TO
	Commission file number 0-6354

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization)	95-2588080 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
4695 MacArthur Court, Newport Beach, California	92660
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(949) 260-1200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes   X  No      

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS
DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes      No      

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, $.10 Par Value — 3,878,134 shares as of November 11, 2002.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
	ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
		Consolidated Statements of Operations
		Consolidated Balance Sheets
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
	Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
	Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT 99.1

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

INDEX

			Page Number
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
	Item 1. Financial Statements
		Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001		1
		Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001		2
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001		4
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		6
	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			11
	Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk			18
	Item 4. Controls and Procedures			18
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION				19
SIGNATURE PAGE				20
CERTIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS				21

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

		For the three months						For the nine months
		ended September 30						ended September 30
		2002			2001			2002			2001
Net sales		$	30,555,700		$	24,655,500		$	71,483,600		$	59,427,700
Cost of sales			17,770,700			13,239,700			40,124,900			32,963,300
	Gross profit		12,785,000			11,415,800			31,358,700			26,464,400
Operating expenses			9,821,900			8,649,400			25,097,300			21,141,800
Operating income before non-recurring items			2,963,100			2,766,400			6,261,400			5,322,600
Settlement income			—			—			—			(296,400	)
Gain on sale of emission credits			—			—			—			(465,500	)
	Operating Income		2,963,100			2,766,400			6,261,400			6,084,500
Interest expense			248,300			300,800			723,400			1,262,800
Interest income			(6,500	)		(8,600	)		(18,700	)		(13,400	)
Interest capitalized			(103,200	)		—			(346,800	)		—
	Income before income taxes		2,824,500			2,474,200			5,903,500			4,835,100
Income taxes			1,059,100			989,700			2,213,800			1,934,000
	Net income	$	1,765,400		$	1,484,500		$	3,689,700		$	2,901,100
Earnings per common share		$	.46		$	.39		$	.96		$	.76
Earnings per common share- assuming dilution		$	.44		$	.38		$	.92		$	.74
Weighted average shares outstanding (note 4 & 6)			3,876,374			3,828,604			3,845,155			3,826,288
Weighted average shares outstanding — assuming dilution (notes 4 & 6)			4,048,451			3,918,031			4,032,031			3,910,427

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

1

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

ASSETS (note 7)

				September 30,		Dec. 31,
				2002		2001
				(Unaudited)		(Note)
Current assets:
	Cash			$	601,800	$	853,000
	Receivables:
		Trade			20,412,300		16,885,400
		Other			402,000		229,200
					20,814,300		17,114,600
	Inventories (note 2)				26,313,900		24,029,800
	Prepaid expenses				892,200		1,145,900
	Deferred tax asset				1,231,700		1,231,700
			Total current assets		49,853,900		44,375,000
Property, plant and equipment, net (note 3)					19,476,200		13,398,000
Land held for development					210,800		210,800
Intangible assets					11,126,500		10,049,500
Other assets					635,000		531,600
				$	81,302,400	$	68,564,900

(Continued)

2

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

			September 30,		Dec. 31,
			2002		2001
			(Unaudited)		(Note)
Current liabilities:
	Current installments of long-term debt		$	1,573,500	$	701,800
	Accounts payable			7,800,700		9,400,300
	Accrued expenses and other payables			9,900,700		8,895,100
		Total current liabilities		19,274,900		18,997,200
Long-term debt, excluding current installments (note 5)				23,508,800		14,163,900
Other long-term liabilities				—		83,300
Deferred income taxes				1,362,200		1,362,200
		Total liabilities		44,145,900		34,606,600
Stockholders’ Equity:
	Preferred stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 400,000 shares; none issued			—		—
	Common stock, $.10 par value per share, authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 4,238,023 shares at September 30, 2002 and 4,160,000 shares at December 31, 2001 (note 4)			423,800		416,000
	Additional paid-in capital (note 4)			9,706,700		9,213,400
	Retained earnings (note 4)			29,262,400		26,171,500
				39,392,900		35,800,900
	Less treasury stock at cost 359,889 shares at September 30, 2002 and 339,809 shares at December 31, 2001			2,236,400		1,842,600
		Total stockholders’ equity		37,156,500		33,958,300
			$	81,302,400	$	68,564,900

Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2001 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

3

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001

(Unaudited)

Increase (decrease) in cash					2002			2001
	Cash flows from operating activities:
		Net income			$	3,689,700		$	2,901,100
		Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
			Depreciation and amortization			1,787,300			1,532,600
			Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:
				Decrease (increase) in receivables		(3,699,700	)		9,167,600
				Increase in inventories		(2,284,100	)		(4,382,400	)
				(Increase)decrease in prepaid expenses		253,700			(535,300	)
				Increase (decrease) in accounts payable		(1,599,600	)		205,100
				Increase in other payables and accrued expenses		728,400			1,813,300
				Net cash provided by      (used in) operating activities		(1,124,300	)		10,702,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Capital expenditures					(7,091,200	)		(2,245,800	)
	Net decrease (increase) in other noncurrent assets					(1,954,700	)		14,400
				Net cash used in investing activities		(9,045,900	)		(2,231,400	)

(Continued)

4

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Continued

For The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001

(Unaudited)

Increase (decrease) in cash			2002			2001
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Proceeds from (payments on) lines of credit agreement		$	900,000		$	(5,800,000	)
	Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			10,000,000			—
	Payments on long-term debt			(683,400	)		(1,543,600	)
	Proceeds from issuance of common stock			501,100			70,200
	Purchase of treasury stock			(393,800	)		(586,300	)
	Payment of cash dividends			(404,900	)		(287,100	)
		Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		9,919,000			(8,146,800	)
		Net increase (decrease) in cash		(251,200	)		323,800
Cash at beginning of year				853,000			361,000
Cash as of September 30			$	601,800		$	684,800

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financial activities:

On September 19, 2002, the Company announced that the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $.05 per share. The dividend was paid on October 18, 2002 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on October 4, 2002. The Company recorded a liability and a reduction of retained earnings for $193,900 as of September 30, 2002.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

5

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included. Operating results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2002 For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.

2.

Inventories — The components of inventories consist of the following:

	Sept. 30, 2002		December 31, 2001
Finished products	$	19,060,900	$	19,404,900
Raw materials		7,253,000		4,624,900
	$	26,313,900	$	24,029,800

3. Property, plant and equipment at September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 consists of the following:

	Sept. 30,		December 31,
	2002		2001
Land	$	2,441,400	$	2,441,400
Buildings and improvements		4,785,500		4,776,700
Machinery and equipment		25,218,600		24,626,600
Office furniture and fixtures		2,367,000		2,295,900
Automotive equipment		124,000		150,900
Construction in progress		11,148,100		4,892,500
		46,084,600		39,184,000
Less accumulated depreciation		26,608,400		25,786,000
	$	19,476,200	$	13,398,000

6

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4.	On September 19, 2002, the Company announced that the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $.05 per share. The dividend was distributed on October 18, 2002 to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 4, 2002.
	On March 18, 2002, the Company announced that the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $.14 ($.105 as adjusted for 4-for-3 stock split) per share as well as a 4-for-3 stock split. Both dividends were distributed on April 12, 2002 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 29, 2002. The cash dividend was paid on the number of shares outstanding prior to the 4-for-3 stock split. Stockholders entitled to fractional shares resulting from the stock split received cash in lieu of such fractional shares based on the closing price of the Company’s stock on March 29, 2002. Accordingly, all weighted average share and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the stock split.
5.	In May 2002, the Company entered into a new $45,000,000 fully-secured long-term credit agreement. The Company’s primary bank (the “Bank”) acted as sole administrative agent arranger and syndication agent. The Bank syndicated the new credit facility with another bank. The $45,000,000 credit facility consists of a senior secured revolving line of credit of $35,000,000 and a $10,000,000 senior secured term loan. The borrowings under the credit agreement bear interest at the prime rate (“Referenced Loans”), or at the Company’s option, at a fixed rate of interest offered by the Bank (“Fixed Loans”) for terms of one, two, three, six, nine or twelve months. Interest on the Referenced 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 on the Fixed 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. The senior secured revolving line of credit matures on May 31, 2005. The term loan matures on May 31, 2007. The principal payments of the term loan are payable in equal quarterly installments of $625,000 each, on or before the last business day of each February, May, August and November, commencing May 31, 2003 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.
6.	Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128, Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) requires dual presentation of basic 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

7

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Company, consists of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock are exercised.

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

		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30				September 30
		2002		2001		2002		2001
Numerator:
	Net income	$	1,765,400	$	1,484,500	$	3,689,700	$	2,901,100
Denominator:
	Weighted averages shares outstanding		3,876,374		3,828,604		3,845,155		3,826,288
	Assumed exercise of stock options		172,077		89,427		186,876		84,139
			4,048,451		3,918,031		4,032,031		3,910,427

7.	Substantially all of the Company’s assets not otherwise specifically pledged as collateral on existing loans and capital leases, are pledged as collateral under the Company’s credit agreement with a bank. As referenced in note 1, for further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto (specifically note 3) included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
8.	Reclassification — Certain items have been reclassified in the prior period consolidated financial statements to conform with the September 30, 2002 presentation.
9.	Recent Accounting Pronouncements — In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) finalized FASB Statements No. 141, Business Combinations (SFAS 141), and No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (SFAS 142). SFAS 141 requires the use of the purchase method of accounting and prohibits the use of the pooling-of-interests method of accounting for business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001. SFAS 141 also requires that the Company recognize acquired intangible assets apart from goodwill if the acquired intangible assets meet certain criteria. SFAS 141 applies to all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 and for purchase business combinations completed on or after July 1, 2001.
	SFAS 142 requires, among other things, that companies no longer amortize goodwill, but instead test goodwill for impairment at least annually. In addition, SFAS 142 requires that the Company identify reporting units for the purposes of assessing potential future impairments of goodwill,

8

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

reassess the useful lives of other existing recognized intangible assets, and cease amortization of intangible assets with an indefinite useful life. SFAS 142 is required to be applied in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 to all goodwill and other intangible assets recognized at that date. SFAS 142 requires the Company to complete a transitional goodwill impairment test six months from the date of adoption.

The Company’s previous business combinations were accounted for using the purchase method. The net carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets was $10,049,500 and $11,126,500 as of December 31, 2001 and September 30, 2002, respectively. SFAS 141 and SFAS 142 were adopted on the effective dates, and did not result in any material effects on the Company’s financial statements.

SFAS 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, was issued in June 2001 and is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. SFAS 143 requires that any legal obligation related to the retirement of long-lived assets be quantified and recorded as a liability with the associated asset retirement cost capitalized on the balance sheet in the period it is incurred when a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the liability can be made. SFAS 143 will be adopted on the effective date, and adoption is not expected to result in any material effects on the Company’s financial statements.

SFAS 144, Accounting for the Impairment of Disposal of Long-lived Assets, was issued in August 2001 and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. SFAS 144 provides a single, comprehensive accounting model for impairment and disposal of long-lived assets and discontinued operations. SFAS 144 was adopted on the effective date, and did not result in any material effects on the Company’s financial statements.

In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS Statement No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements 4, 44,and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections (SFAS 145). This statement eliminates the current requirement that gains and losses on debt extinguishment must be classified as extraordinary items in the income statement. Instead, such gains and losses will be classified as extraordinary items only if they are deemed to be unusual and infrequent, in accordance with the current GAAP criteria for extraordinary classification. In addition, SFAS 145 eliminates an inconsistency in lease accounting by requiring that modifications of capital leases that result in reclassification as operating leases be accounted for consistent with sale-leaseback accounting rules. The statement also contains other nonsubstantive corrections to authoritative accounting literature. The changes related to debt extinguishment will be effective for fiscal years beginning

9

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

after May 15, 2002, and the changes related to lease accounting will be effective for transactions occurring after May 15, 2002. Adoption of this standard will not have any immediate effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS Statement No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (SFAS 146), which addresses accounting for restructuring and similar costs. SFAS 146 supersedes previous accounting guidance, principally Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 94-3. The Company will adopt the provisions of SFAS 146 for restructuring activities initiated after December 31, 2002. SFAS 146 requires that the liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF No. 94-3, a liability for an exit cost was recognized at the date of a company’s commitment to an exit plan. SFAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. Accordingly, SFAS 146 may affect the timing of recognizing future restructuring costs as well as the amount recognized.

10

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS/RISK FACTORS:

The Company, from time-to-time, may discuss forward-looking statements including assumptions concerning the Company’s operations, future results and prospects. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors. In connection with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company provides the following cautionary statements identifying important factors which, among other things, could cause the actual results and events to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements and related assumptions contained in the entire Report. Such factors include, but are not limited to: product demand and market acceptance risks; the effect of economic conditions; weather conditions; changes in regulatory policy; the impact of competitive products and pricing; changes in foreign exchange rates; product development and commercialization difficulties; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; availability of capital resources general business regulations, including taxes and other risks as detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s reports and filings filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. The Company makes no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events, or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement. For more detailed information, refer to Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, Risk Factors, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Quarter Ended September 30:

The Company reported net income of $1,765,400 or $.44 per diluted share in the third quarter ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $1,484,500 or $.38 per diluted share for the same period in 2001.

Net sales increased by 24% or $5,900,200 to $30,555,700 for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 from $24,655,500 for the same period in 2001. A significant portion of the sales increase came from the Company’s cotton defoliant product line that was acquired in June 2002. The Company also had increased sales of its soil fumigant product line.

The gross profit margin for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 declined to 42% from 46% for the same period in 2001, due primarily to a change in product mix.

Operating expenses, which are net of other income, increased by $1,172,500 or 14% to $9,821,900 for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 as compared to

11

$8,649,400 for the same period in 2001. The differences in operating expenses by specific departmental costs are as follows:

• Selling expenses increased by $484,000 or 16% to $3,565,100 for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 from $3,081,100 for the same period in 2001. The increase was due primarily to increased variable selling expenses that relate to both increased sales levels and the product mix of sales.

• General and administrative expenses declined by $115,700 or 5% to $2,085,600 for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $2,201,300 for the same period in 2001. The decrease was due to a decline in outside professional fees and payroll and payroll related items.

• Research and product development costs and regulatory registration expenses increased by $465,000 or 31% to $1,967,200 for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $1,502,200 for the same period in 2001. The increase was due to increased costs incurred to generate scientific data related to the registration and possible new uses of the Company’s products.

• Freight, delivery, storage and warehousing increased by $339,200 or 18% to $2,204,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $1,864,800 for the same period in 2001. The increase was related to increased sales.

Interest costs before capitalized interest and interest income were $248,300 during the quarter ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $300,800 for same period in 2001. The Company’s average overall debt for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 was $24,098,000 as compared to $ 19,801,000 for the same period in 2001. Lower effective interest rates resulted in the decline in interest costs. The Company capitalized $103,200 of interest costs related to the re-commissioning of the Company’s Axis, Alabama facility during the quarter ended September 30, 2002.

Weather patterns can have an impact on the Company’s operations. Weather conditions influence pest population by impacting gestation cycles for particular pests and the effectiveness of some of the Company’s products, among other factors. The end user of some of the Company’s products may, because of weather patterns, delay or intermittently disrupt field work during the planting season which may result in a reduction of the use of some of the Company’s products.

Because of elements inherent to the Company’s business, such as differing and unpredictable weather patterns, crop growing cycles, changes in product mix of sales, ordering patterns that may vary in timing, and promotional/early order programs, measuring the Company’s performance on a quarterly basis, (gross profit margins on a quarterly basis may vary significantly) even when such comparisons are favorable, is not as meaningful an indicator as full-year comparisons. The primary reason is that the use cycles do not necessarily coincide with financial reporting cycles. Because of the Company’s cost structure, the combination of

12

variable revenue streams, and changing product mixes, results in varying quarterly levels of profitability.

Nine Months Ended September 30:

The Company reported net income of $3,689,700 or $.92 per diluted share in the nine months ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $2,901,100 or $.74 per diluted share for the same period in 2001.

Net sales increased by 20% or $12,055,900 to $71,483,600 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 from $59,427,700 for the same period in 2001. The increase in sales was a result of increased sales of the Company’s soil fumigants, insecticides and herbicide product lines which served to more than offset a decline in the Company’s fungicide and plant growth regulators product lines.

The gross profit margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 declined to 44% from 45% for the same period in 2001, due primarily to a change in product mix.

Operating expenses, which are net of other income, increased by $3,955,500 or 19% to $25,097,300 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $21,141,800 for the same period in 2001. The differences in operating expenses by specific departmental costs are as follows:

• Selling expenses increased by $1,747,800 or 20% to $10,289,200 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 from $8,541,400 for the same period in 2001. The increase was due primarily to increased variable selling expenses that relate to both increased sales levels and the product mix of sales.

• General and administrative expenses increased by $993,300 or 20% to $6,021,600 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $5,028,300 for the same period in 2001. The increase was due to increases in outside professional fees (primarily legal), coupled with the fact that the same period in 2001 realized the benefit of certain costs that were capitalized in the re-commissioning of the Company’s Axis, Alabama facility.

• Research and product development costs and regulatory registration expenses increased by $747,800 or 22% to $4,117,800 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $3,370,000 for the same period in 2001. The increase was due to increased costs incurred to generate scientific data related to the registration and possible new uses of the Company’s products.

• Freight, delivery, storage and warehousing increased by $466,600 or 11% to $4,668,700 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $4,202,100 for the same period in 2001. While the Company’s sales increased 20%, these expenses did not increase at the same rate because of the product mix of sales.

13

Interest costs before capitalized interest and interest income were $723,400 during the nine months ended September 30, 2002 as compared to $1,262,800 for same period in 2001. The Company’s average overall debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 was $22,671,000 as compared to $24,283,000 for the same period in 2001. Lower effective interest rates coupled with lower overall debt levels resulted in the decline in interest costs. The Company capitalized $346,800 of interest costs related to the re-commissioning of the Company’s Axis, Alabama facility during the nine ended September 30, 2002.

In 1986, the Company constructed an incinerator to destroy a waste gas that had been previously discharged to the atmosphere pursuant to an air permit. By reducing this emission, the Company was entitled to transfer a portion of its emission credits to others. The Company recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2001, a net gain before taxes of $465,500 as a result of the sale of a portion of its credits.

The Company settled negotiations with an insurance carrier related to the recovery of certain costs pertaining to the completed remediation work of a railroad siding which resulted in a net gain before taxes of $208,300 for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. The Company also settled a dispute over data compensation which resulted in a net gain before taxes of $88,100 for the nine months ended September 30, 2001.

     The burdens on public companies in the United States and on their officers and directors are increasing significantly. The federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“the Act”), the board corporate reform law passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President George Bush in July 2002, pending American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”) rule changes, and additional new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and other regulatory rules and changing market practices, are likely to collectively have a long-term impact on the governance, accounting, audit processes and SEC reporting of American Vanguard Corporation. Because the Sarbanes-Oxley Act directs the SEC to implement and interpret the new law by creating an array of new regulations, there is uncertainty as to certain implications for the Company and other public companies. The Company intends to fully comply with the Act. The Company has engaged an expert from McDermott, Will & Emery to review the Act with the Company's executive management and Board of Directors. The Company's Board of Directors held a special meeting in October 2002 for the sole purpose of reviewing the Act. Additionally, Eric G. Wintemute, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Vanguard Corporation, attended a conference hosted by AMEX during which the Act was extensively reviewed. The Company has found AMEX to be very helpful and the Company will continue to work with its legal experts and AMEX to assure compliance with the Act. The Company is not able to qualify, at this time, the costs associated with compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company used $1,124,300 in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. Net income of $3,689,700, non-cash depreciation and amortization of $1,787,300 and a decrease of $253,700 in prepaid expenses provided $5,730,700 of cash for operations. This was more than offset by increases in receivables and inventory of $3,699,700 and $2,284,100, respectively; and a decrease of $871,200 in payables and accrued expenses which used $6,855,000 in operating activities.

The Company used $9,045,900 in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2002. It invested $7,091,200 in capital expenditures of which approximately $5,600,000 relates to the re-commissioning of its facility located in Axis, Alabama. The Company also increased intangible and other noncurrent assets by $1,954,700.

Financing activities provided $9,919,000 for the first nine months of 2002. The Company received proceeds from long-term debt of $10,000,000. The Company made payments of its long-term debt of $683,400 while its net borrowings under its fully-secured revolving line of credit increased by $900,000. The Company also paid $404,900 in cash dividends, purchased treasury stock for $393,800 and received $501,100 from the issuance of common stock.

In May 2001, the Company announced that Amvac Chemical Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, completed the acquisition of a manufacturing facility from E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”). The facility, termed Amvac Axis, Alabama (“AAA”) is one of three such units located on DuPont’s five hundred and ten acre complex in Axis, Alabama. The

14

acquisition of AAA consisted of a long-term ground lease of twenty-five acres and the purchase of all improvements thereon. AAA is a multipurpose plant designed primarily to manufacture pyrethroids and organophosphates, including Fortress®, a corn soil insecticide that the Company purchased from DuPont in 2000. The acquisition of AAA significantly increased the Company’s capacity while also providing flexibility and geographic diversity. Management believes, as the Company looks to acquire additional product lines, AAA will allow the Company to produce compounds that could not be manufactured at the Company’s Los Angeles (Commerce, California) facility and will further complement the Company’s toll manufacturing capabilities. The Company began the commissioning phase of AAA during the third quarter of 2001 and this phase was nearly completed as of September 30, 2002. The Company intends to focus its efforts, in addition to acquiring new product lines and expanding the use of its current products, on discussions with companies that in this time of consolidation in the Company’s industry, may be interested in utilizing the Company’s toll manufacturing capabilities of AAA.

In May 2002, the Company entered into a new $45,000,000 fully-secured long-term credit agreement. The Company’s primary bank (the “Bank”) acted as sole administrative agent arranger and syndication agent. The Bank syndicated the new credit facility with another bank. The $45,000,000 credit facility consists of a senior secured revolving line of credit of $35,000,000 and a $10,000,000 senior secured term loan. The borrowings under the credit agreement bear interest at the prime rate (“Referenced Loans”), or at the Company’s option, a fixed rate of interest offered by the Bank (“Fixed Loans”) for terms of one, two, three, six, nine or twelve months. Interest on the Referenced 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 on the Fixed 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. The senior secured revolving line of credit matures on May 31, 2005. The term loan matures on May 31, 2007. The principal payments of the term loan are payable in equal quarterly installments of $625,000 each, on or before the last business day of each February, May, August and November, commencing May 31, 2003 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.

Management continues to believe, to finance its planned manufacturing capacity (AAA), to continue to improve its working capital position, and maintain flexibility in financing interim needs, it will continue to explore alternate sources of financing.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board finalized FASB Statements No. 141, Business Combinations (SFAS 141), and No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (SFAS 142). SFAS 141 requires the use of the purchase method of accounting and prohibits the use of the pooling-of-interests method of accounting for business combinations initiated after

15

June 30, 2001. SFAS 141 also requires that the Company recognize acquired intangible assets apart from goodwill if the acquired intangible assets meet certain criteria. SFAS 141 applies to all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 and for purchase business combinations completed on or after July 1, 2001.

SFAS 142 requires, among other things, that companies no longer amortize goodwill, but instead test goodwill for impairment at least annually. In addition, SFAS 142 requires that the Company identify reporting units for the purposes of assessing potential future impairments of goodwill, reassess the useful lives of other existing recognized intangible assets, and cease amortization of intangible assets with an indefinite useful life. SFAS 142 is required to be applied in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 to all goodwill and other intangible assets recognized at that date. SFAS 142 requires the Company to complete a transitional goodwill impairment test six months from the date of adoption.

The Company’s previous business combinations were accounted for using the purchase method. The net carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets was $10,049,500 and $11,126,500 as of December 31, 2001 and September 30, 2002, respectively. SFAS 141 and SFAS 142 were adopted on the effective dates, and did not result in any material effects on the Company’s financial statements.

SFAS 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, was issued in June 2001 and is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. SFAS 143 requires that any legal obligation related to the retirement of long-lived assets be quantified and recorded as a liability with the associated asset retirement cost capitalized on the balance sheet in the period it is incurred when a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the liability can be made. SFAS 143 will be adopted on the effective date, and adoption is not expected to result in any material effects on the Company’s financial statements.

SFAS 144, Accounting for the Impairment of Disposal of Long-lived Assets, was issued in August 2001 and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. SFAS 144 provides a single, comprehensive accounting model for impairment and disposal of long-lived assets and discontinued operations. SFAS 144 was adopted on the effective date, and did not result in any material effects on the Company’s financial statements.

In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS Statement No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements 4, 44,and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections (SFAS 145). This statement eliminates the current requirement that gains and losses on debt extinguishment must be classified as extraordinary items in the income statement. Instead, such gains and losses will be classified as extraordinary items only if they are deemed to be unusual and infrequent, in accordance with the current GAAP criteria for extraordinary classification. In addition, SFAS 145 eliminates an inconsistency in lease accounting by requiring that modifications of capital leases that result in reclassification as operating leases be accounted for consistent with sale-leaseback accounting rules. The statement also contains other nonsubstantive corrections to authoritative accounting

16

literature. The changes related to debt extinguishment will be effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002, and the changes related to lease accounting will be effective for transactions occurring after May 15, 2002. Adoption of this standard will not have any immediate effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS Statement No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (SFAS 146), which addresses accounting for restructuring and similar costs. SFAS 146 supersedes previous accounting guidance, principally Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 94-3. The Company will adopt the provisions of SFAS 146 for restructuring activities initiated after December 31, 2002. SFAS 146 requires that the liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF No. 94-3, a liability for an exit cost was recognized at the date of a company’s commitment to an exit plan. SFAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. Accordingly, SFAS 146 may affect the timing of recognizing future restructuring costs as well as the amount recognized.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

General

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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.

Revenue Recognition

Sales are recognized upon shipment of products or transfer of title to the customer.

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 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.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method.

17

Depreciation

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

Income Taxes

Income taxes have been provided using the asset and liability method in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”.

The asset and liability method requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement bases and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements using the provisions of the tax laws then in effect.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

There are no material changes from the disclosures in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2001.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation within 90 days of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the previously mentioned evaluation.

The design of any system of controls and procedures is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events. There can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.

18

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

The Company was not required to report any matters or changes for any items of Part II except as disclosed below.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)	Exhibits
	Exhibit 99.1 — Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(b)	Reports on Form 8-K

Date of the Report: July 29, 2002

Description: On July 23, 2002, American Vanguard Corporation issued a press release announcing that Amvac Chemical Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Vanguard Corporation, had acquired certain assets associated with the Ambush 25 WP insecticide business from Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc.

Date of Report: August 9, 2002

Description: On July 29, 2002, American Vanguard Corporation issued a press release announcing that Amvac Chemical Corporation had acquired, from Flowserve U.S., Inc., all of Flowserve’s assets associated with the SmartBox closed delivery system.

19

SIGNATURES

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 thereunto duly authorized.

	AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION
Dated: November 11, 2002	By:	/s/ ERIC G. WINTEMUTEEric G. Wintemute President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Dated: November 11, 2002	By:	/s/ JAMES A. BARRYJames A. Barry Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary/Treasurer and Director

20

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Eric G. Wintemute, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of American Vanguard Corporation;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

         a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

         b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

         c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

         a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

         b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

November 11, 2002

/s/ ERIC G. WINTEMUTE
Eric G. Wintemute
Chief Executive Officer

21

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, James A. Barry, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of American Vanguard Corporation;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

         a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

         b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

         c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

         a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

         b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

November 11, 2002

/s/ JAMES A. BARRY
James A. Barry
Chief Financial Officer

22

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

      Exhibit 99.1 — Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.