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Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies | Description of Business, Basis of Consolidation and Significant Accounting Policies American Vanguard Corporation (the “Company”) is primarily a specialty chemical manufacturer that develops and markets safe and effective products for agricultural and commercial uses. The Company manufactures and formulates chemicals for crops, human and animal protection. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and its majority owned subsidiary, Envance. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company operates within a single operating segment. Based on similar economic and operational characteristics, the Company’s business is aggregated into one reportable segment. Selective enterprise information is as follows:
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Net sales: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Insecticides |  | $ | 194,060 |  |  | $ | 137,460 |  |  | $ | 84,500 |
Herbicides |  |  | 89,899 |  |  |  | 90,782 |  |  |  | 86,780 |
Other |  |  | 45,581 |  |  |  | 43,826 |  |  |  | 32,113 |
Total crop |  |  | 329,540 |  |  |  | 272,068 |  |  |  | 203,393 |
Non-crop |  |  | 36,650 |  |  |  | 29,012 |  |  |  | 23,466 |
|  | $ | 366,190 |  |  | $ | 301,080 |  |  | $ | 226,859 |
Gross profit: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Crop |  | $ | 142,019 |  |  | $ | 110,348 |  |  | $ | 77,916 |
Non-crop |  |  | 19,106 |  |  |  | 12,720 |  |  |  | 8,405 |
|  | $ | 161,125 |  |  | $ | 123,068 |  |  | $ | 86,321 |
Due to elements inherent to the Company’s business, such as differing and unpredictable weather patterns, crop growing cycles, changes in product mix of sales and ordering patterns that may vary in timing, 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 good an indicator as full-year comparisons. 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—Operating expenses include cost centers for Selling, General and Administrative, Research and Product Development, Regulatory/Registration, Freight, Delivery and Warehousing.
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Selling |  | $ | 25,869 |  |  | $ | 23,318 |  |  | $ | 19,653 |
General and administrative |  |  | 29,715 |  |  |  | 21,429 |  |  |  | 17,881 |
Research, product development and regulatory |  |  | 20,750 |  |  |  | 18,041 |  |  |  | 12,635 |
Freight, delivery and warehousing |  |  | 25,468 |  |  |  | 21,054 |  |  |  | 16,961 |
|  | $ | 101,802 |  |  | $ | 83,842 |  |  | $ | 67,130 |
Freight, Delivery and Warehousing Expense—Freight, delivery and warehousing costs incurred by the Company are reported as operating expenses. All amounts billed to a customer in a sales transaction related to freight, delivery and warehousing are recorded as a reduction in operating expenses. Advertising Expense—The Company expenses advertising costs in the period incurred. Advertising expenses, which include promotional costs, are recognized in operating costs (specifically in selling expenses) in the consolidated statements of operations and were $2,680 in 2012, $2,095 in 2011 and $2,530 in 2010. 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 and factory overhead. The Company writes down and makes adjustments to its inventory carry 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:
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |
Finished products |  | $ | 74,900 |  |  | $ | 61,023 |
Raw materials |  |  | 13,051 |  |  |  | 10,045 |
|  | $ | 87,951 |  |  | $ | 71,068 |
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 estimated 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—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—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. Management considers the carrying value of long-lived assets to be reasonable. 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 weighted average cost of capital. 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—Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, where the local currency is the functional currency, have been translated at periodend 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 effect 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— In accordance with FASB ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging, the Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either other assets or other liabilities at fair market 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 settled in January 2013. These transactions are accounted for in accordance with the ASC 815, as non-designated hedges. The fair value is being 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 are also reported in earnings. At December 31, 2012, the Company had in place one interest rate swap contract with a notional amount of $44,250 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 $(689). Amounts recorded in earnings for hedge ineffectiveness for the period ending December 2012 were immaterial. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—The primary identifiable intangible assets of the Company relate to product rights associated with its product acquisitions. The Company adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 350. Under the provisions of FASB ASC 350, 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 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 year ending December 2012, and there were no impairment losses recorded. 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, 2012: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liability: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency derivative financial instrument |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 160 |  |  | $ | — |
Interest rate derivative financial instruments (1) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,201 |  |  | $ | — |
As of December 31, 2011: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liability: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency derivative financial instrument |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 399 |  |  | $ | — |
Interest rate derivative financial instruments (1) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,453 |  |  | $ | — |
| (1) | Includes accrued interest expense.
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—FASB ASC 260, 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 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:
|  | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Numerator: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income attributable to American Vanguard |  | $ | 36,867 |  |  | $ | 22,068 |  |  | $ | 10,984 |
Denominator: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic |  |  | 27,914 |  |  |  | 27,559 |  |  |  | 27,385 |
Assumed exercise of stock options—fully dilutive |  |  | 842 |  |  |  | 316 |  |  |  | 267 |
|  |  | 28,756 |  |  |  | 27,875 |  |  |  | 27,652 |
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—Certain prior year's amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. The Company supplies certain insecticide products to US growers in Smartboxes that are part of a proprietary delivery system that effectively protects farm workers and other end-users from exposure to the Company’s products. The growers purchase these Smartbox systems from the Company. The Company changed its classification and revenue presentation for Smartbox assets in 2012 to more appropriately reflect the accounting for these assets. Historically, the Company classified Smartbox assets in both prepaid expenses and property, plant and equipment. In 2012, the Company reclassified the Smartbox assets to both prepaid expenses and other assets. The comparative presentation for 2011 was changed to increase prepaid expenses by $1,856, increase other assets by $1,880 and decrease property, plant and equipment by $3,736. Revision of 2011 Financial Statements—The 2011 financial statements have been revised to appropriately reflect the correct application of generally accepted accounting principles. The 2011 balance sheet has been revised to reflect an increase in current deferred tax assets by $3,417 and a decrease in non-current deferred tax liabilities by a similar amount which was previously incorrectly presented on a net basis with the Company’s non-current deferred tax liabilities. Additionally, net sales and cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2011 have each been decreased by $3,349 to appropriately reverse an improper gross-up. These revisions had no impact on previously reported 2011 amounts for stockholders’ equity, gross margin, net income, earnings per share or cash flows from operations. The Company concluded that these revisions were not material to previously issued financial statements. 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 at December 31, 2012 by $91. The Company estimates that 9.7% of all restricted stock grants that are currently vesting will be forfeited. The Company estimates that 1.1% of all stock option grants that are currently vesting will be forfeited. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $840 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested options, which will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.0 year. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $3,697 of unamortized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested restricted stock, which will be recognized over the weighted-average period of 2.3 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 |
The weighted average grant-date fair values of options granted during 2011 and 2010 were $6.62 and $3.78, respectively. There were no option shares granted during 2012. 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 2012, 2011, and 2010 were $21.51, $12.30, and $7.59, respectively. 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. 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 will apply the updates. In December 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, Balance Sheet. In response to the requests from financial users for comparability on the differences that resulted in offsetting assets and liabilities under U.S. GAAP requirements versus International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) requirements, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board, (“IASB”) jointly issued this update to enhance current disclosures. Entities are required to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. This scope would include derivatives, sale and repurchase agreements and reverse sale and repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending arrangements. The objective of this disclosure is to facilitate comparison between those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of U.S. GAAP and those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of IFRS. The amendments in this Update affect all entities that have financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with either Section 210-20-45 or Section 815-10-45 or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The requirements amend the disclosure requirements on offsetting in Section 210-20-50. An entity is required to apply the amendments for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is evaluating the effect of this guidance but does not expect it to have a significant impact on its financial statements.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 94-6 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 46R -Paragraph 4, 14, 15 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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