RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (dollars in millions)
Three months ended March 31, 2006 compared with three months ended March 31, 2005
Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2006 were $878.5, an increase of $79.4, or approximately 9.9%, from $799.1 for the comparable 2005 period. The sales increase is a result of an increase of approximately 4.6% in volume (primarily volume growth in genomic and esoteric testing of 12.7% which was positively impacted by the acquisitions of US LABS and Esoterix) and 5.3% in price. The Company believes that the combination of mild weather and the timing of the Easter holiday favorably impacted the comparison of volume by approximately 1 percent. The improvement in pricing is a result of several factors, including our emphasis on pricing discipline and a continued shift in the Company’s test mix in core, genomic and esoteric testing. Additionally, the acquisition of both US LABS and Esoterix positively impacted price.
Cost of sales, which includes primarily laboratory and distribution costs, was $505.8 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 compared to $460.8 in the corresponding 2005 period, an increase of $45.0, or 9.8%. The increase in cost of sales is primarily the result of increased volume in genomic and esoteric testing and the acquisitions discussed above. Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales was 57.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 57.7% in the corresponding 2005 period.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $190.9 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $168.6 in the same period in 2005. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 21.7% and 21.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. This increase in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales is primarily the result of the Company’s adoption of SFAS 123(R) during the first quarter of 2006, which required the Company to record compensation expense of $5.9 related to its stock option and stock purchase plans.
The amortization of intangibles and other assets was $13.0 and $12.1 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. The increase in the amortization expenses is a result of business acquisitions.
Interest expense was $11.9 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 compared with $8.5 for the same period in 2005. The increase in interest expense is the result of interest on the Company’s 5.625% Senior Notes which were issued in December 2005.
Income from investments in joint venture partnerships was $15.4 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 compared with $13.7 for the same period in 2005. This income represents the Company’s ownership share in joint venture partnerships. A significant portion of this income is derived from investments in Ontario and Alberta, Canada, and is earned in Canadian dollars.
The provision for income taxes as a percentage of earnings before taxes was 40.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2006 compared to 40.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2005.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (dollars and shares in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activities was $178.6 and $154.5 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and March 31, 2005, respectively. The increase in cash flows primarily resulted from strong cash collections relative to the increase in net earnings plus lower tax payments.
Capital expenditures were $20.8 and $25.5 at March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company expects total capital expenditures of approximately $100.0 to $115.0 in 2006. These expenditures are intended to support the Company’s strategic initiatives centered around customer retention, scientific differentiation and managed care. In addition, the Company continues to make important investments in information technology connectivity with its customers and financial systems. Such expenditures are expected to be funded by cash flow from operations as well as borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facilities.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2006, the Company repurchased $185.0 of stock representing 3.3 shares. As of March 31, 2006, the Company had outstanding authorizations to purchase approximately $100.2.
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Holders of the zero coupon-subordinated notes may require the Company to purchase in cash all or a portion of their notes on September 11, 2006 and 2011 at prices of $741.92 to $819.54 per note, respectively. Should the holders put the notes to the Company on any of the dates above, the Company believes that it will be able to satisfy this contingent obligation with cash on hand, borrowings on the revolving credit facility, and additional financing if necessary.
Based on current and projected levels of operations, coupled with availability under its revolving credit facilities, the Company believes it has sufficient liquidity to meet both its short-term and long-term cash needs.
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
The Company addresses its exposure to market risks, principally the market risk associated with changes in interest rates, through a controlled program of risk management that has included in the past, the use of derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swap agreements. Although, as set forth below, the Company’s zero coupon-subordinated notes contain features that are considered to be embedded derivative instruments, the Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. The Company does not believe that its exposure to market risk is material to the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
The Company’s zero coupon-subordinated notes contain the following two features that are considered to be embedded derivative instruments under SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”:
1) | The Company will pay contingent cash interest on the zero coupon-subordinated notes after September 11, 2006, if the average market price of the notes equals 120% or more of the sum of the issue price, accrued original issue discount and contingent additional principal, if any, for a specified measurement period. |
2) | Holders may surrender zero coupon-subordinated notes for conversion during any period in which the rating assigned to the zero coupon-subordinated notes by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services is BB- or lower. |
Based upon independent appraisals, these embedded derivatives had no fair value at March 31, 2006.
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by the Form 10-Q, the Company carried out, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of March 31, 2006.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2006 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings
See Note 8 to the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2006, which is incorporated by reference. |
Item 1A. | Risk Factors
Information regarding risk factors appears in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Information Related to Forward-Looking Statements,” in Part I — Item 2 of this Form 10-Q and in Part I — Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
Item 2. | Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (Shares and dollars in millions, except per share data) |
The following table sets forth information with respect to purchases of shares of the Company’s common stock made during the quarter ended March 31, 2006, by or on behalf of the Company:
| Total Number of Shares Repurchased | | Average Price Paid Per Share | | Total Number of Shares Repurchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program | | Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Repurchased Under the Program |
---|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
January 1 - January 31 | | | | 1.8 | | | $ | 56.38 | | | | 1.8 | | | $ | 185.0 | |
February 1 - February 28 | | | | 1.5 | | | | 57.36 | | | | 1.5 | | | | 100.2 | |
March 1 - March 31 | | | | -- | | | | -- | | | | -- | | | | 100.2 | |
|
| |
| |
| | |
| | | | 3.3 | | | $ | 56.82 | | | | 3.3 | | | | | |
On December 7, 2005, the Company executed an overnight share repurchase transaction with a bank for the acquisition of 4.8 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock for an initial purchase price of $52.04 per share. Pursuant to the agreement with the bank, the bank will purchase 4.8 shares in the open market over a period ending no later than June 13, 2006. At the end of the purchase period, the Company will either receive from or pay to the bank a price adjustment based on the volume weighted average purchase price of the shares acquired compared to the initial purchase price. Such price adjustment can be either in cash or common stock at the discretion of the Company. The Company has limited its potential financial exposure in the event of an increase in its share price above a cap during the purchase period with respect to 2.4 of the repurchased shares. The diluted net income per share calculation for the year ended March 31, 2006 includes the potential shares of common stock that may be issued to settle the overnight share repurchase transaction.
As of March 31, 2006, the Company had outstanding authorizations from the Board of Directors to purchase approximately $100.2 of Company common stock.
12.1* | - Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
31.1* | - Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) |
31.2* | - Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) |
| 32* | - Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350) |
| | |
* filed herewith
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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.
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS |
| Registrant | |
| | |
By: /s/ THOMAS P. MAC MAHON |
| Thomas P. Mac Mahon | |
| Chairman, President | |
| and Chief Executive Officer | |
| | | | |
By: /s/ WILLIAM B. HAYES | |
| William B. Hayes | |
| Executive Vice President, | |
| Chief Financial Officer and |
| Treasurer | |
| | | | | |
May 4, 2006
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