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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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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  
    

  


 


 


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

(in thousands)    2004

    2003

    2002

 

Fiscal year ended September 30,


      

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                        

Net income

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

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                        

Depreciation, including amounts charged to cost of goods sold

     68,071       65,005       58,250  

Amortization, including amounts charged to interest expense

     19,017       15,438       8,328  

(Benefit) provision on accounts receivable

     (10,279 )     46,012       65,664  

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

     1,430       3,465       3,055  

Loss on early retirement of debt

     23,592       4,220       —    

Other (income) loss

     (1,314 )     8,015       5,647  

Provision for deferred income taxes

     48,884       127,157       45,853  

Employee stock compensation

     2,059       1,880       3,236  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:

                        

Accounts receivable

     (267,387 )     (57,971 )     (133,629 )

Merchandise inventories

     916,301       (278,388 )     (362,195 )

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     (10,768 )     (23,294 )     (11,649 )

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and income taxes

     (432,020 )     (1,214 )     514,142  

Other

     (895 )     3,261       (5,717 )
    


 


 


NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     825,081       354,815       535,926  
    


 


 


INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                        

Capital expenditures

     (189,278 )     (90,554 )     (64,159 )

Cost of acquired companies, net of cash acquired

     (68,882 )     (111,981 )     (136,223 )

Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions

     15,602       —         —    

Purchase of equity interests in businesses

     —         —         (4,130 )

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     336       726       1,698  
    


 


 


NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     (242,222 )     (201,809 )     (202,814 )
    


 


 


FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                        

Net repayments under revolving credit and receivables securitization facilities

     —         —         (37,000 )

Long-term debt borrowings

     —         300,000       —    

Long-term debt repayments

     (368,425 )     (338,989 )     (23,119 )

Purchase of treasury stock

     (144,756 )     —         —    

Deferred financing costs and other

     (1,390 )     (7,282 )     1,712  

Exercise of stock options

     15,151       42,564       101,509  

Cash dividends on common stock

     (11,197 )     (10,995 )     (10,500 )

Common stock purchases for employee stock purchase plan

     (935 )     (1,608 )     —    
    


 


 


NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     (511,552 )     (16,310 )     32,602  
    


 


 


INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     71,307       136,696       365,714  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     800,036       663,340       297,626  
    


 


 


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

   $ 871,343     $ 800,036     $ 663,340  
    


 


 


 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

September 30, 2004

 

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (the “Company”) is a national pharmaceutical services company providing drug distribution and related healthcare services and solutions to its customers. The Company also provides pharmaceuticals to long-term care and workers’ compensation patients. For further information on the Company’s operating segments, see Note 13.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries as of the dates and for the fiscal years indicated. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts could differ from these estimated amounts.

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior-year amounts in order to conform to the current-year presentation.

 

Business Combinations

 

Business combinations accounted for under the purchase method of accounting include the results of operations of the acquired businesses from the dates of acquisition. Net assets of the companies acquired are recorded at their fair value to the Company at the date of acquisition (see Note 2).

 

Cash Equivalents

 

The Company classifies highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase as cash equivalents.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

The Company sells its merchandise inventories to a large number of customers in the healthcare industry, including independent retail pharmacies, chain drugstores, mail order facilities, health systems and other acute-care facilities, and alternate site facilities such as clinics, nursing homes, and other non-acute care facilities. The financial condition of the Company’s customers, especially those in the health systems and nursing home sectors, can be affected by changes in government reimbursement policies as well as by other economic pressures in the healthcare industry.

 

The Company’s trade accounts receivable are exposed to credit risk, but the risk is moderated because the customer base is diverse and geographically widespread. The Company generally does not require collateral for trade receivables. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and maintains reserves for potential bad debt losses based on prior experience and for specific collectibility matters when they arise. Customer trade receivables are considered past due when payments have not been timely remitted in accordance with negotiated terms. The Company writes off balances against the reserve when collectibility is deemed remote. At September 30, 2004, the largest trade receivable due from a single customer represented approximately 11% of accounts receivable, net. For fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, sales to the Federal government, which are principally included in the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, represented approximately 6%, 9% and 9%, respectively, of operating revenue. Additionally, sales to Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (“Medco”) represented 6% of

 

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operating revenue in fiscal 2004. No other single customer accounted for more than 5% of the Company’s operating revenue. Revenues generated from the Company’s sales to Medco were 13% of total revenue and 97% of bulk deliveries to customer warehouses in fiscal 2004 and 12% of total revenue and 98% of bulk deliveries in fiscal 2003.

 

The Company maintains cash balances and cash equivalents with several large creditworthy banks and money-market funds located in the United States. Accounts at each bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $100,000. The Company does not believe there is significant credit risk related to its cash and cash equivalents.

 

Investments

 

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for its investments in entities in which it has significant influence; generally, this represents an ownership interest of between 20% and 50%. The Company’s investments in marketable equity securities in which the Company does not have significant influence are classified as “available for sale” and are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in the accumulated other comprehensive loss component of stockholders’ equity.

 

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, was 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, consolidated inventories would have been approximately $166.1 million and $169.4 million higher than the amounts reported at September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and from 3 to 10 years for machinery, equipment and other.

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

The Company accounts for purchased goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“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, patents 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 upon, among other things, 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.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue when products are delivered to customers. Service revenues are recognized as services are performed provided there are no further obligations to the customer. Revenues as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations are net of sales returns and allowances.

 

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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. Additionally, merchandise inventories were increased by $316.8 million and accounts receivable were reduced by $316.8 million as of September 30, 2004.

 

The Company reports the gross dollar amount of bulk deliveries to customer warehouses in revenue and the related costs in cost of goods sold. 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. Gross profit earned by the Company on bulk deliveries was not material in any year presented.

 

Shipping and Handling Costs

 

Shipping and handling costs include all costs to warehouse, pick, pack and deliver inventory to customers. These costs, which were $383.1 million, $381.8 million and $374.5 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, are included in distribution, selling and administrative expenses.

 

Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

 

In December 2003, the 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 (see Note 7).

 

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”) (see Note 5) 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 issued to the Trust 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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Stock Related Compensation

 

The Company has a number of stock-related compensation plans, including stock option, stock purchase and restricted stock plans, which are described in Note 8. The Company continues to use the intrinsic value method set forth in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” (“APB No. 25”) and related interpretations for these plans. Under APB No. 25, generally, when the exercise price of the Company’s stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of the grant, no compensation expense is recognized. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, to all stock-related compensation.

 

The fair values for the Company’s options were estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions for the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002: a risk-free interest rate ranging from 2.22% to 4.61%; expected dividend yield of 0.14%; a volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company’s Common Stock ranging from 0.335 to 0.375 and a weighted average expected life of the options of 5 years. The weighted average fair value of options granted during the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $20.28, $20.36 and $25.96, respectively.

 

For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options and shares under the employee stock purchase plan are amortized to expense over their assumed vesting periods. Effective September 1, 2004, the Company vested all employee options then outstanding with an exercise price in excess of $54.10.

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,

 

(in thousands, except per share data)


   2004

    2003

    2002

 

Net income, as reported

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

Add: Stock-related compensation expense included in reported net income, net of income taxes

     633       642       1,455  

Deduct: Stock-related compensation expense determined under the fair value method, net of income taxes

     (87,092 )     (19,600 )     (12,280 )
    


 


 


Pro forma net income

   $ 381,931     $ 422,271     $ 334,116  
    


 


 


Earnings per share:

                        

Basic, as reported

   $ 4.20     $ 4.03     $ 3.29  
    


 


 


Basic, pro forma

   $ 3.41     $ 3.86     $ 3.18  
    


 


 


Diluted, as reported

   $ 4.06     $ 3.89     $ 3.16  
    


 


 


Diluted, pro forma

   $ 3.32     $ 3.73     $ 3.06  
    


 


 


 

The diluted earnings per share calculations consider the 5% convertible subordinated notes as if converted and, therefore, the after-tax effect of interest expense related to these notes is added back to net income in determining income available to common stockholders.

 

Note 2. Acquisitions

 

In May 2004, the Company acquired Imedex, Inc. (“Imedex”), an accredited provider of continuing medical education for physicians, for approximately $16.6 million in cash. The acquisition of Imedex continued the Company’s efforts to add incremental services that support manufacturers and healthcare providers along the pharmaceutical supply channel. The purchase price has been allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net tangible and identified intangible assets acquired by $12.5 million, which has been allocated to goodwill.

 

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In February 2004, the Company acquired MedSelect, Inc. (“MedSelect”), a provider of automated medication and supply dispensing cabinets, for approximately $13.7 million in cash, including transaction costs. The acquisition of MedSelect enhances the Company’s ability to offer fully scalable and flexible technology solutions to its customers. The purchase price was allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net tangible and identified intangible assets acquired by $9.8 million, which has been allocated to goodwill.

 

In fiscal 2002, the Company acquired a 20% equity interest in International Physician Networks (“IPN”), a physician education and management consulting company, for $5 million in cash, which was subject to adjustment contingent on the entity achieving defined earnings targets in calendar 2002. In fiscal 2003, the Company satisfied the residual contingent obligation for the initial 20% equity interest and acquired an additional 40% equity interest for an aggregate $24.7 million in cash. In fiscal 2004, the Company paid $39.0 million for the remaining 40% equity interest. The results of operations of IPN, less minority interest, have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements of operations for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

In June 2003, the Company acquired Anderson Packaging Inc. (“Anderson”), a leading provider of physician and retail contracted packaging services to pharmaceutical manufacturers, to expand the Company’s packaging capabilities. 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, as set forth in the acquisition agreement, with an aggregate market value of $55.6 million, which was calculated based on the Company’s closing stock price on the transaction measurement date. The Company paid the remaining purchase price, which was approximately $44.5 million, in cash. In fiscal 2004, the Company paid a final post-closing working capital adjustment of $0.3 million.

 

In January 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, to expand the Company’s manufacturer service offerings within the specialty pharmaceutical business. The total base purchase price was $160.2 million, which included the repayment of US Bio debt of $14.8 million and $1.5 million of transaction costs associated with the acquisition. The Company paid part of the base purchase price by issuing 2,399,091 shares of its common stock, as set forth in the acquisition agreement, with an aggregate market value of $131.0 million, which was calculated based on an average of the Company’s closing stock price on the two days before and the two days after the transaction measurement date. The Company paid the remaining $29.2 million of the base purchase price in cash. In fiscal 2003, a contingent payment of $2.5 million was paid in cash by the Company. The Company has satisfied its obligations to make payments under the agreement to acquire US Bio.

 

In January 2003, the Company acquired Bridge Medical, Inc. (“Bridge”), 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. The total base purchase price was $28.4 million, which included $0.7 million of transaction costs associated with the 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, which was calculated based on a 30-day average of the Company’s closing stock price for the period ending three days prior to the transaction closing date, as set forth in the acquisition agreement. The remaining base purchase price was paid with $5.5 million of cash. The acquisition agreement also provides for contingent payments of up to a maximum of $55 million based on Bridge achieving defined earnings targets through the end of calendar 2004. The Company intends to pay any contingent amounts that may become due primarily in shares of its common stock. At the closing of the acquisition, the Company issued an additional 401,780 shares of its common stock into an escrow account that may be used for the payment of contingent amounts, if any, that become due in the future. The Company will retire all unused shares, if any, remaining in the escrow account after the end of calendar 2004 upon the completion of the contingent payment determinations.

 

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The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price, including transaction costs, based on the fair values of the Imedex, MedSelect, IPN, Anderson, US Bio, and Bridge assets and liabilities at the effective dates of the respective acquisitions in (in thousands):

 

     Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Cash

   $ 2,137     $ 6,770  

Accounts receivable

     4,890       60,508  

Inventory

     1,504       17,448  

Property and equipment

     671       23,592  

Goodwill

     56,825       172,856  

Intangible assets

     8,990       72,622  

Deferred tax assets

     —         17,670  

Other assets

     951       2,899  

Current and other liabilities

     (11,136 )     (48,636 )
    


 


Fair value of net assets acquired

   $ 64,832     $ 325,729  
    


 


 

Intangible assets of $81.6 million consist of $31.2 million of trade names, which have indefinite lives and are not subject to amortization, $32.1 million of customer relationships, which are being amortized over a weighted average life of 12 years, $11.2 million of non-compete agreements, which are being amortized over a weighted average life of 4 years, $4.8 million of software, which is being amortized over a weighted average life of 3 years, and $2.3 million of patents, which are being amortized over a seven-year life. Deferred tax assets principally relate to net operating losses and research and development costs incurred by Bridge prior to the acquisition.

 

All of the goodwill associated with the aforementioned acquisitions was assigned to the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment. The goodwill associated with the US Bio and Bridge acquisitions of $109.2 million will not be deductible for income tax purposes.

 

In July 2002, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of AutoMed Technologies, Inc. (“AutoMed”), a leading provider of automated pharmacy dispensing equipment, for a cash payment of approximately $120 million, which included the repayment of AutoMed’s debt of approximately $52 million. The agreement and plan of merger provided for contingent payments, not to exceed $55 million, to be made based on AutoMed achieving defined earnings targets through the end of calendar 2004. The initial allocation of the purchase price was based on the estimated fair values of AutoMed’s assets and liabilities at the effective date of the acquisition and was allocated as follows: tangible assets of $22 million, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets of $110 million and liabilities of $12 million. Substantially all of the goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, which were assigned to the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, are tax deductible.

 

In June 2003, the Company amended the 2002 agreement under which it acquired AutoMed. Pursuant to the amendment, the former stockholders of AutoMed agreed to eliminate their right to receive up to $55 million in contingent payments based on AutoMed achieving defined earnings targets through the end of calendar 2004. In consideration thereof, the Company paid $9.8 million in July 2003 to the former stockholders of Automed under the amendment. This amount was recorded as additional purchase price and goodwill. The Company has satisfied its remaining obligations to make payments under the 2002 agreement to acquire AutoMed.

 

Had the aforementioned acquisitions been consummated at the beginning of the respective fiscal years, the Company’s consolidated total revenue, net income and diluted earnings per share for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 would not have been materially different from the reported amounts.

 

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Note 3. Income Taxes

 

The income tax provision is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Current provision:

                    

Federal

   $ 218,800    $ 138,323    $ 150,487

State and local

     24,299      19,418      30,766
    

  

  

       243,099      157,741      181,253
    

  

  

Deferred provision:

                    

Federal

     38,838      111,810      44,574

State and local

     10,046      15,347      1,279
    

  

  

       48,884      127,157      45,853
    

  

  

Provision for income taxes

   $ 291,983    $ 284,898    $ 227,106
    

  

  

 

A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective income tax rate is as follows:

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Statutory federal income tax rate

   35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %

State and local income tax rate, net of federal tax benefit

   3.2     3.2     3.6  

Other

   0.2     1.0     1.1  
    

 

 

Effective income tax rate

   38.4 %   39.2 %   39.7 %
    

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the future tax consequences of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax liabilities (assets) are as follows (in thousands):

 

     September 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Inventory

   $ 481,813     $ 461,989  

Property and equipment

     12,517       17,692  

Goodwill

     47,470       31,972  

Other

     6,708       23,029  
    


 


Gross deferred tax liabilities

     548,508       534,682  
    


 


Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards

     (54,104 )     (70,131 )

Capital loss carryforwards

     (1,723 )     (7,258 )

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (60,160 )     (70,526 )

Accrued expenses

     (31,834 )     (48,327 )

Employee and retiree benefits

     (28,339 )     (26,228 )

Other

     (47,122 )     (45,527 )
    


 


Gross deferred tax assets

     (223,282 )     (267,997 )

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

     41,862       49,597  
    


 


Deferred tax assets, after allowance

     (181,420 )     (218,400 )
    


 


Net deferred tax liability

   $ 367,088     $ 316,282  
    


 


 

In fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, tax benefits of $4.0 million, $14.4 million and $43.5 million, respectively, related to the exercise of employee stock options were recorded as additional paid-in capital.

 

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As of September 30, 2004, the Company had $41.6 million of potential tax benefits from federal net operating loss carryforwards expiring in 5 to 18 years, and $11.3 million of potential tax benefits from state operating loss carryforwards expiring in 1 to 20 years. As of September 30, 2004, the Company had $1.2 million of federal and state alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards, and $1.7 million of potential tax benefits from capital loss carryforwards expiring in 1 to 4 years.

 

In fiscal year 2004, the Company decreased the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets by $7.7 million primarily due to the expiration of capital loss carryforwards. In fiscal 2003, the Company increased the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets by $17.7 million due to the uncertainty of realizing several deferred tax assets acquired in connection with the US Bio and Bridge acquisitions. These increases were accounted for as components of the initial purchase price allocations in connection with the acquisitions. In total, $40.3 million of the remaining valuation allowance has been recorded as a component of goodwill. Under current accounting rules, any future reduction of this valuation allowance, due to the realization of the related deferred tax assets, will reduce goodwill.

 

Income tax payments, net of refunds, were $200.1 million, $118.4 million and $111.9 million in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Note 4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Following is a summary of the changes in the carrying value of goodwill, by reportable segment, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands):

 

     Pharmaceutical
Distribution


   PharMerica

   Total

Goodwill at September 30, 2002

   $ 1,936,203    $ 268,956    $ 2,205,159

Goodwill recognized in connection with the acquisition of Anderson, US Bio, Bridge and IPN

     172,856      —        172,856

Goodwill recognized in connection with the acquisition of other businesses

     12,698      —        12,698
    

  

  

Goodwill at September 30, 2003

     2,121,757      268,956      2,390,713

Goodwill recognized in connection with the acquisition of Imedex, MedSelect, and IPN

     56,410      —        56,410

Goodwill recognized in connection with the acquisition of other businesses

     1,152      —        1,152
    

  

  

Goodwill at September 30, 2004

   $ 2,179,319    $ 268,956    $ 2,448,275
    

  

  

 

Following is a summary of other intangible assets (in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2004

   September 30, 2003

     Gross
Carrying
Amount


   Accumulated
Amortization


    Net
Carrying
Amount


   Gross
Carrying
Amount


   Accumulated
Amortization


    Net
Carrying
Amount


Unamortized intangibles:

                                           

Trade names

   $ 257,652    $ —       $ 257,652    $ 256,732    $ —       $ 256,732

Amortized intangibles:

                                           

Customer lists and other

     89,852      (26,701 )     63,151      78,866      (15,038 )     63,828
    

  


 

  

  


 

Total other intangible assets

   $ 347,504    $ (26,701 )   $ 320,803    $ 335,598    $ (15,038 )   $ 320,560
    

  


 

  

  


 

 

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Amortization expense for other intangible assets was $11.7 million, $8.0 million and $2.9 million in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Amortization expense for other intangible assets is estimated to be $13.2 million in fiscal 2005, $12.5 million in fiscal 2006, $9.8 million in fiscal 2007, $5.6 million in fiscal 2008, $3.2 million in fiscal 2009, and $18.9 million thereafter.

 

Note 5. Debt

 

Debt consisted of the following:

 

     September 30,

Dollars in thousands


   2004

   2003

Term loan facility at 3.02% and 2.38%, respectively, due 2005 to 2006

   $ 180,000    $ 240,000

Revolving credit facility, due 2006

     —        —  

Blanco revolving credit facility at 3.34% and 3.27%, respectively, due 2005

     55,000      55,000

AmerisourceBergen securitization financing due 2006

     —        —  

Bergen 7 1/4% senior notes due 2005

     99,939      99,849

8 1/8% senior notes due 2008

     500,000      500,000

7 1/4% senior notes due 2012

     300,000      300,000

AmeriSource 5% convertible subordinated notes due 2007

     300,000      300,000

Bergen 6 7/8% exchangeable subordinated debentures due 2011

     —        8,425

Bergen 7.80% subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2039

     —        275,960

Other

     3,532      4,920
    

  

Total debt

     1,438,471      1,784,154

Less current portion

     281,360      61,430
    

  

Total, net of current portion

   $ 1,157,111    $ 1,722,724
    

  

 

Long-Term Debt

 

In August 2001, the Company entered into a senior secured credit agreement (the “Senior Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of lenders. The Senior Credit Agreement refinanced the senior secured credit agreements of AmeriSource and Bergen existing at the merger date. The Senior Credit Agreement consists of a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”) and a $300 million term loan facility (the “Term Facility”), both maturing in August 2006. The Term Facility has scheduled quarterly maturities, which began in December 2002, totaling $60 million in each of fiscal 2003 and 2004, $80 million in fiscal 2005 and $100 million in fiscal 2006. The Company paid the scheduled quarterly maturities of $60 million in fiscal 2004 and 2003. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Facility at September 30, 2004 and 2003. Interest on borrowings under the Senior Credit Agreement accrues at specified rates based on the Company’s debt ratings; such rates range from 1.0% to 2.5% over LIBOR or 0% to 1.5% over prime (1.25% over LIBOR or 0.25% over prime at September 30, 2004). Availability under the Revolving Facility is reduced by the amount of outstanding letters of credit ($63.4 million at September 30, 2004). The Company pays 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 (0.30% at September 30, 2004). The Company may choose to repay or reduce its commitments under the Senior Credit Agreement at any time. Substantially all of the Company’s assets, except for trade receivables, which are sold into the ABC securitization facility (described below), collateralize the Senior Credit Agreement.

 

In August 2004, the Senior Credit Agreement was amended to, among other things, increase the amount of common stock that the Company is permitted to repurchase by $500 million. Subsequently, in August 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of common stock up to an aggregate amount of $500 million, subject to market conditions.

 

Subsequent to September 30, 2004, the Company entered into a new senior unsecured credit facility (see Note 16), which replaced the Senior Credit Agreement.

 

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The Blanco revolving credit facility (“Blanco Facility”), held by the Company’s Puerto Rican subsidiary, is a $55 million bank revolving credit facility that expires in May 2005. The Blanco Facility is not classified in the current portion of long-term debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2004 because the Company has the ability and intent to refinance it on a long-term basis. Additionally, since borrowings under the Blanco Facility are secured by a standby letter of credit for which the Company incurs a fee of 1.625% under the Senior Credit Agreement, the Company is effectively financing this debt on a long-term basis through that arrangement. Borrowings under the facility, which were $55.0 million at September 30, 2004 and 2003, bear interest at 0.35% above LIBOR.

 

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 on May 15 and November 15 of each year. The Company used the net proceeds of the 7 1/4% Notes to repay $15.0 million of the Term Facility in December 2002, to repay $150.0 million in aggregate principal of the Bergen 7 3/8% senior notes in January 2003 and redeem the PharMerica 8 3/8% senior subordinated notes due 2008 (the “8 3/8% Notes”) at a redemption price equal to 104.19% of the $123.5 million principal amount in April 2003. The cost of the redemption premium of $5.2 million, less $1.0 million representing the unamortized premium on the 8 3/8% Notes, was 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 September 1, 2008 (the “8 1/8% Notes”). 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. Interest on the 8 1/8% Notes is payable on March 1 and September 1 of each year.

 

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.

 

In December 2000, AmeriSource issued $300 million of 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due December 1, 2007 (the “5% Notes”). The 5% Notes are convertible into common stock of the Company at $52.97 per share. The 5% Notes are convertible at any time before their maturity or their prior redemption or repurchase by the Company. On or after December 3, 2004, the Company has the option to redeem all or a portion of the 5% Notes that have not been previously converted. Subsequent to September 30, 2004, the Company announced it will redeem the 5% Notes (see Note 16). Interest on the 5% Notes is payable on June 1 and December 1 of each year. In connection with the issuance of the 5% Notes, the Company incurred approximately $9.4 million of costs, which were deferred and are being amortized over the term of the issue.

 

The indentures governing the 7 1/4% Notes, 8 1/8% Notes, the Senior Credit Agreement and the 5% Notes contain restrictions and covenants which include limitations on additional indebtedness; distributions and dividends to stockholders; the repurchase of stock and the making of other restricted payments; issuance of preferred stock; creation of certain liens; capital expenditures; transactions with subsidiaries and other affiliates; and certain corporate acts such as mergers, consolidations, and the sale of substantially all assets. Additional covenants require compliance with financial tests, including leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios, and maintenance of minimum tangible net worth.

 

In connection with the August 2001 merger with Bergen, the Company also assumed the following long-term debt:

 

  7 3/8% senior notes due January 15, 2003 (the “Bergen 7 3/8% Notes”);

 

  7 1/4% senior notes due June 1, 2005 (the “Bergen 7 1/4% Notes”);

 

  8 3/8% Notes;

 

  6 7/8% exchangeable subordinated debentures due July 15, 2011 (the “Bergen 6 7/8% Debentures”);

 

  Bergen receivables securitization financing due 2005 (described under “Receivables Securitization Financing” below); and

 

  Bergen 7.8% subordinated deferrable interest notes due 2039.

 

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The Bergen 7 3/8% Notes and the Bergen 7 1/4% Notes are unsecured and carry aggregate principal amounts of $150 million and $100 million, respectively, and are not redeemable prior to maturity, and are not entitled to any sinking fund. Interest is payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year for the Bergen 7 3/8% Notes and on June 1 and December 1 of each year for the Bergen 7 1/4% Notes. As discussed above, the Bergen 7 3/8% Notes were repaid in January 2003 and the Bergen 7 1/4% Notes will be repaid at maturity in fiscal 2005.

 

In connection with the purchase price allocation, the carrying values of the Bergen 7 3/8% Notes, Bergen 7 1/4% Notes and 8 3/8% Notes were adjusted to fair values based on quoted market prices on the date of the merger with Bergen. The difference between the fair values and the face amounts of the Bergen 7 3/8% Notes and the 8 3/8% Notes were being amortized as a net reduction of interest expense over the remaining terms of the borrowings prior to the respective repayment and redemption thereof. The difference between the fair value and the face amount of the Bergen 7 1/4% Notes is being amortized as a net reduction of interest expense over the remaining term.

 

The Company redeemed the Bergen 7.8% Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes due June 30, 2039 (“Subordinated Notes”) during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. The Subordinated Notes were redeemed at their face value of $300 million, which was greater than the $276.4 million book value immediately prior to the redemption. The book value of the Subordinated Notes was less then the $300 million face value because the book value was previously adjusted to fair market value at the time of the merger with Bergen. Therefore, the Company incurred a loss of $23.6 million in fiscal 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% Debentures at their carrying value of $8.4 million.

 

Receivables Securitization Financing

 

In fiscal 2003, the Company entered into a new $1.05 billion receivables securitization facility (“Securitization Facility”) and terminated the AmeriSource and Bergen securitization facilities. In connection with the Securitization Facility, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (“ABDC”) sells on a revolving basis certain accounts receivable to a wholly-owned special purpose entity (“ARFC”), 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 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. Under the terms of the Securitization Facility, a $550 million tranche has an expiration date of July 2006 (the three-year tranche) and a $500 million tranche expires in July 2005 (the 364-day tranche), which was renewed by the Company in July 2004. 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 of 75 basis points for the three-year tranche and 45 basis points for the 364-day tranche. The Company pays a commitment fee of 30 basis points and 25 basis points on any unused credit with respect to the three-year tranche and the 364-day tranche, respectively. The program and commitment fee rates will vary based on the Company’s debt ratings. Borrowings and payments under the Securitization Facility are applied on a pro-rata basis to the $550 million and $500 million tranches. In connection with entering into the Securitization Facility, the Company incurred approximately $2.4 million of costs, which were deferred and are being amortized over the life of the Securitization Facility. Subsequent to September 30, 2004, the Company amended its Securitization Facility (see Note 16). This 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” (“SFAS No. 140”).

 

The agreement governing the ABC Securitization Facility contains restrictions and covenants which include limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, making of certain restricted payments, issuance of preferred stock, creation of certain liens, and certain corporate acts such as mergers, consolidations and sale of substantially all assets.

 

The Company previously utilized the receivables securitization facilities initiated by AmeriSource (the “ARFC Securitization Facility”) and Bergen (the “Blue Hill Securitization Program”).

 

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The ARFC Securitization Facility previously provided a total borrowing capacity of $400 million. In connection with the ARFC Securitization Facility, ABDC sold on a revolving basis certain accounts receivable to ARFC, which in turn sold a percentage ownership interest in the receivables to a commercial paper conduit sponsored by a financial institution. ABDC was the servicer of the accounts receivable under the ARFC Securitization Facility. The ARFC Securitization Facility had an expiration date of May 2004, prior to its termination.

 

The Blue Hill Securitization Program previously provided a total borrowing capacity of $450 million. In connection with the Blue Hill Securitization Program, ABDC sold on a revolving basis certain accounts receivable to a 100%-owned special purpose entity (“Blue Hill”), which in turn sold a percentage ownership interest in the receivables to a commercial paper conduit sponsored by a financial institution. ABDC was the servicer of the accounts receivable under the Blue Hill Securitization Program. The Blue Hill Securitization Program had an expiration date of December 2005, prior to its termination.

 

Transactions under the ARFC Securitization Facility and the Blue Hill Securitization Program were accounted for as borrowings in accordance with SFAS No. 140.

 

Other Information

 

Scheduled future principal payments of long-term debt are $236.4 million in fiscal 2005, $100.7 million in fiscal 2006, $0.7 million in fiscal 2007, $800.7 million in fiscal 2008, $0.0 million in fiscal 2009 and $300.0 million thereafter.

 

Interest paid on the above indebtedness during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $111.0 million, $134.2 million and $137.9 million, respectively.

 

Total amortization of financing fees and expenses, as well as the premiums and discounts related to the adjustment of the carrying values of certain Bergen debt to fair value in connection with the merger, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $7.4 million, $7.4 million, and $5.4 million, respectively. These amounts are included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

Note 6. Stockholders’ Equity and Earnings per Share

 

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

The board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series with various designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions. Except as required by law, or as otherwise provided by the board of directors of the Company, the holders of Preferred Stock will have no voting rights and will not be entitled to notice of meetings of stockholders. Holders of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when declared by the board of directors, out of legally available funds, dividends at the rates fixed by the board of directors for the respective series of Preferred Stock, and no more, before any dividends will be declared and paid, or set apart for payment, on Common Stock with respect to the same dividend period. No shares of Preferred Stock have been issued as of September 30, 2004.

 

The holders of the Company’s Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and have the exclusive right to vote for the board of directors and for all other purposes as provided by law. Subject to the rights of holders of the Company’s Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably on a per share basis such dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Company as may be declared by the board of directors from time to time out of the legally available assets or funds of the Company. The Company has paid quarterly dividends of $0.025 per share on Common Stock since the first quarter of fiscal 2002.

 

In August 2004, the Company’s board of directors authorized the repurchase of Common Stock up to an aggregate amount of $500 million, subject to market conditions. As of September 30, 2004, the Company had acquired 2,761,500 treasury shares for a total of $144.8 million. (See Note 16).

 

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Basic earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the period plus the dilutive effect of stock options. Additionally, the calculations consider the 5% convertible subordinated notes (see Note 5) as if converted and, therefore, the after-tax effect of interest expense related to these notes is added back to net income in determining income available to common stockholders. The following table (in thousands) is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share.

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Net income

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

Interest expense - convertible subordinated notes, net of income taxes

     10,141      9,997      9,922
    

  

  

Income available to common stockholders

   $ 478,531    $ 451,226    $ 354,863
    

  

  

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

     111,617      109,513      104,935

Effect of dilutive securities:

                    

Options to purchase Common Stock

     498      777      1,629

Convertible subordinated notes

     5,664      5,664      5,664
    

  

  

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

     117,779      115,954      112,228
    

  

  

 

Note 7. Pension and Other Benefit Plans

 

The Company sponsors various retirement benefit plans, including defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans, postretirement medical plans and a deferred compensation plan covering eligible employees. The cost of these plans was $21.6 million in fiscal year 2004, $26.9 million in fiscal year 2003, and $22.3 million in fiscal year 2002. The Company uses a June 30 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

 

Defined Benefit Plans

 

The Company provides a benefit for the majority of its former AmeriSource employees under three different noncontributory defined benefit pension plans consisting of a salaried plan, a union plan and a supplemental executive retirement plan. For each employee, the benefits are based on years of service and average compensation. Pension costs, which are computed using the projected unit credit cost method, are funded to at least the minimum level required by government regulations. During fiscal 2002, the salaried and the supplemental executive retirement plans were closed to new participants and benefits that can be earned by active participants in the plan were limited. The above changes in the salaried plan and the supplemental executive retirement plan had the effect of reducing the projected benefit obligation as of September 30, 2002 by $12.7 million and increasing pension expense by $0.9 million in fiscal 2002.

 

The Company has an unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan for its former Bergen officers and key employees. This plan is a “target” benefit plan, with the annual lifetime benefit based upon a percentage of salary during the five final years of pay at age 62, offset by several other sources of income including benefits payable under a prior supplemental retirement plan. During fiscal 2002, the plan was closed to new participants and benefits that can be earned by active participants were limited.

 

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The following table sets forth (in thousands) a reconciliation of the changes in the Company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans:

 

     Fiscal year ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Change in Projected Benefit Obligations:

                

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 99,011     $ 79,078  

Service cost

     3,834       4,169  

Interest cost

     5,866       5,644  

Actuarial (gains) losses

     (2,786 )     14,356  

Benefit payments

     (6,939 )     (4,236 )
    


 


Benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 98,986     $ 99,011  
    


 


Change in Plan Assets:

                

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ 56,605     $ 51,584  

Actual return on plan assets

     6,115       2,855  

Employer contributions

     9,230       7,163  

Expenses

     (801 )     (761 )

Benefit payments

     (6,939 )     (4,236 )
    


 


Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ 64,210     $ 56,605  
    


 


Funded Status and Amounts Recognized:

                

Funded status

   $ (34,776 )   $ (42,406 )

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

     25,562       30,977  

Unrecognized prior service cost

     199       542  
    


 


Net amount recognized

   $ (9,015 )   $ (10,887 )
    


 


Amounts recognized in the balance sheets consist of:

                

Accrued benefit liability

   $ (31,322 )   $ (34,805 )

Intangible asset

     199       542  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     22,108       23,376  
    


 


Net amount recognized

   $ (9,015 )   $ (10,887 )
    


 


 

Weighted average assumptions used (as of the end of the fiscal year) in computing the benefit obligation were as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Discount rate

   6.25 %   6.00 %   7.00 %

Rate of increase in compensation levels

   4.00 %   4.00 %   5.50 %

Expected long-term rate of return on assets

   8.00 %   8.00 %   8.75 %

 

The expected rate of return for the plans represents the average rate of return to be earned on plan assets over the period the benefits included in the benefit obligation are to be paid.

 

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The following table provides components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans together with contributions charged to expense for multi-employer union-administered defined benefit pension plans that the Company participates in (in thousands):

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:

                        

Service cost

   $ 4,029     $ 4,735     $ 5,731  

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

     5,866       5,644       6,038  

Expected return on plan assets

     (5,102 )     (5,082 )     (5,390 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     132       150       361  

Recognized net actuarial loss

     1,738       722       755  

Loss due to curtailments and settlements

     696       —         —    

Loss due to amendments of plans

     —         —         864  
    


 


 


Net periodic pension cost of defined benefit pension plans

     7,359       6,169       8,359  

Net pension cost of multi-employer plans

     1,824       1,673       1,141  
    


 


 


Total pension expense

   $ 9,183     $ 7,842     $ 9,500  
    


 


 


 

Weighted average assumptions used (as of the beginning of the fiscal year) in computing the net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Discount rate

   6.00 %   7.00 %   7.50 %

Rate of increase in compensation levels

   4.00 %   5.50 %   5.75 %

Expected long-term rate of return on assets

   8.00 %   8.75 %   10.00 %

 

To determine the expected long-term rate of return on assets, the Company considered the current and expected asset allocations, as well as historical and expected returns on various categories of plan assets.

 

The Company has a Compensation and Succession Planning Committee (the “Committee”). The Committee is responsible for establishing the investment policy of any retirement plan, including the selection of acceptable asset classes, allowable ranges of holdings, the definition of acceptable securities within each class, and investment performance expectations. Additionally, the Committee has established rules for the rebalancing of assets between asset classes and among individual investment managers.

 

The investment portfolio contains a diversified portfolio of investment categories, including equities, fixed income securities and cash. Securities are also diversified in terms of domestic and international securities and large cap and small cap stocks. The actual and target asset allocations expressed as a percentage of the plans’ assets at the measurement date are as follows:

 

     Pension Benefits
Allocation


    Target Allocation

 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Asset Category:

                        

Equity securities

   51 %   51 %   50 %   50 %

Debt securities

   49     49     50     50  
    

 

 

 

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %   100 %
    

 

 

 

 

The investment goals are to achieve the optimal return possible within the specific risk parameters and, at a minimum, produce results which achieve the plans’ assumed interest rate for funding the plans over a full market cycle. High levels of risk and volatility are avoided by maintaining diversified portfolios. Allowable investments include government-backed fixed income securities, equity, and cash equivalents. Prohibited investments include unregistered or restricted stock, commodities, margin trading, options and futures, short-selling, venture capital, private placements, real estate and other high risk investments.

 

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As of September 30, 2004 and 2003, all of the Company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans had projected and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets that consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     2004

   2003

Accumulated benefit obligation

   $ 95,624    $ 90,062

Projected benefit obligation

     98,986      99,011

Plan assets at fair value

     64,210      56,605

 

Contributions to the pension plans during fiscal 2005 are expected to be the minimum required of $5.1 million. Expected benefit payments over the next ten years, which reflect expected future service, are anticipated to be paid as follows (in thousands):

 

     Pension Benefits

Fiscal Year:

      

2005

   $ 6,250

2006

     3,694

2007

     4,308

2008

     4,646

2009

     4,647

2010-2014

     27,857
    

Total

   $ 51,402
    

 

Expected benefit payments are based on the same assumptions used to measure the benefit obligations and include estimated future employee service.

 

The Company owns life insurance covering substantially all of the participants in the Bergen supplemental retirement plans. At September 30, 2004, the policies have an aggregate cash surrender value of approximately $35.6 million (which is included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet) and an aggregate death benefit of approximately $56.3 million.

 

Postretirement Benefit Plans

 

The Company provides medical benefits to certain retirees, principally former employees of Bergen. Employees became eligible for such postretirement benefits after meeting certain age and years of service criteria. During fiscal 2002, the plans were closed to new participants and benefits that can be earned by active participants were limited. As a result of special termination benefit packages previously offered, the Company also provides dental and life insurance benefits to a limited number of retirees and their dependents. These benefit plans are unfunded.

 

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The following table sets forth (in thousands) a reconciliation of the changes in the Company-sponsored postretirement benefit plans:

 

     Fiscal year ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Change in Accumulated Benefit Obligations:

                

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 20,561     $ 16,891  

Interest cost

     1,213       1,374  

Actuarial (gains) losses

     (4,194 )     4,127  

Benefit payments

     (1,525 )     (1,831 )
    


 


Benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 16,055     $ 20,561  
    


 


Change in Plan Assets:

                

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ —       $ —    

Employer contributions

     1,525       1,831  

Benefit payments

     (1,525 )     (1,831 )
    


 


Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ —       $ —    
    


 


Funded Status and Amounts Recognized:

                

Funded status

   $ (16,055 )   $ (20,561 )

Unrecognized net actuarial (gain) loss

     (479 )     3,853  
    


 


Net amount recognized

   $ (16,534 )   $ (16,708 )
    


 


Amounts recognized in the balance sheets consist of:

                

Accrued benefit liability

   $ (16,534 )   $ (16,708 )
    


 


 

Weighted average assumptions used (as of the end of the fiscal year) in computing the funded status of the plans were as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

 

Discount rate

   6.25 %   6 %

Health care trend rate assumed for next year

   11.5 %   13 %

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline

   5 %   5 %

Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate

   2014     2014  

 

Assumed health care trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects (in thousands):

 

     One Percentage Point

 
     Increase

   Decrease

 

Effect on total service and interest cost components

   $ 75    $ (64 )

Effect on benefit obligation

     1,211      (1,039 )

 

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The following table provides components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company-sponsored postretirement benefit plans (in thousands):

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,

 
     2004

   2003

    2002

 

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:

                       

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

   $ 1,213    $ 1,374     $ 1,306  

Amortization of prior service cost

     —        133       —    

Recognized net actuarial loss

     139      (28 )     (17 )
    

  


 


Total postretirement benefit expense

   $ 1,352    $ 1,479     $ 1,289  
    

  


 


 

Weighted average assumptions used (as of the beginning of the fiscal year) in computing the net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Discount rate

   6 %   7 %   7.25 %

Health care trend rate assumed for next year

   13 %   11 %   11 %

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline

   5 %   5 %   5 %

Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate

   2014     2015     2014  

 

Expected postretirement benefit payments over the next ten years are anticipated to be paid as follows (in thousands):

 

     Postretirement
Benefits


Fiscal Year:

      

2005

   $ 1,657

2006

     1,915

2007

     2,275

2008

     2,079

2009

     1,858

2010-2014

     6,792
    

Total

   $ 16,576
    

 

Defined Contribution Plans

 

The Company sponsors the AmerisourceBergen Employee Investment Plan, as amended and restated July 1, 2002, which is a defined contribution 401(k) plan covering salaried and certain hourly employees. Eligible participants may contribute to the plan from 2% to 18% of their regular compensation before taxes. The Company contributes $1.00 for each $1.00 invested by the participant up to the participant’s investment of 3% of salary, and $0.50 for each additional $1.00 invested by the participant up to the participant’s investment of an additional 2% of salary. An additional discretionary contribution, in an amount not to exceed the limits established by the Internal Revenue Code, may also be made depending upon the Company’s performance. All contributions are invested at the direction of the employee in one or more funds. All contributions vest immediately except for the discretionary contributions made by the Company that vest in full after five years of credited service.

 

PharMerica sponsors the PharMerica, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, which is a defined contribution 401(k) plan, that is generally available to its employees with 90 days of service and excludes those employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement. Eligible participants may contribute 1% to 50% of their pretax compensation (1% to 15% prior to January 1, 2004). PharMerica contributes $1.00 for each $1.00 invested by the participant up to the first 3% of the participant’s contribution and $0.50 for each additional $1.00 invested by the participant of an additional 2% of salary. The employee and employer contributions, collectively, may not exceed limits established by the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions are invested at the direction of the employee in one or more investment funds. All contributions vest immediately.

 

Costs of the defined contribution plans charged to expense for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 amounted to $10.3 million, $15.9 million and $10.9 million, respectively.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

The Company also sponsors the AmerisourceBergen Corporation 2001 Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated November 1, 2002. This unfunded plan, under which 740,000 shares of Common Stock are authorized for issuance, allows eligible officers, directors and key management employees to defer a portion of their annual compensation. The amount deferred may be allocated by the employee to cash, mutual funds or stock credits. Stock credits, including dividend equivalents, are equal to the full and fractional number of shares of Common Stock that could be purchased with the participant’s compensation allocated to stock credits based on the average of closing prices of Common Stock during each month, plus, at the

 

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discretion of the board of directors, up to one-half of a share of Common Stock for each full share credited. Stock credit distributions are made in shares of Common Stock. No shares of Common Stock have been issued under the deferred compensation plan at September 30, 2004.

 

Note 8. Stock Compensation Plans

 

Stock Option Plans

 

In accordance with SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” the Company elected to account for stock-based compensation under APB No. 25 and its related interpretations. Under APB 25, generally, when the exercise price of the Company’s employee stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recognized.

 

The Company currently has seven employee stock option plans that provide for the granting of incentive and nonqualified stock options to acquire shares of Common Stock to employees at a price not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. Option terms and vesting periods are determined at the date of grant by a committee of the board of directors. Options generally vest over four years and expire in ten years. The Company also has six non-employee director stock option plans that provide for the granting of nonqualified stock options to acquire shares of Common Stock to non-employee directors at the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant. Vesting periods for the non-employee director plans range from immediate vesting to three years and options expire in ten years.

 

At September 30, 2004, there were outstanding options to purchase 9.4 million shares of Common Stock under the aforementioned plans. Options for an additional 2.8 million shares may be granted under one of the employee stock option plans and options for an additional 0.2 million shares may be granted under one of the non-employee director stock option plans.

 

All outstanding stock options granted prior to February 15, 2001 under the above plans became fully vested in August 2001, and generally became exercisable in August 2002. As a result of the accelerated vesting of stock options, the Company recorded a charge of $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $2.1 million in fiscal 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. The fiscal 2004 and 2003 charges were classified as distribution, selling and administrative in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and the fiscal 2002 charge was classified as merger costs (see Note 10) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

Effective September 1, 2004, the Company vested all employee options then outstanding with an exercise price in excess of $54.10. In connection with APB No. 25, the Company did not incur a charge related to this accelerated vesting because the exercise price of all the accelerated options was greater than the market price of the underlying Common Stock of $54.10.

 

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for its option plans for the fiscal years ended September 30 follows:

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

     Options
(000’s)


    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


   Options
(000’s)


    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


   Options
(000’s)


    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


Outstanding at beginning of year

   8,255     $ 56    7,801     $ 53    8,756     $ 42

Acquired in merger

   —         —      —         —      240       47

Granted

   2,405       58    2,430       56    2,173       70

Exercised

   (433 )     35    (1,385 )     33    (3,046 )     33

Forfeited

   (825 )     62    (591 )     67    (322 )     63
    

        

        

     

Outstanding at end of year

   9,402     $ 57    8,255     $ 56    7,801     $ 53
    

        

        

     

Exercisable at end of year

   9,249     $ 57    3,616     $ 49    4,002     $ 40
    

        

        

     

 

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A summary of the status of options outstanding at September 30, 2004 follows:

 

     Outstanding Options

   Exercisable Options

Exercise Price Range


   Number
(000’s)


   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life


   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


   Number
(000’s)


   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


$12 - $ 30

   634    4 years    $ 22    634    $ 22

$31 - $ 50

   851    6 years      41    849      41

$51 - $ 60

   4,671    9 years      56    4,532      56

$61 - $ 70

   1,489    7 years      65    1,477      65

$71 - $ 103

   1,757    7 years      71    1,757      71
    
              
      

Total

   9,402    8 years    $ 57    9,249    $ 57
    
              
      

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

In February 2002, the stockholders approved the adoption of the AmerisourceBergen 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, under which up to an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock may be sold to eligible employees (generally defined as employees with at least 30 days of service with the Company). Under this plan, the participants may elect to have the Company withhold up to 25% of base salary to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a price equal to 85% of the fair market value of the stock on the first or last business day of each six-month purchase period, whichever is lower. Each participant is limited to $25,000 of purchases during each calendar year. The initial purchase period began on July 1, 2002. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, the Company acquired 115,281 shares and 104,365 shares, respectively, from the open market for issuance to participants in this plan. As of September 30, 2004, the Company has withheld $1.7 million from eligible employees for the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock.

 

Note 9. Leases and Other Commitments

 

At September 30, 2004, future minimum payments totaling $197.2 million under noncancelable operating leases with remaining terms of more than one fiscal year were due as follows: 2005 - $58.2 million; 2006 - $46.8 million; 2007 - $32.3 million; 2008 - $23.0 million; 2009 - $15.1 million; and thereafter - $21.8 million. In the normal course of business, operating leases are generally renewed or replaced by other leases. Certain operating leases include escalation clauses. Total rental expense was $64.2 million in fiscal 2004, $61.7 million in fiscal 2003 and $59.7 million in fiscal 2002.

 

In September 2004, the Company entered into a sale-leaseback agreement with a financial institution relating to certain equipment located at one of the Company’s new distribution facilities. The net book value of the equipment, totaling $15.1 million was sold for $15.6 million. The Company deferred the $0.5 million gain, which will be amortized as a reduction of lease expense over the seven-year operating lease term.

 

The Company has an agreement with a supplier 2007. The agreement includes a commitment 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.

 

Note 10. Facility Consolidations and Employee Severance and Merger Costs

 

Facility Consolidations and Employee Severance

 

In 2001, the Company developed integration plans to consolidate its distribution network and eliminate duplicative administrative functions. The Company’s plan, as revised, is to have a distribution facility network consisting of less than 30

 

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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.

 

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. 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. At September 30, 2003, 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, 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 as a result of the fiscal 2004 initiatives. 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.

 

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.

 

The following table displays the activity in accrued expenses and other from September 30, 2002 to September 30, 2004 related to the integration plans discussed above (in thousands):

 

     Employee
Severance


    Lease Cancellation
Costs and Other


    Total

 

Balance as of September 30, 2002

   $ 8,156     $ 955     $ 9,111  

Expense recorded

     10,318       1,112       11,430  

Payments made

     (11,785 )     (1,986 )     (13,771 )

Employee severance reduction

     (1,754 )     —         (1,754 )
    


 


 


Balance as of September 30, 2003

     4,935       81       5,016  

Expense recorded

     6,324       1,193       7,517  

Payments made

     (8,275 )     (1,206 )     (9,481 )
    


 


 


Balance as of September 30, 2004

   $ 2,984     $ 68     $ 3,052  
    


 


 


 

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Merger Costs

 

In connection with its acquisition of Bergen, the Company expensed merger-related costs of $24.2 million in fiscal 2002. The following table summarizes the major components of the merger-related costs included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002 (in thousands):

 

Consulting fees

   $ 16,551

Accelerated stock option vesting

     2,149

Employee compensation and travel

     3,675

Other

     1,869
    

     $ 24,244
    

 

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.

 

Note 11. Legal Matters and Contingencies

 

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 require 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.

 

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.

 

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 where 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

 

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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.

 

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

 

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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 order to contest the OIG claims before an HHS administrative law judge.

 

Note 12. Antitrust Litigation Settlement

 

In April 2004, the Company received a cash settlement from a supplier relating to an antitrust litigation matter and recognized a gain of $38.0 million, net of attorney fees and payments due to other parties. This gain was recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004.

 

Note 13. Business Segment Information

 

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.

 

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’s wholesale drug distribution business is currently organized into five regions across the United States. Unlike its more centralized competitors, ABDC is structured as an organization of locally managed profit centers. ABDC’s 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.

 

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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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.

 

The following tables present segment information for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

 

     Revenue

 

Fiscal year ended September 30,


   2004

    2003

    2002

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 48,171,178     $ 44,731,200     $ 39,539,858  

PharMerica

     1,575,255       1,608,203       1,475,028  

Intersegment eliminations

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


 


 


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  
    


 


 


 

Management evaluates segment performance based on revenues excluding bulk deliveries to customer warehouses. For further information regarding the nature of bulk deliveries, which only occur in the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, see Note 1. Intersegment eliminations represent the elimination of the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s sales to PharMerica. ABDC is the principal supplier of pharmaceuticals to PharMerica.

 

     Operating Income

 

Fiscal year ended September 30,


   2004

    2003

    2002

 

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 738,100     $ 788,193     $ 659,208  

PharMerica

     121,846       103,843       83,464  

Facility consolidations and employee severance and merger costs

     (7,517 )     (8,930 )     (24,244 )

Gain on litigation settlement

     38,005       —         —    
    


 


 


Total 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  
    


 


 


 

Segment operating income is evaluated before other income (loss), interest expense, loss on early retirement of debt, facility consolidations and employee severance, merger costs and gain on litigation settlement. All corporate office expenses are allocated to the two reportable segments.

 

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Table of Contents
     Identifiable Assets

At September 30,


   2004

   2003

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 11,093,798    $ 11,464,459

PharMerica

     560,205      575,666
    

  

Total assets

   $ 11,654,003    $ 12,040,125
    

  

 

     Depreciation & Amortization

Fiscal year ended September 30,


   2004

   2003

   2002

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 60,699    $ 53,398    $ 44,321

PharMerica

     15,067      17,593      16,830
    

  

  

Total depreciation and amortization

   $ 75,766    $ 70,991    $ 61,151
    

  

  

 

Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets, but excludes amortization of deferred financing costs and other debt-related items, which is included in interest expense.

 

     Capital Expenditures

Fiscal year ended September 30,


   2004

   2003

   2002

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 174,004    $ 70,207    $ 44,071

PharMerica

     15,274      20,347      20,088
    

  

  

Total capital expenditures

   $ 189,278    $ 90,554    $ 64,159
    

  

  

 

Note 14. Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The recorded amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable at September 30, 2004 and 2003 approximate fair value. The fair values of the Company’s debt instruments are estimated based on market prices. The recorded amount of debt (see Note 5) and the corresponding fair value as of September 30, 2004 were $1,438,471 and $1,539,846 respectively. The recorded amount of debt (see Note 5) and the corresponding fair value as of September 30, 2003 were $1,784,154 and $1,904,385, respectively.

 

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Note 15. Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)                         
     Fiscal year ended September 30, 2004

    

First

Quarter


   Second
Quarter


  

Third

Quarter


   Fourth
Quarter


  

Fiscal

Year


Operating revenue (a)

   $ 12,265,679    $ 12,344,654    $ 12,114,996    $ 12,145,286    $ 48,870,615

Bulk deliveries to customer warehouses

     1,089,434      1,018,919      956,598      1,243,388      4,308,339
    

  

  

  

  

Total revenue

     13,355,113      13,363,573      13,071,594      13,388,674      53,178,954

Gross profit (b)

     527,174      582,448      575,729      493,831      2,179,182

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization

     315,145      321,884      324,139      320,063      1,281,231

Facility consolidations and employee severance
(see Note 10)

     1,553      2,216      1,550      2,198      7,517
    

  

  

  

  

Operating income

     210,476      258,348      250,040      171,570      890,434

Loss on early retirement of debt

     —        —        23,592      —        23,592

Net income

     108,474      142,152      125,775      91,989      468,390

Earnings per share - basic

     .97      1.27      1.12      .83      4.20

Earnings per share - diluted

     .94      1.23      1.09      .81      4.06

(a) During the third quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company changed its accounting policy for customer sales returns, and, as a result, operating revenue and cost of goods sold were reduced by $320.4 million.

 

(b) The third quarter of fiscal 2004 includes a $38.0 million gain from an antitrust litigation settlement.

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)                          
     Fiscal year ended September 30, 2003

    

First

Quarter


    Second
Quarter


  

Third

Quarter


   Fourth
Quarter


  

Fiscal

Year


Operating revenue

   $ 11,106,905     $ 11,213,959    $ 11,482,571    $ 11,733,254    $ 45,536,689

Bulk deliveries to customer warehouses

     1,327,628       948,582      938,100      906,329      4,120,639
    


 

  

  

  

Total revenue

     12,434,533       12,162,541      12,420,671      12,639,583      49,657,328

Gross profit

     521,425       581,189      560,379      584,166      2,247,159

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization

     334,951       340,632      328,293      351,247      1,355,123

Facility consolidations and employee severance
(see Note 10)

     (1,381 )     4,005      3,880      2,426      8,930
    


 

  

  

  

Operating income

     187,855       236,552      228,206      230,493      883,106

Loss on early retirement of debt

     —         —        4,220      —        4,220

Net income

     92,739       116,414      112,546      119,530      441,229

Earnings per share - basic

     .87       1.06      1.02      1.07      4.03

Earnings per share - diluted

     .84       1.03      .99      1.04      3.89

 

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Table of Contents

Note 16. Subsequent Events

 

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 (see Note 5). 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.

 

On December 2, 2004, the Company amended its Receivables Securitization Facility (see Note 5). 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. 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.

 

On December 2, 2004, the Company announced that it will redeem its 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes (see Note 5) 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.

 

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.

 

Subsequent to September 30, 2004, the Company purchased an additional 4.8 million treasury shares under its existing $500 million authorization, as discussed in Note 6, for a total cost of $253.2 million.

 

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Table of Contents

Note 17. Selected Consolidating Financial Statements of Parent, Guarantors and Non-Guarantors

 

The Company’s 8 1/8% Notes, 7 ¼% Notes and 5% Notes each are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries (the subsidiaries of the Company that are guarantors of either the 8 1/8% Notes, 7 ¼% Notes and/or the 5% Notes being referred to collectively as the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”). The total assets, stockholders’ equity, revenues, earnings and cash flows from operating activities of the Guarantor Subsidiaries of the 8 1/8% Notes, 7 ¼% Notes and 5% Notes, respectively, each exceeded a majority of the consolidated total of such items as of or for the periods reported. The only consolidated subsidiaries of the Company that are not guarantors of either the 8 1/8% Notes, the 7 ¼% Notes and/or the 5% Notes (the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”) are: (a) the receivables securitization special purpose entity described in Note 5 and (b) certain operating subsidiaries, all of which, collectively, are minor. The following tables present condensed consolidating financial statements including AmerisourceBergen Corporation (the “Parent”), the Guarantor Subsidiaries, and the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries. Such financial statements include balance sheets as of September 30, 2004 and 2003 and the related statements of operations and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2004.

 

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS:

 

     September 30, 2004

(in thousands)


   Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated
Total


Current assets:

                                     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 754,745     $ 82,174    $ 34,424     $ —       $ 871,343

Accounts receivable, net

     672       347,159      1,913,142       —         2,260,973

Merchandise inventories

     —         5,095,322      40,508       —         5,135,830

Prepaid expenses and other

     223       26,177      843       —         27,243
    


 

  


 


 

Total current assets

     755,640       5,550,832      1,988,917       —         8,295,389

Property and equipment, net

     —         464,608      656       —         465,264

Goodwill

     —         2,445,138      3,137       —         2,448,275

Intangibles, deferred charges and other

     19,334       422,933      2,808       —         445,075

Intercompany investments and advance

     4,327,150       1,443,187      (1,742,577 )     (4,027,760 )     —  
    


 

  


 


 

Total assets

   $ 5,102,124     $ 10,326,698    $ 252,941     $ (4,027,760 )   $ 11,654,003
    


 

  


 


 

Current liabilities:

                                     

Accounts payable

   $ —       $ 4,922,021    $ 25,016     $ —       $ 4,947,037

Accrued expenses and other

     (168,609 )     677,066      5,273       —         513,730

Current portion of long-term debt

     279,939       1,421      —         —         281,360

Deferred income taxes

     —         363,057      (1,276 )     —         361,781
    


 

  


 


 

Total current liabilities

     111,330       5,963,565      29,013       —         6,103,908

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     1,000,061       102,050      55,000       —         1,157,111

Other liabilities

     —         53,939      —         —         53,939

Stockholders’ equity

     3,990,733       4,207,144      168,928       (4,027,760 )     4,339,045
    


 

  


 


 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 5,102,124     $ 10,326,698    $ 252,941     $ (4,027,760 )   $ 11,654,003
    


 

  


 


 

 

74


Table of Contents
     September 30, 2003

(in thousands)


   Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated
Total


Current assets:

                                     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 572,908     $ 169,323    $ 57,805     $ —       $ 800,036

Accounts receivable, net

     —         220,649      2,074,788       —         2,295,437

Merchandise inventories

     —         5,685,521      48,316       —         5,733,837

Prepaid expenses and other

     200       27,850      1,158       —         29,208
    


 

  


 


 

Total current assets

     573,108       6,103,343      2,182,067       —         8,858,518

Property and equipment, net

     —         352,322      848       —         353,170

Goodwill

     —         2,372,060      18,653       —         2,390,713

Intangibles, deferred charges and other

     25,247       396,497      15,980               437,724

Intercompany investments and advances

     4,286,127       1,700,034      (1,986,534 )     (3,999,627 )     —  
    


 

  


 


 

Total assets

   $ 4,884,482     $ 10,924,256    $ 231,014     $ (3,999,627 )   $ 12,040,125
    


 

  


 


 

Current liabilities:

                                     

Accounts payable

   $ —       $ 5,388,587    $ 5,182     $ —       $ 5,393,769

Accrued expenses and other

     (116,653 )     594,424      6,114       —         483,885

Current portion of long-term debt

     60,000       1,430      —         —         61,430

Deferred income taxes

     —         318,294      (1,276 )     —         317,018
    


 

  


 


 

Total current liabilities

     (56,653 )     6,302,735      10,020       —         6,256,102

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     1,280,000       387,724      55,000               1,722,724

Other liabilities

     —         52,861      3,121       —         55,982

Stockholders’ equity

     3,661,135       4,180,936      162,873       (3,999,627 )     4,005,317
    


 

  


 


 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 4,884,482     $ 10,924,256    $ 231,014     $ (3,999,627 )   $ 12,040,125
    


 

  


 


 

 

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS:

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30, 2004

 

(in thousands)


   Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated
Total


 

Operating revenue

   $ —       $ 48,523,078     $ 347,537     $ —       $ 48,870,615  

Bulk deliveries to customer warehouses

     —         4,308,305       34       —         4,308,339  
    


 


 


 


 


Total revenue

     —         52,831,383       347,571       —         53,178,954  

Cost of goods sold

     —         50,682,939       316,833       —         50,999,772  
    


 


 


 


 


Gross profit

     —         2,148,444       30,738       —         2,179,182  

Operating expenses:

                                        

Distribution, selling and administrative

     —         1,299,491       (94,026 )     —         1,205,465  

Depreciation

     —         63,734       369       —         64,103  

Amortization

     —         11,127       536       —         11,663  

Facility consolidations and employee severance costs

     —         7,517       —         —         7,517  
    


 


 


 


 


Operating income

     —         766,575       123,859       —         890,434  

Other income

     —         (6,236 )     —         —         (6,236 )

Interest (income) expense

     (39,560 )     119,174       33,091       —         112,705  

Loss on early retirement of debt

     —         23,592       —         —         23,592  
    


 


 


 


 


Income before taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     39,560       630,045       90,768       —         760,373  

Income taxes

     15,190       241,938       34,855       —         291,983  

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     444,020       —         —         (444,020 )     —    
    


 


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 468,390     $ 388,107     $ 55,913     $ (444,020 )   $ 468,390  
    


 


 


 


 


 

75


Table of Contents
     Fiscal year ended September 30, 2003

(in thousands)


   Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated
Total


Operating revenue

   $ —       $ 45,268,417    $ 268,272     $ —       $ 45,536,689

Bulk deliveries to customer warehouses

     —         4,120,605      34       —         4,120,639
    


 

  


 


 

Total revenue

     —         49,389,022      268,306       —         49,657,328

Cost of goods sold

     —         47,168,325      241,844       —         47,410,169
    


 

  


 


 

Gross profit

     —         2,220,697      26,462       —         2,247,159

Operating expenses:

                                     

Distribution, selling and administrative

     —         1,340,599      (56,467 )     —         1,284,132

Depreciation

     —         62,591      358       —         62,949

Amortization

     —         7,195      847       —         8,042

Facility consolidations and employee severance costs

     —         8,930      —         —         8,930
    


 

  


 


 

Operating income

     —         801,382      81,724       —         883,106

Other loss

     —         6,542      1,473       —         8,015

Interest (income) expense

     (125,772 )     239,382      31,134       —         144,744

Loss on early retirement of debt

     —         4,220      —         —         4,220
    


 

  


 


 

Income before taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     125,772       551,238      49,117       —         726,127

Income taxes

     49,342       216,380      19,176       —         284,898

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     364,799       —        —         (364,799 )     —  
    


 

  


 


 

Net income

   $ 441,229     $ 334,858    $ 29,941     $ (364,799 )   $ 441,229
    


 

  


 


 

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30, 2002

(in thousands)


   Parent

   Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated
Total


Operating revenue

   $ —      $ 39,996,479    $ 244,235     $ —       $ 40,240,714

Bulk deliveries to customer warehouses

     —        4,994,051      29       —         4,994,080
    

  

  


 


 

Total revenue

     —        44,990,530      244,264       —         45,234,794

Cost of goods sold

     —        42,988,377      221,943       —         43,210,320
    

  

  


 


 

Gross profit

     —        2,002,153      22,321       —         2,024,474

Operating expenses:

                                    

Distribution, selling and administrative

     —        1,272,121      (51,470 )     —         1,220,651

Depreciation

     —        57,896      354       —         58,250

Amortization

     —        2,848      53       —         2,901

Merger costs

     —        24,244      —         —         24,244
    

  

  


 


 

Operating income

     —        645,044      73,384       —         718,428

Other loss

     —        5,647      —         —         5,647

Interest expense

     —        98,208      42,526       —         140,734
    

  

  


 


 

Income before taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     —        541,189      30,858       —         572,047

Income taxes

     —        215,789      11,317       —         227,106

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

     344,941      —        —         (344,941 )     —  
    

  

  


 


 

Net income

   $ 344,941    $ 325,400    $ 19,541     $ (344,941 )   $ 344,941
    

  

  


 


 

 

76


Table of Contents

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS:

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30, 2004

 

(in thousands)


   Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated
Total


 

Net income

   $ 468,390     $ 388,107     $ 55,913     $ (444,020 )   $ 468,390  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

     (438,948 )     164,257       187,362       444,020       356,691  
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     29,442       552,364       243,275       —         825,081  
    


 


 


 


 


Capital expenditures

     —         (189,278 )     —         —         (189,278 )

Cost of acquired companies, net of cash acquired

     —         (68,882 )     —         —         (68,882 )

Other

     —         15,938       —         —         15,938  
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (242,222 )     —         —         (242,222 )
    


 


 


 


 


Long-term debt repayments

     (60,000 )     (308,425 )     —         —         (368,425 )

Purchase of treasury stock

     (144,756 )             —         —         (144,756 )

Deferred financing costs and other

     —         (1,376 )     (14 )     —         (1,390 )

Exercise of stock options

     15,151       —         —         —         15,151  

Cash dividends on Common Stock

     (11,197 )     —         —         —         (11,197 )

Common Stock purchases for employee stock purchase plan

     (935 )     —         —         —         (935 )

Intercompany investments and advances

     354,132       (87,490 )     (266,642 )     —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     152,395       (397,291 )     (266,656 )     —         (511,552 )
    


 


 


 


 


Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     181,837       (87,149 )     (23,381 )     —         71,307  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     572,908       169,323       57,805       —         800,036  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 754,745     $ 82,174     $ 34,424     $ —       $ 871,343  
    


 


 


 


 


 

77


Table of Contents
     Fiscal year ended September 30, 2003

 

(in thousands)


   Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated
Total


 

Net income

   $ 441,229     $ 334,858     $ 29,941     $ (364,799 )   $ 441,229  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (420,085 )     81,318       (112,446 )     364,799       (86,414 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     21,144       416,176       (82,505 )     —         354,815  
    


 


 


 


 


Capital expenditures

     —         (90,362 )     (192 )     —         (90,554 )

Cost of acquired companies, net of cash acquired

     —         (91,690 )     (20,291 )     —         (111,981 )

Other

     —         726       —         —         726  
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (181,326 )     (20,483 )     —         (201,809 )
    


 


 


 


 


Long-term debt borrowings

     300,000       —         —         —         300,000  

Long-term debt repayments

     (60,000 )     (278,989 )     —         —         (338,989 )

Deferred financing costs and other

     (5,658 )     807       (2,431 )     —         (7,282 )

Exercise of stock options

     42,564       —         —         —         42,564  

Cash dividends on Common Stock

     (10,995 )     —         —         —         (10,995 )

Common Stock purchases for employee stock purchase plan

     (1,608 )     —         —         —         (1,608 )

Intercompany investments and advances

     (128,541 )     40,597       87,944       —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     135,762       (237,585 )     85,513       —         (16,310 )
    


 


 


 


 


Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     156,906       (2,735 )     (17,475 )     —         136,696  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     416,002       172,058       75,280       —         663,340  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 572,908     $ 169,323     $ 57,805     $ —       $ 800,036  
    


 


 


 


 


 

     Fiscal year ended September 30, 2002

 

(in thousands)


   Parent

    Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Eliminations

    Consolidated
Total


 

Net income

   $ 344,941     $ 325,400     $ 19,541     $ (344,941 )   $ 344,941  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (406,273 )     386,869       (134,552 )     344,941       190,985  
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (61,332 )     712,269       (115,011 )     —         535,926  
    


 


 


 


 


Capital expenditures

     —         (64,107 )     (52 )     —         (64,159 )

Cost of acquired companies, net of cash acquired

     —         (131,752 )     (4,471 )     —         (136,223 )

Other

     —         (2,432 )     —         —         (2,432 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (198,291 )     (4,523 )     —         (202,814 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net repayments under revolving credit and securitization facilities

     —         —         (37,000 )     —         (37,000 )

Long-term debt repayments

     —         (23,119 )     —         —         (23,119 )

Deferred financing costs and other

     (1,046 )     2,793       (35 )     —         1,712  

Exercise of stock options

     101,509       —         —         —         101,509  

Cash dividends on Common Stock

     (10,500 )     —         —         —         (10,500 )

Intercompany investments and advances

     387,310       (518,691 )     131,381       —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     477,273       (539,017 )     94,346       —         32,602  
    


 


 


 


 


Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     415,941       (25,039 )     (25,188 )     —         365,714  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     61       197,097       100,468       —         297,626  
    


 


 


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 416,002     $ 172,058     $ 75,280     $ —       $ 663,340  
    


 


 


 


 


 

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Table of Contents
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are intended to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. These controls and procedures also are intended to ensure that information required to be disclosed in such reports is accumulated and communicated to management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, with the participation of other members of the Company’s management, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a – 15(e) and 15d – 15(e) under the Exchange Act) and have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective for their intended purposes as of the end of the period covered by this report. There were no changes during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2004 in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, those controls.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Information appearing in the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement for the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2005 Proxy Statement”) including information under “Election of Directors,” “Codes of Ethics,” “Audit Matters,” and “Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,” is incorporated herein by reference. The Company will file the 2005 Proxy Statement with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.

 

Information with respect to Executive Officers of the Company appears in Part I of this report.

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for Designated Senior Officers that applies to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller. A copy of this Code of Ethics is filed as an exhibit to this report.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Information contained in the 2005 Proxy Statement, including information appearing under “Compensation Matters,” and “Stock Performance Graph” in the 2005 Proxy Statement, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Information contained in the 2005 Proxy Statement, including information appearing under “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the 2005 Proxy Statement, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Information contained in the 2005 Proxy Statement, including information appearing under “Agreements with Employees” and “Certain Transactions” in the 2005 Proxy Statement, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Information contained in the 2005 Proxy Statement, including information appearing under “Audit Matters” in the 2005 Proxy Statement, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a) (1) and (2) List of Financial Statements and Schedules.

 

Financial Statements: The following consolidated financial statements are submitted in response to Item 15(a)(1):

    
     Page

Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   40

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2004 and 2003

   41

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002

   43

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002

   44

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002

   45

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   46

Financial Statement Schedule: The following financial statement schedule is submitted in response to Item 15(a)(2):

    

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

   S-1

 

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.

 

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Table of Contents
(a) (3) List of Exhibits.*

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description


2    Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 16, 2001 by and among AABB Corporation, AmeriSource Health Corporation, Bergen Brunswig Corporation, A-Sub Acquisition Corp. and B-Sub Acquisition Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement No. 333-71942 on Form S-4, dated October 19, 2001).
3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of AmerisourceBergen Corporation (incorporated by reference to Annex J to the joint proxy statement-prospectus forming a part of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A, Registration No. 333-61440, filed July 5, 2001).
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of AmerisourceBergen Corporation (incorporated by reference to Annex K to the joint proxy statement-prospectus forming a part of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A (Registration No. 333-61440) filed July 5, 2001).
4.1    Indenture, dated as of December 12, 2000, among AmeriSource Health Corporation, as Issuer, AmeriSource Corporation, as Guarantor, and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee for the 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due December 15, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of AmeriSource Health Corporation for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2000).
4.2    Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 6, 2000, among AmeriSource Health Corporation, the Purchasers, and AmeriSource Corporation, as Guarantor for the 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due December 15, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.17 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of AmeriSource Health Corporation for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2000).
4.3    Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 12, 2000, among AmeriSource Health Corporation, as Issuer, AmeriSource Corporation, as Guarantor, and the Purchasers for the 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due December 15, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of AmeriSource Health Corporation for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2000).
4.4    Indenture dated as of August 16, 2001 governing 8 1/8% Senior Notes due 2008 among the Registrant, certain of the Registrant’s subsidiaries signatories thereto and Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-71942 filed October 19, 2001).
4.5    Form of 8 1/8% Senior Note due 2008 (included in Exhibit 4.1) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-71942 filed October 19, 2001).
4.6    Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 14, 2001, by and among the Registrant, the Subsidiaries Guarantors Named Therein, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Bank of America Securities LLC and JP Morgan Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-71942 filed October 19, 2001).
4.7    Pledge and Escrow Agreement, dated August 14, 2001, by and among the Registrant, the Subsidiaries Guarantors Named Therein, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Bank of America Securities LLC and JP Morgan Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-71942 filed October 19, 2001).
4.8    Indenture for Senior Debt Securities and Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities, both dated as of May 14, 1999, between Bergen Brunswig Corporation and Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 4.5 and 4.6 to Registration Statement No. 333-74349 on Form S-3/A of Bergen Brunswig Corporation dated May 14, 1999).

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description


4.9    Senior Indenture for $400,000,000 of Debt Securities dated as of December 1, 1992 between Bergen Brunswig Corporation and Chemical Trust Company of California as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement No. 33-55136 on Form S-3 of Bergen Brunswig Corporation dated December 1, 1992).
4.10    Credit Agreement dated as of August 29, 2001 among the Registrant and the Chase Manhattan Bank and various other financial institutions (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001).
4.11    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 29, 2001, among AmeriSource Health Corporation, as issuer, AmeriSource Corporation, as guarantor, AmerisourceBergen Corporation and Bank One Trust Company, N.A. as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3/A, Registration No. 333-68278, filed September 7, 2001).
4.12    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 27, 2001, among AmeriSource Health Corporation, as issuer, AmeriSource Corporation, as guarantor, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, the Additional Subsidiary Guarantors signatories thereto and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, related to AmeriSource’s 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002).
4.13    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2002, among AmeriSource Health Corporation, as issuer, AmeriSource Corporation, as guarantor, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, the Additional Subsidiary Guarantors signatories thereto and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, related to AmeriSource’s 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.30 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002).
4.14    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2002, between AmeriSource Health Corporation (successor to Bergen Brunswig Corporation) and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (f/k/a Chemical Trust Company of California), as trustee, related to Bergen’s 7 3/8% Senior Notes due 2003 and 7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.31 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002).
4.15    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2002, between AmeriSource Health Corporation (successor to Bergen Brunswig Corporation) and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (f/k/a Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust Company), as trustee, related to Bergen’s 7 4/5% Subordinated Debt Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.32 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002).
4.16    Indenture, dated as of November 18, 2002, among the Registrant, certain of the Registrant’s subsidiaries signatories thereto and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, related to the Registrant’s 7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.33 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002).
4.17    Form of 7 1/4% Senior Note due 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.34 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002).
4.18    Purchase Agreement, dated November 12, 2002, by and among the Registrant, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.35 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002).
4.19    Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 18, 2002, by and among the Registrant, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.36 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002).

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description


4.20    Amendment and Waiver, dated as of November 25, 2002, to the Credit Agreement dated as of August 29, 2001 among the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank (f/k/a The Chase Manhattan Bank) and various other financial institutions (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.20 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
4.21    Second Amendment, dated as of July 8, 2003, to the Credit Agreement dated as of August 29, 2001 among the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank (f/k/a The Chase Manhattan Bank) and various other financial institutions (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
4.22    Receivables Sale Agreement between AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, as Originator, and AmeriSource Receivables Financial Corporation, as Buyer, dated as of July 10, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
4.23    Receivables Purchase Agreement among AmeriSource Receivables Financial Corporation, as Seller, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, as Initial Servicer, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrator and various purchase groups, dated as of July 10, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.23 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
4.24    Performance Undertaking, dated July 10, 2003, executed by AmerisourceBergen Corporation, as Performance Guarantor, in favor of Amerisource Receivables Financial Corporation, as Recipient (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.24 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
4.25    Intercreditor Agreement, dated July 10, 2003, executed by Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrator under the Receivables Purchase Agreement and JPMorgan Chase Bank (f/k/a The Chase Manhattan Bank), as administrative agent under the Credit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.25 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
4.26    Grant of Registration Rights by the Registrant to US Bioservices Corporation stockholders, dated December 13, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-102090, filed December 20, 2002).
4.27    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 21, 2003, by and among the Registrant, the stockholders of Anderson Packaging, Inc. and John R. Anderson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-105743, filed May 30, 2003).
4.28    Third Amendment dated as of August 4, 2004 to the Credit Agreement dated as of August 29, 2001 among the Company and JP Morgan Chase Bank and various other financial institutions (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004).
4.29    First Amendment dated as of December 12, 2003 to the Receivables Purchase Agreement among AmeriSource Receivables Financial Corporation, as Seller, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, as Initial Servicer, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrator and various purchase groups, dated as of July 10, 2003.
4.30    Second Amendment dated as of July 8, 2004 to the Receivables Purchase Agreement among AmeriSource Receivables Financial Corporation, as Seller, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, as Initial Servicer, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrator and various purchase groups, dated as of July 10, 2003.
‡10.1    Registrant’s 2001 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated November 10, 2004.
‡10.2    AmeriSource Master Pension Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 of AmeriSource Health Corporation, Registration No. 33-27835, filed March 29, 1989).
‡10.3    AmeriSource 1988 Supplemental Retirement Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of AmeriSource Health Corporation, Registration No. 33-27835, filed March 29, 1989).
‡10.4    AmeriSource Health Corporation’s 1995 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-2 dated April 3, 1995, Registration No. 33- 57513).

 

84


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Exhibit
Number


  

Description


‡10.5    AmeriSource Health Corporation 1996 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix C to Proxy Statement of AmeriSource Health Corporation dated January 15, 1997 for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on February 11, 1997).
‡10.6    AmeriSource Health Corporation 1996 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix D to Proxy Statement of AmeriSource Health Corporation dated January 15, 1997 for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on February 11, 1997).
‡10.7    1996 Amendment to the AmeriSource Health Corporation 1995 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to AmeriSource Health Corporation’s Proxy Statement dated January 15, 1997 for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on February 11, 1997).
‡10.8    AmeriSource Health Corporation 1999 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix C to Proxy Statement of AmeriSource Health Corporation dated February 5, 1999 for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on March 3, 1999).
‡10.9    AmeriSource Health Corporation 1999 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to Proxy Statement of AmeriSource Health Corporation dated February 5, 1999 for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on March 3, 1999).
‡10.10    AmeriSource Health Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of AmeriSource Health Corporation, filed May 4, 2001).
‡10.11    AmeriSource Health Corporation 2001 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of AmeriSource Health Corporation, filed May 4, 2001).
  10.12    Rights Agreement, dated as of August 27, 2001, between AmerisourceBergen Corporation and Mellon Investor Service LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed August 29, 2001).
‡10.13    Bergen Brunswig Corporation Fourth Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as of February 13, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Bergen Brunswig Corporation for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2001).
‡10.14    Bergen Brunswig Corporation 1999 Management Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex F to Registration Statement No. 333-7445 of Form S-4 of Bergen Brunswig Corporation dated March 16, 1999).
‡10.15    Bergen Brunswig Corporation 1999 Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex G to Registration Statement No. 333-7445 of Form S-4 of Bergen Brunswig Corporation dated March 16, 1999).
‡10.16    Form of the Bergen Brunswig Amended and Restated Capital Accumulation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registration Statement No. 333-631 on Form S-3 of Bergen Brunswig Corporation and Amendment No. 1 thereto relating to a shelf offering of $400 million in securities filed February 1, 1996 and March 19, 1996, respectively).

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description


‡10.17    Amendment No. 1 to the Bergen Brunswig Amended and Restated Capital Accumulation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(m) to Annual Report on Form 10-K of Bergen Brunswig Corporation for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996).
‡10.18    Form of Bergen Brunswig Corporation Officers’ Employment Agreement and Schedule (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(q) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for Bergen Brunswig Corporation for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1994).
‡10.19    Form of Bergen Brunswig Corporation Officers’ Severance Agreement and Schedule (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(r) to Annual Report on Form 10-K for Bergen Brunswig Corporation for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1994).
‡10.20    Registrant’s 2002 Management Stock Incentive Plan dated as of April 24, 2002, as amended and restated effective August 10, 2004.
‡10.21    Registrant’s 2001 Restricted Stock Plan dated as of September 11, 2001, as amended and restated effective July 30, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
  10.22    Registrant’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan dated as of January 18, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to Registrant’s Proxy Statement dated January 22, 2002 for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on February 27, 2002).
‡10.23    Bergen Brunswig Corporation 1999 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex E to Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus dated March 16, 1999 of Bergen Brunswig Corporation).
‡10.24    AmerisourceBergen Corporation 2001 Deferred Compensation Plan as amended and restated as of November 1, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-101042, filed November 6, 2002).
‡10.25    Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2003, between AmerisourceBergen Corporation and R. David Yost (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
‡10.26    Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2003, between AmerisourceBergen Corporation and Kurt J. Hilzinger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
‡10.27    Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2003, between AmerisourceBergen Corporation and Michael D. DiCandilo (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
‡10.28    Employment Agreement, effective October 1, 2003, between AmerisourceBergen Corporation and Terrance P. Haas (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
‡10.29    Letter Agreement dated July 27, 2001 among AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Bergen Brunswig Corporation and Steven H. Collis, amending form of Bergen Brunswig Corporation Officers’ Employment Agreement and Severance Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
‡10.30    Employment Agreement, effective February 19, 2004, between AmerisourceBergen Corporation and Steven H. Collis (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2004).
14    AmerisourceBergen Corporation Code of Ethics for Designated Senior Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003).
21    Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
31.1    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description


31.2    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
32.1    Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
32.2    Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.

* Copies of the exhibits will be furnished to any security holder of the Registrant upon payment of the reasonable cost of reproduction.
Each marked exhibit is a management contract or a compensatory plan, contract or arrangement in which a director or executive officer of the Registrant participates or has participated.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

             AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION

Date: December 10, 2004

      By:   

/s/ R. David Yost


             R. David Yost
            

Chief Executive Officer and

Director

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below as of December 10, 2004 by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/ R. David Yost


R. David Yost

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Michael D. DiCandilo


Michael D. DiCandilo

   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ Kurt J. Hilzinger


Kurt J. Hilzinger

   President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

/s/ Tim G. Guttman


Tim G. Guttman

   Vice President, Corporate Controller

/s/ James R. Mellor


James R. Mellor

   Director and Chairman

/s/ Rodney H. Brady


Rodney H. Brady

   Director

/s/ Charles H. Cotros


Charles H. Cotros

   Director

/s/ Richard C. Gozon


Richard C. Gozon

   Director

/s/ Edward E. Hagenlocker


Edward E. Hagenlocker

   Director

/s/ Jane E. Henney, M.D.


Jane E. Henney, M.D.

   Director

/s/ Henry W. McGee


Henry W. McGee

   Director

/s/ J. Lawrence Wilson


J. Lawrence Wilson

   Director

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

 

(in thousands)                            
          Additions

           

Description


   Balance at
Beginning
of Period


   Charged to
Costs and
Expenses(1)


    Charged
to Other
Accounts


    Deductions-
Describe(3)


    Balance at
End of
Period


Year Ended September 30, 2004

                                     

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 191,744    $ (10,279 )   $ 50 (2)   $ (33,951 )   $ 147,564
    

  


 


 


 

Year Ended September 30, 2003

                                     

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 181,432    $ 46,012     $ 5,193 (2)   $ (40,893 )   $ 191,744
    

  


 


 


 

Year Ended September 30, 2002

                                     

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 188,586    $ 65,664     $ 147     $ (72,965 )   $ 181,432
    

  


 


 


 


(1) Represents the provision for doubtful receivables.

 

(2) Represents the aggregate allowances of acquired entities at the respective acquisition dates.

 

(3) Represents accounts written off during year, net of recoveries.

 

S-1