American Vanguard Corporation (AVD) appointed Matthew Horwath chief financial officer effective October 1, 2026; David Johnson became chief accounting officer that day. Horwath’s approved terms include a $450,000 annual base salary, a target annual bonus of 60% of base salary, a relocation bonus of $6,667 per month and a travel allowance bonus of $10,000 per month, each paid over 15 months, an option to purchase 150,000 common shares, and 100,000 restricted shares. Both equity awards vest evenly on the first, second and third anniversaries of his start date.
Johnson will serve as chief accounting officer through the last day of the month American Vanguard files its 2026 Form 10-K, expected in March 2027, then as a non-executive employee through September 30, 2027, at a monthly base salary of $20,834. Subject to a release, termination on September 30, 2027, or earlier termination by the company without “cause” or by Johnson for “good reason,” qualifies him for severance equal to 1.5 times the sum of his annual base salary as of October 1, 2026 and average annual cash incentive compensation for the company’s last three complete fiscal years before the termination year. Severance is paid over 18 months or, if shorter, through the end of the following year; benefits also include 18 months of group health coverage at active-employee cost, accelerated vesting of outstanding equity awards with performance awards at target, and outplacement up to $10,000.
American Vanguard Corporation amended its annual report to correct the auditor’s report: it now states the audit covered each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and corrects the accrued program costs cited there from $54.6 million to $52.2 million. The company reported 2025 net sales of $515.1 million, versus $547.3 million in 2024, and a net loss of $49.9 million, compared with $126.3 million.
Operating activities used $21.2 million of cash in 2025, compared with $3.9 million provided in 2024. A $21.0 million goodwill impairment eliminated the remaining goodwill associated with the international reporting unit. Long-term debt was $174.0 million as of December 31, 2025.
On March 13, 2026, AMVAC, American Vanguard’s principal operating subsidiary, and affiliates entered loan agreements that refinanced the prior credit agreement. Lenders provided a $225 million senior secured first-priority term loan and a $60 million second-priority term loan, each with a five-year term.
AMERICAN VANGUARD CORP (AVD) director-affiliated entities reported a significant common stock sale. On 2026-08-18, investment funds and separately managed accounts advised by Cruiser Capital Advisors, LLC, an affiliate of director Keith M. Rosenbloom, sold 556,580 shares of common stock at $2.20 per share. After this transaction, entities associated with Cruiser Capital reported 15,201 shares held indirectly, while Rosenbloom reported 66,283 shares held directly. Rosenbloom may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the Cruiser-held shares but disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. The filing states the reported sale relates to securities held only by the Cruiser funds and accounts and was undertaken for reasons unrelated to American Vanguard’s business, operations or prospects.
AMERICAN VANGUARD CORP (AVD) director Steven D. Macicek reported a purchase of company stock. On 2026-08-17, he bought 19,000 shares of AVD common stock in an open-market or private transaction at $2.09 per share, bringing his directly held stake to 99,711 shares.
American Vanguard Corporation reported weaker second-quarter 2026 results but stronger first-half profitability and reaffirmed its full-year outlook. Net sales in the quarter were $116.8 million, down 10% year over year, driven mainly by an 18% decline in international revenue, while U.S. sales fell 3%. The company posted a Q2 net loss of $9.9 million versus a $0.8 million loss a year earlier, pressured by higher interest expense and freight costs.
For the first half, net sales were $240.3 million, down 2%, but gross margin improved from 29% to 30%, and Adjusted EBITDA rose to $16.9 million from $14.0 million, reflecting cost reductions and transformation efforts. Operating cash flow was negative $60.5 million, and net debt was about $224.7 million at June 30, 2026. Management highlights ongoing benefits from the L.A. plant rationalization, expected to save at least $4 million annually, and continued R&D investment. The company reaffirmed 2026 guidance for Adjusted EBITDA of $44–48 million on sales of $530–550 million and outlined a goal of reaching an annualized revenue run rate above $600 million by the back half of 2028 with double-digit EBITDA margins.
American Vanguard reported weaker results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Net sales fell 10% to $116.8 million, driven by lower U.S. crop and international sales, partly offset by 11% growth in U.S. Specialty. Gross profit declined 14% to $34.7 million and gross margin slipped to 30% from 31%.
Operating performance deteriorated from $4.4 million income to a small $0.3 million loss, and higher leverage pushed net interest expense to $9.1 million from $4.5 million. The quarter’s net loss widened to $9.9 million, or $0.34 per share, versus a $0.8 million loss a year earlier. For the first six months, sales were down 2% to $240.3 million, but gross margin improved to 30% from 29%; net loss increased to $14.0 million.
Cash from operations was a use of $60.5 million for the first half, reflecting higher receivables, lower customer prepayments and program payouts, and transformation and plant reorganization costs linked to shifting production from the Los Angeles facility to the Axis site. This was funded by new term loans; total net indebtedness rose to $267.6 million, with a weighted-average interest rate of 12.0%, and cash increased to $43.9 million. The new First and Second Lien Term Loans include leverage and minimum cash covenants and restrict dividends and stock repurchases. Management states it is in covenant compliance and expects existing cash and operating cash flow to cover liquidity needs over the next twelve months.
BlackRock, Inc. reports its beneficial ownership of common stock of American Vanguard Corporation as of 06/30/2026. BlackRock and certain of its business units beneficially own 896,552 shares of American Vanguard common stock, representing 3.1% of the outstanding class.
BlackRock has sole voting power and sole dispositive power over all 896,552 shares, with no shared voting or dispositive power. The filing notes that various underlying clients or investors may have rights to dividends or sale proceeds, but no such person holds more than five percent of the total outstanding common shares of American Vanguard.
American Vanguard chief executive Douglas Kaye acquired 6,527 shares of common stock at $2.36 per share through the company's employee stock purchase plan. The shares were purchased via payroll deductions over a six-month period ending June 30, 2026, at 85% of fair market value. After this transaction, he holds 306,778 shares directly.
ROSENBLOOM KEITH M reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.
AMERICAN VANGUARD CORP director Keith M. Rosenbloom received a grant of 31,872 deferred stock units (DSUs) on Common Stock as part of the company’s 2026 non‑management director compensation program.
After this award, he directly holds 66,283 shares-equivalent, with each DSU settling into one common share when his board service ends, upon a change of control, or upon his death. The DSUs are nontransferable and carry no voting or dividend rights during his service.
American Vanguard Corp officer David T. Johnson received a grant of options to buy 20,000 shares of common stock. The options have an exercise price of $2.51 per share and were awarded as an incentive stock option grant.
The options vest in full on the third anniversary of the June 4, 2026 grant date and expire on the tenth anniversary. Following this award, Johnson holds options for 20,000 underlying common shares directly.