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EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - HENRY SCHEIN INCFinancial_Report.xls
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
X          QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 27, 2014
or
__         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
Commission File Number:   0-27078

 HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
11-3136595
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
 

135 Duryea Road
Melville, New York
(Address of principal executive offices)
11747
(Zip Code)

(631) 843-5500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
Yes X
 
No  __

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer X
 
 
Accelerated filer __
Non-accelerated filer  __
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company  __
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
Yes __
 
No  X

As of October 29, 2014, there were 84,214,715 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEX
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
42
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 5.    Other Information  42 
       
 
43
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
44


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
           
   
September 27,
   
December 28,
   
2014
   
2013
   
(unaudited)
     
ASSETS
         
Current assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 76,542     $ 188,616
Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $78,779 and $78,298
    1,179,171       1,055,216
Inventories, net
    1,283,698       1,250,403
Deferred income taxes
    69,472       63,865
Prepaid expenses and other
    319,354       276,565
Total current assets
    2,928,237       2,834,665
Property and equipment, net
    303,157       275,888
Goodwill
    1,886,281       1,635,005
Other intangibles, net
    654,070       417,133
Investments and other
    358,886       461,945
Total assets
  $ 6,130,631     $ 5,624,636
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
Current liabilities:
             
Accounts payable
  $ 822,068     $ 824,495
Bank credit lines
    188,815       29,508
Current maturities of long-term debt
    5,782       5,441
Accrued expenses:
             
Payroll and related
    204,776       216,629
Taxes
    171,870       145,161
Other
    312,523       329,429
Total current liabilities
    1,705,834       1,550,663
Long-term debt
    630,806       450,233
Deferred income taxes
    264,684       198,674
Other liabilities
    158,736       139,526
Total liabilities
    2,760,060       2,339,096
               
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
    549,432       497,539
Commitments and contingencies
             
               
Stockholders' equity:
             
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized,
             
none outstanding
    -       -
Common stock, $.01 par value, 240,000,000 shares authorized,
             
84,459,689 outstanding on September 27, 2014 and
             
85,622,452 outstanding on December 28, 2013
    845       856
Additional paid-in capital
    269,918       318,225
Retained earnings
    2,564,882       2,398,267
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (17,291 )     67,849
Total Henry Schein, Inc. stockholders' equity
    2,818,354       2,785,197
Noncontrolling interests
    2,785       2,804
Total stockholders' equity
    2,821,139       2,788,001
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity
  $ 6,130,631     $ 5,624,636

See accompanying notes.
 
3


 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
September 27,
   
September 28,
   
September 27,
   
September 28,
 
 
 
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net sales
  $ 2,623,729     $ 2,348,956     $ 7,669,294     $ 7,034,277  
Cost of sales
    1,902,063       1,709,309       5,522,443       5,077,783  
Gross profit
    721,666       639,647       2,146,851       1,956,494  
Operating expenses:
                               
Selling, general and administrative
    547,578       479,170       1,634,651       1,466,323  
Operating income
    174,088       160,477       512,200       490,171  
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    3,452       3,236       10,323       9,744  
Interest expense
    (6,280 )     (5,051 )     (17,208 )     (22,668 )
Other, net
    (484 )     1,263       4,128       859  
Income before taxes and equity in earnings
                               
of affiliates
    170,776       159,925       509,443       478,106  
Income taxes
    (51,302 )     (34,660 )     (156,247 )     (135,287 )
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    4,762       3,642       8,285       6,209  
Loss on sale of equity investment
    -       (12,535 )     -       (12,535 )
Net income
    124,236       116,372       361,481       336,493  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (9,460 )     (8,994 )     (28,370 )     (29,207 )
Net income attributable to Henry Schein, Inc.
  $ 114,776     $ 107,378     $ 333,111     $ 307,286  
 
                               
Earnings per share attributable to Henry Schein, Inc.:
                               
 
                               
Basic
  $ 1.36     $ 1.25     $ 3.94     $ 3.56  
Diluted
  $ 1.34     $ 1.23     $ 3.88     $ 3.49  
 
                               
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    84,095       85,646       84,506       86,208  
Diluted
    85,450       87,404       85,918       87,967  

See accompanying notes.
 
4


 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
(in thousands)
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
September 27,
   
September 28,
   
September 27,
   
September 28,
 
 
 
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net income
  $ 124,236     $ 116,372     $ 361,481     $ 336,493  
 
                               
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
                               
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)
    (99,445 )     53,820       (84,825 )     (1,882 )
 
                               
Unrealized loss from foreign currency hedging
                               
activities
    (138 )     (1,172 )     (1,858 )     (538 )
 
                               
Unrealized investment gain (loss)
    142       (10 )     180       (93 )
 
                               
Pension adjustment gain (loss)
    973       (517 )     1,490       490  
 
                               
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    (98,468 )     52,121       (85,013 )     (2,023 )
Comprehensive income
    25,768       168,493       276,468       334,470  
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling
                               
  interests:
                               
Net income
    (9,460 )     (8,994 )     (28,370 )     (29,207 )
Foreign currency translation loss (gain)
    2,474       (2,235 )     (127 )     319  
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling
                               
  interests
    (6,986 )     (11,229 )     (28,497 )     (28,888 )
 
                               
Comprehensive income attributable to Henry Schein, Inc.
  $ 18,782     $ 157,264     $ 247,971     $ 305,582  

See accompanying notes.
 
5


 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
                           
Accumulated
             
   
Common Stock
   
Additional
         
Other
         
Total
 
   
$.01 Par Value
   
Paid-in
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
Noncontrolling
   
Stockholders'
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Income (Loss)
   
Interests
   
Equity
 
Balance, December 28, 2013
  85,622,452     $ 856     $ 318,225     $ 2,398,267     $ 67,849     $ 2,804     $ 2,788,001  
Net income (excluding $27,946 attributable to Redeemable
                                                     
noncontrolling interests)
  -       -       -       333,111       -       424       333,535  
Foreign currency translation loss (excluding gain of
                                                     
$137 attributable to Redeemable noncontrolling interests)
  -       -       -       -       (84,952 )     (10 )     (84,962 )
Unrealized loss from foreign currency hedging activities,
                                                     
including tax benefit of $215
  -       -       -       -       (1,858 )     -       (1,858 )
Unrealized investment gain, net of tax of $115
  -       -       -       -       180       -       180  
Pension adjustment gain, net of tax of $370
  -       -       -       -       1,490       -       1,490  
Dividends paid
  -       -       -       -       -       (443 )     (443 )
Initial noncontrolling interests and adjustments related to
                                                     
business acquisitions
  -       -       (1,074 )     -       -       10       (1,064 )
Change in fair value of redeemable securities
  -       -       (30,253 )     -       -       -       (30,253 )
Repurchase and retirement of common stock
  (1,933,779 )     (19 )     (59,767 )     (166,496 )     -       -       (226,282 )
Stock issued upon exercise of stock options,
                                                     
including tax benefit of $8,390
  498,820       5       32,500       -       -       -       32,505  
Stock-based compensation expense
  458,924       5       33,247       -       -       -       33,252  
Shares withheld for payroll taxes
  (186,728 )     (2 )     (22,557 )     -       -       -       (22,559 )
Liability for cash settlement stock-based compensation awards
  -       -       (403 )     -       -       -       (403 )
                                                       
Balance, September 27, 2014
  84,459,689     $ 845     $ 269,918     $ 2,564,882     $ (17,291 )   $ 2,785     $ 2,821,139  

See accompanying notes.
 
6


 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(in thousands)
 
(unaudited)
 
             
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 27,
   
September 28,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 361,481     $ 336,493  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
               
operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    112,668       96,081  
Accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs
    -       6,203  
Loss on sale of equity investment
    -       12,535  
Stock-based compensation expense
    33,252       24,695  
Provision for losses on trade and other accounts receivable
    2,689       3,477  
Benefit from deferred income taxes
    (2,840 )     (12,799 )
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    (8,285 )     (6,209 )
Distributions from equity affiliates
    10,304       9,286  
Other
    22,204       14,156  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
Accounts receivable
    (108,338 )     (93,451 )
Inventories
    2,447       76,877  
Other current assets
    (41,928 )     11,123  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (65,169 )     (88,920 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    318,485       389,547  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of fixed assets
    (60,782 )     (38,733 )
Payments for equity investments and business
               
acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (364,110 )     (34,514 )
Payments related to sale of equity investment
    -       (13,364 )
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities
    2,000       -  
Other
    (10,668 )     (7,147 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (433,560 )     (93,758 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from (repayments of) bank borrowings
    158,284       (11,550 )
Proceeds from issuance of debt
    314,787       678,781  
Debt issuance costs
    (562 )     (1,327 )
Principal payments for long-term debt
    (136,044 )     (793,863 )
Proceeds from issuance of stock upon exercise of stock options
    24,115       22,636  
Payments for repurchases of common stock
    (226,282 )     (226,478 )
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation
    5,375       6,496  
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders
    (22,800 )     (18,049 )
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
    (105,383 )     (5,886 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    11,490       (349,240 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (8,489 )     1,286  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (112,074 )     (52,165 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    188,616       122,080  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 76,542     $ 69,915  

See accompanying notes.
 
7

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 1Basis of Presentation

Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts, as well as those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries.  Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated results of operations and financial position for the interim periods presented.  All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  The results of operations for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or for the year ending December 27, 2014.

Note 2Segment Data

We conduct our business through two reportable segments: health care distribution and technology and value-added services.  These segments offer different products and services to the same customer base.  The health care distribution reportable segment aggregates our global dental, animal health and medical operating segments.  This segment consists of consumable products, small equipment, laboratory products, large equipment, equipment repair services, branded and generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products and vitamins.

Our global dental group serves office-based dental practitioners, dental laboratories, schools and other institutions.  Our global animal health group serves animal health practices and clinics.  Our global medical group serves office-based medical practitioners, ambulatory surgery centers, other alternate-care settings and other institutions.  Our global dental, animal health and medical groups serve practitioners in 28 countries worldwide.

Our global technology and value-added services group provides software, technology and other value-added services to health care practitioners.  Our technology group offerings include practice management software systems for dental and medical practitioners and animal health clinics.  Our value-added practice solutions include financial services on a non-recourse basis, e-services, continuing education services for practitioners and other services.
 
 
8

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 2Segment Data – (Continued)

The following tables present information about our reportable and operating segments:

         
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
         
September 27,
 
September 28,
 
September 27,
 
September 28,
 
         
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
Net Sales:
                 
 
Health care distribution (1):
                 
   
Dental
  $ 1,298,352   $ 1,183,201   $ 3,963,761   $ 3,633,577  
   
Animal health
    757,952     642,289     2,166,989     1,947,728  
   
Medical
    480,302     444,533     1,280,973     1,221,282  
     
Total health care distribution
    2,536,606     2,270,023     7,411,723     6,802,587  
 
Technology and value-added services (2)
    87,123     78,933     257,571     231,690  
   
Total
  $ 2,623,729   $ 2,348,956   $ 7,669,294   $ 7,034,277  
                                 
                                 
(1)   
Consists of consumable products, small equipment, laboratory products, large equipment, equipment repair services, branded and
 
   
generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products and vitamins.
 
                                 
(2)   
Consists of practice management software and other value-added products, which are distributed primarily to health care providers, and
 
   
financial services on a non-recourse basis, e-services, continuing education services for practitioners and other services.
 
                                 
         
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
         
September 27,
 
September 28,
 
September 27,
 
September 28,
 
          2014    2013    2014    2013   
Operating Income:
                         
     
Health care distribution
  $ 148,773   $ 139,949   $ 436,170   $ 429,091  
     
Technology and value-added services
    25,315     20,528     76,030     61,080  
     
Total
  $ 174,088   $ 160,477   $ 512,200   $ 490,171  

Note 3 – Debt

Bank Credit Lines

On September 12, 2012, we entered into a new $500 million revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a $200 million expansion feature, which originally expired on September 12, 2017.  On September 22, 2014, we extended the expiration date of the Credit Agreement to September 22, 2019.  The interest rate is based on USD LIBOR plus a spread based on our leverage ratio at the end of each financial reporting quarter.  The Credit Agreement provides, among other things, that we are required to maintain maximum leverage ratios, and contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative covenants.  The Credit Agreement also contains customary negative covenants, subject to negotiated exceptions on liens, indebtedness, significant corporate changes (including mergers), dispositions and certain restrictive agreements.  There was no balance outstanding under this revolving credit facility as of September 27, 2014.  As of September 27, 2014, there were $10.1 million of letters of credit provided to third parties under the credit facility.

As of September 27, 2014, we had various other short-term bank credit lines available, of which $188.8 million was outstanding.  At September 27, 2014, borrowings under all of our credit lines had a weighted average interest rate of 1.21%.  In July 2014, we extended credit lines with various financial institutions for an additional year.

 
9

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 3 – Debt – (Continued)

Private Placement Facilities

On August 10, 2010, we entered into $400 million private placement facilities with two insurance companies.  On April 30, 2012, we increased our available credit facilities by $375 million by entering into a new agreement with one insurance company and amending our existing agreements with two insurance companies.  On September 22, 2014, we increased our available private placement facilities by $200 million to a total facility amount of $975 million, and extended the expiration date to September 22, 2017.  These facilities are available on an uncommitted basis at fixed rate economic terms to be agreed upon at the time of issuance, from time to time during a three year issuance period.  The facilities allow us to issue senior promissory notes to the lenders at a fixed rate based on an agreed upon spread over applicable treasury notes at the time of issuance.  The term of each possible issuance will be selected by us and can range from five to 15 years (with an average life no longer than 12 years).  The proceeds of any issuances under the facilities will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures, to refinance existing indebtedness and/or to fund potential acquisitions.  The agreements provide, among other things, that we maintain certain maximum leverage ratios, and contain restrictions relating to subsidiary indebtedness, liens, affiliate transactions, disposal of assets and certain changes in ownership.  These facilities contain make-whole provisions in the event that we pay off the facilities prior to the applicable due dates.

The components of our private placement facility borrowings as of September 27, 2014 are presented in the following table:

 
 
Amount of
 
 
   
 
 
 
Borrowing
 
Borrowing
 
 
Date of Borrowing
 
Outstanding
 
Rate
 
Due Date
September 2, 2010
  $ 100,000   3.79 %  
September 2, 2020
January 20, 2012
    50,000   3.45    
January 20, 2024
January 20, 2012 (1)
    50,000   3.09    
January 20, 2022
December 24, 2012
    50,000   3.00    
December 24, 2024
June 2, 2014
    100,000   3.19    
June 2, 2021
 
  $ 350,000        
 
 
             
 
 
             
 
(1) Annual repayments of approximately $7.1 million for this borrowing will commence on January 20, 2016.

U.S. Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization

On April 17, 2013, we entered into a facility agreement of up to $300 million with a bank, as agent, based on the securitization of our U.S. trade accounts receivable.  The new facility allowed us to replace public debt (approximately $220 million), which had a higher interest rate at Henry Schein Animal Health (“HSAH”) during February 2013 and provided funding for working capital and general corporate purposes.  The financing was structured as an asset-backed securitization program with pricing committed for up to three years.  On September 22, 2014, we extended the expiration date of this facility agreement to April 15, 2017.  The borrowings outstanding under this securitization facility were $240.0 million as of September 27, 2014.  At September 27, 2014, the interest rate on borrowings under this facility was based on the average asset-backed commercial paper rate of 19 basis points plus 75 basis points, for a combined rate of 0.94%.

We are required to pay a commitment fee of 30 basis points on the daily balance of the unused portion of the facility if our usage is greater than or equal to 50% of the facility limit or a commitment fee of 35 basis points on the daily balance of the unused portion of the facility if our usage is less than 50% of the facility limit.

 
10

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 3 – Debt – (Continued)

Borrowings under this facility are presented as a component of Long-term debt within our consolidated balance sheet.

Henry Schein Animal Health

During February 2013, we repaid the then outstanding debt related to the HSAH (formerly Butler Schein Animal Health) transaction using our existing Credit Agreement.  As part of this transaction, we recorded a one-time interest expense charge of $6.2 million related to the accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs.

Long-term debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

 
 
September 27,
   
December 28,
 
 
 
2014
   
2013
 
Private placement facilities
  $ 350,000     $ 250,000  
U.S. trade accounts receivable securitization
    240,000       160,000  
Notes payable to banks at a weighted-average interest rate of 8.38%
    41       73  
Various collateralized and uncollateralized loans payable with interest,
               
in varying installments through 2018 at interest rates ranging
               
from 2.15% to 5.41%
    43,701       44,091  
Capital lease obligations payable through 2018 with interest rates
               
ranging from 2.00% to 13.00%
    2,846       1,510  
Total
    636,588       455,674  
Less current maturities
    (5,782 )     (5,441 )
Total long-term debt
  $ 630,806     $ 450,233  
 
 
11

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 4 – Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Some minority shareholders in certain of our subsidiaries have the right, at certain times, to require us to acquire their ownership interest in those entities at fair value.  Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480-10 is applicable for noncontrolling interests where we are or may be required to purchase all or a portion of the outstanding interest in a consolidated subsidiary from the noncontrolling interest holder under the terms of a put option contained in contractual agreements.  The components of the change in the Redeemable noncontrolling interests for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and the year ended December 28, 2013 are presented in the following table:

   
September 27,
   
December 28,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 497,539     $ 435,175  
Decrease in redeemable noncontrolling interests due to
               
redemptions
    (105,383 )     (9,028 )
Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interests due to business
               
acquisitions
    120,874       11,542  
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests
    27,946       39,430  
Dividends declared
    (21,934 )     (19,965 )
Effect of foreign currency translation gain (loss) attributable to
               
redeemable noncontrolling interests
    137       (654 )
Change in fair value of redeemable securities
    30,253       41,039  
Balance, end of period
  $ 549,432     $ 497,539  

Changes in the estimated redemption amounts of the noncontrolling interests subject to put options are adjusted at each reporting period with a corresponding adjustment to Additional paid-in capital.  Future reductions in the carrying amounts are subject to a “floor” amount that is equal to the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests at the time they were originally recorded.  The recorded value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests cannot go below the floor level.  These adjustments do not impact the calculation of earnings per share.

 
12

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 5 – Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income includes certain gains and losses that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net income as such amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to stockholders’ equity.  Our comprehensive income is primarily comprised of net income, foreign currency translation gain (loss), unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency hedging activities, unrealized investment gain (loss) and pension adjustment gain (loss).

The following table summarizes our Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes as of:

   
September 27,
   
December 28,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Attributable to Redeemable noncontrolling interests:
           
Foreign currency translation adjustment
  $ (1,366 )   $ (1,503 )
                 
Attributable to noncontrolling interests:
               
Foreign currency translation adjustment
  $ (10 )   $ -  
                 
Attributable to Henry Schein, Inc.:
               
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)
  $ (2,664 )   $ 82,288  
Unrealized gain (loss) from foreign currency hedging activities
    (576 )     1,282  
Unrealized investment loss
    (335 )     (515 )
Pension adjustment loss
    (13,716 )     (15,206 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
  $ (17,291 )   $ 67,849  
                 
Total Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
  $ (18,667 )   $ 66,346  
 
The following table summarizes the components of comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 27,
   
September 28,
   
September 27,
   
September 28,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Net income
  $ 124,236     $ 116,372     $ 361,481     $ 336,493  
                                 
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)
    (99,445 )     53,820       (84,825 )     (1,882 )
Tax effect
    -       -       -       -  
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)
    (99,445 )     53,820       (84,825 )     (1,882 )
                                 
Unrealized loss from foreign currency hedging
                               
   activities
    (52 )     (1,550 )     (2,073 )     (694 )
Tax effect
    (86 )     378       215       156  
Unrealized loss from foreign currency hedging
                               
   activities
    (138 )     (1,172 )     (1,858 )     (538 )
                                 
Unrealized investment gain (loss)
    233       (17 )     295       (155 )
Tax effect
    (91 )     7       (115 )     62  
Unrealized investment gain (loss)
    142       (10 )     180       (93 )
                                 
Pension adjustment gain (loss)
    1,279       (696 )     1,860       567  
Tax effect
    (306 )     179       (370 )     (77 )
Pension adjustment gain (loss)
    973       (517 )     1,490       490  
Comprehensive income
  $ 25,768     $ 168,493     $ 276,468     $ 334,470  
 
 
13

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 5 – Comprehensive Income – (Continued)

The following table summarizes our total comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 27,
 
September 28,
 
September 27,
 
September 28,
   
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Comprehensive income attributable to
               
Henry Schein, Inc.
  $ 18,782   $ 157,264   $ 247,971   $ 305,582
Comprehensive income attributable to
                       
noncontrolling interests
    155     146     414     335
Comprehensive income attributable to
                       
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
    6,831     11,083     28,083     28,553
Comprehensive income
  $ 25,768   $ 168,493   $ 276,468   $ 334,470

Note 6Fair Value Measurements

ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC Topic 820”) provides a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles.

ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  ASC Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs).

The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC Topic 820 are described as follows:
 
•  Level 1— Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

•  Level 2— Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

•  Level 3— Inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability.

The following section describes the valuation methodologies that we used to measure different financial instruments at fair value.

Investments and notes receivable

There are no quoted market prices available for investments in unconsolidated affiliates and notes receivable; however, we believe the carrying amounts are a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Debt

The fair value of our debt as of September 27, 2014 and December 28, 2013 was estimated at $825.4 million and $485.2 million, respectively.  Factors that we considered when estimating the fair value of our debt include market conditions, prepayment and make-whole provisions, liquidity levels in the private placement market, variability in pricing from multiple lenders and term of debt.

 
14

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 6Fair Value Measurements(Continued)

Derivative contracts

Derivative contracts are valued using quoted market prices and significant other observable and unobservable inputs.  We use derivative instruments to minimize our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.  Our derivative instruments primarily include foreign currency forward agreements related to intercompany loans and certain forecasted inventory purchase commitments with suppliers.

The fair values for the majority of our foreign currency derivative contracts are obtained by comparing our contract rate to a published forward price of the underlying market rates, which is based on market rates for comparable transactions and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

Some minority shareholders in certain of our subsidiaries have the right, at certain times, to require us to acquire their ownership interest in those entities at fair value based on third-party valuations.  The primary factor affecting the future value of redeemable noncontrolling interests is expected earnings and, if such earnings are not achieved, the value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests might be impacted.  The noncontrolling interests subject to put options are adjusted to their estimated redemption amounts each reporting period with a corresponding adjustment to Additional paid-in capital.  Future reductions in the carrying amounts are subject to a “floor” amount that is equal to the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests at the time they were originally recorded.  The recorded value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests cannot go below the floor level.  These adjustments do not impact the calculation of earnings per share.  The values for Redeemable noncontrolling interests are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  The details of the changes in Redeemable noncontrolling interests are presented in Note 4.

The following table presents our assets and liabilities that are measured and recognized at fair value on a recurring basis classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy as of September 27, 2014 and December 28, 2013:

 
September 27, 2014
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
               
Assets:
             
Derivative contracts
$ -   $ 2,527   $ -   $ 2,527
Total assets
$ -   $ 2,527   $ -   $ 2,527
                       
Liabilities:
                     
Derivative contracts
$ -   $ 968   $ -   $ 968
Total liabilities
$ -   $ 968   $ -   $ 968
                       
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
$ -   $ -   $ 549,432   $ 549,432
                       
 
December 28, 2013
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
                       
Assets:
                     
Derivative contracts
$ -   $ 1,235   $ -   $ 1,235
Total assets
$ -   $ 1,235   $ -   $ 1,235
                       
Liabilities:
                     
Derivative contracts
$ -   $ 1,142   $ -   $ 1,142
Total liabilities
$ -   $ 1,142   $ -   $ 1,142
                       
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
$ -   $ -   $ 497,539   $ 497,539

 
15

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 7Business Acquisitions

Acquisitions

The operating results of all acquisitions are reflected in our financial statements from their respective acquisition dates.

On June 30, 2014, we completed our previously announced acquisition by our U.S. Animal Health business, Butler Animal Health Supply LLC, together with our wholly-owned subsidiary, W.A. Butler Company, of a 60% ownership position in SmartPak Equine, LLC (“SmartPak”), a privately held provider of equine supplements and horse supplies in the United States.  SmartPak had sales of approximately $105 million in 2013.

We completed certain other acquisitions during the nine months ended September 27, 2014.  Such acquisitions were immaterial to our financial statements individually and in the aggregate.

Some prior owners of acquired subsidiaries are eligible to receive additional purchase price cash consideration if certain financial targets are met.  We have accrued liabilities for the estimated fair value of additional purchase price consideration at the time of the acquisition.  Any adjustments to these accrual amounts are recorded in our consolidated statements of income.  For the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, there were no material adjustments recorded in our consolidated statements of income relating to changes in estimated contingent purchase price liabilities.

Divestiture of an Equity Affiliate

On July 10, 2013, we divested our investment in a dental wholesale distributor in the Middle East that had primarily served as an importer that distributed products largely to other distributors. The divestiture resulted in a one-time loss, which is recorded in a separate line item, “Loss on sale of equity investment” within our consolidated statements of income and within the cash flows from operating activities section of our consolidated statements of cash flows, of $12.5 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2013. Pursuant to the terms of this divestiture, we made cash payments, which are recorded in a separate line item, “Payments related to sale of equity investment”, within the cash flows from investing activities section of our consolidated statements of cash flows, to this distributor in the aggregate amount of $13.4 million, which it was required to use to reduce its debt, pay certain trade payables and provide working capital.  The investment in this distributor had been fully impaired as of the end of 2012.  There was no tax benefit related to the loss on this divestiture.

Note 8 – Plans of Restructuring

During the year ended December 29, 2012, we incurred restructuring costs of $15.2 million pre-tax ($0.12 per diluted share) consisting of employee severance pay and benefits related to the elimination of approximately 200 positions; facility closing costs, representing primarily lease terminations and property and equipment write-off costs; and outside professional and consulting fees directly related to the restructuring plan.  This restructuring program is complete and we do not expect any additional costs from this program.
 
On October 31, 2014, we decided to implement a planned corporate initiative to rationalize our operations and provide expense efficiencies, which will occur throughout fiscal 2015.  This initiative is expected to include the elimination of approximately 2% to 3% of our workforce and the closing of certain facilities.  The costs associated with all actions to complete this restructuring are expected to be in the range of $35 million to $40 million pre-tax (approximately $0.29 to $0.33 per diluted share).  We plan to reduce our cost structure to fund new initiatives to drive future growth as our 2015 – 2017 strategic planning cycle begins.  At this time, we are unable to make a determination of the estimated amount or range of amounts to be included for each major type of cost associated with this restructuring (including associated cash expenditures).  We will provide further details in a future Securities and Exchange Commission filing at such time as we are able to determine the costs we expect to incur in connection with this restructuring.
 
The costs associated with these restructurings have been and will be included in a separate line item, “Restructuring costs” within our consolidated statements of income.
 
 
16

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 8 – Plans of Restructuring(Continued)

The following table shows the amounts expensed and paid for restructuring costs that were incurred during the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and during our 2013 fiscal year and the remaining accrued balance of restructuring costs as of September 27, 2014, which is included in Accrued expenses: Other and Other liabilities within our consolidated balance sheet:

         
Facility
       
   
Severance
   
Closing
       
   
Costs
   
Costs
   
Total
 
Balance, December 29, 2012
  $ 1,826     $ 1,231     $ 3,057  
Provision
    -       -       -  
Payments and other adjustments
    (1,599 )     (747 )     (2,346 )
Balance, December 28, 2013
  $ 227     $ 484     $ 711  
Provision
    -       -       -  
Payments and other adjustments
    (102 )     (139 )     (241 )
Balance, September 27, 2014
  $ 125     $ 345     $ 470  

The following table shows, by reportable segment, the amounts expensed and paid for restructuring costs that were incurred during the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and the 2013 fiscal year and the remaining accrued balance of restructuring costs as of September 27, 2014:

         
Technology and
       
   
Health Care
   
Value-Added
       
   
Distribution
   
Services
   
Total
 
Balance, December 29, 2012
  $ 3,043     $ 14     $ 3,057  
Provision
    -       -       -  
Payments and other adjustments
    (2,332 )     (14 )     (2,346 )
Balance, December 28, 2013
  $ 711     $ -     $ 711  
Provision
    -       -       -  
Payments and other adjustments
    (241 )     -       (241 )
Balance, September 27, 2014
  $ 470     $ -     $ 470  

Note 9Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Henry Schein, Inc. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Our diluted earnings per share is computed similarly to basic earnings per share, except that it reflects the effect of common shares issuable for presently unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units and upon exercise of stock options, using the treasury stock method in periods in which they have a dilutive effect.

A reconciliation of shares used in calculating earnings per basic and diluted share follows:

     
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
     
September 27,
 
September 28,
 
September 27,
 
September 28,
     
2014 
 
2013 
 
2014 
 
2013 
Basic
 
84,095 
 
85,646 
 
84,506 
 
86,208 
Effect of dilutive securities:
               
 
Stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units
 
1,355 
 
1,758 
 
1,412 
 
1,759 
 
Diluted
 
85,450 
 
87,404 
 
85,918 
 
87,967 

 
17

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 10 – Income Taxes

For the nine months ended September 27, 2014, our effective tax rate was 30.7% compared to 28.3% for the prior year period.  During the third quarter of 2013, we concluded that it was more likely than not that certain deferred tax assets related to tax loss carryforwards originating outside the United States, which had been previously reserved, would be realized.  As a result, our provision for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2013 included a $13.4 million reduction of the valuation allowance which was based on an estimate of future taxable income available to be offset by the tax loss carryforwards.

Absent the effects of the reduction of this valuation allowance in the third quarter of 2013, our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 28, 2013 would have been 31.1% as compared to our actual effective tax rate of 28.3%.  The remaining difference between our effective tax rates and the federal statutory tax rates for both periods primarily relates to state and foreign income taxes and interest expense.

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of September 27, 2014 was approximately $70.9 million, of which $57.9 million would affect the effective tax rate if recognized.  It is expected that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next 12 months; however, we do not expect the change to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

The total amounts of interest and penalties, which are classified as a component of the provision for income taxes, were approximately $13.7 million and $0, respectively, for the nine months ended September 27, 2014.

The tax years subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions include the years 2009 and forward by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, as well as the years 2005 and forward for certain states and certain foreign jurisdictions.

Note 11Derivatives and Hedging Activities

We are exposed to market risks as well as changes in foreign currency exchange rates as measured against the U.S. dollar and each other, and changes to the credit markets.  We attempt to minimize these risks by primarily using foreign currency forward contracts and by maintaining counter-party credit limits.  These hedging activities provide only limited protection against currency exchange and credit risks.  Factors that could influence the effectiveness of our hedging programs include currency markets and availability of hedging instruments and liquidity of the credit markets.  All foreign currency forward contracts that we enter into are components of hedging programs and are entered into for the sole purpose of hedging an existing or anticipated currency exposure.  We do not enter into such contracts for speculative purposes and we manage our credit risks by diversifying our investments, maintaining a strong balance sheet and having multiple sources of capital.

Fluctuations in the value of certain foreign currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar may positively or negatively affect our revenues, gross margins, operating expenses and retained earnings, all of which are expressed in U.S. dollars.  Where we deem it prudent, we engage in hedging programs using primarily foreign currency forward contracts aimed at limiting the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on earnings.  We purchase short-term (i.e., 18 months or less) foreign currency forward contracts to protect against currency exchange risks associated with intercompany loans due from our international subsidiaries and the payment of merchandise purchases to our foreign suppliers.  We do not hedge the translation of foreign currency profits into U.S. dollars, as we regard this as an accounting exposure, not an economic exposure.  Our hedging activities have historically not had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.  Accordingly, additional disclosures related to derivatives and hedging activities required by ASC Topic 815 have been omitted.

 
18

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation

Our accompanying consolidated statements of income reflect pre-tax share-based compensation expense of $13.8 million ($9.6 million after-tax) and $33.3 million ($23.1 million after-tax) for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2014, respectively, and $8.0 million ($5.6 million after-tax) and $24.7 million ($17.0 million after-tax) for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2013, respectively.

Stock-based compensation represents the cost related to stock-based awards granted to employees and non-employee directors.  We measure stock-based compensation at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and recognize the cost (net of estimated forfeitures) as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.  Our stock-based compensation expense is reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of income.

Stock-based awards are provided to certain employees and non-employee directors under the terms of our 2013 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and our 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (together, the “Plans”).  The Plans are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  Prior to March 2009, awards under the Plans principally included a combination of at-the-money stock options and restricted stock/units.  Since March 2009, equity-based awards have been granted solely in the form of restricted stock/units, with the exception of providing stock options to employees for certain pre-existing contractual obligations.

Grants of restricted stock/units are stock-based awards granted to recipients with specified vesting provisions.  In the case of restricted stock, common stock is delivered on the date of grant, subject to vesting conditions.  In the case of restricted stock units, common stock is generally delivered on or following satisfaction of vesting conditions.  Prior to 2014, we issued restricted stock/units that vest solely based on the recipient’s continued service over time (primarily four-year cliff) and restricted stock/units that vest based on our achieving specified performance measurements and the recipient’s continued service over time (primarily three-year cliff vesting).  Since February 2014, we issue restricted stock/units that vest solely based on the recipient’s continued service over time (primarily four-year cliff vesting under our 2013 Stock Incentive Plan and primarily 13-month cliff vesting under our 1996 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan) and restricted stock/units that vest based on our achieving specified performance measurements and the recipient’s continued service over time (primarily three-year cliff vesting under our 2013 Stock Incentive Plan).

With respect to time-based restricted stock/units, we estimate the fair value on the date of grant based on our closing stock price.  With respect to performance-based restricted stock/units, the number of shares that ultimately vest and are received by the recipient is based upon our performance as measured against specified targets over a three-year period as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  Although there is no guarantee that performance targets will be achieved, we estimate the fair value of performance-based restricted stock/units based on our closing stock price at time of grant.

The Plans provide for adjustments to the performance-based restricted stock/units targets for significant events such as acquisitions, divestitures, new business ventures and share repurchases.  Over the performance period, the number of shares of common stock that will ultimately vest and be issued and the related compensation expense is adjusted upward or downward based upon our estimation of achieving such performance targets.  The ultimate number of shares delivered to recipients and the related compensation cost recognized as an expense will be based on our actual performance metrics as defined under the Plans.
 
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards as of September 27, 2014 was $94.4 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.2 years.
 
 
19

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation – (Continued)

The following table summarizes stock option activity under the Plans during the nine months ended September 27, 2014:

           
Weighted
     
           
Average
     
     
Weighted
 
Remaining
     
     
Average
 
Contractual
 
Aggregate
     
Exercise
 
Life in
 
 Intrinsic
 
Shares
 
Price
 
Years
 
 Value
Outstanding at beginning of period
1,323 
 
$
 51.53 
         
Granted
   
 -   
         
Exercised
(501)
   
 48.45 
         
Forfeited
   
 -   
         
Outstanding at end of period
822 
 
$
 53.40 
 
 2.5 
 
$
52,379 
                   
Options exercisable at end of period
822 
 
$
 53.40 
 
 2.5 
 
$
52,379 

The following tables summarize the activity of our non-vested restricted stock/units for the nine months ended September 27, 2014:

 
Time-Based Restricted Stock/Units
     
Weighted Average
   
     
Grant Date Fair
 
Intrinsic Value
 
Shares/Units
 
Value Per Share
 
Per Share
Outstanding at beginning of period
926 
 
$
70.70 
     
Granted
172 
   
118.67 
     
Vested
(229)
   
57.66 
     
Forfeited
(29)
   
84.62 
     
Outstanding at end of period
840 
 
$
83.62 
 
$
117.13 
               
               
 
Performance-Based Restricted Stock/Units
     
Weighted Average
   
     
Grant Date Fair
 
Intrinsic Value
 
Shares/Units
 
Value Per Share
 
Per Share
Outstanding at beginning of period
1,078 
 
$
59.85 
     
Granted
326 
   
113.69 
     
Vested
(264)
   
69.89 
     
Forfeited
(23)
   
89.47 
     
Outstanding at end of period
1,117 
 
$
76.11 
 
$
117.13 

Note 13 – Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Cash paid for interest and income taxes was:

 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 27,
 
September 28,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Interest
$ 15,718   $ 16,969  
Income taxes
  141,233     82,869  

During the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, we had a $2.1 million non-cash net unrealized loss and a $0.7 million of non-cash net unrealized loss related to foreign currency hedging activities, respectively.



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In accordance with the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we provide the following cautionary remarks regarding important factors that, among others, could cause future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, expectations and assumptions expressed or implied herein.  All forward-looking statements made by us are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance.  These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance and achievements or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These statements are identified by the use of such terms as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms.

Risk factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current and historical results include, but are not limited to: effects of a highly competitive market; our dependence on third parties for the manufacture and supply of our products; our dependence upon sales personnel, customers, suppliers and manufacturers; our dependence on our senior management; fluctuations in quarterly earnings; risks from expansion of customer purchasing power and multi-tiered costing structures; possible increases in the cost of shipping our products or other service issues with our third-party shippers; general global macro-economic conditions; disruptions in financial markets; possible volatility of the market price of our common stock; changes in the health care industry; implementation of health care laws; failure to comply with regulatory requirements and data privacy laws; risks associated with our global operations; transitional challenges associated with acquisitions and joint ventures, including the failure to achieve anticipated synergies; financial risks associated with acquisitions and joint ventures; litigation risks; the dependence on our continued product development, technical support and successful marketing in the technology segment; risks from challenges associated with the emergence of potential increased competition by third-party online commerce sites; risks from disruption to our information systems; certain provisions in our governing documents that may discourage third-party acquisitions of us; and changes in tax legislation. The order in which these factors appear should not be construed to indicate their relative importance or priority.

We caution that these factors may not be exhaustive and that many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict.  Accordingly, any forward-looking statements contained herein should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results.  We undertake no duty and have no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Where You Can Find Important Information

We may disclose important information through one or more of the following channels: SEC filings, public conference calls and webcasts, press releases, the investor relations page of our website (www.henryschein.com) and the social media channels identified on the investor relations page of our website.

Executive-Level Overview

We believe we are the world’s largest provider of health care products and services primarily to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners.  We serve more than 800,000 customers worldwide, including dental practitioners and laboratories, animal health clinics and physician practices, as well as government, institutional health care clinics and other alternate care clinics.  We believe that we have a strong brand identity due to our more than 82 years of experience distributing health care products.

We are headquartered in Melville, New York, employ more than 17,000 people (of which approximately 8,000 are based outside the United States) and have operations or affiliates in 28 countries, including the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mauritius, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom.


We have established strategically located distribution centers to enable us to better serve our customers and increase our operating efficiency.  This infrastructure, together with broad product and service offerings at competitive prices, and a strong commitment to customer service, enables us to be a single source of supply for our customers’ needs.  Our infrastructure also allows us to provide convenient ordering and rapid, accurate and complete order fulfillment.

We conduct our business through two reportable segments: health care distribution and technology and value-added services.  These segments offer different products and services to the same customer base.  The health care distribution reportable segment aggregates our global dental, animal health and medical operating segments.  This segment consists of consumable products, small equipment, laboratory products, large equipment, equipment repair services, branded and generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products and vitamins.

Our global dental group serves office-based dental practitioners, dental laboratories, schools and other institutions.  Our global animal health group serves animal health practices and clinics.  Our global medical group serves office-based medical practitioners, ambulatory surgery centers, other alternate-care settings and other institutions.  Our global technology and value-added services group provides software, technology and other value-added services to health care practitioners.  Our technology group offerings include practice management software systems for dental and medical practitioners and animal health clinics.  Our value-added practice solutions include financial services on a non-recourse basis, e-services, practice technology, network and hardware services, as well as continuing education services for practitioners.

Industry Overview

In recent years, the health care industry has increasingly focused on cost containment.  This trend has benefited distributors capable of providing a broad array of products and services at low prices.  It also has accelerated the growth of HMOs, group practices, other managed care accounts and collective buying groups, which, in addition to their emphasis on obtaining products at competitive prices, tend to favor distributors capable of providing specialized management information support.  We believe that the trend towards cost containment has the potential to favorably affect demand for technology solutions, including software, which can enhance the efficiency and facilitation of practice management.

Our operating results in recent years have been significantly affected by strategies and transactions that we undertook to expand our business, domestically and internationally, in part to address significant changes in the health care industry, including consolidation of health care distribution companies, health care reform, trends toward managed care, cuts in Medicare and collective purchasing arrangements.

Our current and future results have been and could be impacted by the current economic environment and uncertainty, particularly impacting overall demand for our products and services.

Industry Consolidation

The health care products distribution industry, as it relates to office-based health care practitioners, is highly fragmented and diverse.  This industry, which encompasses the dental, animal health and medical markets, was estimated to produce revenues of approximately $45 billion in 2013 in the global markets.  The industry ranges from sole practitioners working out of relatively small offices to group practices or service organizations ranging in size from a few practitioners to a large number of practitioners who have combined or otherwise associated their practices.

Due in part to the inability of office-based health care practitioners to store and manage large quantities of supplies in their offices, the distribution of health care supplies and small equipment to office-based health care practitioners has been characterized by frequent, small quantity orders, and a need for rapid, reliable and substantially complete order fulfillment.  The purchasing decisions within an office-based health care practice are typically made by the practitioner or an administrative assistant.  Supplies and small equipment are generally purchased from more than one distributor, with one generally serving as the primary supplier.


The trend of consolidation extends to our customer base.  Health care practitioners are increasingly seeking to partner, affiliate or combine with larger entities such as hospitals, health systems, group practices or physician hospital organizations.  In many cases, purchasing decisions for consolidated groups are made at a centralized or professional staff level; however, orders are delivered to the practitioners’ offices.

We believe that consolidation within the industry will continue to result in a number of distributors, particularly those with limited financial, operating and marketing resources, seeking to combine with larger companies that can provide growth opportunities.  This consolidation also may continue to result in distributors seeking to acquire companies that can enhance their current product and service offerings or provide opportunities to serve a broader customer base.

Our trend with regard to acquisitions and joint ventures has been to expand our role as a provider of products and services to the health care industry.  This trend has resulted in our expansion into service areas that complement our existing operations and provide opportunities for us to develop synergies with, and thus strengthen, the acquired businesses.

As industry consolidation continues, we believe that we are positioned to capitalize on this trend, as we believe we have the ability to support increased sales through our existing infrastructure.  We also have invested in expanding our sales/marketing infrastructure to include a focus on building relationships with decision makers who do not reside in the office-based practitioner setting.

As the health care industry continues to change, we continually evaluate possible candidates for merger and joint venture or acquisition and intend to continue to seek opportunities to expand our role as a provider of products and services to the health care industry.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully pursue any such opportunity or consummate any such transaction, if pursued.  If additional transactions are entered into or consummated, we would incur merger and/or acquisition-related costs, and there can be no assurance that the integration efforts associated with any such transaction would be successful.

Aging Population and Other Market Influences

The health care products distribution industry continues to experience growth due to the aging population, increased health care awareness, the proliferation of medical technology and testing, new pharmacology treatments and expanded third-party insurance coverage, partially offset by the effects of unemployment on insurance coverage.  In addition, the physician market continues to benefit from the shift of procedures and diagnostic testing from acute care settings to alternate-care sites, particularly physicians’ offices.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s International Data Base, in 2013 there were more than six million Americans aged 85 years or older, the segment of the population most in need of long-term care and elder-care services.  By the year 2050, that number is projected to triple to approximately 18 million.  The population aged 65 to 84 years is projected to increase over 70% during the same time period.

As a result of these market dynamics, annual expenditures for health care services continue to increase in the United States.  We believe that demand for our products and services will grow, while continuing to be impacted by current and future operating, economic and industry conditions.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS,  published “National Health Expenditure Projections 2013-2023” indicating that total national health care spending reached approximately $2.9 trillion in 2013, or 17.2% of the nation’s gross domestic product, the benchmark measure for annual production of goods and services in the United States.  Health care spending is projected to reach approximately $5.2 trillion in 2023, approximately 19.3% of the nation’s gross domestic product.


Government

Certain of our businesses involve the distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and in this regard we are subject to extensive local, state, federal and foreign governmental laws and regulations applicable to the distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.  Additionally, government and private insurance programs fund a large portion of the total cost of medical care, and there has been an emphasis on efforts to control medical costs, including laws and regulations lowering reimbursement rates for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and/or medical treatments or services.  Also, many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and may impact our financial performance.  In addition, our businesses are generally subject to numerous other laws and regulations that could impact our financial performance, including securities, antitrust and other laws and regulations.  Failure to comply with law or regulations could have a material adverse impact on our business.

Health Care Reform

For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, each enacted in March 2010, generally known as the Health Care Reform Law, increased federal oversight of private health insurance plans and included a number of provisions designed to reduce Medicare expenditures and the cost of health care generally, to reduce fraud and abuse, and to provide access to increased health coverage.  The Health Care Reform Law requirements include a 2.3% excise tax on domestic sales of many medical devices by manufacturers and importers that began in 2013 and a fee on branded prescription drugs and biologics that was implemented in 2011, both of which may affect sales.  On June 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court upheld as constitutional a key provision in the Health Care Reform Law, often referred to as the “individual mandate,” which will require most individuals to have health insurance in 2014, or pay a penalty.  However, the decision also invalidated a provision in the Health Care Reform Law requiring states in 2014 to expand their Medicaid programs or risk the complete loss of all federal Medicaid funding.  The Court held that the federal government may offer states the option of accepting the expansion requirement, but that it may not take away pre-existing Medicaid funds in order to coerce states into complying with the expansion.  Almost half the states have not yet accepted the Medicaid expansion, so the full extent of increased health care coverage under the Health Care Reform Law is uncertain.  Subsequent litigation has focused on whether the Health Care Reform Law permits the use of health insurance subsidies for low and moderate income individuals who purchase coverage through the health insurance exchanges established by the federal government.  Federal courts have issued contradictory rulings on this matter, and the issue may ultimately be decided by the United States Supreme Court.  Adding to this uncertainty, in responding to difficulties encountered in implementing Health Care Reform, the White House and federal agencies have instituted various temporary implementation delays, such as regarding the “employer mandate” that generally requires employers with 50 or more full time employees to provide certain health insurance to those employees or pay specified fines.

A Health Care Reform Law provision, generally referred to as the Physician Payment Sunshine Act or Open Payments Program, has imposed new reporting and disclosure requirements for drug and device manufacturers with regard to payments or other transfers of value made to certain practitioners (including physicians, dentists and teaching hospitals), and for such manufacturers and for group purchasing organizations, with regard to certain ownership interests held by physicians in the reporting entity. On February 1, 2013, CMS released the final rule to implement the Physician Payment Sunshine Act.  Under this rule, data collection activities began on August 1, 2013, and first disclosure reports were due by March 31, 2014 for the period August 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.  As required under the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, CMS published information from these reports on a publicly available website, including amounts transferred and physician, dentist and teaching hospital identities, on September 30, 2014.
 

The final rule implementing the Physician Payment Sunshine Act is complex, ambiguous and broad in scope.  CMS commentary on the final rule and more recent CMS communications indicate that wholesale drug and device distributors which take title to such products are to be treated as “applicable manufacturers” subject to full reporting requirements.  In addition, certain of our subsidiaries manufacture drugs and devices. Accordingly, we are required to collect and report detailed information regarding certain financial relationships we have with physicians, dentists and teaching hospitals.  It is difficult to predict how the new requirements may impact existing relationships among manufacturers, distributors, physicians, dentists and teaching hospitals.  The Physician Payment Sunshine Act pre-empts similar state reporting laws, although we or our subsidiaries may be required to report under certain of such state laws in addition to Physician Payment Sunshine Act reporting, and some of these state laws are also ambiguous.  While we have completed the initial Physician Payment Sunshine Act submission to CMS due March 31, 2014, and believe we have substantially compliant programs and controls in place to comply with the Physician Payment Sunshine Act requirements, our compliance with the new final rule imposes additional costs on us.

Health Care Fraud

Certain of our businesses are subject to federal and state (and similar foreign) health care fraud and abuse, referral and reimbursement laws and regulations with respect to their operations.  Some of these laws, referred to as “false claims laws,” prohibit the submission or causing the submission of false or fraudulent claims for reimbursement to federal, state and other health care payers and programs.  Other laws, referred to as “anti-kickback laws,” prohibit soliciting, offering, receiving or paying remuneration in order to induce the referral of a patient or ordering, purchasing, leasing or arranging for, or recommending ordering, purchasing or leasing of, items or services that are paid for by federal, state and other health care payers and programs.

The fraud and abuse laws and regulations have been subject to varying interpretations, as well as heightened enforcement activity over the past few years, and significant enforcement activity has been the result of  “relators,” who serve as whistleblowers by filing complaints in the name of the United States (and if applicable, particular states) under federal and state false claims laws.  Under the federal False Claims Act relators can be entitled to receive up to 30% of total recoveries.  Also, violations of the federal False Claims Act can result in treble damages, and each false claim submitted can be subject to a penalty of up to $11,000 per claim.  The Health Care Reform Law significantly strengthened the federal False Claims Act and the federal Anti-Kickback Law provisions, which could lead to the possibility of increased whistleblower or relator suits, and among other things made clear that a federal Anti-Kickback Law violation can be a basis for federal False Claims Act liability.

The government has expressed concerns about financial relationships between suppliers on the one hand and physicians and dentists on the other.  As a result, we regularly review and revise our marketing practices as necessary to facilitate compliance.  In addition, under the reporting and disclosure obligations of the Physician Payment Sunshine Act provisions of the Health Care Reform Law, discussed in more detail under “Health Care Reform” above, the general public and government officials are being provided with new access to detailed information with regard to payments or other transfers of value to certain practitioners (including physicians, dentists and teaching hospitals) by applicable drug and device manufacturers subject to such reporting and disclosure obligations, which includes us.  This information may lead to greater scrutiny, which may result in modifications to established practices and additional costs.

We also are subject to certain laws and regulations concerning the conduct of our foreign operations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and anti-bribery laws and laws pertaining to the accuracy of our internal books and records, which have been the focus of increasing enforcement activity in recent years.

Failure to comply with fraud and abuse laws and regulations could result in significant civil and criminal penalties and costs, including the loss of licenses and the ability to participate in federal and state health care programs, and could have a material adverse impact on our business.  Also, these measures 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 or incur substantial defense and settlement expenses.  Even unsuccessful challenges by regulatory authorities or private relators could result in reputational harm and the incurring of substantial costs.  In addition, many of these laws are vague or indefinite and have not been interpreted by the courts, and have been subject to frequent modification and varied interpretation by prosecutorial and regulatory authorities, increasing the risk of noncompliance.


While we believe that we are substantially compliant with applicable fraud and abuse laws and regulations, and have adequate compliance programs and controls in place to ensure substantial compliance, we cannot predict whether changes in applicable law, or interpretation of laws, or changes in our services or marketing practices in response to changes in applicable law or interpretation of laws, could have a material adverse impact on our business.

Operating Security and Licensure Standards

At the federal level, pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FDC Act, the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, generally requires wholesalers to provide a drug pedigree for each wholesale distribution of a prescription drug, which is the record that tracks the chain of ownership of a prescription drug as it is distributed through the United States pharmaceutical supply chain.  Over the last several years, many states have implemented or proposed their own prescription drug pedigree laws and regulations which were intended to protect the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain.  This created a patchwork of state licensing and drug pedigree (i.e., track and trace) requirements.

Important recent federal legislation, the Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013, which was signed into law by President Obama on November 27, 2013, brings about significant changes with respect to pharmaceutical supply chain requirements and pre-empts state law.  Title II of this measure, known as the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, or DSCSA, will be phased in over 10 years, and is intended to build a national electronic, interoperable system to identify and trace certain prescription drugs as they are distributed in the United States.  The law begins to take effect in January 2015, and provides specific track and trace requirements for manufacturers, wholesalers, repackagers and dispensers (e.g., pharmacies) of prescription drugs.  Also by January 2015, the DSCSA requires manufacturers and wholesale distributors to have systems in place by which they can identify whether a product in their possession or control is a “suspect” or “illegitimate” product and handle it accordingly.  In addition, the FDA is required to issue guidance and hold public meetings regarding the implementation of the DSCSA’s track and trace requirements over the course of the next few years.  The FDA has begun this process, including by holding a public workshop in May 2014 and issuing guidance documents regarding suspect products in June 2014 and the effect of the law’s pre-emption provisions in October 2014.

The DSCSA also establishes certain requirements for the licensing and operation of prescription drug wholesalers and third party logistics providers (“3PLs”), and includes the creation of national wholesaler and 3PL licenses in cases where states do not license such entities.  The DSCSA requires that wholesalers and 3PLs distribute drugs in accordance with certain standards regarding the recordkeeping, storage and handling of prescription drugs.  Wholesalers and 3PLs will also be required to submit annual reports to the FDA beginning on January 1, 2015, which include information regarding each state where the wholesaler or 3PL is licensed, the name and address of each facility and contact information.  According to FDA guidance, states are pre-empted from imposing any licensing requirements that fall below the minimum standards established by Federal law in this area.  Current state licensing requirements will likely remain in effect until the FDA issues new regulations as directed by the DSCSA.

The FDC Act currently requires certain wholesalers to provide a drug pedigree for each distribution of prescription drugs that includes an identifying statement that records the chain of ownership of a prescription drug and state licensing requirements remain in effect.  Currently, the FDA, in an exercise of its enforcement discretion, requires wholesalers to maintain drug pedigrees that include transaction dates, names and addresses regarding transactions going back to either the manufacturer or the last authorized distributor of record that handled the drugs.  Until the DSCSA takes effect in January 2015, current federal law in this area remains in effect and pre-empts state law.  We are in the process of analyzing the impact of the DSCSA on our business.

The FDA has also continued to develop its policies with respect to the integrity of the supply chain by issuing a Final Guidance in 2010 regarding standardized numerical identification for prescription drug packages, and a final rule in 2013 for a unique medical device identification system to be phased in over seven years that will require most medical devices distributed in the United States to carry a unique device identifier.  The new requirements may affect previously issued FDA guidance regarding standardized numerical identifiers.


The federal Controlled Substances Act, or CSA, also regulates wholesale distribution of controlled substances and certain chemicals.  Companies involved in the receipt, storage and distribution of controlled substances and certain chemicals are subject to registration, recordkeeping, security and reporting requirements.  The Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2010, which became effective in April 2011, requires retail sellers of products containing certain chemicals, such as pseudoephedrine, to self-certify to the Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, that they understand and agree to comply with the laws and regulations regarding such sales. The law also prohibits distributors from selling these products to retailers who are not registered with the DEA or who have not self-certified compliance with the laws and regulations.  Various states also impose restrictions on the sale of certain products containing pseudoephedrine and other chemicals.  The Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, signed by President Obama in October 2010, is intended to allow patients to deliver unused controlled substances to designated entities to more easily and safely dispose of controlled substances while reducing the chance of diversion.  The law authorizes the DEA to promulgate regulations to allow, but not require, designated entities to receive unused controlled substances.  On September 9, 2014, the DEA issued a final rule implementing the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010.  The rule significantly expands the options available to ultimate users to dispose of their unused or unwanted controlled substances.  Manufacturers, distributors, reverse distributors, narcotic treatment programs, hospitals and clinics with on-site pharmacies and retail pharmacies can modify their DEA registrations to become “collectors” (defined as registrants “authorized” to “receive a controlled substance for the purpose of destruction”).  As authorized collectors, they may operate mail-back programs to receive and destroy schedule II-IV controlled substances received from ultimate users.    Authorized collectors permitting take-backs on their premises may install, manage and maintain a collection receptacle for schedule II-IV controlled substances delivered by ultimate users.  Controlled substances collected in this manner may be destroyed onsite or may be transferred to a reverse distributor.  The final rule also establishes new recordkeeping and safety requirements for registrants serving as authorized collectors.

On August 22, 2014, the DEA published a final rule rescheduling all hydrocodone combination products, or HCPs, from schedule III to schedule II.  Rescheduling HCPs from schedule III to schedule II imposes more stringent regulatory requirements upon manufacturers, distributors, dispensers such as pharmacies and physicians, importers and exporters.  The schedule II requirements are effective 45 days from promulgation of the final rule (by October 6, 2014).  In addition, on July 2, 2014, the DEA issued a final rule classifying Tramadol as a schedule IV controlled substance.  This drug will now be subject to DEA regulatory requirements related to the manufacture, distribution and dispensing applicable to schedule IV controlled substances.

Regulated Software; Electronic Health Records

The FDA has become increasingly active in addressing the regulation of computer software intended for use in health care settings, and has developed policies on regulating clinical decision support tools and other types of software as medical devices.  Certain of our businesses involve the development and sale of software and related products to support physician and dental practice management, and it is possible that the FDA could determine that one or more of our products is a medical device, which could subject us or one or more of our businesses to substantial additional requirements with respect to these products.

Certain of our businesses involve access to personal health, medical, financial and other information of individuals, and are accordingly directly or indirectly subject to numerous federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations that protect the privacy and security of such information, such as the privacy and security provisions of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and implementing regulations (“HIPAA”).  HIPAA requires, among other things, the implementation of various recordkeeping, operational, notice and other practices intended to safeguard that information, limit its use to allowed purposes, and notify individuals in the event of privacy and security breaches.  Failure to comply with these laws and regulations can result in substantial penalties and other liabilities.  As a result of the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH Act”), which was enacted in 2009, some of our businesses that were previously only indirectly affected by federal HIPAA privacy and security rules became directly subject to such rules because such businesses serve as “business associates” of HIPAA covered entities, such as health care providers.  On January 17, 2013, the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services released a final rule implementing the HITECH Act and making certain other changes to HIPAA privacy and security requirements.  Compliance with the rule was required by September 23, 2013, and increases the requirements applicable to some of our businesses.
 

In addition, federal initiatives, including in particular the HITECH Act, are providing a program of incentive payments available to certain health care providers involving the adoption and use of certain electronic health care records systems and processes.  The HITECH initiative includes providing, among others, physicians and dentists, with financial incentives if they meaningfully use certified electronic health record technology (“EHR”) in accordance with applicable requirements.  With respect to recognizing “certified” EHR technology, CMS regulations reference an older “2011 edition certified technology,” which is to be replaced by a newer “2014 edition certified technology.”  In addition, Medicare-eligible providers that fail to timely adopt certified EHR systems and meet “meaningful use” requirements for those systems in accordance with regulatory requirements are to be subject to cumulative Medicare reimbursement reductions, which reductions for eligible health professionals (including physicians and dentists) begin on January 1, 2015.  This reduction is subject to a grant of a “hardship” exemption by CMS, which generally permits providers to avoid Medicare reimbursement reductions where they can show that demonstrating meaningful use of EHR would result in a significant hardship.  Qualification for the incentive payments requires the use of EHRs that have certain capabilities for meaningful use pursuant to standards adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services.  Initial (“Stage 1”) standards addressed criteria for periods beginning in 2011.  CMS has also issued a final rule with more demanding “Stage 2” criteria for periods beginning in 2014 for eligible health professionals (including physicians and dentists).

Recognizing difficulties encountered by some providers in acquiring and implementing 2014 edition-certified EHR technology, CMS published a final rule on September 4, 2014 that adds flexibility to the manner in which physicians, dentists and others may demonstrate meaningful use of EHR by extending through the 2014 reporting period the ability, in certain circumstances, to use 2011 edition-certified technology to attest to meaningful use, rather than requiring the use of 2014 edition-certified technology.  The rule also delays for one year implementation of more rigorous “Stage 3” measures, and under this rule eligible health professionals (including physicians and dentists) would begin Stage 3 in calendar year 2017.  In addition, also in recognition of difficulties encountered by some providers in acquiring and implementing 2014 edition-certified EHR technology, CMS has specifically recognized that a hardship exemption may be granted, among other reasons, where the provider’s failure to demonstrate meaningful use was caused by its EHR vendor’s failure to timely obtain 2014 certification for its EHR technology, and has extended the deadline for health care professionals to file hardship exception applications from July 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014.  Certain of our businesses involve the manufacture and sale of certified EHR systems and other products linked to incentive programs, and so must maintain compliance with, and are affected by, these evolving governmental criteria.

Also, HIPAA requires certain health care providers, such as physicians, to use certain transaction and code set rules for specified electronic transactions, such as transactions involving claims submissions.  Commencing July 1, 2012, CMS required that electronic claim submissions and related electronic transactions be conducted under a new HIPAA transaction standard, called Version 5010.  CMS has required this upgrade in connection with another new requirement applicable to the industry, the implementation of new diagnostic code sets to be used in claims submission.  The new diagnostic code sets are called the ICD-10-CM.  They were originally to be implemented on October 1, 2013.  CMS delayed the implementation date until October 1, 2014, but as part of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, enacted on April 1, 2014, Congress prohibited the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing ICD-10-CM any earlier than October 1, 2015.  CMS published a final rule on August 4, 2014 adopting the October 1, 2015 compliance date, and requiring the use of ICD-9-CM code sets through September 30, 2015.  Certain of our businesses provide electronic practice management products that must meet those requirements, and while we believe that we are prepared to timely adopt the new standards, it is possible that the transition to these new standards, particularly the transition to ICD-10-CM, may result in a degree of disruption and confusion, thus potentially increasing the costs associated with supporting this product.

There may be additional legislative initiatives in the future impacting health care.
 

E-Commerce

Electronic commerce solutions have become an integral part of traditional health care supply and distribution relationships.  Our distribution business is characterized by rapid technological developments and intense competition.  The continuing advancement of online commerce requires us to cost-effectively adapt to changing technologies, to enhance existing services and to develop and introduce a variety of new services to address the changing demands of consumers and our customers on a timely basis, particularly in response to competitive offerings.

Through our proprietary, technologically based suite of products, we offer customers a variety of competitive alternatives.  We believe that our tradition of reliable service, our name recognition and large customer base built on solid customer relationships, position us well to participate in this significant aspect of the distribution business.  We continue to explore ways and means to improve and expand our Internet presence and capabilities, including our online commerce offerings and our use of various social media outlets.

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes the significant components of our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 27,
   
September 28,
   
September 27,
   
September 28,
 
 
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Operating results:
                     
Net sales
$ 2,623,729     $ 2,348,956     $ 7,669,294     $ 7,034,277  
Cost of sales
  1,902,063       1,709,309       5,522,443       5,077,783  
Gross profit
  721,666       639,647       2,146,851       1,956,494  
Operating expenses:
                             
Selling, general and administrative
  547,578       479,170       1,634,651       1,466,323  
Operating income
$ 174,088     $ 160,477     $ 512,200     $ 490,171  
                               
Other expense, net
$ (3,312 )   $ (552 )   $ (2,757 )   $ (12,065 )
Net income
  124,236       116,372       361,481       336,493  
Net income attributable to Henry Schein, Inc.
  114,776       107,378       333,111       307,286  
                               
Cash flows:
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    $ 318,485     $ 389,547  
Net cash used in investing activities
      (433,560 )     (93,758 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
      11,490       (349,240 )


Three Months Ended September 27, 2014 Compared to Three Months Ended September 28, 2013

Net Sales

Net sales for the three months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

       
September 27,
 
% of
 
September 28,
 
% of
 
Increase
       
2014
 
Total
 
2013
 
Total
    %
Health care distribution (1):
                             
 
Dental
  $ 1,298,352   49.5 %   $ 1,183,201   50.4 %   $ 115,151   9.7 %
 
Animal health
    757,952   28.9       642,289   27.3       115,663   18.0  
 
Medical
    480,302   18.3       444,533   18.9       35,769   8.0  
   
Total health care distribution
    2,536,606   96.7       2,270,023   96.6       266,583   11.7  
Technology and value-added services (2)
    87,123   3.3       78,933   3.4       8,190   10.4  
   
Total
  $ 2,623,729   100.0 %   $ 2,348,956   100.0 %   $ 274,773   11.7  
                                         
                                         
(1)  
Consists of consumable products, small equipment, laboratory products, large equipment, equipment repair services, branded and
   
generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products and vitamins.
                                         
(2)  
Consists of practice management software and other value-added products, which are distributed primarily to health care providers,
   
and financial services on a non-recourse basis, e-services, continuing education services for practitioners and other services.

The $274.8 million, or 11.7%, increase in net sales for the three months ended September 27, 2014 includes an increase of 10.9% in local currency growth (6.4% increase in internally generated revenue and 4.5% growth from acquisitions) as well as an increase of 0.8% related to foreign currency exchange.

The $115.2 million, or 9.7%, increase in dental net sales for the three months ended September 27, 2014 includes an increase of 9.4% in local currency growth (4.8% increase in internally generated revenue and 4.6% growth from acquisitions) as well as an increase of 0.3% related to foreign currency exchange.  The 9.4% increase in local currency sales was due to dental consumable merchandise sales growth of 9.6% (4.7% increase in internally generated revenue and 4.9% growth from acquisitions), as well as an increase in dental equipment sales and service revenues of 8.7% (5.1% increase in internally generated revenue and 3.6% growth from acquisitions).

The $115.7 million, or 18.0%, increase in animal health net sales for the three months ended September 27, 2014 includes an increase of 15.9% in local currency growth (8.1% increase in internally generated revenue and 7.8% growth from acquisitions) as well as an increase of 2.1% related to foreign currency exchange.

The $35.8 million, or 8.0%, increase in medical net sales for the three months ended September 27, 2014 consists of an increase of 8.0% in local currency growth due to an increase in internally generated revenue.

The $8.2 million, or 10.4%, increase in technology and value-added services net sales for the three months ended September 27, 2014 includes an increase of 9.5% in local currency growth (6.5% increase in internally generated revenue and 3.0% growth from acquisitions) as well as an increase of 0.9% related to foreign currency exchange.


Gross Profit

Gross profit and gross margin percentages by segment and in total for the three months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

 
September 27,
 
Gross
 
September 28,
 
Gross
 
Increase
 
2014
 
Margin %
 
2013
 
Margin %
    %
Health care distribution
$ 664,133   26.2 %   $ 589,912   26.0 %   $ 74,221   12.6 %
Technology and value-added services
  57,533   66.0       49,735   63.0       7,798   15.7  
Total
$ 721,666   27.5     $ 639,647   27.2     $ 82,019   12.8  

For the three months ended September 27, 2014, gross profit increased $82.0 million, or 12.8%, compared to the prior year period.  As a result of different practices of categorizing costs associated with distribution networks throughout our industry, our gross margins may not necessarily be comparable to other distribution companies.  Additionally, we realize substantially higher gross margin percentages in our technology segment than in our health care distribution segment.  These higher gross margins result from being both the developer and seller of software products and services, as well as certain financial services. The software industry typically realizes higher gross margins to recover investments in research and development.
 
Within our health care distribution segment, gross profit margins may vary from one period to the next.  Changes in the mix of products sold as well as changes in our customer mix have been the most significant drivers affecting our gross profit margin.  For example, sales of pharmaceutical products are generally at lower gross profit margins than other products.  Conversely, sales of our private label products achieve gross profit margins that are higher than average.  With respect to customer mix, sales to our large-group customers are typically completed at lower gross margins due to the higher volumes sold as opposed to the gross margin on sales to office-based practitioners who normally purchase lower volumes at greater frequencies.

Health care distribution gross profit increased $74.2 million, or 12.6%, for the three months ended September 27, 2014 compared to the prior year period.  Health care distribution gross profit margin increased to 26.2% for the three months ended September 27, 2014 from 26.0% for the comparable prior year period.

Technology and value-added services gross profit increased $7.8 million, or 15.7%, for the three months ended September 27, 2014 compared to the prior year period.  Technology gross profit margin increased to 66.0% for the three months ended September 27, 2014 from 63.0% for the comparable prior year period, primarily due to changes in the product sales mix. 

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses by segment and in total for the three months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

     
% of
     
% of
         
 
September 27,
 
Respective
 
September 28,
 
Respective
 
Increase
 
2014
 
Net Sales
 
2013
 
Net Sales
  $   %
Health care distribution
$ 515,360   20.3 %   $ 449,963   19.8 %   $ 65,397   14.5 %
Technology and value-added services
  32,218   37.0       29,207   37.0       3,011   10.3  
Total
$ 547,578   20.9     $ 479,170   20.4     $ 68,408   14.3  

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $68.4 million, or 14.3%, to $547.6 million for the three months ended September 27, 2014 from the comparable prior year period.  As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 20.9% from 20.4% for the comparable prior year period.
 

As a component of selling, general and administrative expenses, selling expenses increased $38.6 million, or 12.5%, to $348.1 million for the three months ended September 27, 2014 from the comparable prior year period.  As a percentage of net sales, selling expenses increased to 13.3% from 13.2% for the comparable prior year period.

As a component of selling, general and administrative expenses, general and administrative expenses increased $29.8 million, or 17.6%, to $199.5 million for the three months ended September 27, 2014 from the comparable prior year period.  As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses increased to 7.6% from 7.2% for the comparable prior year period.

Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net, for the three months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 was as follows (in thousands):

   
September 27,
   
September 28,
   
Variance
   
2014
   
2013
    $     %
Interest income
  $ 3,452     $ 3,236     $ 216     6.7 %
Interest expense
    (6,280 )     (5,051 )     (1,229 )   (24.3 )
Other, net
    (484 )     1,263       (1,747 )   (138.3 )
Other expense, net
  $ (3,312 )   $ (552 )   $ (2,760 )   (500.0 )

Other expense, net increased by $2.8 million for the three months ended September 27, 2014 compared to the prior year period.  Interest income remained consistent with the comparable prior year period.  Interest expense increased $1.2 million primarily due to increased borrowings under our bank credit lines and our private placement facilities.  Other, net decreased by $1.7 million primarily due to a benefit in the third quarter of 2013 related to an equity affiliate in the Middle East that was subsequently divested.

Income Taxes

For the three months ended September 27, 2014, our effective tax rate was 30.0% compared to 21.7% for the prior year period.  During the third quarter of 2013, we concluded that it is more likely than not that certain deferred tax assets related to tax loss carryforwards originating outside the United States, which had been previously reserved, will be realized.  As a result, our provision for income taxes during the three months ended September 28, 2013 included a $13.4 million reduction of the valuation allowance which was based on an estimate of future taxable income available to be offset by the tax loss carryforwards.

Absent the effects of the reduction of this valuation allowance in the third quarter of 2013, our effective tax rate for the three months ended September 28, 2013 would have been 30.1% as compared to our actual effective tax rate of 21.7%.  The remaining difference between our effective tax rates and the federal statutory tax rates for both periods primarily relates to state and foreign income taxes and interest expense.

Loss on Sale of Equity Investment

On July 10, 2013, we divested our investment in a dental wholesale distributor in the Middle East that had primarily served as an importer that distributed products largely to other distributors.  The divestiture resulted in a one-time loss of $12.5 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2013.  Pursuant to the terms of this divestiture, we made cash payments to this distributor in the aggregate amount of $13.4 million, which it was required to use to reduce its debt, pay certain trade payables and provide working capital.  The investment in this distributor had been fully impaired as of the end of 2012.  There was no tax benefit related to the loss on this divestiture.

Net Income

Net income increased $7.9 million, or 6.8%, for the three months ended September 27, 2014, compared to the prior year period due to the factors noted above.


Nine Months Ended September 27, 2014 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 28, 2013

Net Sales

Net sales for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

       
September 27,
 
% of
 
September 28,
 
% of
 
Increase
       
2014
 
Total
 
2013
 
Total
  $   %
Health care distribution (1):
                             
 
Dental
  $ 3,963,761   51.7 %   $ 3,633,577   51.7 %   $ 330,184   9.1 %
 
Animal health
    2,166,989   28.2       1,947,728   27.7       219,261   11.3  
 
Medical
    1,280,973   16.7       1,221,282   17.3       59,691   4.9  
   
Total health care distribution
    7,411,723   96.6       6,802,587   96.7       609,136   9.0  
Technology and value-added services (2)
    257,571   3.4       231,690   3.3       25,881   11.2  
   
Total
  $ 7,669,294   100.0 %   $ 7,034,277   100.0 %   $ 635,017   9.0  
                                         
                                         
(1)  
Consists of consumable products, small equipment, laboratory products, large equipment, equipment repair services, branded and
   
generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products and vitamins.
     
(2)  
Consists of practice management software and other value-added products, which are distributed primarily to health care providers,
   
and financial services on a non-recourse basis, e-services, continuing education services for practitioners and other services.

The $635.0 million, or 9.0%, increase in net sales for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 includes an increase of 8.2% in local currency growth (4.6% increase in internally generated revenue and 3.6% growth from acquisitions) as well as an increase of 0.8% related to foreign exchange.

The $330.2 million, or 9.1%, increase in dental net sales for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 includes an increase of 8.5% in local currency growth (3.6% increase in internally generated revenue and 4.9% growth from acquisitions) as well as an increase of 0.6% related to foreign currency exchange.  The 8.5% increase in local currency sales was due to an increase in dental equipment sales and service revenues of 9.2% (5.9% increase in internally generated revenue and 3.3% growth from acquisitions) and dental consumable merchandise sales growth of 8.2% (3.0% increase in internally generated revenue and 5.2% growth from acquisitions).

The $219.3 million, or 11.3%, increase in animal health net sales for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 includes an increase of 9.6% in local currency growth (5.9% internally generated growth and 3.7% growth from acquisitions) as well as an increase of 1.7% related to foreign currency exchange.

The $59.7 million, or 4.9%, increase in medical net sales for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 includes an increase of 4.7% in local currency growth due to an increase in internally generated revenue as well as an increase of 0.2% related to foreign currency exchange.

The $25.9 million, or 11.2%, increase in technology and value-added services net sales for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 includes an increase of 10.5% in local currency growth (7.3% internally generated growth and 3.2% growth from acquisitions) as well as an increase of 0.7% related to foreign currency exchange.


Gross Profit

Gross profit and gross margin percentages by segment and in total for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

 
September 27,
 
Gross
 
September 28,
 
Gross
 
Increase
 
2014
 
Margin %
 
2013
 
Margin %
  $   %
Health care distribution
$ 1,975,905   26.7 %   $ 1,808,625   26.6 %   $ 167,280   9.2 %
Technology and value-added services
  170,946   66.4       147,869   63.8       23,077   15.6  
Total
$ 2,146,851   28.0     $ 1,956,494   27.8     $ 190,357   9.7  

For the nine months ended September 27, 2014, gross profit increased $190.4 million, or 9.7%, from the comparable prior year period.  As a result of different practices of categorizing costs associated with distribution networks throughout our industry, our gross margins may not necessarily be comparable to other distribution companies.  Additionally, we realize substantially higher gross margin percentages in our technology segment than in our health care distribution segment.  These higher gross margins result from being both the developer and seller of software products and services, as well as certain financial services. The software industry typically realizes higher gross margins to recover investments in research and development.
 
Within our health care distribution segment, gross profit margins may vary from one period to the next.  Changes in the mix of products sold as well as changes in our customer mix have been the most significant drivers affecting our gross profit margin.  For example, sales of pharmaceutical products are generally at lower gross profit margins than other products.  Conversely, sales of our private label products achieve gross profit margins that are higher than average.  With respect to customer mix, sales to our large-group customers are typically completed at lower gross margins due to the higher volumes sold as opposed to the gross margin on sales to office-based practitioners who normally purchase lower volumes at greater frequencies.

Health care distribution gross profit increased $167.3 million, or 9.2%, for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 compared to the prior year period.  Health care distribution gross profit margin increased to 26.7% for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 from 26.6% for the comparable prior year period.

Technology and value-added services gross profit increased $23.1 million, or 15.6%, for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 compared to the prior year period.  Technology gross profit margin increased to 66.4% for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 from 63.8% for the comparable prior year period, primarily due to changes in the product sales mix.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses by segment and in total for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

     
% of
     
% of
         
 
September 27,
 
Respective
 
September 28,
 
Respective
 
Increase
 
2014
 
Net Sales
 
2013
 
Net Sales
  $   %
Health care distribution
$ 1,539,735   20.8 %   $ 1,379,534   20.3 %   $ 160,201   11.6 %
Technology and value-added services
  94,916   36.9       86,789   37.5       8,127   9.4  
Total
$ 1,634,651   21.3     $ 1,466,323   20.8     $ 168,328   11.5  

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $168.3 million, or 11.5%, to $1,634.7 million for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 from the comparable prior year period.  As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 21.3% from 20.8% for the comparable prior year period.


As a component of selling, general and administrative expenses, selling expenses increased $92.3 million, or 9.7%, to $1,039.5 million for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 from the comparable prior year period.  As a percentage of net sales, selling expenses remained consistent at 13.5% with the comparable prior year period.

As a component of selling, general and administrative expenses, general and administrative expenses increased $76.0 million, or 14.6%, to $595.2 million for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 from the comparable prior year period.  As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses increased to 7.8% from 7.3% for the comparable prior year period.

Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net, for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 was as follows (in thousands):

   
September 27,
   
September 28,
   
Variance
   
2014
   
2013
    $   %
Interest income
  $ 10,323     $ 9,744     $ 579   5.9 %
Interest expense
    (17,208 )     (22,668 )     5,460   24.1  
Other, net
    4,128       859       3,269   380.6  
Other expense, net
  $ (2,757 )   $ (12,065 )   $ 9,308   77.1  

Other expense, net decreased by $9.3 million for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 compared to the prior year period.  Interest income increased $0.6 million primarily due to higher late fee income.  Interest expense decreased by $5.5 million primarily due to the $6.2 million accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs resulting from the early repayment of our Henry Schein Animal Health (“HSAH”) debt during February 2013 as well as reduced interest expense as a result of this debt refinancing, partially offset by increased borrowings under our bank credit lines and our private placement facilities.  Other, net increased by $3.3 million primarily due to a contractual payment from an animal health supplier in Europe related to a change to a non-exclusive sales model.

Income Taxes

For the nine months ended September 27, 2014, our effective tax rate was 30.7% compared to 28.3% for the prior year period.  During the third quarter of 2013, we concluded that it is more likely than not that certain deferred tax assets related to tax loss carryforwards originating outside the United States, which had been previously reserved, will be realized.  As a result, our provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 28, 2013 included a $13.4 million reduction of the valuation allowance which was based on an estimate of future taxable income available to be offset by the tax loss carryforwards.

Absent the effects of the reduction of this valuation allowance in the third quarter of 2013, our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 28, 2013 would have been 31.1% as compared to our actual effective tax rate of 28.3%.  The remaining difference between our effective tax rates and the federal statutory tax rates for both periods primarily relates to state and foreign income taxes and interest expense.

Loss on Sale of Equity Investment

On July 10, 2013, we divested our investment in a dental wholesale distributor in the Middle East that had primarily served as an importer that distributed products largely to other distributors.  The divestiture resulted in a one-time loss of $12.5 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2013.  Pursuant to the terms of this divestiture, we made cash payments to this distributor in the aggregate amount of $13.4 million, which it was required to use to reduce its debt, pay certain trade payables and provide working capital.  The investment in this distributor had been fully impaired as of the end of 2012.  There was no tax benefit related to the loss on this divestiture.

Net Income

Net income increased $25.0 million, or 7.4%, for the nine months ended September 27, 2014, compared to the prior year period due to the factors noted above.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal capital requirements include funding of acquisitions, purchases of additional noncontrolling interests, repayments of debt principal, the funding of working capital needs, purchases of fixed assets and repurchases of common stock.  Working capital requirements generally result from increased sales, special inventory forward buy-in opportunities and payment terms for receivables and payables.  Historically, sales have tended to be stronger during the third and fourth quarters and special inventory forward buy-in opportunities have been most prevalent just before the end of the year, and have caused our working capital requirements to have been higher from the end of the third quarter to the end of the first quarter of the following year.

We finance our business primarily through cash generated from our operations, revolving credit facilities and debt placements.  Our ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations is dependent on the continued demand of our customers for our products and services, and access to products and services from our suppliers.

Our business requires a substantial investment in working capital, which is susceptible to fluctuations during the year as a result of inventory purchase patterns and seasonal demands.  Inventory purchase activity is a function of sales activity, special inventory forward buy-in opportunities and our desired level of inventory.  We anticipate future increases in our working capital requirements.

We finance our business to provide adequate funding for at least 12 months.  Funding requirements are based on forecasted profitability and working capital needs, which, on occasion, may change.  Consequently, we may change our funding structure to reflect any new requirements.

We believe that our cash and cash equivalents, our ability to access private debt markets and public equity markets, and our available funds under existing credit facilities provide us with sufficient liquidity to meet our currently foreseeable short-term and long-term capital needs.  We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

Net cash flow provided by operating activities was $318.5 million for the nine months ended September 27, 2014, compared to $389.5 million for the comparable prior year period.  The net change of $71.0 million was primarily attributable to changes in net working capital, partially offset by net income improvements.

Net cash used in investing activities was $433.6 million for the nine months ended September 27, 2014, compared to $93.8 million for the comparable prior year period.  The net change of $339.8 million was primarily due to increases in payments for equity investments and business acquisitions.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $11.5 million for the nine months ended September 27, 2014, compared to net cash used by financing activities of $349.2 million for the comparable prior year period.  The net change of $360.7 million was primarily due to increased net proceeds from debt, partially offset by an increase in acquisitions of noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries.

The following table summarizes selected measures of liquidity and capital resources (in thousands):

   
September 27,
 
December 28,
   
2014
 
2013
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 76,542   $ 188,616
Working capital
    1,222,403     1,284,002
             
Debt:
           
Bank credit lines
  $ 188,815   $ 29,508
Current maturities of long-term debt
    5,782     5,441
Long-term debt
    630,806     450,233
Total debt
  $ 825,403   $ 485,182

Our cash and cash equivalents consist of bank balances and investments in money market funds representing overnight investments with a high degree of liquidity.


Accounts receivable days sales outstanding and inventory turns
 
Our accounts receivable days sales outstanding from operations decreased to 40.5 days as of September 27, 2014 from 40.7 days as of September 28, 2013.  During the nine months ended September 27, 2014, we wrote off approximately $6.5 million of fully reserved accounts receivable against our trade receivable reserve.  Our inventory turns from operations decreased to 5.8 as of September 27, 2014 from 5.9 as of September 28, 2013.  Our working capital accounts may be impacted by current and future economic conditions.

Bank Credit Lines

On September 12, 2012, we entered into a new $500 million revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a $200 million expansion feature, which originally expired on September 12, 2017.  On September 22, 2014, we extended the expiration date of the Credit Agreement to September 22, 2019.  The interest rate is based on the USD LIBOR plus a spread based on our leverage ratio at the end of each financial reporting quarter.  The Credit Agreement provides, among other things, that we are required to maintain maximum leverage ratios, and contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative covenants.  The Credit Agreement also contains customary negative covenants, subject to negotiated exceptions on liens, indebtedness, significant corporate changes (including mergers), dispositions and certain restrictive agreements.  There was no balance outstanding under this revolving credit facility as of September 27, 2014.  As of September 27, 2014, there were $10.1 million of letters of credit provided to third parties under the credit facility.

As of September 27, 2014, we had various other short-term bank credit lines available, of which $188.8 million was outstanding.  At September 27, 2014, borrowings under all of our credit lines had a weighted average interest rate of 1.21%.  In July 2014, we extended credit lines with various financial institutions for an additional year.

Private Placement Facilities

On August 10, 2010, we entered into $400 million private placement facilities with two insurance companies.  On April 30, 2012, we increased our available credit facilities by $375 million by entering into a new agreement with one insurance company and amending our existing agreements with two insurance companies.  On September 22, 2014, we increased our available private placement facilities by $200 million to a total facility amount of $975 million, and extended the expiration date to September 22, 2017.  These facilities are available on an uncommitted basis at fixed rate economic terms to be agreed upon at the time of issuance, from time to time during a three year issuance period.  The facilities allow us to issue senior promissory notes to the lenders at a fixed rate based on an agreed upon spread over applicable treasury notes at the time of issuance.  The term of each possible issuance will be selected by us and can range from five to 15 years (with an average life no longer than 12 years). The proceeds of any issuances under the facilities will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures, to refinance existing indebtedness and/or to fund potential acquisitions.  The agreements provide, among other things, that we maintain certain maximum leverage ratios, and contain restrictions relating to subsidiary indebtedness, liens, affiliate transactions, disposal of assets and certain changes in ownership.  These facilities contain make-whole provisions in the event that we pay off the facilities prior to the applicable due dates.

The components of our private placement facility borrowings as of September 27, 2014 are presented in the following table:

 
 
Amount of
 
 
   
 
Date of
 
Borrowing
 
Borrowing
 
 
Borrowing
 
Outstanding
 
Rate
 
Due Date
September 2, 2010
  $ 100,000   3.79 %  
September 2, 2020
January 20, 2012
    50,000   3.45    
January 20, 2024
January 20, 2012 (1)
    50,000   3.09    
January 20, 2022
December 24, 2012
    50,000   3.00    
December 24, 2024
June 2, 2014
    100,000   3.19    
June 2, 2021
 
  $ 350,000        
 
 
             
 
 
             
 
(1) Annual repayments of approximately $7.1 million for this borrowing will commence on January 20, 2016.


U.S. Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization

On April 17, 2013, we entered into a facility agreement of up to $300 million with a bank, as agent, based on the securitization of our U.S. trade accounts receivable.  The new facility allowed us to replace public debt (approximately $220 million), which had a higher interest rate at HSAH during February 2013 and provided funding for working capital and general corporate purposes.  The financing was structured as an asset-backed securitization program with pricing committed for up to three years.  On September 22, 2014, we extended the expiration date of this facility agreement to April 15, 2017.  The borrowings outstanding under this securitization facility were $240.0 million as of September 27, 2014.  At September 27, 2014, the interest rate on borrowings under this facility was based on the average asset-backed commercial paper rate of 19 basis points plus 75 basis points, for a combined rate of 0.94%.

We are required to pay a commitment fee of 30 basis points on the daily balance of the unused portion of the facility if our usage is greater than or equal to 50% of the facility limit or a commitment fee of 35 basis points on the daily balance of the unused portion of the facility if our usage is less than 50% of the facility limit.

Borrowings under this facility are presented as a component of Long-term debt within our consolidated balance sheet.

Henry Schein Animal Health

During February 2013, we repaid the then outstanding debt related to the HSAH (formerly Butler Schein Animal Health) transaction using our existing Credit Agreement.  As part of this transaction, we recorded a one-time interest expense charge of $6.2 million related to the accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs.

Long-term debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

 
 
September 27,
   
December 28,
 
 
 
2014
   
2013
 
Private placement facilities
  $ 350,000     $ 250,000  
U.S. trade accounts receivable securitization
    240,000       160,000  
Notes payable to banks at a weighted-average interest rate of 8.38%
    41       73  
Various collateralized and uncollateralized loans payable with interest,
               
in varying installments through 2018 at interest rates ranging
               
from 2.15% to 5.41%
    43,701       44,091  
Capital lease obligations payable through 2018 with interest rates
               
ranging from 2.% to 13.%
    2,846       1,510  
Total
    636,588       455,674  
Less current maturities
    (5,782 )     (5,441 )
Total long-term debt
  $ 630,806     $ 450,233  

Divestiture of an Equity Affiliate

On July 10, 2013, we divested our investment in a dental wholesale distributor in the Middle East that had primarily served as an importer that distributed products largely to other distributors.  The divestiture resulted in a one-time loss of $12.5 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2013.  Pursuant to the terms of this divestiture, we made cash payments to this distributor in the aggregate amount of $13.4 million, which it was required to use to reduce its debt, pay certain trade payables and provide working capital.  The investment in this distributor had been fully impaired as of the end of 2012.  There was no tax benefit related to the loss on this divestiture.


Stock Repurchases

From June 21, 2004 through September 27, 2014, we repurchased $1.3 billion, or 18,762,784 shares, under our common stock repurchase programs, with $73.6 million available for future common stock share repurchases.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Some minority shareholders in certain of our subsidiaries have the right, at certain times, to require us to acquire their ownership interest in those entities at fair value.  ASC Topic 480-10 is applicable for noncontrolling interests where we are or may be required to purchase all or a portion of the outstanding interest in a consolidated subsidiary from the noncontrolling interest holder under the terms of a put option contained in contractual agreements.  The components of the change in the Redeemable noncontrolling interests for the nine months ended September 27, 2014 and the year ended December 28, 2013 are presented in the following table:

   
September 27,
   
December 28,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 497,539     $ 435,175  
Decrease in redeemable noncontrolling interests due to
               
redemptions
    (105,383 )     (9,028 )
Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interests due to
               
business acquisitions
    120,874       11,542  
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests
    27,946       39,430  
Dividends declared
    (21,934 )     (19,965 )
Effect of foreign currency translation gain (loss) attributable to
               
redeemable noncontrolling interests
    137       (654 )
Change in fair value of redeemable securities
    30,253       41,039  
Balance, end of period
  $ 549,432     $ 497,539  

Changes in the estimated redemption amounts of the noncontrolling interests subject to put options are adjusted at each reporting period with a corresponding adjustment to Additional paid-in capital.  Future reductions in the carrying amounts are subject to a “floor” amount that is equal to the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests at the time they were originally recorded.  The recorded value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests cannot go below the floor level.  These adjustments do not impact the calculation of earnings per share.

Additionally, some prior owners of such acquired subsidiaries are eligible to receive additional purchase price cash consideration if certain financial targets are met.  Any adjustments to these accrual amounts are recorded in our consolidated statement of income.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies and estimates from those disclosed in Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013.
 


There have been no material changes in our exposure to market risk from that disclosed in Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013.


Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 27, 2014 to ensure that all material information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to them as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and that all such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The combination of continued acquisition activity and ongoing integrations undertaken during the quarter and carried over from prior quarters, when considered in the aggregate, represents a material change in our internal control over financial reporting.

During the quarter ended September 27, 2014, we completed the acquisition of Dental and Animal Health businesses in North America with approximate aggregate annual revenues of $114.0 million.  In addition, post-acquisition integration related activities continued for our global Dental, Animal Health and Technology businesses acquired during prior years, representing aggregate annual revenues of approximately $361.0 million.  These acquisitions, the majority of which utilize separate information and financial accounting systems, have been included in our consolidated financial statements.

All acquisitions and acquisition integrations involved necessary and appropriate change-management controls that are considered in our annual assessment of the design and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

  Limitations of the Effectiveness of Internal Control
 
A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the internal control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations of any internal control system, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company have been detected.




From time to time, we may become a party to legal proceedings, including, without limitation, product liability claims, employment matters, commercial disputes, governmental inquiries and investigations, and other matters arising out of the ordinary course of our business.  While the results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, in our opinion pending matters are not anticipated to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

As of September 27, 2014, we had accrued our best estimate of potential losses relating to claims that were probable to result in a liability and for which we were able to reasonably estimate a loss.  This accrued amount, as well as related expenses, was not material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  Our method for determining estimated losses considers currently available facts, presently enacted laws and regulations and other external factors, including probable recoveries from third parties.


There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Part 1, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013.
 


Purchases of equity securities by the issuer

Our share repurchase program, announced on June 21, 2004, originally allowed us to repurchase up to $100 million of shares of our common stock, which represented approximately 3.5% of the shares outstanding at the commencement of the program.  As summarized in the table below, subsequent additional increases totaling $1.3 billion, authorized by our Board of Directors, to the repurchase program provide for a total of $1.4 billion of shares of our common stock to be repurchased under this program.

Date of
 
Amount of Additional
Authorization
 
Repurchases Authorized
October 31, 2005
 
$
100,000,000 
March 28, 2007
 
 
100,000,000 
November 16, 2010
 
 
100,000,000 
August 18, 2011
 
 
200,000,000 
April 18, 2012
 
 
200,000,000 
November 12, 2012
 
 
300,000,000 
December 9, 2013
 
 
300,000,000 

As of September 27, 2014, we had repurchased approximately $1.3 billion of common stock (18,762,784 shares) under these initiatives, with $73.6 million available for future common stock share repurchases.

The following table summarizes repurchases of our common stock under our stock repurchase program during the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2014:

                   
Total Number
 
Maximum Number
         
Total
       
of Shares
 
of Shares
         
Number
 
Average
 
Purchased as Part
 
that May Yet
         
of Shares
 
Price Paid
 
of Our Publicly
 
Be Purchased Under
Fiscal Month
 
Purchased (1)
 
Per Share
 
Announced Program
 
Our Program (2)
06/29/14 through 08/02/14
 
241,375 
 
$
118.90 
 
241,375 
 
1,019,855 
08/03/14 through 08/30/14
 
196,137 
   
117.67 
 
196,137 
 
807,437 
08/31/14 through 09/27/14
 
195,000 
   
118.26 
 
195,000 
 
628,210 
       
632,512 
       
632,512 
   
                       
                         
(1)   
All repurchases were executed in the open market under our existing publicly announced authorized program.
                         
(2)   
The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under this program is determined at the end of each month end fiscal
   
period based on the closing price of our common stock at that time.
 

Plan of restructuring
 
On October 31, 2014, we decided to implement a planned corporate initiative to rationalize our operations and provide expense efficiencies, which will occur throughout fiscal 2015.  This initiative is expected to include the elimination of approximately 2% to 3% of our workforce and the closing of certain facilities.  The costs associated with all actions to complete this restructuring are expected to be in the range of $35 million to $40 million pre-tax (approximately $0.29 to $0.33 per diluted share).  We plan to reduce our cost structure to fund new initiatives to drive future growth as our 2015 – 2017 strategic planning cycle begins.  At this time, we are unable to make a determination of the estimated amount or range of amounts to be included for each major type of cost associated with this restructuring (including associated cash expenditures).  We will provide further details in a future Securities and Exchange Commission filing at such time as we are able to determine the costs we expect to incur in connection with this restructuring.
 
The costs associated with this restructuring will be included in a separate line item, “Restructuring costs” within our consolidated statements of income.



Exhibits.

4.1
Letter Agreement dated as of September 22, 2014 amending the Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of August 9, 2010, by and among us, Prudential Investment Management, Inc. and each Prudential affiliate which becomes party thereto, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2014.)
4.2
Letter Agreement dated as of September 22, 2014 amending the Master Note Facility, dated as of August 9, 2010, by and among us, NYL Investors LLC (as successor in interest to New York Life Investment Management LLC) and each NY Life affiliate which becomes party thereto, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2014.)
4.3
Letter Agreement dated as of September 22, 2014 amending the Master Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2012, by and among us, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, MetLife Investment Management, LLC (f/k/a MetLife Investment Advisors Company, LLC) and each MetLife affiliate which becomes party thereto. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2014.)
10.1
First Amendment dated as of September 22, 2014 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2012, by and among us, the several lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and the other agents party thereto. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2014.)
10.2
Amendment No. 1 dated as of September 22, 2014 to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2013, by and among us, as servicer, HSFR, Inc., as seller, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, LTD., New York Branch, as agent and the various purchaser groups from time to time party thereto, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2014.)
31.1
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.+
31.2
Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.+
32.1
Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.+
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document+
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document+
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document+
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document+
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document+
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document+
 
_________
+    Filed herewith
 


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

 
Henry Schein, Inc.
 
(Registrant)
   
   
 
By: /s/ Steven Paladino
 
Steven Paladino
 
Executive Vice President and
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
(Authorized Signatory and Principal Financial
 
and Accounting Officer)


Dated: November 6, 2014

44