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American Vanguard Corporation
Annual Report 2010

AVD · NYSE Basic Materials
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Employees 845
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FY2010 Annual Report · American Vanguard Corporation
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A M E R I CA N     VA N G UA R D     C O R P O R AT I O N

ExPANDING ThE POssIbIlITIEs

2010 Annual Report

Message from the President 

Dear Shareholders,

American Vanguard’s 2010 performance is reflective of an 
organization that responds to current opportunities and 
positions itself for a world of expanding possibilities. 

This past year’s sales grew by 10% and we recorded 

a gross profit margin of 39%, as our selling efforts focused on a higher 
margin product mix and we achieved improved manufacturing utilization 
rates. Management remained committed to the financial discipline that has 
strengthened our balance sheet over the last two years. We exercised tight 
control over working capital and inventory levels, maintained a prudent debt 
structure and increased stockholders’ equity by nearly 9%.

In keeping with a hallmark of American Vanguard’s business success, we 
purchased the cotton defoliant Def®, and insecticides Mocap®, Nemacur®, and 
Aztec® in the largest series of product acquisitions in our history. This action 
allowed us to broaden and deepen AMVAC’s portfolio in high-value crop niches 
with very profitable, well-established, branded products which we were able to 
procure for a very reasonable investment outlay. 

We expect these new products to increase our total company revenues by 25%, double our 
international business, load our factories over the next three years with additional production, 
and contribute positively to our financial profitability for many years to come. Integration of 
this new business has begun and will be one of the most important objectives of 2011. 

As we branch out internationally, we have engaged market-leading distribution partners in 
a number of world areas and are strengthening our own organization to handle sales and 
marketing in Central America — a key region where our presence will expand dramatically.  

Eric Wintemute and Peter Eilers 
(representing Bayer CropScience)
finalizing the purchase of Mocap® and 
Nemacur® on December 7, 2010.

Our organization is continually developing to take full advantage of many market 

and business opportunities in agriculture and non-crop commercial pest control 
applications. A number of highly skilled and experienced new associates have 
joined the American Vanguard team recently, including a Vice-President of 
Technology; a Midwest Regional Sales Manager; and additional talent in 
our Regulatory Department. The Company’s Board of Directors has been 
strengthened by the addition of several new members who possess extensive 
AgChemical business management credentials. We have also established a very 
favorable five-year Bank Credit Facility that underscores the confidence our 
banking partners have in both our near-term and longer-term strategies. 
We intend to prudently utilize this financial capacity to facilitate our stated 
objective of strong, sustainable growth.

In 2010, we made great strides to build on our traditional strengths and going 
forward, our mission is clear. Strong global demand for food, fiber and fuel requires 
ever-increasing productivity and yield enhancement. American Vanguard will provide 

the tools necessary to meet the needs of modern agriculture and to maintain the 
infestation control required to safeguard human health. This year and in the future, 
your Company, will identify, analyze and act on current profitable tactical opportunities 
and position itself to capitalize on many positive strategic possibilities. We appreciate your 
shareholder participation in this pursuit and encourage you to come grow with us.

Sincerely,
Eric G. Wintemute
President and CEO

HISTORICAL FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
(dollars in thousands except earnings and dividend information)

2010 

 2009 

2008 

2007 

2006   

Net sales 

Gross profit 

 $229,620 

$ 209,329 

$ 237,538 

$ 216,662 

$ 193,771

 $  89,082 

$  60,426 

$ 101,131 

$  95,730 

$  82,358

Net income (loss) 

 $  10,984 

$  (5,789) 

$  20,019 

$  18,728 

$  15,448

Earnings (loss)  
per share 

Total assets 

Working capital 

Long-term debt 
less current

 $      0.40 

$ 

(0.21) 

$ 

0.73 

$ 

0.68 

$  

0.57

 $281,799 

$ 255,268 

$ 286,937 

$ 248,581 

$ 262,376

 $  67,459 

$  68,797 

$  96,357 

$  75,144 

$  99,233

 $  53,712 

$  45,432 

$  75,748 

$  56,155 

$  93,761

Stockholders’ equity 

$166,437 

$ 153,087 

$ 155,943 

$ 139,739 

$ 120,877

Shares outstanding 

  27,652 

  27,120 

   27,469 

  27,436 

  27,186

Dividends per share  
(common) 

$   0.030 

$  0.060 

$  0.080 

$    0.070 

$  0.083

Expanding thE possibilitiEs 
DIRECTORS
Herbert A. Kraft 
Chairman
Elected in 1969

Eric G. Wintemute
President, Chief Executive Officer
Elected in 1994

John B. Miles
Elected in 1999

Carl R. Soderlind
Elected in 2000

Irving J. Thau
Elected in 2003

Lawrence S. Clark
Elected in 2006

John L. Killmer
Elected in 2008

Alfred F. Ingulli
Elected in 2010

Esmail Zirakparvar
Elected in 2010

OFFICERS
American Vanguard Corporation
Eric G. Wintemute
President
Chief Executive Officer

David T. Johnson
Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer

Timothy J. Donnelly
Vice President
General Counsel
Secretary

AMVAC Chemical Corporation
Glen D. Johnson
Senior Vice President
Director of Business Development

Doug Ashmore
Vice President
Director of Manufacturing

Ian S. Chart
Vice President
Director of Regulatory Affairs

Johann Venter
Vice President
Director of Technology

GemChem, Inc.
Robert F. Gilbane
President

Through teamwork we are expanding our possibilities.

CORPORATE INFORMATION
Executive Offices
American Vanguard Corporation
4695 MacArthur Court, Suite 1250
Newport Beach, California 92660
(949) 260-1200

Investor Relations
William A. Kuser
Director of Investor Relations
and Corporate Communications
(949) 260-1200

Independent Auditors
BDO Seidman, LLP
Los Angeles, California

Corporate Web site
www.amvac-chemical.com

Operating subsidiaries
AMVAC Chemical Corporation
4100 East Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90023
(323) 264-3910

Environmental Mediation, Inc.
4695 MacArthur Court, Suite 1250
Newport Beach, California 92660
(949) 476-9109

GemChem, Inc.
95 River Road, Suite B
Canton, Connecticut 06019
(860) 693-1331

AMVAC do Brasil Representações Ltda
Brasil

AMVAC de Costa Rica S.A., Costa Rica

Quimica AMVAC de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
Mexico

AMVAC Switzerland GmbH
Switzerland

AMVAC Chemical UK Ltd.
United Kingdom

Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of American 
Vanguard Corporation’s stockholders 
will be held at the Newport Beach 
Marriott Hotel & Spa located at 
900 Newport Center Drive, 
Newport Beach, California 92660 
on Thursday, June 9, 2011 starting 
at 11:00 a.m. Stockholders of 
record at the close of business 
April 15, 2011, are entitled to 
notice of, and to vote at, the Annual 
Meeting. Stockholders who plan 
to attend the Annual Meeting are 
encouraged to RSVP using the 
contact information shown on the 
front page of the proxy statement.

Form 10-K 
Additional copies are available to 
stockholders, without cost, upon 
written request to the Chief Financial 
Officer of the Company at 
4695 MacArthur Court, Suite 1250, 
Newport Beach, California 92660.

American Vanguard believes in a sustainable planet. This annual 
report is printed on recycled paper.

©2011 American Vanguard Corporation