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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
__________________________________________

(Mark One)

[X] 

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

   

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended December 31, 2004

[   ]

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

   

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from          to        

Commission File No. 1-5438

    FOREST LABORATORIES, INC.    
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

11-1798614
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

     

909 Third Avenue
New York, New York
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

10022-4731
(Zip code)

(212) 421-7850
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 a check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes    X       No        .

Number of shares outstanding of Registrant's Common Stock as of February 9, 2005:
351,381,904.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Quick Links)

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

            ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

                           BALANCE SHEETS
                           
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                           
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                           
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                           
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

            ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
            
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

            ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
            
MARKET RISK

            ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

            ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

            ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF
            PROCEEDS

            ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

            EXHIBIT 31.1
            EXHIBIT 31.2
            EXHIBIT 32.1
            EXHIBIT 32.2

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


(In thousands)

December 31, 2004 
       (Unaudited)      
 


March 31, 2004 

 

 

 

Assets

   

 

 

 

Current assets:
    Cash (including cash equivalent investments
        of $1,675,481 in December and $1,724,942 in March)

 

$1,684,142 



$1,726,558 

    Marketable securities

72,736 

66,064 

    Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
        of $20,823 in December and $20,762 in March


325,418 


287,618 

    Inventories, net

542,474 

610,182 

    Deferred income taxes

160,188 

205,071 

    Other current assets

       27,384 

       20,741 

        Total current assets

  2,812,342 

  2,916,234 

     

Marketable securities

     468,512 

     337,890 

     

Property, plant and equipment

460,174 

404,082 

    Less: accumulated depreciation

     125,124 

     106,125 

 

     335,050 

     297,957 

Other assets:
    Goodwill


14,965 


14,965 

    License agreements, product rights and other
        intangibles, less accumulated amortization
        of $267,679 in December and $245,921 in March

 

272,990 



274,835 

    Deferred income taxes

14,850 

16,387 

    Other

         1,134 

         4,468 

        Total other assets

     303,939 

     310,655 

     

             Total assets

$3,919,843 

$3,862,736 

 

======== 

======== 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


(In thousands, except for par values)

December 31, 2004 
       (Unaudited)      
 


March 31, 2004 

     

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

   
     

Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable


$   137,486 


$   159,798 

    Accrued expenses

272,603 

321,564 

    Income taxes payable

     102,573 

     123,392 

       Total current liabilities

     512,662 

     604,754 

     

Deferred income taxes

         1,531 

         2,118 

     

Stockholders' equity:
    Series preferred stock, $1.00 par; shares authorized 1,000;
        no shares issued or outstanding

   

    Common stock, $.10 par; shares authorized 1,000,000; issued
        406,681 shares in December and 405,144 shares in March


40,668 


40,514 

    Additional paid-in capital

881,883 

846,297 

    Retained earnings

3,441,984 

2,655,934 

    Accumulated other comprehensive income

        16,468 

10,324 

    Treasury stock, at cost

   

       (51,747 shares in December and 35,617 shares in March)

(     975,353)

(     297,205)

            Total stockholders' equity

  3,405,650 

  3,255,864 

     

                Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$3,919,843 

$3,862,736 

======== 

======== 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)


(In thousands, except per share amounts)

   Three Months Ended  
         December 31,       

 Nine Months Ended     
         December 31,         

 

       2004 

       2003 

          2004 

          2003 

         

Net sales

$795,047 

$700,447 

$2,434,123 

$1,925,352 

Contract revenue

23,813 

1,221 

39,055 

5,123 

Other income

    13,483 

      5,513 

       33,225 

       16,660 

 

  832,343 

  707,181 

  2,506,403 

  1,947,135 

         

Costs and expenses:
    Cost of sales


176,431 


160,866 


545,298 


439,369 

    Selling, general and administrative

242,863 

207,869 

727,256 

590,405 

    Research and development

    77,393 

    50,581 

     231,901 

     165,748 

 

  496,687 

  419,316 

  1,504,455 

  1,195,522 

         

Income before income tax expense

335,656 

287,865 

1,001,948 

751,613 

         

Income tax expense

    74,851 

    61,747 

     215,898 

     161,221 

         

Net income

$260,805 

$226,118 

$   786,050 

$   590,392 

 

======= 

======= 

======== 

======== 

Net income per common
    and common equivalent share:

       
         

    Basic

$0.71 

$0.62 

$2.13 

$1.62 

 

==== 

==== 

==== 

==== 

    Diluted

$0.70 

$0.60 

$2.09 

$1.57 

 

==== 

==== 

==== 

==== 

Weighted average number of common
    and common equivalent shares outstanding:

       
         

    Basic

364,914 

365,791 

368,227 

364,808 

 

====== 

====== 

====== 

====== 

    Diluted

371,638 

376,507 

376,930 

375,593 

 

====== 

====== 

====== 

====== 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)


(In thousands)

  Three Months Ended  
        December 31,        

     Nine Months Ended   
       December 31,       

 

       2004 

       2003 

       2004 

       2003 

         

Net income

$260,805 

$226,118 

$786,050 

$590,392 

Other comprehensive income

    10,273 

      8,567 

      6,144 

    15,077 

         

Comprehensive income

$271,078 

$234,685 

$792,194 

$605,469 

 

======= 

======= 

======= 

======= 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 

    Nine Months Ended        

(In thousands)

             December 31,            

 

           2004

          2003 

Cash flows from operating activities:

   

   Net income

$   786,050 

$   590,392 

   Adjustments to reconcile net income to

   

     net cash provided by operating activities:

   

       Depreciation

18,871 

15,697 

       Amortization, impairments and write-offs

21,758 

30,234 

       Deferred income tax expense

2,345 

6,655 

       Foreign currency translation loss (gain)

(         1,557)

1,383 

       Tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock
          options by employees


54,644 


49,556 

       Net change in operating assets and liabilities:

   

          Decrease (increase) in:

   

             Accounts receivable, net

(       37,800)

(       92,829)

             Inventories, net

67,708 

(       54,981)

             Other current assets

(         6,643)

(         5,368)

          Increase (decrease) in:

   

             Accounts payable

(       22,312)

(       89,939)

             Accrued expenses

(       48,961)

    47,592 

             Income taxes payable

(       20,819)

(       60,499)

          Decrease in other assets

         3,334 

         1,685 

     

                Net cash provided by operating activities

     816,618 

     439,578 

     

Cash flows from investing activities:

   

   Purchase of property, plant and equipment, net

(       55,102)

(       70,459)

   Purchase of marketable securities

(     456,511)

(     531,067)

   Redemption of marketable securities

  319,217 

  419,684 

   Purchase of license agreements, product rights and
     other intangibles


(       19,500)


(       25,000)

     

                Net cash used in investing activities

(     211,896)

(     206,842)

     

Cash flows from financing activities:

   

   Net proceeds from common stock options exercised
      by employees under stock option plans


  22,629 


  36,130 

   Purchase of treasury stock

(     676,193)

                   

     

                Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(     653,564)

       36,130 

     

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

         6,426 

       12,683 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(       42,416)

281,549 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

  1,726,558 

  1,265,508 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$1,684,142 

$1,547,057 

 

======== 

======== 

     

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

   
     

Cash paid during the period for:

   

    Income taxes

$180,277 

$165,345 

     
     
     
     

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

1.   Basis of Presentation:

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of Management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending March 31, 2005. For further information refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2004.

2.   Accounts Receivable:

Accounts receivable, net, consists of the following:

 

December 31, 2004

 

(In thousands)

      (Unaudited)        

March 31, 2004   

 

 

 

Trade

$289,848

$262,557

Other

    35,570

    25,061

 

$325,418

$287,618

 

 ======= 

======= 

3.   Inventories:

Inventories, net of reserves for obsolescence, consist of the following:

 

December 31, 2004

 

(In thousands)

      (Unaudited)        

March 31, 2004   

 

 

 

Raw materials

$270,539

$359,075

Work in process

      12,512  

    40,982

Finished goods

  259,423

  210,125

 

$542,474

$610,182

 

 ======= 

======= 

4.   Net Income Per Share:

A reconciliation of the weighted average number of shares used in calculating basic and diluted net income per share follows:

 

Three Months Ended 
         December 31,      

Nine Months Ended
      December 31,     

(In thousands)

 

     2004

     2003

     2004

     2003

Basic

364,914

365,791

368,227

364,808

Effect of assumed conversion of
   employee stock options and warrants


    6,724


  10,716


    8,703


  10,785

Diluted

371,638

376,507

376,930

375,593

 

======

======

======

======

Options to purchase approximately 5,387,000 and 1,810,000 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $44.74 to $76.66 per share that were outstanding during a portion of the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2004, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because they were anti-dilutive. Options to purchase approximately 1,443,000 and 1,657,000 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $53.23 to $59.05 per share that were outstanding during a portion of the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2003, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because they were anti-dilutive. These options expire through 2014.

5.   Stock-Based Compensation:

The Company accounts for its stock option awards to employees under the intrinsic value based method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." Under the intrinsic value based method, compensation cost is the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the stock at grant date or other measurement date over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. The Company makes pro forma disclosures of net income and earnings per share as if the fair value based method of accounting had been applied as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (SFAS 123), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." The Company has never granted options below market price on the date of grant.

SFAS 123 requires the Company to provide pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share as if compensation cost for the Company's stock option plans had been determined in accordance with the fair value of each stock option at the grant date by using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003: dividend yield of zero; expected volatility of 31.09% and 22.46%, respectively; risk-free interest rates of 4.0% and 4.3%, respectively; and expected lives of 5 to 10 years.

Under the accounting provisions of SFAS 123, the Company's net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

 

Three Months Ended  
        December 31,       

Nine Months Ended   
      December 31,       

(In thousands, except per share data)

       2004 

       2003 

       2004 

       2003 

Net income:

 

 

 

 

   As reported

$260,805 

$226,118 

$786,050 

$590,392 

      Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation

       

         expense determined under fair value method

(      9,405)

(      9,439)

(    26,822)

(    26,624)

   Pro forma

$251,400 

$216,679 

$759,228 

$563,768 

 

======= 

======= 

======= 

======= 

Net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

Basic:

 

 

 

 

   As reported

$0.71 

$0.62 

$2.13 

$1.62 

   Pro forma

$0.69 

$0.59 

$2.06 

$1.55 

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

   As reported

$0.70 

$0.60 

$2.09 

$1.57 

   Pro forma

$0.68 

$0.58 

$2.01 

$1.50 

6.   Recent Accounting Standards:

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" (SFAS No. 123R) which is a revision of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation". SFAS No.123R supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and requires companies to expense the estimated fair value of employee stock options as well as other types of share-based compensation. The Company is required to adopt the provisions of SFAS No.123R as of the beginning of the first interim period that begins after June 15, 2005, although earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating a plan of implementation.

7.   Business Segment Information:

The Company operates in only one segment. Below is a breakdown of net sales by therapeutic class:


(In thousands)

  Three Months Ended 
       December 31,      

 Nine Months Ended     
         December 31,         

 

       2004

       2003

          2004

          2003

         

Central nervous system (CNS)

$661,243

$599,069

$2,095,640

$1,589,922

Cardiovascular

19,354

25,653

77,707

105,393

Other

  114,450

    75,725

     260,776

     230,037

 

$795,047

$700,447

$2,434,123

$1,925,352

 

=======

=======

========

========

 

FOREST LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company had strong growth in revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, despite the introduction of citalopram HBr (citalopram), a generic version of Celexa®. On October 28, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted four generic pharmaceutical companies approval to distribute citalopram, and subsequently granted additional companies approval to distribute citalopram. The Company had expected FDA approval of citalopram and was prepared to launch its own generic, which it did, through its Inwood Laboratories, Inc. (Inwood) subsidiary. During the quarter, the Company received approval from the FDA for Combunox™ for the treatment of moderate to severe pain and the FDA accepted the Company's Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to expand Namenda's® indication to include the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Also, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement with Gedeon Ritcher Limited for an atypical anti psychotic RCH-188 and related compounds which will be developed for schizophrenia, bipolar mania and other psychiatric conditions. Lastly, during December, the Board of Directors authorized an increase to the Company's share repurchase program to 30 million shares of its common stock.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

Net current assets decreased by $11,800,000 from March 31, 2004. Cash generated from normal operating activities from sales of our principal promoted products was offset by common stock acquisitions under the Company's share repurchase program. As of December 31, 2004 the Company has repurchased approximately 16 million shares at various prices totaling $676,193,000. Increases to both short and long-term securities were due to shifts from cash equivalents to short-term securities and shifts from short-term to long-term securities which were made to receive more favorable rates of return. In total, cash, short-term and long-term marketable securities increased by $94,878,000. Accounts receivable increased due to strong sales of our principal branded products, partially offset by lower sales of Celexa due to the introduction of generic competition during the quarter. The number of days outstanding increased slightly due to the timing of sales at Inwood in the current quarter related to a special order of Flumadine from the Centers for Disease Control precipitated by the flu vaccine shortage. The decrease in inventory was due primarily to the lower cost of raw materials used to produce generic Celexa. This lower cost also had an effect on work in process which decreased for the period. Finished goods increased during the period primarily due to increased demand for Lexapro®. The Company believes that the current inventory levels for its products are appropriate. Decreases in accounts payable and accrued expenses were due to normal operating activities and lower HMO rebates recorded as a result of expired contracts for Celexa. Deferred taxes and income taxes payable declined as a result of the utilization of the tax benefit from the exercise of stock options by employees and estimated payments for federal income taxes made in December.

Property, plant and equipment increased primarily due to the continuing expansion of the Company's facilities in order to meet current and future product and research and development demands. On Long Island, the Company expanded its packaging and distribution facility by adding approximately 185,000 square feet to that location. The Company also purchased a 40,000 square foot facility in St. Louis which will be used for office and administration. Further property expansions and acquisitions are planned in the future to meet the needs from increased sales and related production, warehousing and distribution and for products under development. During the year, the Company also continued to make technology investments to expand its principal operating systems to include salesforce and warehouse management applications.

License agreements, product rights and other intangibles included a $4,500,000 milestone payment to BTG Inc. during the current fiscal quarter upon FDA approval of Combunox, and a $15,000,000 milestone payment during the second fiscal quarter to Merck Sante s.a.s. upon FDA approval of Campral®.

The Company is a party to several license agreements for products currently under development. Such agreements may require the Company to make future payments to the licensors, subject to the achievement of specific product or commercial development milestones, as defined.

During the first quarter the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program for up to 20 million shares of its common stock and on December 14, 2004 authorized the repurchase of an additional 10 million shares, bringing the total to 30 million shares of common stock authorized for repurchase under the program. The authorization was effective July 22, 2004, and the program has no set expiration date. During the current quarter, the Company purchased 13,809,800 shares on the open market at an average price of $41.73 per share, bringing the total shares repurchased to 16,094,500 shares. The Company expects to make additional purchases, from time to time in the open market, depending on market conditions.

Management believes that current cash levels, coupled with funds to be generated by ongoing operations, will continue to provide adequate liquidity to facilitate potential acquisitions of products, payment of achieved milestones, capital investments and the share repurchase program.

Results of Operations

Net sales for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2004 increased 14% and 26%, respectively, from the same periods last year, primarily due to Lexapro and Namenda. Lexapro, the Company's largest product, with sales of $427,118,000 and $1,205,915,000, respectively, contributed $113,422,000 and $468,796,000 to the net sales change, primarily due to volume, and achieved an 18.2% share of total prescriptions in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) market, an increase of 13.7% from the same period last year. Celexa sales declined $144,384,000 and $194,373,000 from the same periods last year to $129,812,000 and $647,253,000, respectively, mostly due to volume decreases resulting from the introduction of generic equivalents, as well as market share declines. From a peak share of 17.5% in August 2002 just prior to the launch of Lexapro, Celexa's market share declined to 7.7% at the point of generic introduction and further declined to 1.5% at December 2004. Sales of generic Celexa amounted to $3,710,000 for the period. The Company expects further declines in Celexa sales going forward.

Sales of Namenda, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, launched in March 2004, increased $89,426,000 and $227,585,000 for the three and nine-month periods presented to $100,603,000 and $238,762,000, respectively. Namenda is the first product indicated for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease and has generated significant new prescriptions in the retail and long-term care markets. Namenda achieved a 25.2% share of total prescriptions as of December 31, 2004. In November 2004, the FDA accepted the filing of the Company's sNDA to expand the indication of Namenda to include the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Under existing FDA procedures, the Company should receive an initial action letter from the FDA by the third calendar quarter of 2005.

Sales of Flumadine increased $33,920,000 for the current quarter and $34,381,000 for the nine months due to volume as a result of an order from the Centers for Disease Control in response to the flu vaccine shortage. Initial stocking sales of Campral, the Company's newly approved drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence amounted to $1,351,000. Tiazac® sales continued to decline from the same periods last year due primarily to generic competition decreasing $6,299,000 for the quarter and $27,686,000 for the year. The remainder of the net sales change for the period was due principally to volume fluctuations of the Company's older non-promoted product lines.

Contract revenue for the quarter and nine months was $23,813,000 and $39,055,000, respectively, primarily representing co-promotion income from the Company's co-marketing agreement with Sankyo Pharma for Benicar® of $22,544,000 and $34,747,000, respectively. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has been co-promoting Benicar since May 2003 and is entitled to a share of the product profits (as defined) from the point the product becomes cumulatively profitable. Benicar became cumulatively profitable during the second fiscal quarter.

Other income was higher for the quarter and nine months as compared to the same periods last year primarily due to interest income from increased funds available for investment. During the first fiscal quarter, the Company shifted investments to longer-term (maturity dates not to exceed two years) in order to receive more favorable rates of return.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales was 22% during the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2004, respectively, compared to 23% for the same periods last year due primarily to product mix and lower manufacturing costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $34,994,000 and $136,851,000 for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2004 due primarily to the recently expanded salesforce. In connection with the launch of Namenda, the Company added approximately 525 representatives to its salesforce during the third quarter of fiscal 2004. This latest salesforce expansion brought the total number of representatives and managers to approximately 2,800. Pre-launch costs for Campral and Combunox were also incurred in the current quarter. Campral was launched in January 2005 and the Company plans to launch Combunox in the fourth fiscal quarter.

Research and development expense increased $26,812,000 and $66,153,000 for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2004. The majority of the increase during the current quarter was due to a license payment made to Gedeon Richter Limited for the North American rights to RGH-188, a compound which will be developed for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar mania and other psychiatric conditions. The remainder of the increase was from costs associated with staff increases and associated costs required to support currently marketed products and products in various stages of development, including:

The effective tax rate increased to 22% for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to 21% for the same periods last year, primarily due to an increase in the proportion of earnings generated in the United States versus those generated in lower-taxed jurisdictions. Overall, the effective tax rate is lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate due to the proportion of earnings generated in lower-taxed foreign jurisdictions versus the United States. These earnings include manufacturing and development income from our operations in Ireland, which are taxed at 10% through 2010 and at 12.5% thereafter.

Congress passed the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 on October 22, 2004 (the Act). The Act contains numerous changes to existing tax laws, including both domestic and foreign tax incentives. The Company has not yet determined what impact, if any, the Act may have on our results of operations and financial condition in the future. While the Company is currently studying the impact of the one-time favorable foreign dividend provisions recently enacted as part of the Act, as of December 31, 2004 and based on the tax laws in effect at that time, it was the Company's intention, that until the Company has completed its process of evaluating the impact of the new Act, the Company will continue to indefinitely reinvest certain undistributed foreign earnings and, accordingly, no deferred tax liability has been recorded in connection therewith. Upon completion of the Company's evaluation of the impact of the new tax Act, the Company will make a decision whether to elect to apply certain provisions of the new tax Act and to repatriate some or all of its foreign earnings; and upon the completion of such decision, the Company will adjust its financial statements to reflect the impact, if any, of the application of the new Act to the repatriation of such foreign earnings. The Company has not yet made a decision to repatriate any of its foreign earnings. Accordingly, the Company has not provided any range of foreign earnings that may ultimately be repatriated, nor the resulting tax effect of such repatriation in the Company's financial statement footnotes. The Company anticipates that it will conclude its analysis of the impact of the Act related to unrepatriated foreign earnings during the fourth quarter of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2005.

The Company expects to continue its profitability during the current fiscal year with continued growth in its principal promoted products.

Inflation has not had a material effect on the Company's operations for the periods presented.

Critical Accounting Policies

The following accounting policies are important in understanding the Company's financial condition and results of operations and should be considered an integral part of the financial review. Refer to Notes 1 through 7 to the consolidated financial statements for additional policies.

Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are made when accounting for sales allowances, returns, rebates and other pricing adjustments, depreciation, amortization and certain contingencies. The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties, which may include but are not limited to competition, federal or local legislation and regulations, litigation and overall changes in the healthcare environment that may cause actual results to vary from estimates. The Company reviews all significant estimates affecting the financial statements on a recurring basis and records the effect of any adjustments when necessary. Certain of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are discussed further under the section entitled "Forward Looking Statements".

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company has made acquisitions in the past that include goodwill, license agreements, product rights and other intangibles. Through fiscal 2001, these assets were amortized over their estimated useful lives, and were tested periodically to determine if they were recoverable from operating earnings on an undiscounted basis over their useful lives.

Effective with fiscal 2002, goodwill is no longer amortized but is subject to an annual impairment test based on its estimated fair value. License agreements, product rights and other intangibles will continue to be amortized over their useful lives and tested periodically to determine if they are recoverable from future cash flows on an undiscounted basis over their useful lives.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recorded in the period the merchandise is shipped. As is typical in the pharmaceutical industry, gross product sales are subject to a variety of deductions, primarily representing rebates and discounts to government agencies, wholesalers and managed care organizations. These deductions represent estimates of the related liabilities and, as such, judgment is required when estimating the impact of these sales deductions on gross sales for a reporting period. If estimates are not representative of actual settlement, results could be materially affected. Provisions for estimated sales allowances, returns, rebates and other pricing adjustments are accrued at the time revenues are recognized as a direct reduction of such revenue. The Company's liability for rebates and discounts at December 31, 2004 and March 31, 2004 were $201,161,000 and $266,209,000, respectively.

The accruals are estimated based on available information, including third party data, regarding the portion of sales on which rebates and discounts can be earned, adjusted as appropriate for specific known events and the prevailing contractual discount rate. Provisions are reflected either as a direct reduction to accounts receivable or, to the extent that they are due to entities other than customers, as accrued expense. Adjustments to estimates are recorded when customer credits are issued or payments are made to third parties.

The sensitivity of estimates can vary by program and type of customer. However, estimates associated with Medicaid and contract rebates are most at risk for adjustment because of the extensive time delay between the recording of the accrual and its ultimate settlement, an interval that can range up to one year. Because of this time lag, in any given quarter, adjustments to actual may incorporate revisions of prior quarters.

Provisions for Medicaid and contract rebates during a period are recorded based upon the actual experience ratio of rebates paid and actual prescriptions written. The experience ratio is applied to the period's sales to determine the rebate accrual and related expense. This experience ratio is evaluated regularly to ensure that the historical trends are as current as practicable. As appropriate, the Company will adjust the ratio to more closely match current experience or expected future experience. In assessing this ratio, the Company considers current contract terms, such as changes in formulary status, discount rates and utilization trends. Periodically, the accrual is adjusted based upon actual payments made for rebates. If the ratio is not indicative of future experience, results could be affected.

Deductions for chargebacks (primarily discounts to group purchasing organizations and federal government agencies) closely approximate actual as these deductions are settled generally within 2-3 weeks of incurring the liability.

The Company's policy relating to the supply of inventory at wholesalers is to maintain stocking levels under one month, on average, and to keep monthly levels consistent from year to year, based on patterns of utilization. The Company has historically been able to closely monitor these customer stocking levels by purchasing information from customers directly and by obtaining other third party information. Unusual or unexpected variations in buying patterns or utilizations are promptly investigated.

Sales incentives are generally given in connection with a new product launch. These sales incentives are recorded as a reduction of revenues and are based on terms fixed at the time goods are shipped. New product launches may result in expected temporary increases in wholesaler inventories, which as described above, are closely monitored and have not resulted in increased product returns.

Recent Accounting Standards

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" (SFAS No. 123R) which is a revision of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation". SFAS No.123R supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and requires companies to expense the estimated fair value of employee stock options as well as other types of share-based compensation. The Company is required to adopt the provisions of SFAS No.123R as of the beginning of the first interim period that begins after June 15, 2005, although earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating a plan of implementation.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the Management Discussion and other portions of this Form 10-Q contain forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the difficulty of predicting FDA approvals, acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the timely development and launch of new products and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

In the normal course of business, operations of the Company may be exposed to fluctuations in currency values and interest rates. These fluctuations can vary the costs of financing, investing and operating transactions. Because the Company had no debt and only minimal foreign currency transactions, there was no material impact on earnings due to fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates.

Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)). Based on this evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the Company's most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect , the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Part II - Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

             On December 27, 2004, the Company was named as a defendant, together with Biovail
             Corporation, in an action brought in the United States District Court of the District of
             Columbia under the caption Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company, Inc. and Rochester
             Drug Cooperative v. Biovail Corporation and Forest Laboratories, Inc.. The complaint
             alleges attempts to monopolize (by attempting to delay generic competition) under
             Section 2 of the Sherman Act with respect to the product Tiazac resulting from Biovail's
             January 2001 patent listing in the Food and Drug Administration's "Orange Book" of
             Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations. Biovail withdrew
             the Orange Book listing of the patent at issue following an April 2002 Consent Order
             between Biovail and the Federal Trade Commission. Biovail is the owner of the NDA
             covering Tiazac which the Company distributes in the United States under license from
             Biovail. The action, which purports to be brought as a class action on behalf of all persons
             or entities who purchased Tiazac directly from the Company from February 13, 2001 to the
             present, seeks treble damages and related relief arising from the allegedly unlawful acts. In
             a related case, Twin Cities Bakery Workers Health and Welfare Fund, Case No. 1:01CV02197
             (D.D.C.)(JR), in which the Company is not a party, Biovail has filed a motion for summary
             judgment on an issue which the Company believes would be dispositive of the new action.
             That motion is awaiting oral argument. If that motion is denied, the Company intends to
             defend this action vigorously.

             In January 2005 the State of Alabama filed an action against approximately 75 manufacturers
             of pharmaceutical products, including the Company, in an Alabama state court, Montgomery,
             Alabama. The action alleges essentially the same types of claims which are described in the
             litigation section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
             March 31, 2004 in the description of the litigation referenced as "In re Pharmaceutical Industry
             AWP Litigation." The Company believes there in no merit to this claim and intends to defend
             the claim vigorously.

             Reference is hereby made to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
             year ended March 31, 2004 and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
             quarters ended June 30, 2004 and September 30, 2004 for a description of certain other
             legal proceedings to which the Company is a party.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

              Purchase of equity securities by the Company:

              In July 2004, the Company's Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to
              20,000,000 shares of the Company's outstanding Common Stock (Repurchase Program)
              which was increased to 30,000,000 shares in December 2004.  Under the
              Repurchase Program the Company may repurchase the shares from time-to-time
              at prevailing prices and as permitted by applicable securities laws (including SEC
              Rule 10b-18) and New York Stock Exchange requirements, and subject to market
              conditions. The first purchase under the Repurchase Program occurred on September 9,
              2004. As of the date of this filing, all repurchases of shares have occurred under this
              program.

              The following table summarizes repurchase of common stock under the Repurchase
              Program during the quarter covered by this report:

 






Period



Total
number of
shares
purchased




Average
price paid
per share


Total number of
shares purchased as
part of publicly
announced plans or
programs

Maximum
number of
shares that may
yet be purchased
under the
program

 

11/1/04
through
11/30/04



2,305,700



$37.64



2,305,700



15,409,600

 

12/1/04
through
12/31/04



11,504,100



$42.55



11,504,100



13,905,500

Item 6.  Exhibits

             Exhibit 31.1 Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
             Exhibit 31.2 Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
             Exhibit 32.1 Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
             Exhibit 32.2 Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: February 9, 2005



Forest Laboratories, Inc.
(Registrant)



/s/ Howard Solomon       
Howard Solomon
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer
and Director



/s/ Francis I. Perier, Jr.              
Francis I. Perier, Jr.
Senior Vice President - Finance and
Chief Financial Officer