American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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With regard to as far as the growth platforms, we’ve done an initial pass with that as far as over the next couple of years. We do want to get through this process with finding kind of identify what just as we were talking about some rationalization if that’s what it is, how we improve as I mentioned and 60% coming that would come from the operational side and then 30% maybe from the commercial side. But once we’ve baked that and put a direction, I want to be in a better position to assess how that affects each of the three platforms.

Chris Kapsch: And then the last one for me just is related to sort of an industry issue that seems like it’s becoming pretty acute or leaves some uncertainty and that is around the herbicide dicamba and the fact that the EPA’s registration is could be, I guess, up in the air or uncertain given the lawsuit. And then I guess there’s the ability for growers to use it this year, but next year is in jeopardy I suppose. So, I don’t know if you have a view about how that may play out, Eric, and what the implications might be if that’s further, if there’s further restrictions on dicamba, does that represent any opportunities for AVD?

Eric Wintemute: Yes. From the dicamba side in the marketplace, I think it’s up to the basics that have platforms on dicamba to decide whether they want to challenge that ruling. So that would be a decision for the courts. I’m sure there would be fair amount of support for that challenge, but it’s not nothing that we would be involved in. From an opportunity standpoint, I mentioned [indiscernible] and ZALO and other kind of herbicides that we put together are [indiscernible] which is kind of topramezone plus fosinate. We’re ramping up our portfolio of herbicides and as such, maybe some opportunities there. But Bob, maybe from your side?

Bob Trogele: Yes, I think that the opportunity is being discussed with customers now. The news is pretty recent. We’re in the middle of the season, so there’ll be really, this is a 2025 discussion as the crop season ends. One of our key initiatives as far as innovation has been our ProLease formulation technology, which is in ZALO and allows a good solid solution into windows of herbicide resistance, but also if technologies like the dicamba do not survive the regulatory process, that will open up a window for AMVAC technology.

Chris Kapsch: Got it. Just one quick follow-up on that Bob. I appreciate it. The ProLease that formulation, is that the one that’s associated with AMVAC or different chemistry?

Bob Trogele: No, that comes out of our formulations team here in California. It’s a technology where we can put multiple chemistries together with the basic chemistry of glufosinate ammonia and stabilize it and deliver it to the end user. It broadens the acre opportunity for us as far as value extraction, and it targets any resistant weed issues that the grower may have as far as timing. It enhances his ability to be more flexible as far as application. So, it’s something that we’re very excited about going forward. We have a family of products that are coming with that basic formulation technology.

Unidentified Company Representative: The different chemistries that don’t mix well together like oil and water and having a great classifier that suspends for long duration periods of time. That’s been a drawback on a number of products is just compatibility with other products.

Chris Kapsch: Got it. And this one is sort of centered around glufosinate it sounds like. Thank you.

Bob Trogele: Yes. Correct glufosinate, but we see potential in other uses also.

Operator: Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from Andrew Lester with Harla Capital. Please state your question.

Andrew Lester: Hi. Thanks for taking the question. Last quarter in light of different market conditions, the Company had to borrow bank debt that they thought would be short lived. In light of better results, could you state how much of that debt has presently been repaid? How quickly you expect to be able to pay down the balance? Thank you.

Eric Wintemute: Yes, you can tell.

Unidentified Company Representative: Yes. There’s a that multiple interventions the bank did before the end of Q3. The reason we mentioned the 2.75 target is this amendment stays in place for a year and has kind of graduated back to normal to 3.5x. But if we got to 2.75x, which we did and feel we can maintain at that level. We have the ability to determine that.

Andrew Lester: And just an additional — just suggestion for the future. I know you released the news that the earnings call would come out via Bloomberg. I would just make a recommendation that it’s sort of more broadly be disseminated because it’s very easy to miss for somebody who didn’t have Bloomberg, whether it be Reuters or Dow Jones or Yahoo Finance something like that, I just think would be helpful for shareholders. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. [Operator Instructions] And there appears to be no additional requests for questions. I’ll hand the floor back to Eric Wintemute for closing comments. Thank you.

Eric Wintemute: Okay. Well, again, appreciate everybody taking the time to listen to the presentation. Again, as I said, it’s exciting time for us. We’re making a lot of improvements in our organization going forward. We feel very bullish about the outcome for ’24 and beyond and look forward to giving you additional updates on our next call, which is not all that far away as we get through Q1, and I appreciate your participation. Thank you very much.

Operator: Thank you. That concludes today’s call. All parties may disconnect. Have a good day.

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