10-K 1 d10k.htm AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORP--FORM 10-K AmerisourceBergen Corp--Form 10-K
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

x Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2004

 

OR

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Commission

File Number

 

Registrant, State of Incorporation

Address and Telephone Number

 

IRS Employer

Identification No.

1-16671  

AmerisourceBergen Corporation

(a Delaware Corporation)

1300 Morris Drive

Chesterbrook, PA 19087-5594

(610) 727-7000

  23-3079390

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

  AmerisourceBergen Corporation: None

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

  AmerisourceBergen Corporation:
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes x No ¨

 

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on March 31, 2004, based upon the closing price of such stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 31, 2004, was $6,107,540,123.

 

The number of shares of common stock of AmerisourceBergen Corporation outstanding as of November 30, 2004 was 105,117,018.

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference

 

Portions of the following document are incorporated by reference in the Part of this report indicated below:

 

Part III - Registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ITEM


        PAGE

PART I     
1.    Business    3
2.    Properties    14
3.    Legal Proceedings    14
4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    16
     Executive Officers of the Registrant    17
PART II     
5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    18
6.    Selected Financial Data    19
7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    20
7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    39
8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    40
9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    79
9A.    Controls and Procedures    79
9B.    Other Information    79
PART III     
10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    80
11.    Executive Compensation    80
12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    80
13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    80
14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services    80
PART IV     
15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    81
     Signatures    88

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen” or the “Company”) is one of the largest pharmaceutical services companies in the United States. Servicing both pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Company provides drug distribution and related services designed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes. More specifically, we distribute a comprehensive offering of brand name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, and home healthcare supplies and equipment to a wide variety of healthcare providers located throughout the United States, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order facilities, physicians, clinics and other alternate site facilities, and skilled nursing and assisted living centers. We also provide pharmaceuticals and pharmacy services to long-term care, workers’ compensation and specialty drug patients. Additionally, we furnish healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers with an assortment of services, including pharmacy automation, bedside medication safety systems, pharmaceutical packaging, inventory management, reimbursement and pharmaceutical consulting services, logistics services, and physician education, all of which are designed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes.

 

Industry Overview

 

We have benefited from the significant growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the United States. According to IMS Healthcare, Inc., an independent third party provider of information to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, industry sales grew from approximately $73 billion in 1995 to an estimated $225 billion in 2004 and are expected to grow annually from 10% to 13% over the next three years.

 

The factors contributing to the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the United States, and other favorable industry trends, include:

 

Aging Population. The number of individuals over age 55 in the United States grew from approximately 52 million in 1990 to approximately 59 million in 2000 and is projected to increase to more than 75 million by the year 2010. This age group suffers from a greater incidence of chronic illnesses and disabilities than the rest of the population and is estimated to account for approximately two-thirds of total healthcare expenditures in the United States.

 

Introduction of New Pharmaceuticals. Traditional research and development, as well as the advent of new research, production and delivery methods, such as biotechnology and gene research and therapy, continue to generate new compounds and delivery methods that are more effective in treating diseases. These compounds have been responsible for significant increases in pharmaceutical sales. We believe ongoing research and development expenditures by the leading pharmaceutical manufacturers will contribute to continued growth of the industry.

 

Increased Use of Drug Therapies. In response to rising healthcare costs, governmental and private payors have adopted cost containment measures that encourage the use of efficient drug therapies to prevent or treat diseases. While national attention has been focused on the overall increase in aggregate healthcare costs, we believe drug therapy has had a beneficial impact on overall healthcare costs by reducing expensive surgeries and prolonged hospital stays. Pharmaceuticals currently account for approximately 10% of overall healthcare costs. Pharmaceutical manufacturers’ continued emphasis on research and development is expected to result in the continuing introduction of cost-effective drug therapies.

 

Rising Pharmaceutical Prices. Historically, pharmaceutical price increases have equaled or exceeded the overall Consumer Price Index. We believe these increases were due in large part to the relatively inelastic demand notwithstanding higher prices charged for patented drugs as pharmaceutical manufacturers have attempted to recoup costs associated with the development, clinical testing and U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of new products. Recently, pharmaceutical manufacturers have been under significant pressure to reduce the rate of pharmaceutical price increases. During fiscal 2004, we experienced less pharmaceutical price increases than in the prior fiscal year. While we expect pharmaceutical price increases to occur in the future, we cannot predict the rate at which such prices will increase or the frequency of increases.

 

Expiration of Patents for Brand Name Pharmaceuticals. A significant number of patents for widely-used brand name pharmaceutical products will expire during the next several years. These products are expected to be marketed by generic

 

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pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributed by us. We consider this a favorable trend because generic products have historically provided a greater gross profit margin opportunity than brand name products.

 

The Company

 

We are one of the largest pharmaceutical services companies in the United States. The Company was formed by the merger of AmeriSource Health Corporation (“AmeriSource”) and Bergen Brunswig Corporation (“Bergen”) in August 2001. We currently serve our customers, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and patients, throughout the United States and Puerto Rico through a geographically diverse network of distribution and service centers. We typically are the primary source of supply for pharmaceutical and related products to our healthcare providers and certain patients. We offer a broad range of services to our customers designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations, thereby allowing them to improve the delivery of healthcare to patients and to lower overall costs in the pharmaceutical supply channel.

 

Strategy

 

Our business strategy is focused solely on the pharmaceutical supply channel where we provide value-added distribution and service solutions to healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers that increase channel efficiencies and improve patient outcomes. This disciplined, focused strategy has significantly expanded our business, and we believe we are well-positioned to continue to grow revenue and increase operating income through the execution of the following key elements of our business strategy:

 

  Optimize and Grow Our Distribution Business. We believe we are well-positioned in size and market breadth to continue to grow our distribution business as we invest to improve our operating and capital efficiencies. Distribution anchors our growth and position in the pharmaceutical supply channel as we: (i) provide superior distribution services; (ii) deliver value-added solutions which improve the efficiency and competitiveness of both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers, thus allowing the pharmaceutical supply channel to better deliver healthcare to patients; and (iii) maintain our decentralized operating structure to respond to providers’ and manufacturers’ needs quicker and more efficiently.

 

We believe we have one of the lowest cost operating structures among our major national competitors, and to further improve our position we launched our Optimiz program in fiscal 2001. As revised, the Optimiz program consists of reducing the distribution facility network from a total of 51 facilities to less than 30 facilities in the next two to three years. The plan includes building six new facilities (two of them were operational as of September 30, 2004), closing facilities (seventeen of which have been closed) and implementing a new warehouse operating system. Construction activities on the remaining four new facilities are ongoing (two of them will be operational by the end of fiscal 2005). We anticipate closing six additional facilities in fiscal 2005. These measures have been designed to reduce operating costs, to provide greater access to financing sources and to reduce our cost of capital. In addition, we believe we will continue to achieve productivity and operating income gains as we invest in and continue to implement warehouse automation technology, adopt “best practices” in warehousing activities, and increase operating leverage by increasing volume per full-service distribution facility.

 

  Grow Our Specialty Pharmaceutical Business. Representing more than $5.5 billion in annual operating revenue, our specialty pharmaceuticals business has a significant presence in this rapidly growing part of the pharmaceutical supply channel. With distribution and value-added services to physicians who specialize in a variety of disease states and a broad array of commercialization services for manufacturers, our specialty pharmaceuticals business is a well-developed platform for growth. We are the leader in distribution and physician services to oncologists and have leading positions in nephrology and rheumatology. We are also a leader in the distribution of vaccines and blood plasma and are well-positioned to service and support many of the new biotech therapies which will be coming to market in the near future.

 

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We expect to continue to expand our manufacturer services, which help pharmaceutical companies, especially in the biotechnology sector, commercialize their products in the channel. We recently became the largest provider of reimbursement services that assist pharmaceutical companies launch drugs with targeted populations and also support the products in the channel. We are providing physician education services, third party logistics and specialty pharmacy services to help speed products to market. We also have pursued enhancements to our position through acquisitions, including the following:

 

  International Physician Networks. In January 2004, we acquired the remaining 40% of International Physician Networks (“IPN”), a physician education and management consulting company, for approximately $39 million. This company is engaged in providing educational seminars on behalf of pharmaceutical manufacturers as well as providing services to physicians, including group purchasing services.

 

  Imedex, Inc. In May 2004, we acquired Imedex, Inc. (“Imedex”), an accredited provider of continuing medical education for physicians, to expand our physician education offerings, for approximately $17 million.

 

  Expand Services in the Pharmaceutical Supply Channel. We are continually expanding our value-added services and solutions to assist manufacturers and healthcare providers to improve their efficiency and their patient outcomes. Programs for manufacturers such as assistance with rapid new product launches, promotional and marketing services to accelerate product sales, custom packaging, product data reporting, logistical support, and workers’ compensation are all examples of value-added solutions we currently offer.

 

Our provider solutions include: our Good Neighbor Pharmacy® and Family Pharmacy® programs, which enable independent community pharmacies and small chain drugstores to compete more effectively through pharmaceutical benefit and merchandising programs; best-priced generic product purchasing services; hospital pharmacy consulting designed to improve operational efficiencies; scalable automated pharmacy dispensing equipment; patient safety software designed to reduce medication errors; and packaging services that deliver unit dose, punch card and other compliance packaging for institutional and retail pharmacy customers. We also continue to pursue enhancements to our services and programs through acquisitions, such as:

 

  MedSelect, Inc. In February 2004, we acquired MedSelect, Inc. (“MedSelect”), a provider of automated medication and supply dispensing cabinets to enhance our ability to offer fully scalable and flexible technology solutions to our customers, for approximately $14 million.

 

We believe these services will continue to expand, further contributing to our revenue and income growth.

 

Operations

 

Operating Structure. We operate in two segments, Pharmaceutical Distribution and PharMerica.

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution. The Pharmaceutical Distribution segment includes the operations of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (“ABDC”) and the AmerisourceBergen Specialty, Packaging and Technology Groups. Servicing both pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s operations provide drug distribution and related services designed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The drug distribution operations of ABDC and the AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group comprised over 90% of the segment’s operating revenue and operating income in fiscal 2004.

 

ABDC is our wholesale drug distribution business and is currently organized into five regions across the United States. Unlike our more centralized competitors, we are structured as an organization of locally managed profit centers. We believe the delivery of healthcare is local and, therefore, the management of each distribution facility has responsibility for its own customer service and financial performance. These facilities utilize the Company’s corporate staff for national and regional account management, marketing, data processing, finance, procurement, human resources, legal, executive management resources, and corporate coordination of asset and working capital management.

 

The AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group (“ABSG”), through a number of individual operating businesses, provides distribution and other services, including group purchasing services, to physicians and alternate care providers who specialize in a variety of disease states, including oncology, nephrology, and rheumatology. ABSG also distributes vaccines, other injectables and plasma. In addition, through its manufacturer services and physician and patient services businesses, ABSG provides a number of commercialization and other services for biotech and other pharmaceutical manufacturers, third party logistics, reimbursement consulting, practice management, and physician education.

 

The AmerisourceBergen Packaging Group consists of American Health Packaging and Anderson Packaging (“Anderson”). American Health Packaging delivers unit dose, punch card, unit-of-use and other packaging solutions to institutional and retail healthcare providers. Anderson is a leading provider of contracted packaging services for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

 

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The AmerisourceBergen Technology Group (“ABTG”) provides scalable automated pharmacy dispensing equipment and medication and supply dispensing cabinets to a variety of retail and institutional healthcare providers. ABTG also provides barcode-enabled point-of-care software designed to reduce medication errors and supply management software for institutional and retail healthcare providers designed to improve efficiency.

 

PharMerica. The PharMerica segment includes the operations of the PharMerica long-term care business (“Long-Term Care”) and a workers’ compensation-related business (“Workers’ Compensation”).

 

PharMerica’s Long-Term Care business is a leading national provider of pharmacy products and services to patients in long-term care and alternate site settings, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and residential living communities. PharMerica’s Long-Term Care institutional pharmacy business involves the purchase of bulk quantities of prescription and nonprescription pharmaceuticals, principally from our Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, and the distribution of those products to residents in long-term care and alternate site facilities. Unlike hospitals, most long-term and alternate care facilities do not have onsite pharmacies to dispense prescription drugs, but depend instead on institutional pharmacies, such as PharMerica Long-Term Care, to provide the necessary pharmacy products and services and to play an integral role in monitoring patient medication. PharMerica’s Long-Term Care pharmacies dispense pharmaceuticals in patient-specific packaging in accordance with physician orders. In addition, PharMerica’s Long Term Care business provides infusion therapy services and Medicare Part B products, as well as formulary management and other pharmacy consulting services. PharMerica’s Long-Term Care network of 95 pharmacies covers a geographic area that includes over 80% of the nation’s institutional/long-term care beds. Each PharMerica Long-Term Care pharmacy typically serves customers within a 100-mile radius.

 

PharMerica’s Workers’ Compensation business provides mail order and on-line pharmacy services to chronically and catastrophically ill patients under workers’ compensation programs, and provides pharmaceutical claims administration services for payors. Workers’ Compensation services include home delivery of prescription drugs, medical supplies and equipment and an array of computer software solutions to reduce the payor’s administrative costs.

 

Sales and Marketing. ABDC has sales professionals organized regionally and specialized by healthcare provider type. Customer service representatives are located in distribution facilities in order to respond to customer needs in a timely and effective manner. Our Specialty, Packaging and Technology Groups and the PharMerica businesses each have an independent sales force that specializes in their respective product and service offerings. Our corporate marketing department designs and develops an array of AmerisourceBergen value-added healthcare provider solutions and marketing materials. Tailored to specific groups, these programs and materials can be further customized at the distribution facility level to adapt to local market conditions. Corporate sales and marketing also serves national account customers through close coordination with local distribution centers and with the management of the Specialty, Packaging and Technology Groups. Corporate sales and marketing ensures that our customers are receiving the mix of service offerings that most appropriately meet their needs.

 

Customers. We have a diverse customer base that includes institutional and retail healthcare providers as well as pharmaceutical manufacturers. Institutional healthcare providers include acute care hospitals, health systems, mail order pharmacies, long-term and alternate care facilities, and physician offices. Retail healthcare providers include national and regional retail drugstore chains, independent community pharmacies and pharmacy departments of supermarkets and mass merchandisers. We are typically the primary source of supply for our customers. In addition, we offer a broad range of value-added solutions designed to enhance the operating efficiencies and competitive positions of our customers, thereby allowing them to improve the delivery of healthcare to patients and consumers. During fiscal 2004, operating revenue for our Pharmaceutical Distribution segment was comprised of 59% institutional and 41% retail customers.

 

Sales to the federal government (including sales under separate contracts with different departments and agencies of the federal government) and sales to Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (“Medco”) each represented 6% of our operating revenue in fiscal 2004. In May 2004, the Company discontinued servicing the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) as a result of losing a competitive bid process. The VA contributed 5% of our operating revenue in fiscal 2004. In August 2004, the Company discontinued servicing AdvancePCS because it was acquired by a customer of a competitor. AdvancePCS contributed 4% of our operating revenue in fiscal 2004. Other than the federal government and Medco, no individual customer accounted for more than 5% of our fiscal 2004 operating revenue. Including the federal government, our top ten customers represented approximately 33% of operating revenue during fiscal 2004. Revenues generated from sales to Medco accounted for 97% of bulk deliveries to customer warehouses and 13% of total revenues during fiscal 2004. In addition, we have contracts with group purchasing organizations (“GPOs”), each of which functions as a purchasing agent on behalf of its members, who are healthcare providers. Approximately 15% of our operating revenue in fiscal 2004 was derived from our three largest GPO relationships (Novation, LLC, United Drug Stores and Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P.). The loss of any major customer or GPO relationship would adversely affect future operating revenue.

 

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Suppliers. We obtain pharmaceutical and other products primarily from manufacturers, none of which accounted for more than approximately 9% of our purchases in fiscal 2004. The loss of certain suppliers could adversely affect our business if alternate sources of supply are unavailable. We believe that our relationships with our suppliers are generally good. The five largest suppliers in fiscal 2004 accounted for approximately 33% of purchases.

 

ABDC is in a business model transition with respect to how manufacturers compensate us for our services. Historically, suppliers helped us generate gross profit in several ways, including cash discounts for prompt payments, inventory buying opportunities, rebates, inventory management and other agreements, vendor program arrangements, negotiated deals and other promotional opportunities. A significant portion of ABDC’s gross margin has been derived from our ability to purchase merchandise inventories in advance of pharmaceutical price increases and then holding these inventories until pharmaceutical prices increase, thereby generating a larger gross margin upon sale of the inventories. Over the last two years, pharmaceutical manufacturers began to increase their control over the pharmaceutical supply channel by using product allocation methods, including the imposition of inventory management agreements (“IMAs”). Under most IMAs, we are paid for not speculating with respect to pharmaceutical price increases. However, in many cases our compensation under IMAs continues to be predicated upon pharmaceutical price increases. As of September 30, 2004, approximately two-thirds of our pharmaceutical distribution revenue is covered by IMAs. Additionally, pharmaceutical manufacturers began restricting our ability to purchase their products from alternate sources and requested more product and distribution sales data from us. We believe the changes that have been made provide pharmaceutical manufacturers with greater visibility over product demand and movement in the market and increased product safety and integrity by reducing the risks associated with product being available to the secondary market. Additionally, in the quarter ended September 30, 2004, we, along with our competitors, experienced a reduction in the number of pharmaceutical price increases as compared to our historical experience as pharmaceutical manufacturer pricing policies continue to be under intense scrutiny.

 

All of the above has led to significant volatility in ABDC’s gross margin. Therefore, we have commenced an effort to shift our pharmaceutical distribution model towards a fee-for-service model where we are compensated for the services we provide manufacturers versus one that is dependent upon manufacturer price increases (as is the case with the IMA model). We continue to work with our pharmaceutical manufacturer partners to define fee-for-service terms that will adequately compensate us for our services. As of September 30, 2004, we have signed agreements that we consider fee-for-service arrangements with a small number of our pharmaceutical manufacturer partners. We believe the fee-for-service model is a collaborative approach that will improve the efficiency of the supply channel and establish a more predictable earnings pattern for ABDC, while expanding our service relationship with pharmaceutical manufacturers. However, there can be no assurance that this business model transition will be successful. We expect to continue discussion of fee-for-service arrangements with the majority of pharmaceutical manufacturers in fiscal 2005.

 

Management Information Systems. ABDC continually invests in advanced management information systems and automated warehouse technology. ABDC’s management information systems provide for, among other things, electronic order entry by customers, invoice preparation and purchasing, and inventory tracking. As a result of electronic order entry, the cost of receiving and processing orders has not increased as rapidly as sales volume. ABDC’s customized systems strengthen customer relationships by allowing the customer to lower its operating costs and by providing a platform for a number of the value-added services offered to our customers, including marketing, product demand data, inventory replenishment, single-source billing, computer price updates and price labels.

 

ABDC operates its full-service wholesale pharmaceutical distribution facilities on two different centralized management information systems, while continuing to migrate to one system and maintaining our customers’ access through either order-entry system.

 

ABDC plans to continue to make system investments to further improve its information capabilities and meet its customer and operational needs. ABDC continues to expand its electronic interface with its suppliers and currently processes a substantial portion of its purchase orders, invoices and payments electronically. ABDC is implementing a new warehouse operating system that is expected to improve its productivity and operating leverage. As of September 30, 2004, six of our distribution facilities have successfully implemented the new warehouse operating system.

 

ABSG operates its specialty distribution business on a common, centralized ERP platform resulting in operating efficiencies as well as the ability to rapidly deploy new capabilities. The convenience of ordering via the Internet is very important to ABSG’s customers. Over the last two years, we have introduced and enhanced our web capabilities such that currently more than 30% of orders are initiated on the web.

 

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PharMerica’s Long-Term Care business operates a proprietary information technology infrastructure that automates order entry of medications, dispensing of medications, invoicing, and payment processing. These systems provide medical records, consulting drug review, and regulatory compliance information to help ensure patient safety. PharMerica’s Workers’ Compensation business provides proprietary information technology for workers’ compensation solutions. These systems provide eligibility authorization and reimbursement payments to participating pharmacies. They also provide order taking, shipment and collection of service fees for medications and specialty services. The systems also provide billing and reimbursement for other services rendered. PharMerica continues to invest in technologies that help improve data integrity, critical information access and system availability.

 

Competition

 

We face a highly competitive environment in the distribution of pharmaceuticals and related healthcare solutions. We compete with both national and regional distributors within pharmaceutical distribution. Our national competitors include Cardinal Health, Inc. and McKesson Corporation. In addition, we compete with local distributors, direct-selling manufacturers, warehousing chain drugstores, specialty distributors, and packaging and healthcare technology companies. The provider and alternate site product distribution channels serviced by ABSG are also highly competitive. Specialty distribution channel competitors include Oncology Therapeutics Network, FFF Enterprises, Henry Schein, Med-Path, and Priority Healthcare Corporation. Competitors in the business of providing specialty pharmaceutical services to manufacturers include US Oncology, Inc., Covance Inc., and UPS Logistics, among others. Competitive factors include price, value-added service programs, product offerings, service and delivery, credit terms, and customer support.

 

PharMerica’s competitors principally include national institutional pharmacies such as Omnicare, Inc., which is significantly larger than PharMerica, and NeighborCare, Inc., as well as smaller regional pharmacies that specialize in long-term care. We believe that the competitive factors most important in PharMerica’s lines of business are quality and range of service offered, pricing, reputation with referral sources, ease of doing business with the provider, and the ability to develop and maintain relationships with referral sources. In addition, there are relatively few barriers to entry in the local markets served by PharMerica and it may encounter substantial competition from local market entrants. PharMerica also competes with numerous billing companies in connection with the portion of its business that electronically adjudicates workers’ compensation claims for payors.

 

Intellectual Property

 

We use a number of trademarks and service marks. All of the principal trademarks and service marks used in the course of our business have been registered in the United States or are the subject of pending applications for registration.

 

We have developed or acquired various proprietary products, processes, software and other intellectual property that are used either to facilitate the conduct of our business or that are made available as products or services to customers. We generally seek to protect such intellectual property through a combination of trade secret, patent and copyright laws and through confidentiality and other contractually imposed protections.

 

We hold patents and have patent applications pending that relate to certain of our products, particularly our automated pharmacy dispensing equipment and our medication and supply dispensing equipment. We pursue patents for our proprietary intellectual property from time to time as appropriate.

 

Although we believe that our patents or other proprietary products and processes do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third parties, third parties may assert infringement claims against us from time to time.

 

Employees

 

As of September 30, 2004, we employed approximately 14,100 persons, of which approximately 12,800 were full-time employees. Approximately 6% of full and part-time employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Company believes that its relationship with its employees is good.

 

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Government Regulation

 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and various state regulatory authorities regulate the distribution of pharmaceutical products and controlled substances. Wholesale distributors of these substances are required to register for permits, meet various security and operating standards, and comply with regulations governing their sale, marketing, packaging, holding and distribution. The FDA, DEA and state regulatory authorities have broad enforcement powers, including the ability to seize or recall products and impose significant criminal, civil and administrative sanctions for violations of these laws and regulations. As a wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals and certain related products, we are subject to these regulations. We have received all necessary regulatory approvals and believe that we are in substantial compliance with all applicable wholesale distribution requirements.

 

We and our customers are subject to fraud and abuse laws which prohibit, among other things, (a) persons from soliciting, offering, receiving or paying any remuneration in order to induce the referral of a patient for treatment or for inducing the ordering or purchasing of items or services that are in any way paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, or other government healthcare programs and (b) physicians from making referrals to certain entities with whom they have a financial relationship. The fraud and abuse laws and regulations are broad in scope and are subject to frequent modification and varied interpretation. The operations of PharMerica and the Specialty Group are particularly subject to these laws and regulations, as are certain aspects of our Pharmaceutical Distribution operations.

 

Under the Prospective Payment System (“PPS”) for Medicare patients in skilled nursing facilities, Medicare pays a federal daily rate for virtually all covered skilled nursing facility services. Under PPS, PharMerica’s Long-Term Care skilled nursing facility customers are not able to pass through to Medicare their costs for certain products and services provided by PharMerica. Instead, Medicare provides such customers a federal daily rate to cover the costs of all covered goods and services provided to Medicare patients, which may include certain pharmaceutical and other goods and services provided by PharMerica. Because this Medicare reimbursement is limited by PPS, facility customers have an increased incentive to negotiate with PharMerica to minimize the costs of providing goods and services to patients covered under Medicare. PharMerica continues to bill skilled nursing facilities on a negotiated fee schedule.

 

PharMerica’s Long-Term Care business also receives reimbursement directly for dispensed pharmaceuticals in some cases under state Medicaid programs. Over the last several years, state Medicaid programs have lowered reimbursement through a variety of mechanisms, principally reductions in Average Wholesale Price (AWP) levels, expansion of Federal Upper Limit (FUL) pricing, and general reductions in contract payment methodology to pharmacies. It is expected that such lower reimbursement levels and trends will continue through the introduction of the Medicare Part D drug benefit in 2006.

 

In recent years, some states have passed or have proposed laws and regulations that are intended to protect the integrity of the supply channel, but that may also restrict our ability to purchase drugs from alternate source suppliers and a small group of authorized distributors. These laws and regulations will likely increase the overall regulatory burden and costs associated with our pharmaceutical distribution business.

 

As a result of political, economic and regulatory influences, the healthcare delivery industry in the United States is under intense scrutiny and subject to fundamental changes. We cannot predict which reform proposals will be adopted, when they may be adopted, or what impact they may have on us.

 

The costs associated with complying with federal and state regulations could be significant and the failure to comply with any such legal requirements could have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

See “Certain Risk Factors” below for discussion of additional regulatory developments that may affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

Health Information Practices

 

The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set forth health information standards in order to protect security and privacy in the exchange of individually identifiable health information. Significant criminal and civil penalties may be imposed for violation of these standards. We have implemented a HIPAA compliance program to facilitate our ongoing effort to comply with the HIPAA Regulations.

 

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Certain Risk Factors

 

The following discussion describes certain risk factors that we believe could affect our business and prospects. These risk factors are in addition to those set forth elsewhere in this report.

 

Intense competition may erode our profit margins.

 

The distribution of pharmaceuticals and related healthcare solutions is highly competitive. We compete with national wholesale distributors of pharmaceuticals such as Cardinal Health, Inc. and McKesson Corporation; regional and local distributors of pharmaceuticals; chain drugstores that warehouse their own pharmaceuticals; manufacturers who distribute their products directly to customers; specialty distributors; and other healthcare providers. PharMerica’s Long-Term Care and Workers’ Compensation businesses are also highly competitive.

 

Competitive pressures have contributed to a decline in our gross profit margins on operating revenue from 5.44% in fiscal 2001 to 4.46% in fiscal 2004. This trend may continue and our business could be adversely affected as a result.

 

Our operating revenue and profitability may suffer upon the loss of a significant customer.

 

Sales to the federal government (including sales under separate contracts with different departments and agencies of the federal government) and sales to Medco each represented 6% of our operating revenue in fiscal 2004. In May 2004, the Company discontinued servicing the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) as a result of losing a competitive bid process. The VA contributed 5% of our operating revenue in fiscal 2004. In August 2004, the Company discontinued servicing AdvancePCS because it was acquired by a customer of a competitor. AdvancePCS contributed 4% of our operating revenue in fiscal 2004. Other than the federal government and Medco, no individual customer accounted for more than 5% of our fiscal 2004 operating revenue. Including the federal government, our top ten customers represented approximately 33% of operating revenue during fiscal 2004. Revenues generated from sales to Medco accounted for 97% of bulk deliveries to customer warehouses and 13% of total revenues during fiscal 2004. In addition, we have contracts with group purchasing organizations (“GPOs”), each of which functions as a purchasing agent on behalf of its members, who are healthcare providers. Approximately 15% of our operating revenue in fiscal 2004 was derived from our three largest GPO relationships (Novation, LLC, United Drug Stores and Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P.). The loss of any major customer or GPO relationship could adversely affect future operating revenue and profitability.

 

Our operating revenue and profitability may suffer upon the bankruptcy, insolvency or other credit failure of a significant customer.

 

Most of our customers buy pharmaceuticals and other products and services from us on credit. Credit is made available to customers based on our assessment and analysis of creditworthiness. Although we often try to obtain a security interest in assets and other arrangements intended to protect our credit exposure, we generally are either subordinated to the position of the primary lenders to our customers or substantially unsecured. The bankruptcy, insolvency or other credit failure of any customer at a time when the customer has a substantial account payable balance due to us could have a material adverse affect on our results of operations. At September 30, 2004, the largest trade receivable due from a single customer represented approximately 11% of accounts receivable, net.

 

The Company’s Pharmaceutical Distribution segment is transitioning its business model.

 

As previously discussed more fully under the heading “Suppliers” within Item 1 (Business), the Company’s Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, which is the Company’s largest business, is in the midst of a business model transition with respect to how it is compensated for services it provides to pharmaceutical manufacturers. There can be no assurance that the Pharmaceutical Distribution business will ultimately succeed in transitioning its business model or, if such transition is successful, that the timing of that transition will occur as anticipated by the Company. If the transition does not succeed, the Company may not be adequately compensated and its profitability may be significantly reduced.

 

Increasing efforts by pharmaceutical manufacturers to control the pharmaceutical supply channel may reduce our profitability.

 

We generally seek to maintain product inventories at levels that are sufficient to fulfill our service level commitments under distribution contracts with healthcare providers. Historically, we have been able to lower our overall cost of goods and

 

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increase our profit margins by purchasing surplus inventory from pharmaceutical manufacturers in advance of anticipated price increases and by purchasing surplus inventory from alternate source suppliers (who are licensed suppliers of pharmaceuticals) at prices lower than those available to us directly from the manufacturers. Pharmaceutical manufacturers have become aggressive in undertaking efforts to reduce our ability to lower our overall costs of goods below their product pricing levels. We have encountered increasing efforts by pharmaceutical manufacturers to control the supply channel. Such efforts have had the effect of reducing our profitability. Many of our contracts with healthcare providers are multi-year contracts that cannot be terminated or amended in the event of such changes in our relationships with manufacturers. Accordingly, the advent of such changes may have the effect of reducing, or even eliminating, our profitability on such contracts through the end of the applicable contract periods. We intend to seek rights in future contracts to adjust pricing and other terms if adverse supply chain developments or other adverse changes affecting our profitability structure for distribution services should arise. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such contractual rights or that such rights will be adequate to offset the effect of any such adverse developments or changes.

 

Increasing governmental efforts to regulate the pharmaceutical supply channel may reduce our profitability.

 

The healthcare industry is highly regulated at the local, state and federal level. Consequently, we are subject to the risk of changes in various local, state and federal laws, which include operating and security standards of the DEA, the FDA, various state boards of pharmacy and comparable agencies. Historically, we have been able to lower our overall cost of goods and increase our profit margins by purchasing surplus inventory from alternate source suppliers (who are licensed suppliers of pharmaceuticals) at prices lower than those available to us directly from the manufacturers. In recent years, some states have passed or have proposed laws and regulations that are intended to protect the integrity of the supply channel but that also may restrict our ability to purchase drugs from alternate source suppliers and a small group of authorized distributors. Laws and regulations that have the effect of restricting our ability to engage in alternate source purchasing also may reduce our profitability. We have announced our support of possible FDA regulations that would limit the pharmaceutical supply channel to manufacturers and a limited group of distributors (which would include us and our national competitors, among others) and would diminish greatly, if not eliminate, any opportunities for us to increase our income through alternate source purchasing.

 

Legal and regulatory changes affecting rates of reimbursement for pharmaceuticals and/or medical treatments or services may reduce our profitability.

 

Both our own profit margins and the profit margins of our customers may be adversely affected by laws and regulations reducing reimbursement rates for pharmaceuticals and/or medical treatments or services or changing the methodology by which reimbursement levels are determined. Many of our contracts with healthcare providers are multi-year contracts that cannot be terminated or amended in the event of such legal and regulatory changes. Accordingly, such changes may have the effect of reducing, or even eliminating, our profitability on such contracts until the end of the applicable contract periods. We intend to seek rights in future contracts to adjust pricing and other terms if adverse legal and regulatory developments should arise. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such contractual rights or that such rights will be adequate to offset the effect of any adverse developments or changes.

 

As early as January 2005, the Specialty Group’s business may be adversely impacted by proposed changes in the Medicare reimbursement rates for certain pharmaceuticals, including oncology drugs. The reimbursement changes recently proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (“Medicare Modernization Act”) or that may be proposed in the future, may have the effect of reducing the amount of medications administered by physicians in their offices and may force patients to other healthcare providers. This may result in lower revenues for the Specialty Group. Although the Specialty Group is preparing contingency plans to enable it to retain its distribution volume, there can be no assurance that it will retain all of the distribution volume currently going through the physician channel.

 

The Medicare Modernization Act includes a major expansion of the Medicare prescription drug benefit under new Medicare Part D. Beginning in 2006, Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in prescription drug plans offered by private entities, that will provide coverage of outpatient prescription drugs. Medicare beneficiaries who are also entitled to benefits under a state Medicaid program (so-called “dual eligibles”) will have their prescription drug costs covered by the new Medicare drug benefit. These dual eligibles would include those nursing home residents served by the PharMerica Long-Term Care business whose drug costs are currently covered by state Medicaid programs. Proposed regulations to implement the new Medicare drug benefit would permit long-term care pharmacies to provide covered Medicare Part D drugs to enrollees of the new Medicare Part D plans. Under the proposed regulations, long-term care pharmacies could participate on an in-network basis by contracting directly with the plan sponsor or on an out-of-network basis. Given the potential for significant revisions based on comments received, we cannot determine the effect of Medicare Part D on the PharMerica Long-Term Care business until the regulations are finalized but

 

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the implementation of Medicare Part D could have an adverse effect on the PharMerica Long-Term Care business. In addition, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is required to conduct a study of current standards of practice for pharmacy services provided to patients in long-term care settings, and, among other things, make recommendations regarding necessary actions and appropriate reimbursement to ensure the provision of prescription drugs to Medicare beneficiaries in nursing facilities consistent with existing patient safety and quality of care standards. Such recommendations and actions could have an adverse effect on the PharMerica Long-Term Care business.

 

The changing United States healthcare environment may negatively impact our revenue and income.

 

Our products and services are intended to function within the structure of the healthcare financing and reimbursement system currently existing in the United States. In recent years, the healthcare industry has undergone significant changes in an effort to reduce costs and government spending. These changes include an increased reliance on managed care; cuts in Medicare funding affecting our healthcare provider customer base; consolidation of competitors, suppliers and customers; and the development of large, sophisticated purchasing groups. We expect the healthcare industry to continue to change significantly in the future. Some of these potential changes, such as a reduction in governmental support of healthcare services or adverse changes in legislation or regulations governing prescription drug pricing, healthcare services or mandated benefits, may cause healthcare industry participants to reduce the amount of our products and services they purchase or the price they are willing to pay for our products and services.

 

Changes in pharmaceutical manufacturers’ pricing or distribution policies could also significantly reduce our income. See the discussion of pharmaceutical pricing under the heading “Industry Overview” within Item 1 (Business).

 

Medicare Part D under the Medicare Modernization Act will give Medicare beneficiaries a prescription drug benefit in 2006 and give beneficiaries drug discounts prior to 2006. Although all of the implementation details of this legislation are not finalized at this time, this legislation eventually could have an adverse effect on our revenue and income.

 

If we fail to comply with laws and regulations in respect of healthcare fraud, we could suffer penalties or be required to make significant changes to our operations.

 

We are subject to extensive and frequently changing local, state and federal laws and regulations relating to healthcare fraud. The federal government continues to strengthen its position and scrutiny over practices involving healthcare fraud affecting the Medicare, Medicaid and other government healthcare programs. Our relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers subject our business to laws and regulations on fraud and abuse which, among other things, (i) prohibit persons from soliciting, offering, receiving or paying any remuneration in order to induce the referral of a patient for treatment or for inducing the ordering or purchasing of items or services that are in any way paid for by Medicare, Medicaid or other government-sponsored healthcare programs and (ii) impose a number of restrictions upon referring physicians and providers of designated health services under Medicare and Medicaid programs. Legislative provisions relating to healthcare fraud and abuse give federal enforcement personnel substantially increased funding, powers and remedies to pursue suspected fraud and abuse. While we believe that we are in substantial compliance with all applicable laws, many of the regulations applicable to us, including those relating to marketing incentives offered by pharmaceutical suppliers, are vague or indefinite and have not been interpreted by the courts. They may be interpreted or applied by a prosecutorial, regulatory or judicial authority in a manner that could require us to make changes in our operations. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we could suffer civil and criminal penalties, including the loss of licenses or our ability to participate in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state healthcare programs.

 

We may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of enhancing our distribution network.

 

Through our Optimiz program, as revised, we will consolidate our distribution facilities from 51 to less than 30 and implement new warehouse information technology systems. The program is designed to focus capacity on growing markets, significantly increase warehouse efficiencies and streamline our transportation activities. Our plan is to have a distribution facility network consisting of less than 30 facilities within the next two to three years. The plan includes building six new facilities (two of which are operational as of September 30, 2004), closing facilities (seventeen of which have been closed) and implementing a new warehouse operating system. Construction activities on the remaining four new facilities are ongoing (two of them will be operational by the end of fiscal 2005). We anticipate closing six additional facilities in fiscal 2005. We believe our enhanced distribution network will result in the lowest costs in pharmaceutical distribution and the highest accuracy and speed of customer order fulfillment. We may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of enhancing our distribution network if we experience delays in building the new facilities or closing existing facilities, we incur significant cost overruns associated with the program, or the new warehouse information technology systems do not function as planned.

 

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Our operating results and/or financial condition may be adversely affected if we undertake acquisitions of businesses that do not perform as we expect or that are difficult for us to integrate.

 

We expect to continue to implement our growth strategy, in part, by acquiring companies. At any particular time, we may be in various stages of assessment, discussion and negotiation with regard to one or more potential acquisitions, not all of which will be consummated. We make public disclosure of pending and completed acquisitions when appropriate and required by applicable securities laws and regulations.

 

Acquisitions involve numerous risks and uncertainties. If we complete one or more acquisitions, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including: the failure of the acquired businesses to achieve the results we have projected in either the near or long term; the assumption of unknown liabilities; the difficulties of imposing adequate financial and operating controls on the acquired companies and their management and the potential liabilities that might arise pending the imposition of adequate controls; the difficulties in the integration of the operations, technologies, services and products of the acquired companies; and the failure to achieve the strategic objectives of these acquisitions.

 

We anticipate that we may finance acquisitions in the foreseeable future at least partly by the issuance of additional common stock. The use of equity financing for acquisitions would dilute the ownership percentage of our stockholders.

 

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results and our management may not be able to provide its report on the effectiveness of our internal controls in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005 as required pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or provide the unqualified attestation, or any attestation, from our independent auditor on management’s assessment of our internal controls.

 

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management will be required to deliver a report in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005 that assesses the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. We also will be required to deliver an attestation report of our independent auditors on our management’s assessment of, and operating effectiveness of, internal controls. We have undertaken substantial effort to assess, enhance and document our internal control systems, financial processes and information systems and expect to continue to do so during fiscal 2005 in preparation for the required evaluation process. Significant use of resources, both internal and external, will be required to make the requisite evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls. While the Company believes it has adequate internal controls and will meet its obligations, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to complete the work necessary for the Company’s management to issue its report in a timely manner or that management or the Company’s independent auditor will conclude that the Company’s internal controls are effective.

 

Risks generally associated with the Company’s sophisticated information systems may adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

 

The Company relies on sophisticated information systems in its business to obtain, rapidly process, analyze, and manage data to facilitate the purchase and distribution of thousands of inventory items from numerous distribution centers; receive, process, and ship orders on a timely basis; to manage the accurate billing and collections for thousands of customers; and to process payments to suppliers, net of deductions. The Company’s business and results of operations may be adversely affected if these systems are interrupted or damaged by unforeseen events or if they fail for any extended period of time, including due to the actions of third parties.

 

Available Information

 

For more information about us, visit our website at www.amerisourcebergen.com. The contents of the website are not part of this Form 10-K. Our electronic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including all Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and any amendments to these reports) are available free of charge through the “Investors” section of our website immediately after we electronically file with or furnish them to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

As of September 30, 2004, we conducted our business from office and operating facilities at owned and leased locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. In the aggregate, our facilities occupy approximately 8.3 million square feet of office and warehouse space, which is either owned or leased under agreements that expire from time to time through 2018.

 

Our 36 full-service wholesale pharmaceutical distribution facilities range in size from approximately 39,000 square feet to 314,000 square feet, with an aggregate of approximately 5.5 million square feet. When complete, our six new distribution facilities, including office space, will each have approximately 300,000 square feet. Leased facilities are located in Puerto Rico plus the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington. Owned facilities are located in the following states: Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. We consider our operating properties to be in satisfactory condition. The current leases expire through 2018. See Optimize and Grow Our Distribution Business on Page 4 for a discussion of our facility consolidation and expansion plan.

 

As of September 30, 2004, the other business units within the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment (including the Specialty, Packaging and Technology Groups and our other operations) were located in forty-eight leased locations and three owned locations. The locations range in size from approximately 1,000 square feet to 310,000 square feet and have a combined area of approximately 1.7 million square feet, of which the Packaging Group, due to the nature of its operations, occupies approximately 1.0 million square feet. The leases expire through 2010.

 

As of September 30, 2004, our PharMerica operations were located in 101 leased locations ranging in size from approximately 500 square feet to 89,000 square feet and have a combined area of approximately 1.0 million square feet. The leases expire through 2010.

 

We lease an aggregate of approximately 117,000 square feet of general and executive offices in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania and own and lease approximately 203,000 square feet of administrative and data processing offices in Orange, California and Montgomery, Alabama. The leases expire through 2010.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company becomes involved in lawsuits, administrative proceedings and governmental investigations, including antitrust, environmental, product liability, regulatory and other matters. Significant damages or penalties may be sought from the Company in some matters, and some matters may take years for the Company to resolve. The Company establishes reserves from time to time based on its periodic assessment of the potential outcomes of pending matters. There can be no assurance that an adverse resolution of one or more matters during any subsequent reporting period will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations for that period. However, on the basis of information furnished by counsel and others and taking into consideration the reserves established for pending matters, the Company does not believe that the resolution of currently pending matters (including those matters specifically described below), individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition. (See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)

 

Environmental Remediation

 

The Company is subject to contingencies pursuant to environmental laws and regulations at a former distribution center. As of September 30, 2004, the Company has an accrued liability of $0.9 million that represents the current estimate of costs to remediate the site. However, changes in regulation or technology or new information concerning the site could affect the actual liability.

 

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Stockholder Derivative Lawsuit

 

The Company has been named as a nominal defendant in a stockholder derivative action on behalf of the Company under Delaware law that was filed in March 2004 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Also named as defendants in the action are all of the individuals who were serving as directors of the Company prior to the date of filing of the action and certain current and former officers of the Company and its predecessors. The derivative action alleges, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control and gross mismanagement against all the individual defendants. It further alleges, among other things, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment and usurpation of corporate opportunity against various individual defendants. The derivative action seeks compensatory and punitive damages in favor of the Company, attorneys’ fees and costs, and further relief as may be determined by the court. The defendants believe that this derivative action is wholly without merit and they intend to defend themselves against the claims raised in this action. In May 2004, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the action on both procedural and substantive grounds.

 

Government Investigation

 

In June 2000, the Company learned that the U.S. Department of Justice had commenced an investigation focusing on the activities of a customer that illegally resold merchandise purchased from the Company and on the Company’s business relationship with that customer. The Company was contacted initially by the government at that time and cooperated fully. The Company had discontinued doing business with the customer in question in February 2000, after concluding this customer had demonstrated suspicious purchasing behavior. From 2001 through September 2003, the Company had no further contact with the government on this investigation. In September 2003, the Company learned that a former employee of the Company pled guilty to charges arising from his involvement with this customer. In November 2003, the Company was contacted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento, California, for some additional information relating to the investigation. The Company believes that it has not engaged in any wrongdoing, but cannot predict the outcome of this investigation at this time.

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution Matters

 

In January 2002, Bergen Brunswig Drug Company (a predecessor of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation) was served with a complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey by one of its manufacturer vendors, Bracco Diagnostics Inc. The complaint, which included claims for fraud, breach of New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act, breach of contract and unjust enrichment, involves disputes relating to chargebacks and credits. The Court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the fraud and New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act counts. The Company has answered the remaining counts of the complaint. Discovery in this case has been completed and the Company has filed a partial motion for summary judgment.

 

In April 2003, Petters Company, Inc. (“Petters”) commenced an action against the Company (and certain subsidiaries of the Company, including ABDC), and another company, Stayhealthy, Inc. (“Stayhealthy”), that is now pending in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (the “District Court”). Petters claimed that the Company’s refusal to accept and pay for body fat monitors that the Company allegedly was obligated to purchase from Stayhealthy caused Stayhealthy to default on the repayment of loans made by Petters to finance Stayhealthy’s business. In January 2004, Petters was granted leave to file an amended complaint, which includes claims for breach of contract, fraud, federal racketeering, conspiracy and punitive damages. In March 2004, Stayhealthy filed a crossclaim against the Company asserting claims for breach of contract, fraud, promissory estoppel, unjust enrichment, defamation, conversion, interference with economic advantage and federal trade libel. The crossclaim also named as defendants two former employees of the Company, as well as numerous pharmacies that are customers of the Company. In June 2004, the District Court denied the Company’s appeal of the decision allowing Petters to assert federal racketeering claims. In July 2004, the District Court denied the Company’s motion to transfer the case to the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The Company has answered the amended complaint and the crossclaim. Stayhealthy has dismissed its claims against the former employees and the pharmacies. Discovery in the case has been completed. In November 2004, the Company filed a motion for partial summary judgment on Petters’ claims and a motion for summary judgment on Stayhealthy’s crossclaims. Oral argument of the motions is scheduled for the first calendar quarter of 2005.

 

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PharMerica Matters

 

In November 2002, a class action was filed in Hawaii state court on behalf of consumers who allegedly received recycled medications from a PharMerica institutional pharmacy in Honolulu, Hawaii. The plaintiffs allege that it was a deceptive trade practice under Hawaii law to sell recycled medications (i.e., medications that had previously been dispensed and then returned to the pharmacy) without disclosing that the medications were recycled. In September 2003, the Hawaii Circuit Court heard and granted the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the case as a class action. The class consists of consumers who purchased drugs in product lines in which recycling occurred, but those product lines have not yet been identified. PharMerica intends to defend itself against the claims raised in this class action. It is PharMerica’s position that the class members suffered no harm and are not entitled to recover any damages. PharMerica is not aware of any evidence, or any specific claim, that any particular class member received medications that were ineffective because they had been recycled. Discovery in this case is ongoing, as are efforts to identify the members of the class.

 

In June 2004, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) issued a Notice of Action against PharMerica Drug Systems, Inc. (“PDSI”), a subsidiary of PharMerica, Inc. (“PharMerica”), alleging that PDSI’s December 1997 acquisition of Hollins Manor I, LLC (“HMI”) from HCMF Corporation (“HCMF”) for a purchase price of $7,200,000 violated the anti-kickback provisions of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7(a)(7). PDSI’s acquisition of HMI in 1997 predated both Bergen Brunswig Corporation’s acquisition of PharMerica in 1999 and the subsequent merger of AmeriSource Health Corporation and Bergen Brunswig Corporation to form the Company in August 2001. HMI was an institutional pharmacy that had been established to serve the nursing homes then operated by HCMF. OIG alleges that the purchase price paid by PDSI to HCMF should be regarded as an unlawful payment by PDSI to HCMF to obtain referrals of future pharmacy business eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. According to OIG, HMI’s value lay primarily in the potential future stream of Medicaid business that would be obtained from the nursing homes owned by HCMF under a long-term pharmacy service agreement between HMI and HCMF that OIG alleges PDSI improperly helped put in place prior to the acquisition. OIG is seeking civil monetary penalties of $200,000, statutory damages of $21,600,000 (representing treble the purchase price that PDSI paid for HMI) and PDSI’s exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid and all federal healthcare programs for a period of 10 years. In June 2004, the OIG amended its Notice of Action against PDSI to include PharMerica as well. In late November 2004, OIG submitted a further amendment of the Notice of Action attempting to clarify its alleged basis for including PharMerica and attempting to substitute “Federal health programs” for “Medicaid” wherever the original Notice of Action and the first amendment referred to just “Medicaid.” The Company believes that the OIG allegations are without merit as against either PDSI or PharMerica and intends to contest the allegations in their entirety. Moreover, the Company believes that PharMerica is an inappropriate party to the action and intends to contest the inclusion of PharMerica as a party to the action. The Company has been granted a hearing in June 2005 in order to contest the OIG claims before an HHS administrative law judge.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders for the quarter ended September 30, 2004.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

The following is a list of the Company’s principal executive officers, their ages and their positions, as of December 1, 2004. Each executive officer serves at the pleasure of the Company’s board of directors.

 

Name


  

Age


  

Current Position with the Company


R. David Yost

   57    Chief Executive Officer and Director

Kurt J. Hilzinger

   44    President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

Michael D. DiCandilo

   43    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Steven H. Collis

   43    Senior Vice President and President, AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group

Terrance P. Haas

   39    Senior Vice President and President, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation

 

Unless indicated to the contrary, the business experience summaries provided below for the Company’s executive officers describe positions held by the named individuals during the last five years.

 

Mr. Yost has been Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company since August 2001 and was President of the Company until October 2002. He was Chairman of AmeriSource’s board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of AmeriSource from December 2000 until August 2001. Mr. Yost previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AmeriSource from May 1997 to December 2000. Mr. Yost served as a director of AmeriSource from 1997 until August 2001.

 

Mr. Hilzinger was elected to the Company’s Board of Directors in March 2004. He was named President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company in October 2002. Prior to that date, he was the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since August 2001; the President and Chief Operating Officer of AmeriSource from December 2000 until August 2001; the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of AmeriSource from January 1999 to December 2000; and the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of AmeriSource from 1997 to 1999.

 

Mr. DiCandilo was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company in March 2002. Previously, he was the Company’s Vice President and Controller since August 2001 and AmeriSource’s Vice President and Controller from 1995 to August 2001.

 

Mr. Collis has been a Senior Vice President of the Company and President of AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group since August 2001. He was Senior Executive Vice President of Bergen from February 2000 until August 2001 and President of ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc. from September 2000 until August 2001. Mr. Collis was also Executive Vice President of ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc. from 1996 to August 2000.

 

Mr. Haas was named Senior Vice President, and President of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation in February 2004. He was Senior Vice President, Operations from February 2003 to February 2004. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Integration since October 2001 and Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Management from August 2001 to October 2001. Prior to August 2001, Mr. Haas served as AmeriSource’s Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Management since November 2000 and Senior Vice President, Operations of AmeriSource from 1999 to 2000.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “ABC.” As of November 30, 2004, there were 3,184 record holders of the Company’s common stock. The following table sets forth the high and low closing sale prices of the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated.

 

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

 

     High

   Low

Fiscal Year Ended 9/30/04

             

First Quarter

   $ 65.89    $ 55.00

Second Quarter

     59.15      52.56

Third Quarter

     61.64      54.20

Fourth Quarter

     56.58      49.91

Fiscal Year Ended 9/30/03

             

First Quarter

     74.93      51.30

Second Quarter

     59.20      46.76

Third Quarter

     70.12      50.28

Fourth Quarter

     73.30      53.50

 

The Company has paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.025 per share on its common stock since the first quarter of fiscal 2002. Recently, a dividend of $0.025 per share was declared by the board of directors on November 11, 2004, and was paid on December 7, 2004 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 22, 2004. The Company anticipates that it will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future. However, the payment and amount of future dividends remain within the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will depend upon the Company’s future earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors.

 

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

On August 13, 2004, the Company’s board of directors authorized the Company to purchase up to $500 million of its outstanding shares of common stock, subject to market conditions. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company purchased $144.8 million of its common stock for a weighted-average price of $52.39. The following table sets forth the number of shares purchased, the average price paid per share, and the dollar value that may yet be purchased under this program.

 

Period


   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased


   Average
Price
Paid per
Share


   Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of a Publicly
Announced
Program


   Maximum Dollar
Value of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Program


August 13 to August 31

   2,184,100    $ 52.02    2,184,100    $ 386,374,516

September 1 to September 30

   577,400      53.77    577,400      355,326,985
    
         
      

Total

   2,761,500      52.39    2,761,500      355,326,985
    
         
      

 

Subsequent to Septemeber 30, 2004, the Company purchased an additional 4.8 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $253.2 million.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

On August 29, 2001, AmeriSource and Bergen merged to form the Company. The merger was accounted for as an acquisition of Bergen under the purchase method of accounting. Accordingly, the results of operations and the balance sheet information in the table below reflect only the operating results and financial position of AmeriSource for fiscal year ended September 30, 2000. The financial data for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001 reflects the operating results for the full year of AmeriSource and approximately one month of Bergen, and the financial position of the combined company. The following table should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements, including the notes thereto, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations beginning on the next page of this report.

 

(amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)


   Fiscal year ended September 30,

   2004 (a)

   2003 (b)

   2002 (c)

   2001 (d)

   2000 (e)

Operating revenue

   $ 48,870,615    $ 45,536,689    $ 40,240,714    $ 15,822,635    $ 11,609,995

Bulk deliveries to customer warehouses

     4,308,339      4,120,639      4,994,080      368,718      35,026
    

  

  

  

  

Total revenue

     53,178,954      49,657,328      45,234,794      16,191,353      11,645,021

Gross profit

     2,179,182      2,247,159      2,024,474      700,118      519,581

Operating expenses

     1,288,748      1,364,053      1,306,046      440,742      317,456

Operating income

     890,434      883,106      718,428      259,376      202,125

Net income

     468,390      441,229      344,941      123,796      99,014

Earnings per share - diluted (f)

     4.06      3.89      3.16      2.10      1.90

Cash dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.10    $ 0.10    $ 0.10    $ —      $ —  

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

     117,779      115,954      112,228      62,807      52,020

Balance Sheet:

                                  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 871,343    $ 800,036    $ 663,340    $ 297,626    $ 120,818

Accounts receivable - net (g)

     2,260,973      2,295,437      2,222,156      2,142,663      623,961

Merchandise inventories (g)

     5,135,830      5,733,837      5,437,878      5,056,257      1,570,504

Property and equipment - net

     465,264      353,170      282,578      289,569      64,962

Total assets

     11,654,003      12,040,125      11,213,012      10,291,245      2,458,567

Accounts payable

     4,947,037      5,393,769      5,367,837      4,991,884      1,584,133

Long-term debt, including current portion

     1,438,471      1,784,154      1,817,313      1,874,379      413,675

Stockholders’ equity

     4,339,045      4,005,317      3,316,338      2,838,564      282,294

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

     11,654,003      12,040,125      11,213,012      10,291,245      2,458,567

(a) Includes $4.6 million of facility consolidations and employee severance costs, net of income tax benefit of $2.9 million, a $14.5 million loss on early retirement of debt, net of income tax benefit of $9.1 million, and a $23.4 million gain from an antitrust litigation settlement, net of income tax expense of $14.6 million.

 

(b) Includes $5.4 million of facility consolidations and employee severance costs, net of income tax benefit of $3.5 million and a $2.6 million loss on early retirement of debt, net of income tax benefit of $1.6 million.

 

(c) Includes $14.6 million of merger costs, net of income tax benefit of $9.6 million.

 

(d) Includes $8.0 million of merger costs, net of income tax benefit of $5.1 million, $6.8 million of costs related to facility consolidations and employee severance, net of income tax benefit of $4.1 million, and a $1.7 million reduction in an environmental liability, net of income taxes of $1.0 million.

 

(e) Includes a $0.7 million reversal of costs related to facility consolidations and employee severance, net of income taxes of $0.4 million.

 

(f) Includes the amortization of goodwill, net of income taxes, during fiscal 2000 and fiscal 2001. Had the Company not amortized goodwill, diluted earnings per share would have been $0.02 higher in fiscal 2001 and fiscal 2000.

 

(g) Balance as of September 30, 2004 reflects a change in accounting to accrue for customer sales returns. The impact of the accrual was to decrease accounts receivable, increase merchandise inventories, and decrease operating revenue and cost of goods sold by $316.8 million. The accrual for customer sales returns had no impact on net income.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto contained herein.

 

The Company is organized based upon the products and services it provides to its customers, and substantially all of its operations are located in the United States. The Company’s operations are comprised of two reportable segments: Pharmaceutical Distribution and PharMerica.

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution

 

The Pharmaceutical Distribution segment includes the operations of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (“ABDC”) and the AmerisourceBergen Specialty, Packaging and Technology Groups. Servicing both pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s operations provide drug distribution and related services designed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The drug distribution operations of ABDC and AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group comprised over 90% of the segment’s operating revenue and operating income in fiscal 2004.

 

ABDC is our wholesale drug distribution business and is currently organized into five regions across the United States. Unlike our more centralized competitors, we are structured as an organization of locally managed profit centers. We believe the delivery of healthcare is local and, therefore, the management of each distribution facility has responsibility for its own customer service and financial performance. These facilities utilize the Company’s corporate staff for national and regional account management, marketing, data processing, finance, procurement, human resources, legal, executive management resources, and corporate coordination of asset and working capital management.

 

The AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group (“ABSG” or the “Specialty Group”), through a number of individual operating businesses, provides distribution and other services, including group purchasing services, to physicians and alternate care providers who specialize in a variety of disease states, including oncology, nephrology, and rheumatology. ABSG also distributes vaccines, other injectables and plasma. In addition, through its manufacturer services and physician and patient services businesses, ABSG provides a number of commercialization and other services for biotech and other pharmaceutical manufacturers, third party logistics, reimbursement consulting, practice management, and physician education.

 

The AmerisourceBergen Packaging Group consists of American Health Packaging and Anderson Packaging (“Anderson”). American Health Packaging delivers unit dose, punch card, unit-of-use and other packaging solutions to institutional and retail healthcare providers. Anderson is a leading provider of contracted packaging services for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

 

The AmerisourceBergen Technology Group (“ABTG”) provides scalable automated pharmacy dispensing equipment and medication and supply dispensing cabinets to a variety of retail and institutional healthcare providers. ABTG also provides barcode-enabled point-of-care software designed to reduce medication errors and supply management software for institutional and retail healthcare providers designed to improve efficiency.

 

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PharMerica

 

The PharMerica segment includes the operations of the PharMerica long-term care business (“Long-Term Care”) and a workers’ compensation-related business (“Workers’ Compensation”).

 

PharMerica’s Long-Term Care business is a leading national provider of pharmacy products and services to patients in long-term care and alternate site settings, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and residential living communities. PharMerica’s Long-Term Care institutional pharmacy business involves the purchase of bulk quantities of prescription and nonprescription pharmaceuticals, principally from our Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, and the distribution of those products to residents in long-term care and alternate site facilities. Unlike hospitals, most long-term and alternate care facilities do not have onsite pharmacies to dispense prescription drugs, but depend instead on institutional pharmacies, such as PharMerica Long-Term Care, to provide the necessary pharmacy products and services and to play an integral role in monitoring patient medication. PharMerica’s Long-Term Care pharmacies dispense pharmaceuticals in patient-specific packaging in accordance with physician orders. In addition, PharMerica’s Long-Term Care business provides infusion therapy services and Medicare Part B products, as well as formulary management and other pharmacy consulting services.

 

PharMerica’s Workers’ Compensation business provides mail order and on-line pharmacy services to chronically and catastrophically ill patients under workers’ compensation programs, and provides pharmaceutical claims administration services for payors. Workers’ Compensation services include home delivery of prescription drugs, medical supplies and equipment and an array of computer software solutions to reduce the payor’s administrative costs.

 

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AmerisourceBergen Corporation

Summary Segment Information

 

(dollars in thousands)


   Operating Revenue
Fiscal year ended September 30,


    2004
vs.
2003
Change


    2003
vs.
2002
Change


 
   2004

    2003

    2002

     

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 48,171,178     $ 44,731,200     $ 39,539,858     8 %   13 %

PharMerica

     1,575,255       1,608,203       1,475,028     (2 )   9  

Intersegment eliminations

     (875,818 )     (802,714 )     (774,172 )   (9 )   (4 )
    


 


 


           

Total

   $ 48,870,615     $ 45,536,689     $ 40,240,714     7 %   13 %
    


 


 


           

(dollars in thousands)


   Operating Income
Fiscal year ended September 30,


    2004
vs.
2003
Change


    2003
vs.
2002
Change


 
   2004

    2003

    2002

     

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 738,100     $ 788,193     $ 659,208     (6 )%   20 %

PharMerica

     121,846       103,843       83,464     17     24  

Facility consolidations and employee severance

     (7,517 )     (8,930 )     —       16        

Merger costs

     —         —         (24,244 )            

Gain on litigation settlement

     38,005       —         —                
    


 


 


           

Total

   $ 890,434     $ 883,106     $ 718,428     1 %   23 %
    


 


 


           

Percentages of operating revenue:

                                    

Pharmaceutical Distribution

                                    

Gross profit

     3.45 %     3.85 %     3.87 %            

Operating expenses

     1.92 %     2.09 %     2.20 %            

Operating income

     1.53 %     1.76 %     1.67 %            

PharMerica

                                    

Gross profit

     30.45 %     32.69 %     33.49 %            

Operating expenses

     22.72 %     26.23 %     27.83 %            

Operating income

     7.74 %     6.46 %     5.66 %            

AmerisourceBergen Corporation

                                    

Gross profit

     4.46 %     4.93 %     5.03 %            

Operating expenses

     2.64 %     3.00 %     3.25 %            

Operating income

     1.82 %     1.94 %     1.79 %            

 

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Year ended September 30, 2004 compared with Year ended September 30, 2003

 

Consolidated Results

 

Operating revenue, which excludes bulk deliveries, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 increased 7% to $48.9 billion from $45.5 billion in the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily due to increased operating revenue in the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, offset slightly by a decline in operating revenue in the PharMerica segment.

 

The Company’s customer sales return policy generally allows customers to return products only if the products can be resold at full value or returned to suppliers for full credit. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Company changed its accounting policy for customer sales returns to reflect an accrual for estimated customer returns at the time of sale to the customer. Previously, the Company accounted for customer sales returns as a reduction of sales and cost of goods sold at the time of the return. As a result of this accounting policy change, operating revenue and cost of goods sold were each reduced by $316.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004.

 

The Company reports as revenue bulk deliveries to customer warehouses, whereby the Company acts as an intermediary in the ordering and delivery of pharmaceutical products. Bulk delivery transactions are arranged by the Company at the express direction of the customer, and involve either shipments from the supplier directly to customers’ warehouse sites or shipments from the supplier to the Company for immediate shipment to the customers’ warehouse sites. Bulk deliveries for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 increased 5% to $4.3 billion from $4.1 billion in the prior fiscal year due to an increase in demand from the Company’s largest bulk customer. Due to the insignificant service fees generated from bulk deliveries, fluctuations in volume have no significant impact on operating margins. However, revenue from bulk deliveries has a positive impact on the Company’s cash flows due to favorable timing between the customer payments to the Company and payments by the Company to its suppliers.

 

Gross profit of $2,179.2 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 decreased 3% from $2,247.2 million in the prior fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Company recognized a $38.0 million gain from an antitrust litigation settlement with a pharmaceutical manufacturer. This gain was recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold and contributed 2% of gross profit for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. As a percentage of operating revenue, gross profit in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 was 4.46%, as compared to the prior-year percentage of 4.93%. The decrease in gross profit percentage in comparison with the prior fiscal year reflects declines in both the Pharmaceutical Distribution and PharMerica segments due to a decline in profits related to pharmaceutical manufacturer price increases, changes in customer mix and competitive selling price pressures, offset in part by the antitrust litigation settlement.

 

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization (“DSAD&A”) of $1,281.2 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflects a decrease of 5% compared to $1,355.1 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, DSAD&A in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 was 2.62% compared to 2.98% in the prior fiscal year. The decline in the DSAD&A percentage from the prior fiscal year reflects improvements in both the Pharmaceutical Distribution and PharMerica segments due to: (a) a $56.3 million reduction of bad debt expense primarily due to a $17.5 million recovery from a former customer in the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, a $9.1 million recovery from a customer in the PharMerica segment, and the continued improvements made in the credit and collection practices in both segments; (b) a $12.1 million reduction in PharMerica’s sales and use tax liability; (c) a reduction in employee headcount resulting from our integration efforts; and (d) operational efficiencies primarily derived from our integration plans.

 

In 2001, the Company developed integration plans to consolidate its distribution network and eliminate duplicative administrative functions. As of September 30, 2004, these plans have resulted in synergies of approximately $150 million on an annual basis. The Company’s plan, as revised, is to have a distribution facility network consisting of less than 30 facilities in the next two to three years. The plan includes building six new facilities (two of which are operational as of September 30, 2004) and closing facilities (seventeen of which have been closed). Construction activities on the remaining four new facilities are ongoing (two of which will be operational by the end of fiscal 2005). During fiscal 2004 and 2003, the Company closed four and six distribution facilities, respectively. The Company anticipates closing six additional facilities in fiscal 2005.

 

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Table of Contents

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, the Company announced integration initiatives relating to the closure of a repackaging facility and the elimination of certain administrative functions, including the closure of a related office facility. The cost of these initiatives of approximately $19.2 million, which included $15.8 million of severance for approximately 310 employees to be terminated, $1.6 million for lease cancellation costs, and $1.8 million for the write-down of assets related to the facilities to be closed, resulted in additional goodwill being recorded during fiscal 2002. At September 30, 2004, all of the employees had been terminated.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, the Company closed six distribution facilities and eliminated certain administrative and operational functions (“the fiscal 2003 initiatives”). During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, the Company recorded $0.9 million and $10.3 million, respectively, of employee severance costs relating to the fiscal 2003 initiatives. Through September 30, 2004, approximately 780 employees received termination notices as a result of the fiscal 2003 initiatives, of which substantially all have been terminated. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, severance accruals of $1.8 million recorded in September 2001 were reversed into income because certain employees who were expected to be severed either voluntarily left the Company or were retained in other positions within the Company.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Company closed four distribution facilities and eliminated duplicative administrative functions (“the fiscal 2004 initiatives”). During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Company recorded $5.4 million of employee severance costs in connection with the termination of 230 employees relating to the fiscal 2004 initiatives. As of September 30, 2004, approximately 190 employees had been terminated. Additional amounts for integration initiatives will be recognized in subsequent periods as facilities to be consolidated are identified and specific plans are approved and announced.

 

The Company paid a total of $9.5 million and $13.8 million for employee severance and lease and contract cancellation costs in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, related to the aforementioned integration plans. Remaining unpaid amounts of $3.1 million for employee severance and lease cancellation costs are included in accrued expenses and other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2004. Most employees receive their severance benefits over a period of time, generally not to exceed 12 months, while others may receive a lump-sum payment.

 

Operating income of $890.4 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 was relatively flat compared to $883.1 million in the prior fiscal year. The gain on litigation settlement less costs of facility consolidations and employee severance increased the Company’s operating income by $30.5 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 and costs of facility consolidations and employee severance reduced the Company’s operating income by $8.9 million in the prior fiscal year. The Company’s operating income as a percentage of operating revenue was 1.82% in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 compared to 1.94% in the prior fiscal year. The gain on litigation settlement contributed approximately 8 basis points to the Company’s operating income as a percentage of operating revenue for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. The contribution provided by the litigation settlement was offset by a decrease in gross margin in excess of the aforementioned DSAD&A expense percentage reduction.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, a technology company in which the Company had an equity investment sold substantially all of its assets and paid a liquidating dividend. As a result, the Company recorded a gain of $8.4 million in other income during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, the Company recorded losses of $8.0 million, which primarily consisted of a $5.5 million charge related to the decline in fair value of its equity investment in the technology company because the decline was judged to be other-than-temporary.

 

During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, the Company recorded $23.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively, in losses resulting from the early retirement of debt (see Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Interest expense decreased 22% in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 to $112.7 million from $144.7 million in the prior fiscal year. Average borrowings, net of cash, under the Company’s debt facilities during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 were $1.1 billion as compared to average borrowings, net of cash, of $2.3 billion in the prior fiscal year. The reduction in average borrowings, net of cash, was achieved due to lower inventory levels in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 due to the impact of inventory management agreements, reductions in buy-side purchasing opportunities and the reduced number of distribution facilities as a result of the Company’s integration activities.

 

Income tax expense of $292.0 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflects an effective income tax rate of 38.4%, versus 39.2% in the prior fiscal year. The Company has been able to lower its effective income tax rate during the current fiscal year by implementing tax-planning strategies.

 

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Table of Contents

Net income of $468.4 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflects an increase of 6% from $441.2 million in the prior fiscal year. Diluted earnings per share of $4.06 in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflects a 4% increase as compared to $3.89 per share in the prior fiscal year. The gain on litigation settlement less costs of facility consolidations and employee severance and the loss on early retirement of debt increased net income by $4.2 million and increased diluted earnings per share by $0.04 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. Costs of facility consolidations and employee severance and the loss on early retirement of debt had the effect of decreasing net income by $8.0 million and reducing diluted earnings per share by $0.07 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003. The growth in earnings per share was less than the growth in net income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 due to the effect of the issuance of Company common stock in connection with the acquisitions described in Note 2 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and in connection with the exercise of stock options.

 

Segment Information

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution Segment

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating revenue of $48.2 billion for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflects an increase of 8% from $44.7 billion in the prior fiscal year. The Company’s change in accounting for customer sales returns had the effect of reducing operating revenue growth by 1% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, 59% of operating revenue was from sales to institutional customers and 41% was from sales to retail customers; this compares to a customer mix in the prior fiscal year of 57% institutional and 43% retail.

 

In comparison with prior-year results, sales to institutional customers increased 12% in fiscal 2004 primarily due to the above market rate growth of the specialty pharmaceutical business and higher revenues from customers engaged in the mail order sale of pharmaceuticals, which was offset in part by the discontinuance of servicing the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 as a result of losing a competitive bid process. The VA contract was terminated in May 2004 and contributed 4.8% and 7.8% of the segment’s operating revenue in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. In March 2004, Caremark Rx, Inc. acquired Advance PCS, one of the Company’s largest customers. As a result, the Company’s contract with Advance PCS was terminated in August 2004. Advance PCS accounted for approximately 4.4% and 4.8% of the segment’s operating revenue in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Sales to retail customers increased 2% over the prior fiscal year. The independent retail sector experienced strong double-digit sales growth while sales in the chain retail sector decreased by 6% due to sales declines experienced by certain large regional retail chain customers. Additionally, retail sales in the first-half of fiscal 2004 were adversely impacted by the prior fiscal year loss of a large customer.

 

This segment’s growth largely reflects U.S. pharmaceutical industry conditions, including increases in prescription drug utilization and higher pharmaceutical prices offset, in part, by the increased use of lower-priced generics. The segment’s growth has also been impacted by industry competition and changes in customer mix. Industry growth rates, as estimated by industry data firm IMS Healthcare, Inc., are expected to be from 10% to 13% over the next three years. Future operating revenue growth will continue to be driven by industry growth trends, competition within the industry, customer consolidation, changes in pharmaceutical manufacturer pricing policies, and potential changes in Federal government rules and regulations. The Company’s Specialty Group has been growing at rates significantly in excess of overall pharmaceutical market growth. The majority of this Group’s revenue is generated from the distribution of pharmaceuticals to physicians who specialize in a variety of disease states, such as oncology, nephrology, and rheumatology. Additionally, the Specialty Group distributes vaccines and blood plasma. The Specialty Group’s oncology business has continued to outperform the market and continues to be the Specialty Group’s most significant contributor to revenue growth. As early as January 2005, the Specialty Group’s business may be adversely impacted by proposed changes in the reimbursement rates for certain pharmaceuticals, including oncology drugs. The reimbursement changes recently proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (“Medicare Modernization Act”), or that may be proposed in the future, may have the effect of reducing the amount of medications administered by physicians in their offices, which may force patients to other healthcare providers. This may result in slower or reduced growth in revenues for the Specialty Group. Although the Specialty Group is preparing contingency plans to enable it to retain its distribution volume, there can be no assurance that the Specialty Group will retain all of the distribution volume currently going through the physician channel.

 

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Pharmaceutical Distribution gross profit of $1,661.5 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflects a decrease of 3% from $1,721.5 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, gross profit in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 was 3.45%, as compared to 3.85% in the prior fiscal year. The decline in gross profit as a percentage of operating revenue was the result of: a reduction in profits related to pharmaceutical manufacturer price increases; the VA contract loss; the continuing competitive environment, which has led to a number of contract renewals with reduced profitability; and the negative impact of a change in customer mix to a higher percentage of large institutional, mail order and chain accounts. Downward pressures on sell-side gross profit margin are expected to continue and there can be no assurance that increases in the buy-side component of the gross margin, including increases derived from manufacturer price increases, negotiated deals and alternate source market opportunities, will be available in the future to fully or partially offset the anticipated decline of the sell-side margin. The Company expects that buy-side purchasing opportunities will continue to decrease in the future as pharmaceutical manufacturers increasingly seek to control the supply channel through product allocations that limit the inventory the Company can purchase and through the imposition of inventory management and other agreements that prohibit or restrict the Company’s right to purchase inventory from alternate source suppliers. Although the Company seeks in any such agreements to obtain appropriate compensation from pharmaceutical manufacturers for foregoing buy-side purchasing opportunities, there can be no assurance that the agreements will function as intended and replace any or all lost profit opportunities. In addition, a significant amount of the Company’s payments under current pharmaceutical manufacturer agreements are triggered by pharmaceutical manufacturer price increases. These may lead to significant earnings volatility. Although the Company is negotiating with pharmaceutical manufacturers to change the payment trigger and lessen its dependence on pharmaceutical manufacturer price increases, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in transforming its relationships to a fee-for-service structure from their current structure. The Company’s cost of goods sold includes a last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) provision that is affected by changes in inventory quantities, product mix, and manufacturer pricing practices, which may be impacted by market and other external influences.

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating expenses of $923.4 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflect a decrease of 1% from $933.3 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, operating expenses in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 were 1.92%, as compared to 2.09% in the prior fiscal year, an improvement of 17 basis points. The decrease in the expense percentage reflects the changing customer mix described above, efficiencies of scale, the elimination of redundant costs through the integration processes, continued emphasis on productivity throughout the Company’s distribution network, and a significant reduction in bad debt expense of $33.9 million (including a $17.5 million reduction of a previously recorded allowance for doubtful account as a result of a settlement with a former customer).

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating income of $738.1 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflects a decrease of 6% from $788.2 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, operating income in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 was 1.53%, as compared to 1.76% in the prior fiscal year. The decline over the prior-year percentage was due to a reduction in gross margins in excess of the declines in the operating expense ratios. While management historically has been able to lower expense ratios there can be no assurance that reductions will occur in the future, or that expense ratio reductions will offset possible declines in gross margins.

 

PharMerica Segment

 

PharMerica operating revenue of $1,575.3 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflects a decrease of 2% from $1,608.2 million in the prior fiscal year. PharMerica’s decline in operating revenue is primarily due to the loss of two significant customers in the Workers’ Compensation business, the discontinuance of the sale of healthcare products within the Long-Term Care business and the loss of a Long-Term Care business customer because it was acquired by a customer of a competitor. The future operating revenue growth rate may be impacted by competitive pressures, changes in the regulatory environment (including reimbursement changes arising from the Medicare Modernization Act) and the pharmaceutical inflation rate.

 

PharMerica gross profit of $479.7 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflects a decrease of 9% from $525.6 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, gross profit in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 was 30.45%, as compared to 32.69% in the prior fiscal year. The decline in gross profit is primarily due to industry competitive pressures, and a reduction in the rates of reimbursement for the services provided by PharMerica, which continue to adversely affect gross profit margins in both the Workers’ Compensation business and the Long-Term Care business.

 

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PharMerica operating expenses of $357.9 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 reflect a decrease of 15% from $421.8 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, operating expenses were reduced to 22.72% in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 from 26.23% in the prior fiscal year. The percentage reduction was primarily due to aggressive cost reductions in response to the decline in operating revenue, a significant reduction in bad debt expense of $22.4 million (including a $9.1 million recovery from a customer) due to continued improvements made in credit and collection practices, a $12.1 million reduction in sales and use tax liability due to favorable audit experience and other settlements, and continued improvements in operating practices of both the Workers’ Compensation and the Long-Term Care businesses.

 

PharMerica operating income of $121.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 increased by 17% from $103.8 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, operating income in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 was 7.74%, as compared to 6.46% in the prior fiscal year. The improvement was due to the aforementioned reduction in the operating expense ratio, which was greater than the reduction in gross profit margin. While management historically has been able to lower expense ratios there can be no assurance that reductions will occur in the future, or that expense ratio reductions will exceed possible further declines in gross margins.

 

Intersegment Eliminations

 

These amounts represent the elimination of the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s sales to PharMerica. ABDC is the principal supplier of pharmaceuticals to PharMerica.

 

Year ended September 30, 2003 compared with Year ended September 30, 2002

 

Consolidated Results

 

Operating revenue, which excludes bulk deliveries, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 increased 13% to $45.5 billion from $40.2 billion in the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily due to increased operating revenue in the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment.

 

The Company reports as revenue bulk deliveries to customer warehouses, whereby the Company acts as an intermediary in the ordering and delivery of pharmaceutical products. Bulk deliveries for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 decreased 17% to $4.1 billion from $5.0 billion in the prior fiscal year. The decrease was primarily due to the Company’s conversion of a portion of its bulk and other direct business with its primary bulk delivery customer to business serviced through the Company’s various warehouses. Due to the insignificant service fees generated from these bulk deliveries, fluctuations in volume have no significant impact on operating margins. However, revenue from bulk deliveries had a positive impact to the Company’s cash flows due to favorable timing between the customer payments to the Company and the payments by the Company to its suppliers.

 

Gross profit of $2,247.2 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected an increase of 11% from $2,024.5 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, gross profit in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 was 4.93%, as compared to the prior-year percentage of 5.03%. The decrease in gross profit percentage in comparison with the prior fiscal year reflected declines in both the Pharmaceutical Distribution and PharMerica segments primarily due to changes in customer mix and competitive pressures, offset in part by the positive aggregate margin impact resulting from the Company’s recent acquisitions.

 

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization (“DSAD&A”) of $1,355.1 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected an increase of 6% compared to $1,281.8 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, DSAD&A in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 was 2.98% compared to 3.19% in the prior fiscal year. The decline in DSAD&A percentage from the prior fiscal year ratio reflected improvements in both the Pharmaceutical Distribution and PharMerica segments due to customer mix changes, operational efficiencies and continued benefits from the integration plans.

 

In 2001, the Company developed integration plans to consolidate its distribution network and eliminate duplicative administrative functions, which resulted in synergies of approximately $150 million on an annual basis. The Company’s plan, as revised, is to have a distribution facility network consisting of less than 30 facilities in the next two to three years. This will be accomplished by building six new facilities and closing facilities. During fiscal 2003, the Company began construction activities on three of its new facilities and completed two of the seven facility expansions. During fiscal 2003 and 2002, the Company closed six and seven distribution facilities, respectively.

 

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In September 2001, the Company announced plans to close seven distribution facilities in fiscal 2002, consisting of six former AmeriSource facilities and one former Bergen facility. A charge of $10.9 million was recognized in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001 related to the AmeriSource facilities, and included $6.2 million of severance for approximately 260 warehouse and administrative personnel to be terminated, $2.3 million in lease and contract cancellations, and $2.4 million for the write-down of assets related to the facilities to be closed. Approximately $0.2 million of costs related to the Bergen facility were included in the merger purchase price allocation. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, severance accruals of $1.8 million recorded in September 2001 were reversed into income because certain employees who were expected to be severed either voluntarily left the Company or were retained in other positions within the Company.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, the Company announced further integration initiatives relating to the closure of Bergen’s repackaging facility and the elimination of certain Bergen administrative functions, including the closure of a related office facility. The cost of these initiatives of approximately $19.2 million, which included $15.8 million of severance for approximately 310 employees to be terminated, $1.6 million for lease cancellation costs, and $1.8 million for the write-down of assets related to the facilities to be closed, resulted in additional goodwill being recorded during fiscal 2002.

 

The Company had announced plans to close six distribution facilities in fiscal 2003 and eliminate certain administrative and operational functions (“the fiscal 2003 initiatives”). As of September 30, 2003, the six facilities were closed. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, the Company recorded severance costs of $10.3 million and lease cancellation costs of $1.1 million relating to the fiscal 2003 initiatives.

 

The Company paid a total of $13.8 million and $15.6 million for employee severance and lease and contract cancellation costs in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, related to the aforementioned integration plans. Remaining unpaid amounts of $5.0 million for employee severance and lease cancellation costs are included in accrued expenses and other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2003. Most employees receive their severance benefits over a period of time, generally not to exceed 12 months, while others may receive a lump-sum payment.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, the Company expensed approximately $24.2 million of merger costs, primarily related to integrating the operations of AmeriSource and Bergen. Such costs were comprised primarily of consulting fees, which amounted to $16.6 million. The merger costs also included a $2.1 million adjustment to the Company’s fourth quarter 2001 charge of $6.5 million relating to the accelerated vesting of AmeriSource stock options. Effective October 1, 2002, the Company converted its merger integration office to an operations management office. Accordingly, the costs of the operations management office are included within distribution, selling and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

 

Operating income of $883.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected an increase of 23% from $718.4 million in the prior fiscal year. Facility consolidations and employee severance reduced the Company’s operating income by $8.9 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 and by $24.2 million in the prior fiscal year. The Company’s operating income as a percentage of operating revenue was 1.94% in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 compared to 1.79% in the prior fiscal year. The improvement was primarily due to the lower amount of special items and the aforementioned DSAD&A expense percentage reduction.

 

The Company recorded other losses of $8.0 million and $5.6 million during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These amounts primarily consisted of impairment charges relating to investments in technology companies.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, the Company recorded a $4.2 million loss resulting from the early retirement of debt (see Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Interest expense increased 3% in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 to $144.7 million from $140.7 million in the prior fiscal year. Average borrowings, net of cash, under the Company’s debt facilities during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 were $2.3 billion as compared to average borrowings, net of cash, of $2.0 billion in the prior fiscal year. Average borrowing rates under the Company’s debt facilities decreased to 5.6% in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 from 6.1% in the prior fiscal year. The increase in average borrowings, net of cash, was primarily a result of additional merchandise inventories on hand during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 compared to the prior fiscal year. The decrease in average borrowing rates resulted from lower percentages of fixed rate debt outstanding to total debt outstanding in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 compared to the prior fiscal year, as well as lower market interest rates on variable-rate debt.

 

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Income tax expense of $284.9 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected an effective income tax rate of 39.2% versus 39.7% in the prior fiscal year. The Company has been able to lower its effective income tax rate during the current fiscal year by implementing tax-planning strategies.

 

Net income of $441.2 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected an increase of 28% from $344.9 million in the prior fiscal year. Diluted earnings per share of $3.89 in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected a 23% increase as compared to $3.16 per share in the prior fiscal year. Facility consolidations and employee severance and the loss on early retirement of debt had the effect of decreasing net income by $8.0 million and reducing diluted earnings per share by $0.07 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003. Merger costs had the effect of decreasing net income by $14.6 million and reducing diluted earnings per share by $0.13 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002. The growth in earnings per share was less than the growth in net income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 due to the issuance of Company common stock in connection with the acquisitions described in Note 2 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and in connection with the exercise of stock options.

 

Segment Information

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution Segment

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating revenue of $44.7 billion for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected an increase of 13% from $39.5 billion in the prior fiscal year. The Company’s recent acquisitions contributed less than 0.5% of the segment operating revenue growth for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, 57% of operating revenue was from sales to institutional customers and 43% was from retail customers; this compares to a customer mix in the prior fiscal year of 53% institutional and 47% retail on a historical basis. In comparison with the prior-year results, sales to institutional customers increased by 20% primarily due to (i) the previously mentioned conversion of bulk delivery and other direct business with the Company’s primary bulk delivery customer to business serviced through the Company’s various warehouses, which contributed 4% of the total operating revenue growth; (ii) above market rate growth of the ABSG specialty pharmaceutical business; and (iii) higher revenues from customers engaged in the mail order sale of pharmaceuticals. Sales to retail customers increased by 5% over the prior fiscal year. The growth rate of sales to retail customers had declined during fiscal 2003 compared to the fiscal 2002 growth primarily due to lower growth trends in the retail market and the below market growth of certain of the Company’s large regional chain customers. Additionally, retail sales in the second-half of fiscal 2003 were adversely impacted by the loss of a large customer. This segment’s growth largely reflected U.S. pharmaceutical industry conditions, including increases in prescription drug utilization and higher pharmaceutical prices, offset, in part, by the increased use of lower priced generics. The segment’s growth was also impacted by industry competition and changes in customer mix.

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution gross profit of $1,721.5 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected an increase of 12% from $1,530.5 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, gross profit in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 was 3.85%, as compared to 3.87% in the prior fiscal year. The slight decline in gross profit as a percentage of operating revenue was the net result of the negative impact of a change in customer mix to a higher percentage of large institutional, mail order and chain accounts, and the continuing competitive environment, offset primarily by the positive aggregate impact of recently-acquired companies, which amounted to 15 basis points in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003. The Company’s cost of goods sold includes a LIFO provision that is affected by changes in inventory quantities, product mix, and manufacturer pricing practices, which may be impacted by market and other external influences.

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating expenses of $933.3 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected an increase of 7% from $871.3 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, operating expenses in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 were 2.09%, as compared to 2.20% in the prior fiscal year. The decrease in the expense percentage reflects the changing customer mix described above, efficiencies of scale, the elimination of redundant costs through the merger integration process, the continued emphasis on productivity throughout the Company’s distribution network and a reduction of bad debt expense, offset, in part, by higher expense ratios associated with the Company’s recent acquisitions.

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating income of $788.2 million in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 reflected an increase of 20% from $659.2 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, operating income in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 was 1.76%, as compared to 1.67% in the prior fiscal year. The improvement over the prior-year percentage was due to a reduction in the operating expense ratio in excess of the decline in gross margin, which was partially the result of the Company’s ability to capture synergy cost savings from the merger.

 

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PharMerica Segment

 

PharMerica operating revenue increased 9% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 to $1,608.2 million compared to $1,475.0 million in the prior fiscal year. This increase was principally attributable to growth in PharMerica’s Workers’ Compensation business, which grew at a faster rate than its Long-Term Care business. During the second half of fiscal 2003, the growth rate of the Workers’ Compensation business began to slow down, partially due to the loss of a significant customer.

 

PharMerica gross profit of $525.6 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 increased 6% from gross profit of $494.0 million in the prior fiscal year. PharMerica’s gross profit margin declined slightly to 32.69% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 from 33.49% in the prior fiscal year. This decrease was primarily the result of a change in the sales mix, with a greater proportion of PharMerica’s current year revenues coming from its Workers’ Compensation business, which has lower gross profit margins and lower operating expenses than its Long-Term Care business. In addition, industry competitive pressures adversely affected gross profit margins.

 

PharMerica operating expenses of $421.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 increased from $410.5 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, operating expenses were reduced to 26.23% in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 from 27.83% in the prior fiscal year. The percentage reduction was primarily due to the continued improvements in operating practices, the aforementioned shift in customer mix toward the Workers Compensation business and a reduction in bad debt expense.

 

PharMerica operating income of $103.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 increased by 24% from $83.5 million in the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of operating revenue, operating income in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 was 6.46%, as compared to 5.66% in the prior fiscal year. The improvement was due to the aforementioned reduction in the operating expense ratio, which was greater than the reduction in gross profit margin.

 

Intersegment Eliminations

 

These amounts represent the elimination of the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s sales to PharMerica. AmerisourceBergen Drug Company is the principal supplier of pharmaceuticals to PharMerica.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that can have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations and require the use of complex and subjective estimates based upon past experience and management’s judgment. Because of the uncertainty inherent in such estimates, actual results may differ from these estimates. Below are those policies applied in preparing the Company’s financial statements that management believes are the most dependent on the application of estimates and assumptions. For additional accounting policies, see Note 1 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

Trade receivables are primarily comprised of amounts owed to the Company for its pharmaceutical distribution and services activities and are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts and a reserve for customer sales returns. In determining the appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company considers a combination of factors, such as industry trends, its customers’ financial strength and credit standing, and payment and default history. The calculation of the required allowance requires a substantial amount of judgment as to the impact of these and other factors on the ultimate realization of its trade receivables.

 

Supplier Reserves

 

The Company establishes reserves against amounts due from its suppliers relating to various price and rebate incentives, including deductions or billings taken against payments otherwise due them from the Company. These reserve estimates are established based on the status of current outstanding claims, historical experience with the suppliers, the specific incentive programs and any other pertinent information available to the Company. The ultimate outcome of the outstanding claims may be different than the Company’s original estimate and may require adjustment.

 

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Loss Contingencies

 

The Company accrues for loss contingencies related to litigation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies.” An estimated loss contingency is accrued in the Company’s consolidated financial statements if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. The Company regularly reviews loss contingencies to determine the adequacy of the accruals and related disclosures. The amount of the actual loss may differ significantly from these estimates.

 

Merchandise Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost for approximately 92% and 94% of the Company’s inventories at September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, are determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. If the Company had used the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method of inventory valuation, which approximates current replacement cost, inventories would have been approximately $166.1 million and $169.4 million higher than the amounts reported at September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

The Company accounts for purchased goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Under SFAS No. 142, purchased goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized; rather, they are tested for impairment on at least an annual basis. Intangible assets with finite lives, primarily customer relationships, non-compete agreements and software technology, will continue to be amortized over their useful lives.

 

In order to test goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives under SFAS No. 142, a determination of the fair value of the Company’s reporting units and intangible assets with indefinite lives is required and is based, among other things, on estimates of future operating performance of the reporting unit being valued. The Company is required to complete an impairment test for goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives, and record any resulting impairment losses annually. Changes in market conditions, among other factors, may have an impact on these estimates. The Company completed its required annual impairment tests in the fourth quarters of fiscal 2004 and 2003 and determined that there was no impairment.

 

Stock Options

 

The Company may elect to account for stock options using either Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” (“APB 25”) or SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” The Company has elected to use the accounting method under APB 25 and the related interpretations to account for its stock options. Under APB 25, generally, when the exercise price of the Company’s stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recognized. Had the Company elected to use SFAS No. 123 to account for its stock options under the fair value method, it would have been required to record compensation expense and as a result, diluted earnings per share for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 would have been lower by $0.74, $0.16 and $0.10, respectively. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The following table illustrates the Company’s debt structure at September 30, 2004, including availability under revolving credit facilities and the receivables securitization facility (in thousands):

 

     Outstanding
Balance


   Additional
Availability


Fixed-Rate Debt:

             

Bergen 7 1/4% senior notes due 2005

   $ 99,939    $ —  

8 1/8% senior notes due 2008

     500,000      —  

7 1/4% senior notes due 2012

     300,000      —  

AmeriSource 5% convertible subordinated notes due 2007

     300,000      —  

Other

     3,532      —  
    

  

Total fixed-rate debt

     1,203,471      —  
    

  

Variable-Rate Debt:

             

Term loan facility due 2005 to 2006

     180,000      —  

Blanco revolving credit facility due 2005

     55,000      —  

Revolving credit facility due 2006

     —        936,584

Receivables securitization facility due 2006

     —        1,050,000
    

  

Total variable-rate debt

     235,000      1,986,584
    

  

Total debt

   $ 1,438,471    $ 1,986,584
    

  

 

Prior to fiscal 2004, the Company’s working capital usage fluctuated significantly during the fiscal year due to seasonal inventory buying requirements and buy-side purchasing opportunities. In light of the recent increase in the number of inventory management agreements with suppliers, the Company’s working capital did not significantly fluctuate in fiscal 2004. The Company’s $2.1 billion of aggregate availability under its revolving credit facility and its receivables securitization facility provide sufficient sources of capital to fund its inventory buying requirements.

 

On December 2, 2004, the Company amended its Receivables Securitization Facility (defined below). Under the terms of the amendment, the $550 million (three-year tranche) originally scheduled to expire in July 2006 was increased to $700 million (three-year tranche) and expires in December 2007. Additionally, the $500 million (364-day tranche) scheduled to expire in July 2005 was reduced to $350 million (364-day tranche) and expires in December 2005. The Company intends to renew the 364-day tranche on an annual basis. Interest rates are based on prevailing market rates for short-term commercial paper plus a program fee. The program fee is 75 basis points for the three-year tranche and has been reduced from 45 basis points to 35 basis points for the 364-day tranche at December 2, 2004. Additionally, the commitment fee on any unused credit has been reduced from 30 basis points to 25 basis points for the three-year tranche and from 25 basis points to 17.5 basis points for the 364-day tranche at December 2, 2004. The program and commitment fee rates will vary based on the Company’s debt ratings.

 

In July 2003, the Company entered into a $1.05 billion receivables securitization facility (“Receivables Securitization Facility”). At September 30, 2004, there were no borrowings under the Receivables Securitization Facility. In connection with the Receivables Securitization Facility, ABDC sells on a revolving basis certain accounts receivable to a wholly owned special purpose entity, which in turn sells a percentage ownership interest in the receivables to commercial paper conduits sponsored by financial institutions. ABDC is the servicer of the accounts receivable under the Receivables Securitization Facility. After the maximum limit of receivables sold has been reached and as sold receivables are collected, additional receivables may be sold up to the maximum amount available under the facility. In connection with entering into the Receivables Securitization Facility, the Company incurred approximately $2.4 million of costs, which were deferred and are being amortized over the life of the facility. The facility is a financing vehicle utilized by the Company because it offers an attractive interest rate relative to other financing sources. The Company securitizes its trade accounts, which are generally non-interest bearing, in transactions that are accounted for as borrowings under SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.”

 

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In November 2002, the Company issued $300 million of 7 1/4% senior notes due November 15, 2012 (the “7 1/4% Notes”). The 7 1/4% Notes are redeemable at the Company’s option at any time before maturity at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages, if any, to the date of redemption and, under some circumstances, a redemption premium. Interest on the 7 1/4% Notes is payable semiannually in arrears, commencing May 15, 2003. The 7 1/4% Notes rank junior to the Senior Credit Agreement (defined below) and equal to the Company’s 8 1/8% senior notes due 2008 and senior to the debt of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company used the net proceeds of the 7 1/4% Notes to repay $15 million of the Term Facility (defined below) in December 2002, to repay $150 million in aggregate principal of the Bergen 7 3/8% senior notes in January 2003 and to redeem the PharMerica 8 3/8% senior subordinated notes due 2008, at a redemption price equal to 104.19% of the $123.5 million principal amount, in April 2003. The cost of the redemption premium related to the PharMerica 8 3/8% senior subordinated notes has been reflected in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 as a loss on the early retirement of debt. In connection with the issuance of the 7 1/4% Notes, the Company incurred approximately $5.7 million of costs which were deferred and are being amortized over the ten-year term of the notes.

 

In August 2001, the Company issued $500 million of 8 1/8% senior notes due 2008 (the “8 1/8% Notes”) and entered into a $1.3 billion senior secured credit facility (the “Senior Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders. The 8 1/8% Notes are redeemable at the Company’s option at any time before maturity at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages, if any, to the date of redemption and, under some circumstances, a redemption premium. The 8 1/8% Notes pay interest semiannually in arrears and rank junior to the Senior Credit Agreement. In connection with issuing the 8 1/8% Notes and entering into the Senior Credit Agreement, the Company incurred approximately $24.0 million of costs, which were deferred and are being amortized over the term of the respective issues.

 

On December 2, 2004, the Company entered into a new $700 million five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Senior Revolving Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of lenders. The Senior Revolving Credit Facility replaced the Senior Credit Agreement (defined below). Interest on borrowings under the Senior Revolving Credit Facility accrues at specific rates based on the Company’s debt rating (1.0% over LIBOR or the prime rate at December 2, 2004). The Company will pay quarterly facility fees to maintain the availability under the Senior Revolving Credit Facility at specific rates based on the Company’s debt rating (0.25% at December 2, 2004). The Company may choose to repay or reduce its commitments under the Senior Revolving Credit Facility at any time. The Senior Revolving Credit Facility contains restrictions on, among other things, additional indebtedness, distributions and dividends to stockholders, investments and capital expenditures. Additional covenants require compliance with financial tests, including leverage and minimum earnings to fixed charges ratios.

 

The Senior Credit Agreement consisted of a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”) and a $300 million term loan facility (the “Term Facility”), both had been scheduled to mature in August 2006. The Term Facility had scheduled principal payments on a quarterly basis that began on December 31, 2002, totaling $60 million in each of fiscal 2003 and 2004, and $80 million and $100 million in fiscal 2005 and 2006, respectively. The scheduled term loan payments were made in fiscal 2004 and 2003. Additionally, the Company paid the $180 million outstanding on the Term Facility as a result of entering into the new Senior Revolving Credit Facility. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Facility at September 30, 2004. Interest on borrowings under the Senior Credit Agreement accrued at specified rates based on the Company’s debt ratings. Such rates ranged from 1.0% to 2.5% over LIBOR or 0% to 1.5% over prime. At September 30, 2004, the rate was 1.25% over LIBOR or 0.25% over prime. Availability under the Revolving Facility was reduced by the amount of outstanding letters of credit ($63.4 million at September 30, 2004). The Company paid quarterly commitment fees to maintain the availability under the Revolving Facility at specified rates based on the Company’s debt ratings ranging from 0.25% to 0.50% of the unused availability. At September 30, 2004, the rate was 0.30%. The Senior Credit Agreement contained restrictions on, among other things, additional indebtedness, distributions and dividends to stockholders, investments and capital expenditures. Additional covenants required compliance with financial tests, including leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios, and maintenance of minimum tangible net worth. Substantially all of the Company’s assets, except for trade receivables, which are sold into the Receivables Securitization Facility (as described above), were pledged as security under the Senior Credit Agreement.

 

In August 2004, the Senior Credit Agreement was amended, among other things, to increase the amount of common stock that the Company is permitted to repurchase by $500 million. As of September 30, 2004, the Company had purchased approximately 2.8 million shares of its common stock for a total of $144.8 million. As of November 30, 2004, the Company had purchased 7.6 million total shares for $397.9 million.

 

In December 2000, the Company issued $300.0 million of 5% convertible subordinated notes due December 1, 2007. The notes have an annual interest rate of 5%, payable semiannually, and are convertible into common stock of the Company at $52.97 per share at any time before their maturity or their prior redemption or repurchase by the Company. On or after

 

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December 3, 2004, the Company has the option to redeem all or a portion of the notes that have not been previously converted. On December 2, 2004, the Company announced that it will redeem its 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes at a redemption price of 102.143% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued interest through the redemption date of January 3, 2005. The note holders have the option to accept cash or convert the notes to common stock of the Company. The notes are convertible into 5,663,730 shares of common stock, which translates to a conversion ratio of 18.8791 shares of common stock for each $1,000 principal amount of notes. In connection with the issuance of the notes, the Company incurred approximately $9.4 million of financing fees, which were deferred and are being amortized over the seven-year term of the notes.

 

In August 2001, the Company assumed Bergen’s Capital I Trust (the “Trust”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bergen. In May 1999, the Trust issued 12,000,000 shares of 7.80% trust originated preferred securities (SM) (TOPrS(SM)) (the “Trust Preferred Securities”) at $25 per security. The proceeds of such issuances were invested by the Trust in $300 million aggregate principal amount of Bergen’s 7.80% subordinated deferrable interest notes, which were due June 30, 2039 (the “Subordinated Notes”). The Subordinated Notes represented the sole assets of the Trust and bore interest at the annual rate of 7.80%, payable quarterly, and were redeemable by the Company beginning in May 2004 at 100% of the principal amount thereof. In May 2004, the Company redeemed the Subordinated Notes at their face value of $300 million and, as a result, the Trust redeemed the Trust Preferred Securities at the liquidation amount of $25 per share plus accrued cash distributions through the redemption date. The book value of the Subordinated Notes was $276.4 million immediately prior to the redemption. The book value of the Subordinated Notes was less than the $300 million face value because the book value was previously adjusted to its fair market value in August 2001. Therefore, the Company incurred a loss of $23.6 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 as a result of the redemption of the Subordinated Notes.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Company redeemed all of the outstanding Bergen 6 7/8% exchangeable subordinated debentures at their carrying value of $8.4 million.

 

The Company’s operating results have generated sufficient cash flow which, together with borrowings under its debt agreements and credit terms from suppliers, have provided sufficient capital resources to finance working capital and cash operating requirements, and to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions, repayment of debt, the payment of interest on outstanding debt and repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company’s primary ongoing cash requirements will be to finance working capital, fund the repayment of debt and the payment of interest on debt, fund additional repurchases of shares of the Company’s common stock, finance merger integration initiatives and fund capital expenditures and routine growth and expansion through new business opportunities. Future cash flows from operations and borrowings are expected to be sufficient to fund the Company’s ongoing cash requirements.

 

Following is a summary of the Company’s contractual obligations for future principal payments on its debt, minimum rental payments on its noncancelable operating leases and minimum payments on its other commitments at September 30, 2004 (in thousands):

 

     Payments Due by Period

     Total

   Within 1
year


   1-3 years

   4-5 years

   After 5 years

Debt

   $ 1,438,532    $ 336,421    $ 1,406    $ 800,705    $ 300,000

Operating Leases

     197,194      58,177      79,080      38,119      21,818

Other Commitments

     1,295,206      120,840      157,644      235,615      781,107
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 2,930,932    $ 515,438    $ 238,130    $ 1,074,439    $ 1,102,925
    

  

  

  

  

 

The debt amounts in the above table differ from the related carrying amounts on the consolidated balance sheet due to the purchase accounting adjustments recorded in order to reflect obligations at fair value on the effective date of the acquisition. These differences are being amortized over the terms of the respective obligations.

 

The $55 million Blanco revolving credit facility, which expires in May 2005, is included in the “Within 1 year” column in the above repayment table. However, this borrowing is not classified in the current portion of long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2004 because the Company has the ability and intent to refinance it on a long-term basis. Additionally, borrowings under the Blanco facility are secured by a standby letter of credit under the Senior Credit Agreement, and therefore the Company is effectively financing this debt on a long-term basis through that arrangement.

 

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On December 3, 2004, the Company entered into a distribution agreement with a Canadian influenza vaccine manufacturer to distribute product through March 31, 2015. The agreement includes a commitment to purchase at least 12 million doses per year of the influenza vaccine provided the vaccine is approved and available for distribution in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). The Company will be required to purchase the annual doses at market prices, as adjusted for inflation and other factors. The Canadian manufacturer expects to receive FDA approval by the year 2007/2008 influenza season; however, FDA approval may be received earlier. If the initial year of the purchase commitment begins in fiscal 2008, then the Company anticipates its purchase commitment for that year will approximate $104 million. Based on an assumed 5% annual increase in the cost of purchasing the influenza vaccine from the current estimated market price of $7.50, the Company anticipates its total purchase commitment (assuming the commitment commences in fiscal 2008) will be approximately $1.0 billion. The influenza vaccine commitment is included in Other Commitments in the table on page 34.

 

The Company has an agreement with another supplier to purchase 9.2 million doses, 10.2 million doses, and 11.2 million doses of an influenza vaccine in calendar years 2005, 2006, and 2007, respectively, provided the vaccine is approved and available for distribution. The Company estimates its total purchase commitment as of September 30, 2004 is approximately $225 million. The influenza vaccine commitment is included in Other Commitments in the table on page 34.

 

In connection with its integration plans, the Company intends to build six new distribution facilities (two of them are operational as of September 30, 2004) over the next two to three years. Five of the new distribution facilities will be owned by the Company. In December 2002, the Company entered into a 15-year lease obligation totaling $17.4 million for the other new facility; this obligation is reflected in Operating Leases in the above table. The Company has been entering into commitments relating to site selection, purchase of land, design and construction of the five new facilities to be owned on a turnkey basis with a construction development company. The Company has taken ownership of and made payment on, or will take ownership of and make payment on, four of the five new facilities to be owned as the developer substantially completes construction of each facility. The Company has taken ownership of the land and construction-in-progress relating to the fifth facility to be owned prior to its substantial completion. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Company acquired two of the five new facilities from the construction development company for approximately $40.9 million. As of September 30, 2004, the Company has entered into $71.7 million of commitments primarily relating to the construction of the three remaining facilities. The facility commitments entered into as of September 30, 2004 are included in Other Commitments in the above table. As of September 30, 2004, the developer has incurred $35.1 million relating to the construction of these facilities. This amount has been recorded in property and equipment and accrued expenses and other in the consolidated balance sheet. Subsequent to September 30, 2004, two of the facilities were substantially completed and the Company acquired them from the construction development company for approximately $43.6 million.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Company’s operating activities provided $825.1 million of cash. Cash provided by operations in fiscal 2004 was principally the result of a decrease in merchandise inventories of $916.3 million, net income of $468.4 million and non-cash items of $151.5 million, offset in part, by a $432.0 million decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes. The Company’s change in accounting for customer sales returns had the effect of increasing merchandise inventories and reducing accounts receivable by $316.8 million at September 30, 2004. Merchandise inventories have continued to decline due to an increase in the number of inventory management agreements, a reduction in buy-side profit opportunities, and a reduction in the number of distribution facilities. The turnover of merchandise inventories for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment has improved to 8.2 times in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 from 6.7 times in the prior fiscal year. The $446.7 million decrease in accounts payable was primarily due to the decline of merchandise inventories. Average days sales outstanding for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment increased slightly to 17.1 days in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 from 16.9 days in the prior fiscal year primarily due to the strong revenue growth of ABSG, which has a significantly higher average days sales outstanding than ABDC. Average days sales outstanding for the PharMerica segment improved to 38.4 days in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 from 39.3 days in the prior fiscal year as a result of the continued emphasis on receivables management. Non-cash items of $151.5 million included $87.1 million of depreciation and amortization and $48.9 million of deferred income taxes. Deferred income taxes of $48.9 million in fiscal 2004 were significantly lower than the $127.2 million in fiscal 2003 primarily due to the decline in income tax deductions associated with merchandise inventories. Operating cash uses during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 included $111.0 million in interest payments and $200.1 million of income tax payments, net of refunds. Cash provided by operations during the fiscal year

 

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ended September 30, 2004 included a $38.0 million cash settlement from a pharmaceutical manufacturer relating to an antitrust litigation matter (net of attorney fees and payments due to other parties).

 

During the year ended September 30, 2003, the Company’s operating activities provided $354.8 million in cash. Cash provided by operations in fiscal 2003 was principally the result of net income of $441.2 million and non-cash items of $271.2 million, offset in part, by a $278.4 million increase in merchandise inventories and a $58.0 million increase in accounts receivable. The increase in merchandise inventories reflected inventory required to support the revenue increase. Accounts receivable increased only 1%, excluding changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts and customer additions due to acquired companies, in comparison to the 13% increase in operating revenues. Average days sales outstanding for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment increased slightly to 16.9 days in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 from 16.4 days in the prior fiscal year primarily due to the strong revenue growth of AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group, which generally has a higher receivable investment than the core distribution business. Average days sales outstanding for the PharMerica segment improved to 39.3 days in fiscal 2002 from 43.5 days in the prior year as a result of the continued improvements in centralized billing and collection practices. Non-cash items of $271.2 million included $127.2 million of deferred income taxes. The tax planning strategies implemented by the Company enabled the Company to lower its current tax payments and liability while increasing its deferred taxes during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003. Operating cash uses during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 included $134.2 million in interest payments and $118.4 million of income tax payments, net of refunds.

 

During the year ended September 30, 2002, the Company’s operating activities provided $535.9 million in cash. Cash provided by operations in fiscal 2002 was principally the result of $344.9 million of net income and $190.0 million of non-cash items affecting net income. Changes in operating assets and liabilities were only $1.0 million as a $362.2 million increase in merchandise inventories and a $133.6 million increase in accounts receivable were offset primarily by a $514.1 million increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes. The increase in merchandise inventories reflected inventory required to support the strong revenue increase, as well as inventory purchased to take advantage of buy-side gross profit opportunities including opportunities associated with manufacturer price increases and negotiated deals. Inventory grew at a lower rate than revenues due to the consolidation of seven facilities in fiscal 2002 and improved inventory management. Accounts receivable, before changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts, increased only 3%, despite the 16% increase in operating revenues, on a pro-forma combined basis. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, the Company’s days sales outstanding improved as a result of continued emphasis on receivables management at the local level. Average days outstanding for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment improved to 16.4 days in fiscal 2002 from 17.7 days in the prior year, on a pro forma combined basis. Average days sales outstanding for the PharMerica segment improved to 43.5 days in fiscal 2002 from 53.4 days in the prior year, on a pro forma combined basis. The $376.0 million increase in accounts payable was primarily due to the merchandise inventory increase as well as the timing of payments to suppliers. Operating cash uses during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002 included $137.9 million in interest payments and $111.9 million of income tax payments, net of refunds.

 

The Company paid a total of $9.5 million, $13.8 million and $15.6 million of employee severance, lease cancellation, and other costs in fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, related to the cost reduction plans discussed earlier. Severance accruals and remaining contract and lease obligations of $3.1 million at September 30, 2004 are included in accrued expenses and other in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Capital expenditures for the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 were $189.3 million, $90.6 million and $64.2 million, respectively, and relate principally to the construction of the new distribution facilities, investments in warehouse expansions and improvements, information technology and warehouse automation. The Company estimates that it will spend approximately $175 million to $200 million for capital expenditures during fiscal 2005.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, the Company paid $39.0 million for the remaining 40% equity interest in International Physician Networks (“IPN”), a physician education and management consulting company, that it did not previously own. Additionally, the Company paid approximately $13.7 million in cash for MedSelect, Inc., a provider of automated medication and supply dispensing cabinets, and $16.6 million in cash for Imedex, Inc., an accredited provider of continuing medical education for physicians.

 

During fiscal 2003, the Company acquired Anderson Packaging Inc. (“Anderson”), a leading provider of physician and retail contracted packaging services to pharmaceutical manufacturers. The purchase price was approximately $100.1 million, which included the repayment of Anderson debt of $13.8 million and $0.8 million of transaction costs associated with the acquisition. The Company paid part of the purchase price by issuing 814,145 shares of its common stock with an aggregate market value of $55.6 million. The Company paid the remaining purchase price, which was approximately $44.5 million, in cash.

 

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During fiscal 2003, the Company acquired an additional 40% equity interest in IPN and satisfied the residual contingent obligation for its initial 20% equity interest for an aggregate $24.7 million in cash.

 

During fiscal 2003, the Company acquired US Bioservices Corporation (“US Bio”), a national pharmaceutical products and services provider focused on the management of high-cost complex therapies and reimbursement support for a total base purchase price of $160.2 million, which included the repayment of US Bio debt of $14.8 million and $1.5 million of transaction costs associated with this acquisition. The Company paid part of the base purchase price by issuing 2,399,091 shares of its common stock with an aggregate market value of $131.0 million. The Company paid the remaining $29.2 million of the base purchase price in cash. In July 2003, a contingent payment of $2.5 million was paid in cash by the Company.

 

During fiscal 2003, the Company acquired Bridge Medical, Inc., a leading provider of barcode-enabled point-of-care software designed to reduce medication errors, to enhance the Company’s offerings in the pharmaceutical supply channel, for a total base purchase price of $28.4 million, which included $0.7 million of transaction costs associated with this acquisition. The Company paid part of the base purchase price by issuing 401,780 shares of its common stock with an aggregate market value of $22.9 million and the remaining base purchase price was paid with $5.5 million of cash.

 

During fiscal 2003, the Company also used cash of $3.0 million to purchase three smaller companies related to the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment and paid $9.8 million to eliminate the right of the former stockholders of AutoMed Technologies, Inc. (“AutoMed”) to receive up to $55.0 million in contingent payments based on AutoMed achieving defined earnings targets through the end of calendar 2004.

 

During fiscal 2002, the Company acquired AutoMed for $120.4 million. In June 2003, the Company amended the 2002 agreement under which it acquired AutoMed (as discussed above). The Company also acquired other smaller businesses for $15.8 million. Additionally, the Company purchased equity interests in various businesses for $4.1 million.

 

As described above, the Company used $300 million to redeem the Subordinated Notes and $8.4 million to redeem the 6 7/8% Notes during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. Additionally, the Company repaid $60 million of the Term Facility in fiscal 2004.

 

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, the Company issued the aforementioned $300 million of 7 1/4% Notes. The Company used the net proceeds of the 7 1/4% Notes to repay $15 million of the Term Facility, to repay $150 million in aggregate principal of the Bergen 7 3/8% senior notes and redeem the PharMerica 8 3/8% senior subordinated notes due 2008 at a redemption price equal to 104.19% of the $123.5 million principal amount. The Company also repaid an additional $45 million of the Term Facility, as scheduled. During the year ended September 30, 2002, the Company made net repayments of $37.0 million on its receivables securitization facilities. The Company also repaid debt of $23.1 million during the year, principally consisting of $20.6 million for the retirement of Bergen’s 7% debentures pursuant to a tender offer, which was required as a result of the merger with Bergen.

 

The Company has paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.025 per share on its common stock since the first quarter of fiscal 2002. Recently, a dividend of $0.025 per share was declared by the Company’s Board of Directors on November 11, 2004, and was paid on December 7, 2004 to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 22, 2004. The Company anticipates that it will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future. However, the payment and amount of future dividends remain within the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon the Company’s future earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors.

 

Market Risk

 

The Company’s most significant market risk is the effect of changing interest rates. The Company manages this risk by using a combination of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt. At September 30, 2004, the Company had approximately $1.2 billion of fixed-rate debt with a weighted average interest rate of 7.1% and $235.0 million of variable-rate debt with a weighted average interest rate of 3.1%. The amount of variable-rate debt fluctuates during the year based on the Company’s working capital requirements. The Company periodically evaluates various financial instruments that could mitigate a portion of its exposure to variable interest rates. However, there are no assurances that such instruments will be available on terms acceptable to the Company. There were no such financial instruments in effect at September 30, 2004. For every $100 million of unhedged variable-rate debt outstanding, a 31 basis-point increase in interest rates (one-tenth of the average variable rate at September 30, 2004) would increase the Company’s annual interest expense by $0.31 million.

 

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Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

 

In December 2003, FASB issued a revision to SFAS No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.” This revision to SFAS No. 132 does not change the measurement or recognition requirements for pensions and other postretirement benefit plans, however, it does revise employers’ disclosures to require more information about their plan assets, obligations to pay benefits, funding obligations, cash flows and other relevant information. As required, the Company adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 132.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51,” which was subsequently revised in December 2003 (“Interpretation No. 46”). Interpretation No. 46 clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements,” and requires consolidation of variable interest entities by their primary beneficiaries if certain conditions are met. Interpretation No. 46 applied immediately to variable interest entities created or obtained after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or obtained before January 31, 2003, the adoption of this standard was effective as of December 31, 2003 for a variable interest in special-purpose entities and as of March 31, 2004 for all other variable interest entities.

 

The Company implemented Interpretation No. 46, on a retroactive basis, during the three months ended December 31, 2003 for variable interests in special purpose entities and, as a result, the Company ceased consolidating Bergen’s Capital I Trust (the “Trust”) as the Company was not designated as the Trust’s primary beneficiary. Prior to the adoption of this standard, and the May 2004 redemption of the Trust’s preferred securities, the Company reported the Trust’s preferred securities as long-term debt in its consolidated financial statements. As a result of deconsolidating the Trust, the Company reported the notes issued to the Trust as long-term debt at December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004. Because the notes had the same carrying value as the preferred securities and the interest on the notes was equal to the cash distributions on the preferred securities, the adoption of this standard had no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. During the quarter ended June 30, 2004, the Company redeemed the notes and, as a result, the Trust redeemed the preferred securities. The Company did not create or obtain any variable interest entity after February 1, 2003. The Company evaluated the remaining provisions of Interpretation No. 46, and the adoption of these provisions did not have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain of the statements contained in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) and elsewhere in this report are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements herein include statements addressing management’s views with respect to future financial and operating results and the benefits, efficiencies and savings to be derived from the Company’s integration plans to consolidate its distribution network. Various factors, including competitive pressures, success of the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s ability to transition its business model to fee-for-service, success of integration, restructuring or systems initiatives, market interest rates, changes in customer mix, changes in pharmaceutical manufacturers’ pricing and distribution policies or practices, regulatory changes, changes in U.S. Government policies (including reimbursement changes arising from the Medicare Modernization Act), customer defaults or insolvencies, acquisition of businesses that do not perform as we expect or that are difficult for us to integrate or control, or the loss of one or more key customer or supplier relationships, could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Certain additional factors that management believes could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements are set forth in this MD&A, in Item 1 (Business) under the heading “Certain Risk Factors”, elsewhere in Item 1 (Business) and elsewhere in this report.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Company’s most significant market risk is the effect of changing interest rates. See discussion in Item 7 on page 37.

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

AmerisourceBergen Corporation

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of AmerisourceBergen Corporation and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2004. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of AmerisourceBergen Corporation and subsidiaries at September 30, 2004 and 2003, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

 

/s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

November 1, 2004, except for Note 16

as to which the date is December 3, 2004

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(in thousands, except share and per share data)          

September 30,


   2004

   2003

ASSETS

             

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 871,343    $ 800,036

Accounts receivable, less allowances for returns and doubtful accounts:

2004 - $464,354; 2003 - $191,744

     2,260,973      2,295,437

Merchandise inventories

     5,135,830      5,733,837

Prepaid expenses and other

     27,243      29,208
    

  

Total current assets

     8,295,389      8,858,518
    

  

Property and equipment, at cost:

             

Land

     42,959      35,464

Buildings and improvements

     233,397      152,289

Machinery, equipment and other

     433,555      350,904
    

  

Total property and equipment

     709,911      538,657

Less accumulated depreciation

     244,647      185,487
    

  

Property and equipment, net

     465,264      353,170
    

  

Other assets:

             

Goodwill

     2,448,275      2,390,713

Intangibles, deferred charges and other

     445,075      437,724
    

  

Total other assets

     2,893,350      2,828,437
    

  

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 11,654,003    $ 12,040,125
    

  

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - (Continued)

 

(in thousands, except share and per share data)             

September 30,


   2004

    2003

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

   $ 4,947,037     $ 5,393,769  

Accrued expenses and other

     419,381       436,089  

Current portion of long-term debt

     281,360       61,430  

Accrued income taxes

     94,349       47,796  

Deferred income taxes

     361,781       317,018  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     6,103,908       6,256,102  
    


 


Long-term debt, net of current portion

     1,157,111       1,722,724  

Other liabilities

     53,939       55,982  

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Common stock, $.01 par value - authorized: 300,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 2004: 112,454,005 and 109,692,505 shares, respectively; issued and outstanding: 2003: 112,002,347 shares

     1,125       1,120  

Additional paid-in capital

     3,146,207       3,125,561  

Retained earnings

     1,350,046       892,853  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (13,577 )     (14,217 )

Treasury stock, at cost: 2,761,500 shares

     (144,756 )     —    
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     4,339,045       4,005,317  
    


 


TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 11,654,003     $ 12,040,125  
    


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

(in thousands, except share and per share data)                

Fiscal year ended September 30,


   2004

    2003

   2002

Operating revenue

   $ 48,870,615     $ 45,536,689    $ 40,240,714

Bulk deliveries to customer warehouses

     4,308,339       4,120,639      4,994,080
    


 

  

Total revenue

     53,178,954       49,657,328      45,234,794

Cost of goods sold

     50,999,772       47,410,169      43,210,320
    


 

  

Gross profit

     2,179,182       2,247,159      2,024,474

Operating expenses:

                     

Distribution, selling and administrative

     1,205,465       1,284,132      1,220,651

Depreciation

     64,103       62,949      58,250

Amortization

     11,663       8,042      2,901

Facility consolidations and employee severance

     7,517       8,930      —  

Merger costs

     —         —        24,244
    


 

  

Operating income

     890,434       883,106      718,428

Other (income) loss

     (6,236 )     8,015      5,647

Interest expense

     112,705       144,744      140,734

Loss on early retirement of debt

     23,592       4,220      —  
    


 

  

Income before taxes

     760,373       726,127      572,047

Income taxes

     291,983       284,898      227,106
    


 

  

Net income

   $ 468,390     $ 441,229    $ 344,941
    


 

  

Earnings per share:

                     

Basic

   $ 4.20     $ 4.03    $ 3.29
    


 

  

Diluted

   $ 4.06     $ 3.89    $ 3.16
    


 

  

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

                     

Basic

     111,617       109,513      104,935

Diluted

     117,779       115,954      112,228

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES

IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

(in thousands, except per share data)


   Common
Stock


   Additional
Paid-in
Capital


    Retained
Earnings


    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss


    Treasury
Stock
and
Other


    Total

 

September 30, 2001

   $ 1,035    $ 2,709,687     $ 128,178     $ (336 )   $ —       $ 2,838,564  

Net income

                    344,941                       344,941  

Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax benefit of $3,908

                            (5,943 )             (5,943 )

Change in unrealized loss on investments, net of tax of $212

                            336               336  
                                           


Total comprehensive income

                                            339,334  
                                           


Cash dividends declared, $0.10 per share

                    (10,500 )                     (10,500 )

Exercise of stock options

     31      101,478                               101,509  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

            43,488                               43,488  

Restricted shares earned by directors

            233                               233  

Shares issued pursuant to a stock purchase plan

            474                               474  

Accelerated vesting of stock options

            2,413                               2,413  

Amortization of unearned compensation from stock options

            823                               823  
    

  


 


 


 


 


September 30, 2002

     1,066      2,858,596       462,619       (5,943 )     —         3,316,338  

Net income

                    441,229                       441,229  

Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax benefit of $5,246

                            (8,274 )             (8,274 )
                                           


Total comprehensive income

                                            432,955  
                                           


Cash dividends declared, $0.10 per share

                    (10,995 )                     (10,995 )

Exercise of stock options

     14      42,550                               42,564  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

            14,389                               14,389  

Stock issued for acquisitions

     40      209,409                               209,449  

Restricted shares earned by directors

            345                               345  

Net shares purchased pursuant to a stock purchase plan

            (1,608 )                             (1,608 )

Accelerated vesting of stock options

            1,057                               1,057  

Amortization of unearned compensation from stock options

            823                               823  
    

  


 


 


 


 


September 30, 2003

     1,120      3,125,561       892,853       (14,217 )     —         4,005,317  

Net income

                    468,390                       468,390  

Reduction in minimum pension liability, net of tax of $399

                            640               640  
                                           


Total comprehensive income

                                            469,030  
                                           


Cash dividends declared, $0.10 per share

                    (11,197 )                     (11,197 )

Exercise of stock options

     5      15,146                               15,151  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

            4,011                               4,011  

Restricted shares earned

            649                               649  

Net shares purchased pursuant to a stock purchase plan

            (935 )                             (935 )

Accelerated vesting of stock options

            1,028                               1,028  

Amortization of unearned compensation from stock options

            747                               747  

Purchase of treasury stock

                                    (144,756 )     (144,756 )
    

  


 


 


 


 


September 30, 2004

   $ 1,125    $ 3,146,207     $ 1,350,046     $ (13,577 )   $ (144,756 )   $ 4,339,045