AmerisourceBergen Corporation Form 10-K
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

 

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

For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2008

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

 

 

AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Commission

File Number

 

Registrant, State of Incorporation

Address and Telephone Number

 

I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.

1-16671  

AmerisourceBergen Corporation

(a Delaware Corporation)

1300 Morris Drive

Chesterbrook, PA 19087-5594

(610) 727-7000

  23-3079390

 

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:    Common Stock, $.01 par value per share

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:    None

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ¨     No  x

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on March 31, 2008 based upon the closing price of such stock on the New York Stock Exchange on March 31, 2008 was $6,047,584,588.

The number of shares of common stock of AmerisourceBergen Corporation outstanding as of October 31, 2008 was 156,218,779.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

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

Part III—Registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

ITEM

        PAGE
1.   

Business

   1
1A.   

Risk Factors

   10
1B.   

Unresolved Staff Comments

   17
2.   

Properties

   17
3.   

Legal Proceedings

   17
4.   

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   20
  

Executive Officers of the Registrant

   20
PART II
5.   

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   21
6.   

Selected Financial Data

   24
7.   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   26
7A.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   49
8.   

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   50
9.   

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

   98
9A.   

Controls and Procedures

   98
9B.   

Other Information

   100
PART III
10.   

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

   101
11.   

Executive Compensation

   101
12.   

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

   101
13.   

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

   101
14.   

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

   101
PART IV
15.   

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

   102
  

Signatures

   108

 

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PART I

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

As used herein, the terms “Company,” “AmerisourceBergen,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to AmerisourceBergen Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

AmerisourceBergen Corporation is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical services companies, with operations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Servicing both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, we provide drug distribution and related services designed to reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes. More specifically, we distribute a comprehensive offering of brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to a wide variety of healthcare providers in the United States and Canada, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order facilities, physicians, medical clinics, long-term care and other alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. We also provide pharmaceuticals and pharmacy services to specialty drug patients. Additionally, we furnish healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers with an assortment of related services, including pharmaceutical packaging, pharmacy automation, supply management software, inventory management, reimbursement and pharmaceutical consulting services, logistics services, and physician education.

Industry Overview

Over the last several years we have benefited from the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the United States. In fiscal 2008, our total revenue increased by 7%. According to IMS Healthcare, Inc. (“IMS”), an independent third party provider of information to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, industry sales in the United States are expected to grow between 1% and 2% in 2009 and between 3% and 6% during the five-year period ending 2012. IMS also indicated that certain sectors of the market, such as biotechnology and other specialty and generic pharmaceuticals, would grow faster than the overall market.

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

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

Introduction of New Pharmaceuticals. Traditional research and development, as well as the advent of new research, production and delivery methods, such as biotechnology and gene therapy, continue to generate new pharmaceuticals and delivery methods that are more effective in treating diseases. We believe ongoing research and development expenditures by the leading pharmaceutical manufacturers will contribute to continued growth of the industry. In particular, we believe ongoing research and development of biotechnology and other specialty pharmaceutical drugs will provide opportunities for the continued growth of our specialty pharmaceuticals business.

Increased Use of Generic Pharmaceuticals. A significant number of patents for widely-used brand-name pharmaceutical products will expire during the next several years. In addition, increased emphasis by managed care organizations to utilize generics has accelerated their growth. We consider the increase in generic usage a favorable trend because generic pharmaceuticals have historically provided us with a greater gross profit margin opportunity than brand-name products, although their lower prices reduce revenue growth.

Increased Use of Drug Therapies. In response to rising healthcare costs, governmental and private payors have adopted cost containment measures that encourage the use of efficient drug therapies to prevent or treat

 

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diseases. While national attention has been focused on the overall increase in aggregate healthcare costs, we believe drug therapy has had a beneficial impact on overall healthcare costs by reducing expensive surgeries and prolonged hospital stays. Pharmaceuticals currently account for approximately 10% of overall healthcare costs. Pharmaceutical manufacturers’ continued emphasis on research and development is expected to result in the continuing introduction of cost-effective drug therapies and new uses for existing drug therapies.

Legislative Developments. In recent years, regulation of the healthcare industry has changed significantly in an effort to increase drug utilization and reduce costs. These changes included expansion of Medicare coverage for outpatient prescription drugs, the enrollment (beginning in 2006) of Medicare beneficiaries in prescription drug plans offered by private entities, and cuts in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates. In addition, the U.S. Congress may take action in the future to modify Medicare and Medicaid drug payment policy. These policies and other legislative developments may affect our businesses directly and/or indirectly (see Government Regulation on page 7 for further details).

The Company

We currently serve our customers (healthcare providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and some patients) through a geographically diverse network of distribution service centers and other operations in the United States and Canada, and through packaging facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. In our pharmaceutical distribution business, we are typically the primary source of supply of pharmaceutical and related products to our healthcare provider customers. We offer a broad range of services to our customers designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations, which allows them to improve the delivery of healthcare to patients and to lower overall costs in the pharmaceutical supply channel.

Strategy

Our business strategy is focused solely on the pharmaceutical supply channel where we provide value-added distribution and service solutions to healthcare providers (primarily pharmacies, health systems and physicians) and pharmaceutical manufacturers that increase channel efficiencies and improve patient outcomes. Implementing this disciplined, focused strategy has allowed us to significantly expand our business, and we believe we are well-positioned to continue to grow revenue and increase operating income through the execution of the following key elements of our business strategy:

 

   

Optimize and Grow Our Pharmaceutical Distribution and Service Businesses. We believe we are well-positioned in size and market breadth to continue to grow our distribution business as we invest to improve our operating and capital efficiencies. Distribution anchors our growth and position in the pharmaceutical supply channel, as we provide superior distribution services and deliver value-added solutions, which improve the efficiency and competitiveness of both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers, thus allowing the pharmaceutical supply channel to better deliver healthcare to patients.

With the rapid growth of generic pharmaceuticals in the U.S. market, we have introduced strategies to enhance our position in the generic marketplace. We source generics globally, offer a value-added generic formulary program to our healthcare provider customers, and monitor our customers’ compliance with our generics program. We also sell data and other valuable services to our generic manufacturing customers.

We believe we have one of the lowest cost operating structures among all pharmaceutical distributors. Our Optimiz® program for AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation reduced our distribution facility network in the U.S. from 51 facilities in 2001 to 26 as of September 30, 2007. The program, which was completed in fiscal 2007, included building six new facilities and closing 31 facilities. These measures have reduced our operating costs and working capital. In addition, we believe we will continue to achieve productivity and operating income gains as we invest in and continue to implement warehouse automation technology, adopt “best practices” in warehousing activities, and increase operating

 

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leverage by increasing volume per full-service distribution facility. Furthermore, we believe that the investments that we will make related to our Business Transformation project over the next few years will reduce our operating expenses in the future (see Information Systems on page 5 for further details).

We offer value-added services and solutions to assist manufacturers and healthcare providers to improve their efficiency and their patient outcomes. Services for manufacturers include: assistance with rapid new product launches, promotional and marketing services to accelerate product sales, product data reporting and logistical support. In addition, we provide packaging services to manufacturers, including contract packaging for over-the-counter products, physician samples, and clinical trials.

Our provider solutions include: our Good Neighbor Pharmacy® program, which enables independent community pharmacies to compete more effectively through pharmaceutical benefit and merchandising programs; Good Neighbor Pharmacy Provider Network, our managed care network, which connects our retail pharmacy customers to payor plans throughout the country and is the third-largest in the U.S.; best-priced generic product purchasing services; hospital pharmacy consulting designed to improve operational efficiencies; scalable automated pharmacy dispensing equipment; and packaging services that deliver unit dose, punch card and other compliance packaging for institutional and retail pharmacy customers.

In an effort to supplement our organic growth, we continue to utilize a disciplined approach to seek acquisitions that will assist us with our strategic growth plans.

In October 2007, we acquired Bellco Health (“Bellco”), a privately held New York distributor of branded and generic pharmaceuticals, for a purchase price of $162.2 million, net of cash acquired. Bellco is a pharmaceutical distributor in the Metro New York City area, where it primarily services independent retail community pharmacies. The acquisition of Bellco expanded the Company’s presence in this large community pharmacy market. Nationally, Bellco markets and sells generic pharmaceuticals to individual retail pharmacies, and provides pharmaceutical products and services to dialysis clinics. Bellco’s revenues were $2.1 billion in fiscal 2008. The dialysis-related business now is operated as part of our specialty pharmaceuticals business, as described below.

 

   

Optimize and Grow Our Specialty Distribution and Service Businesses. Representing $14.6 billion in total revenue in fiscal 2008, which includes the dialysis-related business acquired from Bellco, our specialty pharmaceuticals business has a significant presence in this rapidly growing part of the pharmaceutical supply channel. With distribution and value-added services to physicians and a broad array of pharmaceutical and specialty services for manufacturers, our specialty pharmaceuticals business is a well-developed platform for growth. We are the leader in distribution and services to community oncologists and have leading positions in other physician administered products. We also distribute vaccines, other injectables, plasma and other blood products and are well-positioned to service and support many of the new biotech therapies, which will be coming to market in the near future.

Our specialty services businesses help pharmaceutical manufacturers, especially in the biotechnology sector, commercialize their products in the channel. We believe we are the largest provider of reimbursement services that assist pharmaceutical companies to launch drugs with targeted populations and support the products in the channel. We also provide physician education services, third party logistics and specialty pharmacy services to help speed products to market.

We continue to seek to expand our offerings in specialty distribution and services.

Most recently, our acquisition of Bellco, as noted above, allowed us to significantly increase our sales of pharmaceutical products and services to dialysis clinics in fiscal 2008.

In fiscal 2007, we acquired three specialty services businesses, beginning with I.G.G. of America, Inc. (“IgG”), a specialty pharmacy and infusion services business specializing in the blood derivative

 

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intravenous immunoglobulin (“IVIG”). We also acquired Access M.D., Inc. (“Access M.D.”), a Canadian company that provides reimbursement support and nursing support services for manufacturers of specialty pharmaceuticals, such as injectable and biological therapies. Access M.D. expands our specialty services businesses into Canada and complements the distribution services offered by AmerisourceBergen Canada. Lastly, we acquired Xcenda LLC (“Xcenda”), a consulting business that provides additional capabilities within pharmaceutical brand services, applied health outcomes, and biopharma strategies.

 

   

Divestitures. In order to allow us to concentrate on our strategic focus of pharmaceutical distribution and related services and specialty pharmaceutical distribution and related services, we may, from time to time, consider divestitures.

In October 2008, we sold PMSI, our workers’ compensation business, which had total revenues and a loss before income taxes of approximately $404 million and $216 million, respectively, in fiscal 2008.

On July 31, 2007, the Company and Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (“Kindred”) completed the spin-offs and subsequent combination of their institutional pharmacy businesses, PharMerica Long-Term Care (“Long-Term Care”) and Kindred Pharmacy Services (“KPS”), to form a new, independent, publicly traded company named PharMerica Corporation (“PMC”). The Company’s and Kindred’s stockholders each owned approximately 50 percent of PMC immediately after the closing of the transaction.

Operations

Operating Structure. We are organized based upon the products and services we provide to our customers. Our operations as of September 30, 2008 were comprised of two reportable segments: Pharmaceutical Distribution and Other. The Other reportable segment includes the operating results of Long-Term Care, through the July 31, 2007 spin-off date. The operating results of PMSI, which was sold in October 2008, have been reclassified to discontinued operations.

During fiscal 2008, the Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment was comprised of four operating segments, which included the operations of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (“ABDC”), AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group (“ABSG” or “Specialty Group”), Bellco Health (“Bellco”), and AmerisourceBergen Packaging Group (“ABPG” or “Packaging Group”). We recently completed our integration of Bellco’s separate operations within ABDC and ABSG and as of September 30, 2008, the Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment was comprised of three operating segments, which included ABDC, ABSG, and ABPG. Servicing both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s operations provide drug distribution and related services designed to reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes.

ABDC distributes a comprehensive offering of brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to a wide variety of healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and other alternate site pharmacies and other customers. ABDC also provides pharmacy management, staffing and other consulting services, scalable automated pharmacy dispensing equipment, medication and supply dispensing cabinets, and supply management software to a variety of retail and institutional healthcare providers.

ABSG, through a number of individual operating businesses, provides distribution and other services primarily to physicians who specialize in a variety of disease states, especially oncology, and to other healthcare providers, including dialysis clinics. ABSG also distributes vaccines, other injectables, plasma and other blood products. In addition, through its specialty services businesses, ABSG provides a number of commercialization services, third party logistics, group purchasing, and other services for biotech and other pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as reimbursement consulting, data analytics, practice management, and physician education. As previously noted, the dialysis-related business of Bellco has been integrated within ABSG as of September 30, 2008.

 

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ABPG consists of American Health Packaging, Anderson Packaging (“Anderson”) and Brecon Pharmaceuticals Limited (“Brecon”). American Health Packaging delivers unit dose, punch card, unit-of-use, and other packaging solutions to institutional and retail healthcare providers. American Health Packaging’s largest customer is ABDC, and, as a result, its operations are closely aligned with the operations of ABDC. Anderson is a leading provider of contract packaging services for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Brecon is a United Kingdom-based provider of contract packaging and clinical trial materials services for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Sales and Marketing. ABDC has a sales force organized regionally and specialized by healthcare provider type. Customer service representatives are located in distribution facilities in order to respond to customer needs in a timely and effective manner. ABDC also has support professionals focused on its various technologies and service offerings. ABDC’s national marketing organization designs and develops business management solutions for AmerisourceBergen healthcare provider customers. Tailored to specific groups, these programs can be further customized at the business unit or distribution facility level to adapt to local market conditions. ABDC’s sales and marketing organization also serves national account customers through close coordination with local distribution centers and ensures that our customers are receiving service offerings that meet their needs. Our Specialty and Packaging groups each have independent sales forces and marketing organizations that specialize in their respective product and service offerings.

Customers. We have a diverse customer base that includes institutional and retail healthcare providers as well as pharmaceutical manufacturers. Institutional healthcare providers include acute care hospitals, health systems, mail order pharmacies, long-term care and other alternate care pharmacies and providers of pharmacy services to such facilities, and physician offices. Retail healthcare providers include national and regional retail drugstore chains, independent community pharmacies and pharmacy departments of supermarkets and mass merchandisers. We are typically the primary source of supply for our healthcare provider customers. Our manufacturing customers include branded, generic, and biotech manufacturers of prescribed pharmaceuticals as well as over-the-counter product and health and beauty aid manufacturers. In addition, we offer a broad range of value-added solutions designed to enhance the operating efficiencies and competitive positions of our customers, thereby allowing them to improve the delivery of healthcare to patients and consumers. In fiscal 2008, total revenue for our Pharmaceutical Distribution segment was comprised of 68% institutional customers and 32% retail customers.

In fiscal 2008, Medco Health Solutions, Inc., our largest customer, accounted for 17% of our total revenue. No other individual customer accounted for more than 10% of our fiscal 2008 total revenue. Our top ten customers represented approximately 42% of fiscal 2008 total revenue. In addition, we have contracts with group purchasing organizations (“GPOs”), each of which functions as a purchasing agent on behalf of its members, who are healthcare providers. Approximately 7% of our total revenue in fiscal 2008 was derived from our two largest GPO relationships (Novation and Premier). The loss of any major customer or GPO relationship could adversely affect future revenue and results of operations.

Suppliers. We obtain pharmaceutical and other products from manufacturers, none of which accounted for 10% or more of our purchases in fiscal 2008. The loss of a supplier could adversely affect our business if alternate sources of supply are unavailable since we are committed to be the primary source of pharmaceutical products for a majority of our customers. We believe that our relationships with our suppliers are good. The ten largest suppliers in fiscal 2008 accounted for approximately 54% of our purchases.

Information Systems. ABDC operates its full-service wholesale pharmaceutical distribution facilities in the U.S. on a centralized system. ABDC’s operating system provides for, among other things, electronic order entry by customers, invoice preparation and purchasing, and inventory tracking. As a result of electronic order entry, the cost of receiving and processing orders has not increased as rapidly as sales volume. ABDC’s systems are intended to strengthen customer relationships by allowing the customer to lower its operating costs and by providing a platform for a number of the basic and value-added services offered to our customers, including marketing, product demand data, inventory replenishment, single-source billing, computer price updates and price labels.

 

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ABDC continues to expand its electronic interface with its suppliers and currently processes a substantial portion of its purchase orders, invoices and payments electronically. ABDC continues to implement a new warehouse operating system, which has improved its productivity and operating leverage. ABDC will continue to invest in advanced information systems and automated warehouse technology. As of September 30, 2008, approximately 91% of ABDC’s transactional volume is generated from our distribution facilities that have successfully implemented the new warehouse operating system.

In an effort to maintain and improve our information technology infrastructure, in 2005 we outsourced a significant portion of our information technology activities relating to ABDC and corporate functions to IBM Global Services.

ABDC plans to continue to make system investments to further improve its information capabilities and meet its customer and operational needs. For example, we began to make significant investments in fiscal 2008 relating to our Business Transformation project that will include a new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) platform, which will be implemented throughout ABDC and our corporate functions, as well as the development and implementation of integrated processes to enhance our business practices and lower costs. We expect to continue to make significant investments in our Business Transformation project through fiscal 2011.

ABSG operates the majority of its business on its own common, centralized platform resulting in operating efficiencies as well as the ability to rapidly deploy new capabilities. The convenience of ordering via the Internet is very important to ABSG’s customers. Over the past few years, ABSG has enhanced its web capabilities such that a significant amount of orders are initiated via the Internet.

Competition

We face a highly competitive environment in the distribution of pharmaceuticals and related healthcare services. Our largest national competitors are Cardinal Health, Inc. (“Cardinal”) and McKesson Corporation (“McKesson”). ABDC competes with both Cardinal and McKesson, as well as national generic distributors and regional distributors within pharmaceutical distribution. In addition, we compete with manufacturers who sell directly to customers, chain drugstores who manage their own warehousing, specialty distributors, and packaging and healthcare technology companies. The distribution and related service businesses in which ABSG engages are also highly competitive. ABSG’s operating businesses face competition from a variety of competitors, including McKesson, FFF Enterprises, Henry Schein, Inc., Med-Path, Express Scripts, Inc., US Oncology, Inc., Covance Inc., and UPS Logistics, among others. In all areas, competitive factors include price, product offerings, value-added service programs, service and delivery, credit terms, and customer support.

Intellectual Property

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

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

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

 

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

Employees

As of September 30, 2008, we had approximately 10,900 employees, of which approximately 9,700 were full-time employees. Approximately 4% of full and part-time employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. We believe that our relationship with our employees is good. If any of our employees in locations that are unionized should engage in strikes or other such bargaining tactics in connection with the negotiation of new collective bargaining agreements upon the expiration of any existing collective bargaining agreements, such tactics could be disruptive to our operations and adversely affect our results of operations, but we believe we have adequate contingency plans in place to assure delivery of pharmaceuticals to our customers in the event of any such disruptions.

Government Regulation

We are subject to oversight by various state and federal governmental entities and we are subject to, and affected by, a variety of state and federal laws, regulations and policies.

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

We and our customers are subject to fraud and abuse laws, including the federal anti-kickback statute and the Stark law. The anti-kickback statute, and the related regulations, prohibit persons from soliciting, offering, receiving or paying any remuneration in order to induce the referral of a person for the furnishing, or arranging for the furnishing, of any item or service or to induce the purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for or recommending purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for items or services that are in any way paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal healthcare programs. The Stark law prohibits physicians from making referrals for designated health services to certain entities with which they have a financial relationship. The fraud and abuse laws and regulations are broad in scope and are subject to frequent modification and varied interpretation. ABSG’s operations are particularly subject to these laws and regulations, as are certain aspects of ABDC’s operations.

In recent years, some states have passed or have proposed laws and regulations that are intended to protect the safety of the pharmaceutical supply channel. These laws and regulations are designed to prevent the introduction of counterfeit, diverted, adulterated or mislabeled pharmaceuticals into the distribution system. For example, Florida and other states are implementing pedigree requirements that require drugs to be accompanied by information tracing drugs back to the manufacturers. California has enacted a law requiring chain of custody technology using electronic pedigrees, although the effective date has been postponed until January 1, 2015 for pharmaceutical manufacturers and July 1, 2016 for pharmaceutical wholesalers and repackagers. These and other requirements are expected to increase our cost of operations. At the federal level, the FDA issued final regulations pursuant to the Prescription Drug Marketing Act that became effective in December 2006. The FDA

 

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regulations impose pedigree and other chain of custody requirements that increase the costs and/or burden to the Company of selling to other pharmaceutical distributors and handling product returns. In early December 2006, the federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction temporarily enjoining the implementation of the regulations in response to a case initiated by secondary distributors. The federal Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed this injunction on July 10, 2008. We cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this legal proceeding. These laws and regulations could increase the overall regulatory burden and costs associated with our distribution business and could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, the FDA Amendments Act of 2007 requires the FDA to establish standards and identify and validate effective technologies for the purpose of securing the pharmaceutical supply chain against counterfeit drugs. These standards may include track-and-trace or authentication technologies, such as radio frequency identification and other technologies. The FDA must develop a standardized numerical identifier by April 1, 2010.

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

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

Medicare and Medicaid

The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (“MMA”) instituted an “average sales price” or “ASP” methodology beginning in 2005 for Medicare Part B reimbursed drugs. Under Medicare Part B, physicians have the option of continuing to obtain drugs under the traditional “buy and bill” approach and being reimbursed for the drugs at ASP+6% or acquiring drugs through a competitive acquisition program or CAP. Physicians who participate in CAP bill the Medicare program only for drug administration, while the CAP vendor bills Medicare for the actual CAP drug and collects applicable beneficiary copayments. We are not a CAP vendor and an insignificant number of our physician customers have elected to participate in the CAP to date. On September 10, 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced that the 2009 CAP is being postponed indefinitely; therefore, CAP drugs will not be available from an approved CAP vendor for dates of service after December 31, 2008.

In December 2007, President Bush signed the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 into law. Among other things, the law requires CMS to adjust Medicare Part B drug ASP calculations to use volume-weighted ASPs based on actual sales volume, effective April 1, 2008. In the future, this change could reduce Medicare reimbursement rates for some Part B drugs, which may indirectly impact the prices we can charge our customers for pharmaceuticals and result in declines in our profitability.

The MMA also significantly expanded Medicare coverage for outpatient prescription drugs through the new Medicare Part D program. Beginning in 2006, Medicare beneficiaries became eligible to enroll in outpatient prescription drug plans that are offered by private entities and became eligible for varying levels of coverage for outpatient prescription drugs. Beneficiaries who participate select from a range of stand-alone prescription drug plans or Medicare Advantage managed care plans that include prescription drug coverage along with other Medicare services (“Part D Plans”). The Part D Plans are required to make available certain drugs on their formularies. Each Part D Plan negotiates reimbursement for Part D drugs with pharmaceutical manufacturers.

 

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The new Part D Plan program has increased the use of pharmaceuticals in the supply channel, which has a positive impact on our revenues and profitability.

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (“MIPPA”), enacted July 15, 2008, establishes timeframes for Part D Plan payments to pharmacies and long-term care pharmacy submission of claims; requires more frequent updating by Part D Plan sponsors of the drug pricing data they use to pay pharmacies; modifies statutory provisions regarding coverage of certain “protected classes” of drugs; limits certain Part D sales and marketing activities; and makes other Part D reforms.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (“DRA”) changed the federal upper payment limit for Medicaid reimbursement from 150% of the lowest published price for generic pharmaceuticals (which is usually the average wholesale price) to 250% of the lowest average manufacturer price or AMP. On July 17, 2007, CMS published a final rule implementing these provisions and clarifying, among other things, the AMP calculation methodology and the DRA provision requiring manufacturers to publicly report AMP for branded and generic pharmaceuticals. In December 2007, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction that enjoins CMS from implementing certain provisions of the AMP rule to the extent that it affects Medicaid reimbursement rates for retail pharmacies under the Medicaid program. The order also enjoined CMS from disclosing AMP data to states and other entities. In addition, MIPPA delayed the implementation of these changes until October 1, 2009. The use of an AMP benchmark may result in a reduction in the Medicaid reimbursement rates to our customers for certain generic pharmaceuticals, which may indirectly impact the prices that we can charge our customers for generic pharmaceuticals and cause corresponding declines in our profitability. There can be no assurance that the changes under the DRA will not have an adverse impact on our business. Unless we are able to develop plans to mitigate the potential impact of these legislative and regulatory changes, these changes in reimbursement formula and related reporting requirements and other provisions of the DRA could adversely affect our results of operations.

President Bush’s fiscal year 2009 budget proposal, released February 4, 2008, contained a series of proposals impacting Medicare and Medicaid, including a proposal to further reduce the Medicaid federal upper limit reimbursement for multiple source drugs to 150 percent of the AMP and replace the “best price” component of the Medicaid drug rebate formula with a budget-neutral flat rebate. Many of the proposed policy changes would require Congressional approval to implement. There can be no assurances that future revisions to Medicare or Medicaid payments, if enacted, will not have an adverse impact on our business.

The federal government may take action in the future to increase the Medicaid drug rebate amount for branded pharmaceuticals, amend the Medicare ASP calculation methodology, or otherwise modify Medicare/Medicaid drug payment policy.

See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of additional regulatory developments that may affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Health Information Practices

The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and its accompanying federal regulations set forth health information standards in order to protect security and privacy in the exchange of individually identifiable health information. In addition, our operations, depending on their location, may be subject to additional state or foreign regulations affecting personal data protection and the manner in which information services or products are provided. Significant criminal and civil penalties may be imposed for violation of HIPAA standards and other such laws. We have a HIPAA compliance program to facilitate our ongoing effort to comply with the HIPAA regulations.

 

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Available Information

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

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

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

Intense competition as well as industry consolidations may erode our profit margins.

The distribution of pharmaceuticals and related healthcare solutions is highly competitive. We compete with two national wholesale distributors of pharmaceuticals, Cardinal and McKesson; national generic distributors; regional and local distributors of pharmaceuticals; chain drugstores that warehouse their own pharmaceuticals; manufacturers that distribute their products directly to customers; specialty distributors; and packaging and healthcare technology companies (see “Competition”). In recent years, the healthcare industry has been subject to increasing consolidation. If this trend continues among our customers and suppliers, it could give the resulting enterprises greater bargaining power, which may lead to greater pressure to reduce prices for our products and services.

Our results of operations continue to be subject to the risks and uncertainties of inflation in branded pharmaceutical prices and deflation in generic pharmaceutical prices.

As part of our transition to fee-for-service, some distribution service agreements that we have entered into with branded pharmaceutical manufacturers continue to have an inflation-based compensation component to them. Arrangements with a small number of branded manufacturers continue to be solely inflation-based. As a result, approximately 15% of our gross profit from brand-name manufacturers continues to be subject to fluctuation based upon the timing and extent of price appreciation. If the frequency or rate of branded pharmaceutical price inflation slows, our results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, we distribute generic pharmaceuticals, which are subject to price deflation. If the frequency or rate of generic pharmaceutical price deflation accelerates, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

Declining economic conditions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Our operations and performance depend on economic conditions in the United States and other countries where we do business. Deterioration in general economic conditions could adversely affect the amount of prescriptions that are filled and the amount of pharmaceutical products purchased by consumers and, therefore, reduce purchases by our customers, which would negatively affect our revenue growth and cause a decrease in our profitability. Interest rate fluctuations, financial market volatility or credit market disruptions may also negatively affect our customers’ ability to obtain credit to finance their businesses on acceptable terms. Reduced purchases by our customers or changes in payment terms could adversely affect our revenue growth and cause a decrease in our cash flow from operations. Bankruptcies or similar events affecting our customers may cause us to incur bad debt expense at levels higher than historically experienced. Declining economic conditions may also increase our costs. If the economic conditions in the United States or in the regions outside the United States where we do business do not improve or continue to deteriorate, our results of operations or financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

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Our stock price and our ability to access credit markets may be adversely affected by the current levels of financial market volatility and disruption, which are unprecedented.

The capital and credit markets have been experiencing volatility and disruption for more than 12 months. Recently, the volatility and disruption has reached unprecedented levels. In some cases, the markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices and credit availability for certain issuers without regard to those issuers’ underlying financial strength. If current levels of market disruption and volatility continue or worsen, there can be no assurance that we will not experience downward movement in our stock price without regard to our financial condition or results of operations or an adverse effect, which may be material, on our ability to access credit generally, and on our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

Our receivables securitization facility expires in calendar 2009. While we did not have any borrowings outstanding under this facility as of September 30, 2008, we have historically utilized amounts available to us under this facility throughout the year to meet our business needs. In fiscal 2009, we will seek to renew this facility at available market rates, which we believe will be higher than the interest rates currently available to us. While we believe we will be able to renew this facility, there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so.

Our total revenue and results of operations may suffer upon the loss of a significant customer.

Our largest customer, Medco Health Solutions, Inc., accounted for 17% of our total revenue in fiscal 2008. Our top ten customers represented approximately 42% of fiscal 2008 total revenue. We also have contracts with group purchasing organizations (“GPOs”), each of which functions as a purchasing agent on behalf of its members, who are hospitals, pharmacies or other healthcare providers. Approximately 7% of our total revenue in fiscal 2008 was derived from our two largest GPO relationships (Novation and Premier). We may lose a significant customer or GPO relationship if any existing contract with such customer or GPO expires without being extended, renewed, renegotiated or replaced or is terminated by the customer or GPO prior to expiration, to the extent such early termination is permitted by the contract. A number of our contracts with significant customers or GPOs are typically subject to expiration each year and we may lose any of these customers or GPO relationships if we are unable to extend, renew, renegotiate or replace the contracts. The loss of any significant customer or GPO relationship could adversely affect our total revenue and results of operations.

Our total revenue and results of operations may suffer upon the bankruptcy, insolvency or other credit failure of a significant customer.

Most of our customers buy pharmaceuticals and other products and services from us on credit. Credit is made available to customers based on our assessment and analysis of creditworthiness. Although we often try to obtain a security interest in assets and other arrangements intended to protect our credit exposure, we generally are either subordinated to the position of the primary lenders to our customers or substantially unsecured. The continued volatility of the capital and credit markets may adversely affect the solvency or creditworthiness of our customers. The bankruptcy, insolvency or other credit failure of any customer that has a substantial amount owed to us could have a material adverse affect on our operating revenue and results of operations. At September 30, 2008, the largest trade receivable balance due from a single customer, which was our largest customer, represented approximately 9% of accounts receivable, net.

 

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Our results of operations may suffer upon the bankruptcy, insolvency or other credit failure of a significant supplier.

Our relationships with pharmaceutical suppliers give rise to substantial amounts that are due to us from the suppliers, including amounts owed to us for returned goods or defective goods and amounts due to us for services provided to the suppliers. The continued volatility of the capital and credit markets may adversely affect the solvency or creditworthiness of our suppliers. The bankruptcy, insolvency or other credit failure of any supplier at a time when the supplier has a substantial account payable balance due to us could have a material adverse affect on our results of operations.

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

The healthcare industry is highly regulated at the federal and state level. Consequently, we are subject to the risk of changes in various federal and state laws, which include operating and security standards of the DEA, the FDA, various state boards of pharmacy and comparable agencies. In recent years, some states have passed or have proposed laws and regulations, including laws and regulations obligating pharmaceutical distributors to provide prescription drug pedigrees, that are intended to protect the safety of the supply channel but that also may substantially increase the costs and burden of pharmaceutical distribution. For example, the Florida Prescription Drug Pedigree laws and regulations that became effective in July 2006 imposed obligations upon us to deliver prescription drug pedigrees to various categories of customers. In order to comply with the Florida requirements, we implemented an e-pedigree system at our distribution center in Florida that required significant capital outlays. Other states have adopted laws and regulations that would require us to implement pedigree capabilities in those other states similar to the pedigree capabilities implemented for Florida. For example, California has enacted a law requiring the implementation of costly track and trace chain of custody technologies, such as radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technologies although the effective date of the law has been postponed until January 1, 2015 for pharmaceutical manufacturers and until July 1, 2016 for pharmaceutical wholesalers and repackagers. At the federal level, the FDA issued final regulations pursuant to the Prescription Drug Marketing Act that became effective in December 2006. The regulations impose pedigree and other chain of custody requirements that increase the costs and/or burden to us of selling to other pharmaceutical distributors and handling product returns. In December 2006, the federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction temporarily enjoining the implementation of certain provisions of the regulations in response to a case initiated by secondary distributors. The federal Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed this injunction on July 10, 2008. We cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this legal proceeding.

In addition, the FDA Amendments Act of 2007 requires the FDA to establish standards and identify and validate effective technologies for the purpose of securing the pharmaceutical supply chain against counterfeit drugs. These standards may include track-and-trace or authentication technologies, such as RFID and other technologies. The FDA must develop a standardized numerical identifier by April 1, 2010. The increased costs of complying with these pedigree and other supply chain custody requirements could increase our costs or otherwise significantly affect our results of operations.

The suspension or revocation by the DEA of any of the registrations that must be in effect for our distribution facilities to purchase, store and distribute controlled substances or the refusal by DEA to issue a registration to any such facility that requires such registration may adversely affect our reputation, our business and our results of operations.

The DEA, FDA and various state regulatory authorities regulate the distribution of pharmaceuticals and controlled substances. We are required to hold valid DEA and state-level licenses, meet various security and operating standards and comply with the Controlled Substance Act and its accompanying regulations governing the sale, marketing, packaging, holding and distribution of controlled substances. The DEA, FDA and state

 

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regulatory authorities have broad enforcement powers, including the ability to suspend our distribution centers’ licenses to distribute pharmaceutical products (including controlled substances), seize or recall products and impose significant criminal, civil and administrative sanctions for violations of these laws and regulations.

On April 24, 2007, the DEA suspended our Orlando, Florida distribution center’s license to distribute controlled substances and listed chemicals, alleging that the distribution center did not maintain effective controls against diversion of controlled substances to certain internet pharmacies. On June 22, 2007, we signed an agreement with the DEA, which led to the reinstatement of our Orlando, Florida distribution center’s license to distribute controlled substances and listed chemicals effective August 25, 2007. As required by the agreement, we implemented an enhanced and more sophisticated order-monitoring program in all of our ABDC distribution centers by June 30, 2007. In addition, in June 2007, one of our subsidiaries, Bellco Drug Corp., entered into a consent judgment with the DEA following the suspension of Bellco Drug’s DEA license in May 2007 prior to our acquisition of the business. The DEA had alleged that Bellco Drug had failed to maintain effective controls against the diversion of controlled substances as required by federal law. In the consent judgment, Bellco Drug voluntarily surrendered its DEA registration with leave to apply for a new registration. Bellco Drug received its new DEA registration on February 12, 2008 and resumed distribution of controlled substances. While we expect to continue to comply with all of the DEA’s requirements, there can be no assurance that the DEA will not require further controls against the diversion of controlled substances in the future or will not take similar action against any other of our distribution centers in the future.

Legal and regulatory changes reducing reimbursement rates for pharmaceuticals and/or medical treatments or services may reduce our profitability and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Both our own profit margins and the profit margins of our customers may be adversely affected by laws and regulations reducing reimbursement rates for pharmaceuticals and/or medical treatments or services or changing the methodology by which reimbursement levels are determined. Many of our contracts with healthcare providers are multi-year contracts from which we derive profit based upon reimbursement rates and methodologies in place at the time such contracts were entered into. Many of these contracts cannot be terminated or amended in the event of such legal and regulatory changes. Accordingly, such changes may have the effect of reducing, or even eliminating, our profitability on such contracts until the end of the applicable contract periods.

ABSG’s business may be adversely affected in the future by changes in Medicare reimbursement rates for certain pharmaceuticals, including oncology drugs administered by physicians. Since ABSG provides a number of services to or through physicians, this could result in slower growth or lower revenues for ABSG.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (“DRA”) was intended to reduce net Medicare and Medicaid spending by approximately $11 billion over five years. Effective January 1, 2007, the DRA changed the federal upper payment limit for Medicaid reimbursement from 150% of the lowest published price for generic pharmaceuticals (which is usually the average wholesale price) to 250% of the lowest average manufacturer price (“AMP”). On July 17, 2007, CMS published a final rule implementing these provisions and clarifying, among other things, the AMP calculation methodology and the DRA provision requiring manufacturers to publicly report AMP for branded and generic pharmaceuticals. In December 2007, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction that enjoins CMS from implementing certain provisions of the AMP rule to the extent that it affects Medicaid reimbursement rates for retail pharmacies under the Medicaid program. The order also enjoins CMS from disclosing AMP data to states and other entities. On July 15, 2008, Congress enacted the Medicaid Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (“MIPPA”). MIPPA delays the adoption of CMS’s July 17, 2007 rule and prevents CMS from publishing AMP data until October 1, 2009. We expect the use of an AMP benchmark to result in a reduction in the Medicaid reimbursement rates to our customers for certain generic pharmaceuticals, which may indirectly impact the prices that we can charge our customers for generic pharmaceuticals and cause corresponding declines in our profitability. There can be no assurance that the changes under the DRA will not have an adverse impact on our business. Unless we are able to

 

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develop plans to mitigate the potential impact of these legislative and regulatory changes, these changes in reimbursement formula and related reporting requirements and other provisions of the DRA could adversely affect our results of operations.

In December 2007, President Bush signed the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 into law. Among other things, the law requires CMS to adjust Medicare Part B drug average sales price (“ASP”) calculations to use volume-weighed ASPs based on actual sales volume, effective April 1, 2008. This change could reduce Medicare reimbursement rates for some Part B drugs, which may indirectly impact the prices we can charge our customers for pharmaceuticals and result in reductions in our profitability.

President Bush’s fiscal year 2009 budget proposal, released February 4, 2008, contains a series of proposals that affect Medicare and Medicaid, including a proposal to further reduce the upper limit reimbursement for multiple source drugs to 150% of the AMP and replace the “best price” component of the Medicaid drug rebate formula with a budget-neutral flat rebate. Many of the proposed policy changes would require Congressional approval to implement. There can be no assurance that future revisions to Medicare or Medicaid payments, if enacted, will not have an adverse impact on our business.

Our revenue growth rate has been negatively impacted by a reduction in sales of certain anemia drugs, primarily those used in oncology, and may, in the future, be adversely affected by any further reductions in sales or restrictions on the use of anemia drugs or a decrease in Medicare reimbursement for these drugs. Several developments contributed to the decline in sales of anemia drugs, including expanded warning and other product safety labeling requirements, more restrictive federal policies governing Medicare reimbursement for the use of these drugs to treat oncology patients with kidney failure and dialysis, and changes in regulatory and clinical medical guidelines for recommended dosage and use. In addition, the FDA has announced that it is reviewing new clinical study data concerning the possible risks associated with erythropoiesis stimulating agents and may take additional action with regard to these drugs. CMS has indicated that it may impose additional restrictions on Medicare coverage in the future. Also, on July 30, 2008, CMS announced it is considering a review of national Medicare coverage policy for these drugs for patients who have cancer or pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease. Any further changes in the recommended dosage or use of anemia drugs or reductions in reimbursement for such drugs could result in slower growth or lower revenues.

First DataBank, Inc. publishes drug databases that contain drug information and pricing data. The pricing data includes average wholesale price, or AWP, which is a pricing benchmark widely used to calculate a portion of the Medicaid and Medicare Part D reimbursements payable to pharmacy providers. AWP is also used to establish the pricing of pharmaceuticals to certain of our pharmaceutical distribution customers in Puerto Rico. First DataBank is involved in class action litigation concerning the way it calculates AWP pricing data. On May 29, 2008, the plaintiffs and First DataBank filed an amended settlement (following an original proposed settlement in 2006) that would, among other things, adjust its AWP reporting practices for certain prescription drugs by applying a reduced markup factor (20% versus 25%) to approximately 1,400 national drug codes. On June 3, 2008, the federal district court overseeing the litigation granted preliminary approval to the revised settlement and subsequently approved the process for class notification. The matter is still subject to opposition by others, a fairness hearing, which has been scheduled for December 17, 2008, and final court approval. First DataBank also announced that, independent of the settlement, it would reduce to 20% the markup on all drugs with a mark-up higher than 20% and stop publishing AWP within two years after the mark-up changes are implemented. We continue to evaluate the potential impact that a proposed settlement could have on the business of our customers and our business. If a revised settlement or other resolution of the case is approved, we will evaluate the potential impact of such settlement or other resolution on us at that time. There can be no assurance that a settlement or other resolution, if approved, would not have an adverse impact on the business of our customers and/or our business.

The federal government may adopt measures in the future that would further reduce Medicare and/or Medicaid spending or impose additional requirements on health care entities. At this time, we can provide no assurances that such changes, if adopted, would not have an adverse effect on our business.

 

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The changing United States healthcare environment may negatively impact our business and our profitability.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Our results of operations and our financial condition may be adversely affected by foreign operations.

We have pharmaceutical distribution operations based in Canada and provide contract packaging and clinical trials materials services in the United Kingdom. We may consider additional foreign acquisitions in the future. Our existing foreign operations and any operations we may acquire in the future carry risks in addition to the risks of acquisition, as described above. At any particular time, foreign operations may encounter risks and uncertainties regarding the governmental, political, economic, business and competitive environment within the countries in which those operations are based. Additionally, foreign operations expose us to foreign currency fluctuations that could impact our results of operations and financial condition based on the movements of the applicable foreign currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar.

Risks generally associated with our sophisticated information systems may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Our businesses rely on sophisticated information systems to obtain, rapidly process, analyze, and manage data to facilitate the purchase and distribution of thousands of inventory items from numerous distribution centers; to receive, process, and ship orders on a timely basis; to account for other product and service transactions with customers; to manage the accurate billing and collections for thousands of customers; and to process payments to suppliers. Our business and results of operations may be adversely affected if these systems are interrupted or damaged by unforeseen events or if they fail for any extended period of time, including due to the actions of third parties. A third party service provider (IBM) is responsible for managing a significant portion of ABDC’s information systems. Our business and results of operations may be adversely affected if the third party service provider does not perform satisfactorily.

Certain of our businesses continue to make substantial investments in information systems. To the extent the implementation of these systems fail, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Risks generally associated with implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system may adversely affect our business and results of operations or the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

We are preparing to implement an ERP system to handle the business and financial processes within ABDC’s operations and our corporate functions. ERP implementations are complex and time-consuming projects that involve substantial expenditures on system software and implementation activities that can continue for several years. ERP implementations also require transformation of business and financial processes in order to reap the benefits of the ERP system. Our business and results of operations may be adversely affected if we experience operating problems and/or cost overruns during the ERP implementation process or if the ERP system, and the associated process changes, do not give rise to the benefits that we expect.

Additionally, if the Company does not effectively implement the ERP system or if the system does not operate as intended, it could adversely affect the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting.

Tax legislation initiatives or challenges to our tax positions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We are a large corporation with operations in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United Kingdom. As such, we are subject to tax laws and regulations of the United States federal, state and local governments and of many foreign jurisdictions. From time to time, various legislative initiatives may be proposed that could adversely affect our tax positions. There can be no assurance that our effective tax rate or tax payments will not be adversely affected by these initiatives. In addition, United States federal, state and local, as well as foreign, tax laws and regulations, are extremely complex and subject to varying interpretations. There can be no assurance that our tax positions will not be challenged by relevant tax authorities or that we would be successful in any such challenge.

 

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ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

As of September 30, 2008, we conducted our business from office and operating facilities at owned and leased locations throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico. In the aggregate, our facilities occupy approximately 8.3 million square feet of office and warehouse space, which is either owned or leased under agreements that expire from time to time through 2018.

We have 26 full-service ABDC wholesale pharmaceutical distribution facilities in the United States, ranging in size from approximately 54,000 square feet to 310,000 square feet, with an aggregate of approximately 4.7 million square feet. Leased facilities are located in Puerto Rico plus the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Utah, and Washington. Owned facilities are located in the following states: Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. As of September 30, 2008, ABDC had 11 wholesale pharmaceutical distribution facilities in Canada. Two of these facilities are owned and are located in the provinces of Newfoundland and Ontario. Nine of these locations are leased and located in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. We consider our operating properties to be in satisfactory condition.

As of September 30, 2008, the Specialty Group’s operations were conducted in 20 locations, two of which are owned, comprising of approximately 1.0 million square feet. The Specialty Group’s largest leased facility consisted of approximately 276,000 square feet. Its headquarters are located in Texas and it has significant operations in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio.

As of September 30, 2008, the Packaging Group’s operations in the U.S. consisted of 3 owned facilities and 4 leased facilities totaling approximately 1.3 million square feet. The Packaging Group’s operations in the U.S. are primarily located in the states of Illinois and Ohio. The Packaging Group’s operations in the United Kingdom are located in 6 owned and 2 leased building units comprising a total of 103,000 square feet. The two leased building units were acquired by us in October 2008.

We lease approximately 154,000 square feet in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania for our corporate and ABDC headquarters.

We consider all of our operating office properties to be in satisfactory condition.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

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

 

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RxUSA Matter

In 2001, the Company sued one of its former customers, RxUSA International, Inc. and certain related companies (“RxUSA”), seeking over $300,000 for unpaid invoices. The matter is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (the “Federal District Court”). Thereafter, RxUSA filed counterclaims alleging breach of contract claiming that it was overbilled for products by over $400,000. RxUSA also alleged violations of the federal and New York antitrust laws, tortious interference with business relations and defamation. The Federal District Court has granted summary judgment for the Company on the antitrust and defamation counterclaims, but denied the motion on the breach of contract and tortious interference counterclaims. In connection with its tortious interference counterclaim, RxUSA asserts compensatory damages of $61 million plus punitive damages. The case is scheduled for trial on January 26, 2009. The Company intends to vigorously prosecute its claim for unpaid invoices and does not believe that the counterclaims asserted by RxUSA have merit, but cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter.

New York Attorney General Subpoena

In fiscal 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York (the “NYAG”) requesting documents and responses to interrogatories concerning the manner and degree to which the Company purchased pharmaceuticals from other wholesalers, often referred to as the alternate source market, rather than directly from manufacturers. Similar subpoenas have been issued by the NYAG to other pharmaceutical distributors. After receiving the subpoena, the Company engaged in discussions with the NYAG, initially to clarify the scope of the subpoena and subsequently to provide background information requested by the NYAG. The Company has produced responsive information and documents and will continue to cooperate with the NYAG. Late in fiscal year 2007, the Company received a communication from the NYAG detailing potential theories of liability. Subsequently, the Company met with the NYAG to discuss this matter and has communicated the Company’s position on this matter to the NYAG. The Company believes that it has not engaged in any wrongdoing, but cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

Bergen Brunswig Matter

A former Bergen Brunswig chief executive officer who was terminated in 1999 filed an action that year in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange (the “Superior Court”) claiming that Bergen Brunswig (predecessor in interest to AmerisourceBergen Corporation) had breached its obligations to him under his employment agreement. Shortly after the filing of the lawsuit, Bergen Brunswig made a California Civil Procedure Code § 998 Offer of Judgment to the executive, which the executive accepted. The resulting judgment awarded the executive damages and the continuation of certain employment benefits. Since then, the Company and the executive have engaged in litigation as to what specific benefits were included in the scope of the Offer of Judgment and the value of those benefits. The Superior Court entered an Order in Implementation of Judgment on June 7, 2001, which identified the specific benefits encompassed by the Offer of Judgment. Following submission by the executive of a claim for benefits pursuant to the Bergen Brunswig Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “Plan”), the Company followed the administrative procedure set forth in the Plan. This procedure involved separate reviews by two independent parties, the first by the Review Official appointed by the Plan Administrator and second by the Plan Trustee, and resulted in a determination that the executive was entitled to a $1.9 million supplemental retirement benefit and such amount was paid. The executive challenged this award and on July 7, 2006, the Superior Court entered a Second Order in Implementation of Judgment determining that the executive was entitled to a supplemental retirement benefit, net of the $1.9 million previously paid to him, in the amount of $19.4 million, which included interest at the rate of ten percent per annum from August 29, 2001. The Company recorded a charge of $13.9 million in fiscal 2006 to establish the total liability of $19.4 million on its balance sheet. The Court refused to award the executive other benefits claimed, including an award of stock options, a severance payment and forgiveness of a loan. Both the executive and the Company appealed the ruling of the Superior Court. On October 12, 2007, the Court of Appeal for the State of California, Fourth Appellate District (the “Court of Appeal”) made certain rulings, and reversed certain

 

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portions of the July 2006 decision of the Superior Court in a manner that was favorable to the Company. As a result, in fiscal 2007, the Company reduced its total liability to the executive by $10.4 million. The Company continues to accrue interest on the remaining liability to the executive, pending the final resolution of this matter. The former executive filed a petition with the Supreme Court of California for review of the October 12, 2007 appellate decision. The Supreme Court of California denied the petition on January 23, 2008. The parties then entered into a stipulation to remand the calculation of the executive’s supplemental retirement benefit to the Plan Administrator in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s decision of October 12, 2007. On June 10, 2008, the Plan Administrator issued a decision that the executive is entitled to receive approximately $6.9 million in supplemental retirement benefits plus interest, less the $1.9 million already paid to the executive under the Plan. The executive appealed this determination and a hearing on his appeal was held in August 2008 before a Review Official appointed by the Plan Administrator. On October 31, 2008, the Review Official issued an interim decision affirming in most respects the Plan Administrator’s determination of the executive’s supplemental retirement benefit. The Company expects the Review Official to issue a final decision by the end of calendar 2008.

Bridge Medical Matter

In fiscal 2004, the former stockholders of Bridge Medical, Inc. (“Bridge”) commenced an action against the Company in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Chancery Action”) claiming that they were entitled to payment of certain contingent purchase price amounts that were provided under the terms of an agreement under which the Company acquired Bridge in January 2003. In fiscal 2005, the Company sold substantially all of the assets of Bridge. The contingent purchase price amounts at issue were conditioned upon the achievement by Bridge of certain earnings levels in calendar 2003 and calendar 2004 (collectively, the “Earnout Period”). The maximum amount that was payable in respect of calendar 2003 was $21 million and the maximum amount that was payable in respect of calendar 2004 was $34 million. The former stockholders of Bridge alleged (i) that the Company did not properly adhere to the terms of the acquisition agreement in calculating that no contingent purchase price amounts were due and (ii) that the Company breached certain obligations to assist the Bridge sales force and promote the Bridge bedside point-of-care patient safety product during the Earnout Period and that such breaches prevented Bridge from obtaining business that Bridge otherwise would have obtained. The trial of the Chancery Action and post-trial briefing were completed during May and June 2007. In September 2007, the Delaware Court of Chancery ruled that the former stockholders of Bridge were entitled to a payment of $21 million for earnout amounts, plus prejudgment interest in the amount of $5.9 million. As a result of the court’s decision, the Company recorded a charge of $24.6 million, net of income taxes, in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. The Company appealed the decision of the Delaware Court of Chancery and in April 2008, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Delaware Chancery Court. In April 2008, the Company paid the judgment of $28.1 million, which included post-judgment interest. The Company expects to receive a tax benefit only with respect to interest incurred in this matter.

MBL Matter

In May 2007, ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc. (“ASD”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, filed a lawsuit against Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories (“MBL”) in the 44th Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas. ASD alleged that MBL committed fraud by making misrepresentations to ASD in connection with the execution of a contract with ASD for the distribution of 5 million doses of tetanus diphtheria (“TD”) vaccines. Later that month, MBL sued ASD in the Superior Court of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, asserting breach of contract, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and other claims. MBL requested declaratory judgment, actual and consequential damages in an undetermined amount, and treble damages. ASD filed counterclaims against MBL in the Massachusetts action for breach of contract, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, unfair trade practices, and other claims. The Texas lawsuit was dismissed in favor of the parties’ proceeding in Massachusetts, but ASD filed a motion for reconsideration of the dismissal.

 

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In fiscal 2007, the Company recorded a $27.8 million write-down to estimated net realizable value for the TD vaccines, which remained unsold as of September 30, 2007. In March 2008, the parties entered into a settlement agreement resolving all disputes between them. As a result of the settlement, the Company recorded a $2.4 million gain in fiscal 2008.

 

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

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The following is a list of the Company’s principal executive officers and their ages and positions as of November 1, 2008. Each executive officer serves at the pleasure of the Company’s board of directors.

 

Name

   Age   

Current Position with the Company

R. David Yost

   61   

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Michael D. DiCandilo

   47   

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Chief Operating Officer, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation

Steven H. Collis

   47   

Executive Vice President and President, AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group

John G. Chou

   52   

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Jeanne B. Fisher

   67   

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

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

Mr. Yost has been Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company since August 2001 and was President of the Company until October 2002. He again assumed the position of President of the Company in September 2007. He was Chief Executive Officer of AmeriSource from May 1997 until August 2001 and Chairman of the Board of AmeriSource from December 2000 until August 2001. Mr. Yost has been employed by the Company or one of its predecessors for 34 years.

Mr. DiCandilo has been Chief Financial Officer of the Company since March 2002 and an Executive Vice President of the Company since May 2005. In May 2008, he was named Chief Operating Officer of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation. From March 2002 to May 2005, Mr. DiCandilo was a Senior Vice President. Mr. DiCandilo has been employed by the Company or one of its predecessors for 18 years.

Mr. Collis was named Executive Vice President and President of AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group in September 2007. He was Senior Vice President of the Company and President of AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group from August 2001 to September 2007. Mr. Collis has been employed by the Company or one of its predecessors for 14 years.

Mr. Chou was named Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company in January 2007. He has served as Secretary of the Company since February 2006. He was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel from November 2004 to January 2007 and Associate General Counsel from July 2002 to November 2004. Mr. Chou has been employed by the Company for 6 years.

Ms. Fisher has been Senior Vice President, Human Resources since January 2003. Ms. Fisher has been employed by the Company for 5 years.

 

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PART II

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

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the trading symbol “ABC.” As of October 31, 2008, there were 3,928 record holders of the Company’s common stock. The following table sets forth the high and low closing sale prices of the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated.

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

 

     High    Low

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2008

     

First Quarter

   $ 47.11    $ 42.83

Second Quarter

   $ 47.72    $ 39.09

Third Quarter

   $ 42.40    $ 39.00

Fourth Quarter

   $ 43.15    $ 37.65

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2007

     

First Quarter

   $ 45.98    $ 43.16

Second Quarter

   $ 53.68    $ 44.37

Third Quarter

   $ 54.69    $ 47.93

Fourth Quarter

   $ 48.75    $ 43.55

On July 31, 2007, the Company and Kindred completed the spin-offs and subsequent combination of their institutional pharmacy businesses, Long-Term Care and KPS, to form a new, independent, publicly traded company named PharMerica Corporation (“PMC”). The institutional pharmacy businesses were spun off to the stockholders of their respective parent companies, followed immediately by the merger of each of the businesses into a subsidiary of PMC, which resulted in the Company’s and Kindred’s stockholders each owning approximately 50 percent of PMC immediately after the closing of the transaction. The Company’s stockholders received 0.0833752 shares of PMC common stock for each share of AmerisourceBergen common stock owned. The Company’s common stock started trading on the NYSE without Long-Term Care on August 1, 2007, the day following the close of the divestiture transaction. The historical prices of the Company’s common stock have been retroactively adjusted downward by the NYSE by approximately 3% to reflect the spin-off transaction.

During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.075 and $0.05, respectively. On November 13, 2008, the Company’s board of directors increased the quarterly dividend by 33% and declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share, which will be paid on December 8, 2008 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 24, 2008. The Company anticipates that it will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future. However, the payment and amount of future dividends remain within the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will depend upon the Company’s future earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors.

BNY Mellon is the Company’s transfer agent. BNY Mellon can be reached at (mail) AmerisourceBergen Corporation c/o BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, P.O. Box 358015, Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8015; (telephone): Domestic 1-877-296-3711, Domestic TDD 1-800-231-5469, International 1-201-680-6578 or International TDD 1-201-296-0438; (internet) www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/isd; and (e-mail) Shrrelations@bnymellon.com.

 

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ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The following table sets forth the total number of shares purchased, the average price paid per share, the total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced programs, and the approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the programs during each month in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008.

 

Period

   Total
Number of
Shares Purchased
   Average Price
Paid per
Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced

Programs
   Approximate
Dollar Value of

Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the
Programs

October 1 to October 31

   1,569,014    $ 44.32    1,569,014    $ 127,898,371

November 1 to November 30

   5,067,400    $ 43.93    5,067,400    $ 405,276,746

December 1 to December 31

   435,600    $ 43.94    435,600    $ 386,137,725

January 1 to January 31

   —      $ —      —      $ 386,137,725

February 1 to February 29

   1,175,700    $ 44.75    1,175,700    $ 333,519,985

March 1 to March 31

   767,205    $ 40.51    767,205    $ 302,443,669

April 1 to April 30

   1,106,400    $ 41.35    1,106,400    $ 256,694,472

May 1 to May 31

   644,500    $ 41.86    644,500    $ 229,714,677

June 1 to June 30

   2,097,998    $ 40.85    2,097,998    $ 144,020,709

July 1 to July 31

   593,264    $ 41.99    593,264    $ 119,107,804

August 1 to August 31

   1,705,098    $ 41.66    1,705,098    $ 48,079,515

September 1 to September 30

   748,787    $ 40.06    748,787    $ 18,079,594
               

Total

   15,910,966    $ 42.70    15,910,966   
               

 

(a) In May 2007, the Company announced a program to purchase up to $850 million of its outstanding shares of common stock, subject to market conditions. In November 2007, the Company’s board of directors authorized an increase to the $850 million repurchase program by $500 million, subject to market conditions. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Company purchased 15.9 million shares of its common stock for $679.7 million under this program. There is no expiration date related to this program.

 

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STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

This graph depicts the Company’s five year cumulative total stockholder returns relative to the performance of an index of peer companies selected by the Company and of the Standard and Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Index from the market close on September 30, 2003 to September 30, 2008. The graph assumes $100 invested at the closing price of the common stock of the Company and of each of the other indices on the New York Stock Exchange on September 30, 2003. The points on the graph represent fiscal quarter-end index levels based on the last trading day in each fiscal quarter. The historical prices of the Company’s common stock reflect the downward adjustment of approximately 3% that was made by the NYSE in all of the historical prices to reflect the divestiture of Long-Term Care. The Peer Group index (which is weighted on the basis of market capitalization) consists of the following companies engaged primarily in wholesale pharmaceutical distribution and related services: Cardinal Health, Inc. and McKesson Corporation.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

AMONG AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION, THE S&P 500 INDEX

AND A PEER GROUP

LOGO

 

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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations beginning on page 26. All of the data illustrated below for fiscal 2007 and prior years have been restated to reflect PMSI as a discontinued operation.

 

    As of or for the fiscal year ended September 30,
    2008 (a)   2007 (b)   2006 (c)   2005 (d)   2004 (e)
    (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

Statement of Operations Data:

         

Operating revenue

  $ 67,518,933   $ 61,266,792   $ 56,282,216   $ 49,640,785   $ 48,427,639

Bulk deliveries to customer warehouses

    2,670,800     4,405,280     4,530,205     4,564,723     4,308,339

Total revenue

    70,189,733     65,672,072     60,812,421     54,205,508     52,735,978

Gross profit

    2,047,002     2,219,059     2,121,616     1,864,822     2,043,307

Operating expenses

    1,219,141     1,430,322     1,428,732     1,290,944     1,202,170

Operating income

    827,861     788,737     692,884     573,878     841,137

Interest expense, net

    64,496     32,244     12,464     57,223     113,100

Income from continuing operations

    469,064     474,803     434,463     253,760     438,261

Net income

    250,559     469,167     467,714     264,645     468,390

Earnings per share from continuing operations—diluted (f)(g)(h)

  $ 2.89   $ 2.53   $ 2.09   $ 1.19   $ 1.90

Earnings per share—diluted (a)(f)(g)(h)

  $ 1.54   $ 2.50   $ 2.25   $ 1.24   $ 2.03

Cash dividends declared per common share (f)

  $ 0.30   $ 0.20   $ 0.10   $ 0.05   $ 0.05

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted (f)

    162,460     187,886     207,446     215,540     235,558

Balance Sheet Data:

         

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 878,114   $ 640,204   $ 1,261,268   $ 966,553   $ 871,343

Short-term investment securities available for sale

    —       467,419     67,840     349,130     —  

Accounts receivable, net

    3,480,267     3,415,772     3,364,806     2,586,253     2,205,635

Merchandise inventories

    4,211,775     4,097,811     4,418,717     4,000,611     5,133,074

Property and equipment, net

    552,159     493,647     497,959     500,532     450,234

Total assets

    12,217,786     12,310,064     12,783,920     11,381,174     11,654,003

Accounts payable

    7,326,580     6,964,594     6,474,210     5,274,591     4,929,972

Long-term debt, including current portion

    1,189,131     1,227,553     1,095,491     952,711     1,438,471

Stockholders’ equity

    2,710,045     3,099,720     4,141,157     4,280,357     4,339,045

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 12,217,786   $ 12,310,064   $ 12,783,920   $ 11,381,174   $ 11,654,003

 

(a) Includes $7.6 million of facility consolidations, employee severance and other costs, net of income tax benefit of $4.8 million and a $2.1 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements, net of income tax expense of $1.4 million. In fiscal 2008, the Company recorded a non-cash charge to reduce the carrying value of PMSI by $224.9 million, net of income tax benefit of $0.9 million. This non-cash charge, which is reflected in discontinued operations, reduced diluted earnings per share by $1.38.

 

(b) Includes $5.0 million of facility consolidations, employee severance and other costs, net of income tax expense of $2.9 million and a $22.1 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements, net of income tax expense of $13.7 million and also includes $17.5 million charge relating to the write-down of tetanus-diphtheria vaccine inventory to its estimated net realizable value, net of income tax benefit of $10.3 million.

 

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As a result of the July 31, 2007 divestiture of Long-Term Care, the statement of operations data includes the operations of Long-Term Care for the ten months ended July 31, 2007 and the September 30, 2007 balance sheet data excludes Long-Term Care.

 

(c) Includes $14.2 million of facility consolidations, employee severance and other costs, net of income tax benefit of $5.9 million, a $25.8 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements, net of income tax expense of $15.1 million, and a $4.1 million gain on the sale of an equity investment and an eminent domain settlement, net of income tax expense of $2.4 million.

 

(d) Includes $14.0 million of facility consolidations, employee severance and other costs, net of income tax benefit of $8.7 million, a $71.4 million loss on early retirement of debt, net of income tax benefit of $40.5 million, a $24.7 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements, net of income tax expense of $15.4 million and an impairment charge of $3.2 million, net of income tax benefit of $2.1 million.

 

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

 

(f) On December 28, 2005, the Company effected a two-for-one stock split of its outstanding shares of common stock in the form of a 100% stock dividend. All applicable share and per-share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this stock split.

 

(g) Effective October 1, 2004, the Company changed its accounting method of recognizing cash discounts and other related manufacturer incentives. The Company recorded a $10.2 million charge for the cumulative effect of change in accounting (net of income tax benefit of $6.3 million) in the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005. The $10.2 million charge reduced diluted earnings per share by $0.05 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005.

Had the Company used its current method of accounting for recognizing cash discounts and other related manufacturer incentives for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would have been lower by $0.01.

 

(h) Effective October 1, 2005, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 123R, using the modified-prospective transition method, and therefore, began to expense the fair value of all outstanding stock options over their remaining vesting periods to the extent the options were not fully vested as of the adoption date and began to expense the fair value of all share-based compensation awards granted subsequent to September 30, 2005 over their requisite service periods. Had the Company expensed share-based compensation for each of the two years ended September 30, 2005, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would have been lower by $0.37 for fiscal 2004 and lower by $0.02 for fiscal 2005.

 

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

Overview

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained herein.

The Company is a pharmaceutical services company providing drug distribution and related healthcare services and solutions to its pharmacy, physician, and manufacturer customers, which currently are based primarily in the United States and Canada. The Company is organized based upon the products and services it provides to its customers. Substantially all of the Company’s operations are located in the United States and Canada. The Company also has a pharmaceutical packaging operation in the United Kingdom.

On July 31, 2007, the Company completed the spin-off of its former institutional pharmacy business, PharMerica Long-Term Care (“Long-Term Care”). In connection with the spin-off, the Company continues to distribute pharmaceuticals to and generate cash flows from the disposed institutional pharmacy business. The historical operating results of Long-Term Care are not reported as a discontinued operation of the Company because of the significance of the continuing cash flows resulting from the pharmaceutical distribution agreement entered into between the disposed component and the Company. For periods prior to August 1, 2007, the Company’s operating results include Long-Term Care.

Historically, the Company has evaluated and reported gross profit, operating expense, and operating income margins as a percentage of operating revenue because the gross profit and operating expenses relating to bulk deliveries were negligible, as a majority of this revenue represented direct shipments from manufacturers to customers’ warehouses. In fiscal 2008, the Company began to transition a significant amount of business previously conducted on a bulk delivery basis to an operating revenue basis as a result of a new contract that the Company signed with its largest customer. As a result, the Company’s revenue from bulk deliveries in the future will be insignificant to its total revenue and, therefore, beginning in fiscal 2008, the Company began to report gross profit, operating expense, and operating income margins as a percentage of total revenue (refer to Summary Segment Information table on page 28).

Acquisition

On October 1, 2007, the Company acquired Bellco Health for a purchase price of $162.2 million, net of $20.7 million of cash acquired. Bellco is a pharmaceutical distributor in the Metro New York City area, where it primarily services independent retail community pharmacies. The acquisition of Bellco expanded the Company’s presence in this large community pharmacy market. Nationally, Bellco markets and sells generic pharmaceuticals to individual retail pharmacies, and provides pharmaceutical products and services to dialysis clinics. Bellco’s revenues were $2.1 billion in fiscal 2008.

Divestiture

During fiscal 2008, the Company committed to a plan to divest its workers’ compensation business, PMSI. In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB’s”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the Company classified PMSI’s assets and liabilities as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets and classified PMSI’s operating results and cash flows as discontinued in the consolidated financial statements for the current and prior fiscal years presented. Previously, PMSI was included in the Company’s Other reportable segment.

In October 2008, the Company completed the sale of PMSI for approximately $34 million, net of a working capital adjustment, including a $19 million subordinated note payable due from PMSI on the fifth anniversary of the closing date (the “maturity date”), of which $4 million may be payable in October 2010, if PMSI achieves certain revenue targets with respect to its largest customer. Interest, which accrues at an annual rate of 7%, will be payable in cash on a quarterly basis, if PMSI achieves a defined minimum fixed charge coverage ratio or will be compounded semi-annually and paid at maturity. Additionally, if PMSI’s annual net revenue exceeds certain

 

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thresholds through December 2011, the Company may be entitled to additional payments of up to $10 million under the subordinated note payable due from PMSI on the maturity date of the note. The Company recorded a non-cash charge of $225.8 million in fiscal 2008 to reduce the carrying value of PMSI. This charge, which is included in the loss from discontinued operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, was comprised of a $199.1 million write-off of PMSI’s goodwill and a $26.7 million charge to record the Company’s loss on the sale of PMSI. The tax benefit recorded in connection with the above charge was minimal as the loss on the sale of PMSI will be treated as a capital loss for income tax purposes, and the Company does not have significant capital gains to offset the capital loss.

Reportable Segments

The Company’s operations are comprised of two reportable segments: Pharmaceutical Distribution and Other. The Other reportable segment includes the operating results of Long-Term Care, through the July 31, 2007 spin-off date. The operating results of PMSI, which was sold in October 2008, have been reclassified to discontinued operations.

Pharmaceutical Distribution

During fiscal 2008, the Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment was comprised of four operating segments, which included the operations of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (“ABDC”), the AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group (“ABSG”), Bellco Health (“Bellco”), and the AmerisourceBergen Packaging Group (“ABPG”). We recently completed our integration of Bellco’s separate operations within ABDC and ABSG and as of September 30, 2008, the Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment was comprised of three operating segments, which included ABDC, ABSG and ABPG. Servicing both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s operations provide drug distribution and related services designed to reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes.

ABDC distributes a comprehensive offering of brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to a wide variety of healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and other alternate site pharmacies and other customers. ABDC also provides pharmacy management, staffing and other consulting services, scalable automated pharmacy dispensing equipment, medication and supply dispensing cabinets, and supply management software to a variety of retail and institutional healthcare providers.

ABSG, through a number of individual operating businesses, provides pharmaceutical distribution and other services primarily to physicians who specialize in a variety of disease states, especially oncology, and to other healthcare providers, including dialysis clinics. ABSG also distributes vaccines, other injectables, plasma, and other blood products. In addition, through its specialty services businesses, ABSG provides a number of commercialization services, third party logistics, group purchasing, and other services for biotech and other pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as reimbursement consulting, data analytics, practice management, and physician education. As previously noted, the dialysis-related business of Bellco has been integrated within ABSG as of September 30, 2008.

ABPG consists of American Health Packaging, Anderson Packaging (“Anderson”), and Brecon Pharmaceuticals Limited (“Brecon”). American Health Packaging delivers unit dose, punch card, unit-of-use, and other packaging solutions to institutional and retail healthcare providers. American Health Packaging’s largest customer is ABDC, and, as a result, its operations are closely aligned with the operations of ABDC. Anderson is a leading provider of contracted packaging services for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Brecon is a United Kingdom-based provider of contract packaging and clinical trials materials services for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Other

Prior to its divestiture, Long-Term Care was a leading national dispenser of pharmaceutical products and services to patients in long-term care and alternate site settings, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and residential living communities. Long-Term Care’s institutional pharmacy business involved the purchase of prescription and nonprescription pharmaceuticals, principally from our Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, and the dispensing of those products to residents in long-term care and alternate site facilities.

 

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AmerisourceBergen Corporation

Summary Segment Information

 

     Total Revenue
Fiscal year ended September 30,
    2008
vs.
2007
Change
    2007
vs.
2006
Change
 
     2008    2007     2006      
     (dollars in thousands)              

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 70,189,733    $ 65,340,623     $ 60,437,757     7 %   8 %

Other (a)

     —        1,045,663       1,211,548     N/M     (14 )

Intersegment eliminations

     —        (714,214 )     (836,884 )   N/M     (15 )
                           

Total

   $ 70,189,733    $ 65,672,072     $ 60,812,421     7 %   8 %
                           

 

     Operating Income
Fiscal year ended September 30,
    2008
vs.
2007
Change
    2007
vs.
2006
Change
 
     2008     2007     2006      
     (dollars in thousands)              

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 836,747     $ 729,978     $ 640,938     15 %   14 %

Other (a)

     —         24,994       31,187     N/M     (20 )

Facility consolidations, employee severance and other

     (12,377 )     (2,072 )     (20,123 )   497     (90 )

Gain on antitrust litigation settlements

     3,491       35,837       40,882     (90 )   (12 )
                            

Total

   $ 827,861     $ 788,737     $ 692,884     5 %   14 %
                            

Percentages of total revenue:

          

Pharmaceutical Distribution

          

Gross profit

     2.91 %     2.87 %     2.85 %    

Operating expenses

     1.72 %     1.75 %     1.79 %    

Operating income

     1.19 %     1.12 %     1.06 %    

Other (a)

          

Gross profit

     N/M       29.37 %     29.47 %    

Operating expenses

     N/M       26.98 %     26.90 %    

Operating income

     N/M       2.39 %     2.57 %    

AmerisourceBergen Corporation

          

Gross profit

     2.92 %     3.38 %     3.49 %    

Operating expenses

     1.74 %     2.18 %     2.35 %    

Operating income

     1.18 %     1.20 %     1.14 %    

 

(a) Other represents Long-Term Care’s operating results for the ten-month period ended July 31, 2007 and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006.

 

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Year ended September 30, 2008 compared with Year ended September 30, 2007

Consolidated Results

Operating revenue of $67.5 billion in fiscal 2008, which excludes bulk deliveries, increased 10% from the prior fiscal year. This increase was due to growth in our Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, particularly within our ABDC operating segment, and the Bellco acquisition. Additionally, in the March 2008 quarter, we began to transition a significant amount of business previously conducted on a bulk delivery basis to an operating revenue basis. This business transition, which contributed 3% of the operating revenue growth for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, resulted from a new contract that we signed with our largest customer.

The Company reports as revenue bulk deliveries to customer warehouses, whereby the Company acts as an intermediary in the ordering and delivery of pharmaceutical products. Bulk delivery transactions are arranged by the Company at the express direction of the customer, and involve either shipments from the supplier directly to customers’ warehouse sites (i.e., drop shipment) or shipments from the supplier to the Company for immediate shipment to the customers’ warehouse sites (i.e., cross-dock shipment). Bulk deliveries of $2.7 billion in fiscal 2008 decreased 39% from the prior fiscal year. This decline was due to the customer transition discussed above. The Company is a principal to these transactions because it is the primary obligor and has the ultimate responsibility for fulfillment and acceptability of the products purchased, and bears full risk of delivery and loss for products, whether the products are drop-shipped or shipped cross-dock. The Company also bears full credit risk associated with the creditworthiness of any bulk delivery customer. As a result, and in accordance with the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent,” the Company records bulk deliveries to customer warehouses as gross revenues. Due to the insignificant service fees generated from bulk deliveries, fluctuations in volume have no significant impact on operating margins. However, revenue from bulk deliveries has a positive impact on our cash flows due to favorable timing between the customer payments to us and payments by us to our suppliers.

Total revenue of $70.2 billion in fiscal 2008 increased 7% from the prior fiscal year. This increase was driven by the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, which received a 3% contribution from the Bellco acquisition.

Gross profit of $2.0 billion in fiscal 2008 decreased 8% from the prior fiscal year. This decline was related to the Other segment, as prior year’s consolidated results included $307.1 million of gross profit from the operating results of Long-Term Care through the July 31 spin-off date. The Other segment gross profit decrease was offset, in part, by the 9% increase in the Pharmaceutical Distribution Segment’s gross profit for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, primarily due to revenue growth, including the acquisition of Bellco. In fiscal 2008 and 2007, we recognized gains of $3.5 million and $35.8 million, respectively, from antitrust litigation settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers. These gains, which are net of attorney fees and estimated payments due to other parties, were recorded as reductions to cost of goods sold and contributed 0.2% and 1.6% of gross profit in fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company is unable to estimate future gains, if any, it will recognize as a result of antitrust settlements (see Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements). As a percentage of total revenue, gross profit in fiscal 2008 decreased 46 basis points from the prior fiscal year, which included the operating results of Long-Term Care.

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization (“DSAD&A”) of $1.2 billion in fiscal 2008 decreased 16% from the prior fiscal year. This decline was related to the Other segment, as prior year’s consolidated results included $282.1 million of DSAD&A from the operating results of Long-Term Care and was partially offset by operating expenses of our recent acquisitions, primarily those of Bellco.

 

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The following table illustrates the charges incurred relating to facility consolidations, employee severance and other for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands):

 

     2008    2007  

Facility consolidations and employee severance

   $ 9,741    $ (5,863 )

Information technology transition costs

     —        1,679  

Costs relating to business divestitures

     2,636      9,335  

Gain on sale of assets

     —        (3,079 )
               

Total facility consolidations, employee severance and other

   $ 12,377    $ 2,072  
               

In fiscal 2008, the Company announced a more streamlined organizational structure and introduced an initiative (“cE2”) designed to drive increased customer efficiency and cost effectiveness. In connection with these efforts, the Company reduced various operating costs and terminated certain positions. The Company expects to incur the majority of employee severance costs related to the above efforts through December 31, 2008. In fiscal 2008, the Company terminated approximately 130 employees and incurred $10.0 million of employee severance costs, relating to the aforementioned efforts.

In fiscal 2007, the Company completed its integration plan to consolidate its distribution network and eliminate duplicative administrative functions. The plan included building six new facilities, closing 31 facilities, and outsourcing a significant amount of its information technology activities. In fiscal 2008, the Company reversed $1.0 million of employee severance charges previously estimated and recorded related to this integration plan.

In fiscal 2006, the Company incurred a charge of $13.9 million for an increase in a compensation accrual due to an adverse decision in an employment-related dispute with a former Bergen Brunswig chief executive officer whose employment was terminated in 1999. In October 2007, the Company received a favorable ruling from a California appellate court reversing certain portions of the prior adverse decision. As a result, the Company reduced its liability in fiscal 2007 to the Bergen Brunswig chief executive officer by $10.4 million (see Bergen Brunswig Matter under Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements). The fiscal 2007 compensation expense reduction was recorded as a component of facility consolidations and employee severance.

Costs related to business divestitures in fiscal 2008 and 2007 related to PMSI and the Long-Term Care spin-off, respectively.

In fiscal 2007, the Company recognized a $3.1 million gain relating to the sale of certain retail pharmacy assets of its former Long-Term Care business.

The Company paid a total of $6.8 million and $20.7 million for employee severance, lease cancellation and other costs in fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively. Remaining unpaid amounts of $21.4 million for employee severance, lease cancellation and other costs are included in accrued expenses and other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2008. Most employees receive their severance benefits over a period of time, generally not in excess of 12 months, while others may receive a lump-sum payment.

Operating income of $827.9 million in fiscal 2008 increased 5% from the prior fiscal year due to the 15% or $106.8 million increase in the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s operating income, which was offset, in part, by a decrease of $32.3 million in gains from antitrust litigation settlements, and an increase of $10.3 million in facility consolidation, employee severance and other costs. Additionally, the prior fiscal year benefited from a $25.0 million contribution from Long-Term Care, prior to its July 2007 spin-off. As a percentage of total revenue, operating income in fiscal 2008 decreased 2 basis points from the prior fiscal year despite

 

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Pharmaceutical Distribution’s operating income as a percentage of total revenue increasing by 7 basis points. The costs of facility consolidations, employee severance and other, less the gain on antitrust litigation settlements, decreased operating income by $8.9 million in fiscal 2008 and reduced operating income as a percentage of total revenue by 1 basis point. The gain on antitrust litigation settlements, less the costs of facility consolidations, employee severance and other, contributed $33.8 million to operating income in fiscal 2007 and increased operating income as a percentage of total revenue by 5 basis points. Long-Term Care’s operating income in fiscal 2007 increased operating income as a percentage of total revenue by 4 basis points.

Other loss of $2.0 million and $3.0 million in fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively, primarily related to other-than-temporary impairment losses incurred with respect to equity investments.

Interest expense, interest income, and their respective weighted average interest rates in fiscal 2008 and 2007 were as follows (in thousands):

 

     2008    2007
     Amount     Weighted Average
Interest Rate
   Amount     Weighted Average
Interest Rate

Interest expense

   $ 75,099     5.48%    $ 75,661     5.65%

Interest income

     (10,603 )   3.33%      (43,417 )   4.26%
                     

Interest expense, net

   $ 64,496        $ 32,244    
                     

Interest expense was relatively consistent when compared to the prior fiscal year as an increase of $85.2 million in average borrowings was offset by the decline in the weighted average interest rate. Interest income decreased substantially from the prior fiscal year primarily due to a decline of average invested cash and short-term investments from $976.2 million during the prior fiscal year to $309.5 million during fiscal 2008.

The decrease in invested cash and short-term investments from the prior fiscal year was primarily due to our use of cash for share repurchases, acquisitions, and capital expenditures, all of which, in the aggregate, exceeded our net cash provided by operating activities since the prior fiscal year. Our net interest expense in future periods may vary significantly depending upon our borrowings, interest rates, and strategic decisions to deploy our invested cash.

Income tax expense reflects an effective income tax rate of 38.4%, versus 37.0% in the prior fiscal year. The increase in the effective tax rate from the prior fiscal year was primarily due to the company having benefited less in the current year from tax-free investment income. We expect our effective tax rate going forward will approximate the fiscal 2008 tax rate.

We adopted FASB’s Financial Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” effective October 1, 2007. The cumulative effect of adoption of this interpretation resulted in a $9.3 million reduction in retained earnings. The adoption of the provisions of FIN No. 48 did not have a significant impact on our effective tax rate in fiscal 2008.

Income from continuing operations of $469.1 million in fiscal 2008 decreased 1% from $474.8 million in the prior fiscal year. The 5% increase in 2008 operating income was offset by the increase in net interest expense and the increase in the effective income tax rate. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $2.89 increased 14% from $2.53 per share in the prior fiscal year. The difference between diluted earnings per share growth and the decline in income from continuing operations was due to the 14% reduction in weighted average common shares outstanding from purchases of our common stock in connection with our stock repurchase program (see Liquidity and Capital Resources), net of the impact of stock option exercises. The costs of facility consolidations, employee severance and other, less the gain on antitrust litigation settlements decreased income from continuing operations by $5.5 million and decreased diluted earnings per share by $0.03 in fiscal 2008. The gain on antitrust litigation settlements less the costs of facility consolidations, employee severance and other

 

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contributed $17.0 million to income from continuing operations and $0.09 to diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2007. Additionally, the inclusion of Long-Term Care’s operating results in fiscal 2007 increased diluted earnings per share from continuing operations by $0.08.

The loss from discontinued operations of $218.5 million, net of income taxes, relates to the PMSI business, which was sold in October 2008. The loss from discontinued operations in fiscal 2008 includes a $224.8 million charge, net of income taxes, recorded to reduce the carrying value of PMSI. Loss from discontinued operations of $5.6 million, net of income taxes, in fiscal 2007 included a $24.6 million charge, net of income taxes, incurred by the Company related to an adverse court ruling with respect to a contingent purchase price adjustment in connection with the 2003 acquisition of Bridge Medical, Inc. (“Bridge”), as previously discussed in Legal Proceedings under Item 3. Substantially all of the assets of the Bridge business were sold in July 2005. The aforementioned charge in fiscal 2007 was substantially offset by income from discontinued operations relating to the PMSI business.

Segment Information

Pharmaceutical Distribution

Pharmaceutical Distribution total revenue of $70.2 billion in fiscal 2008 increased 7% from the prior fiscal year primarily due to the 5% revenue growth of ABDC and the acquisition of Bellco, which contributed 3% of the total revenue increase. During fiscal 2008, 68% of total revenue was from sales to institutional customers and 32% was from sales to retail customers; this compared to a customer mix in the prior fiscal year of 64% institutional and 36% retail. In comparison with the prior fiscal year results, sales to institutional customers increased 15% primarily due to the acquisition of Bellco (the revenue of which is heavily weighted towards institutional customers) and the strong growth of certain large customers. Sales to retail customers decreased 5% primarily due to our decision not to renew a contract, effective January 2007, with a large retail customer and the July 1, 2008 loss of certain business totaling approximately $3.0 billion of annual revenue from a large retail drug chain customer.

ABDC’s total revenue (excluding Bellco) increased by 5% in fiscal 2008 in comparison to the prior fiscal year. This revenue growth was primarily due to the increase in sales to certain of our large institutional customers, offset, in part, by the decline in retail customer revenue, as discussed above.

ABSG’s total revenue (excluding Bellco) of $13.0 billion in fiscal 2008 increased 3% compared to the prior fiscal year primarily due to strong double-digit growth of its non-oncology distribution businesses. Oncology distribution’s revenue, which represents approximately 60% of ABSG’s total revenue, was flat compared to the prior fiscal year. ABSG’s revenue growth was affected primarily by declining anemia drug sales and by one of its large customers for oncology drugs being acquired by a competitor in October 2007. The former customer contributed approximately $800 million to ABSG’s revenue in fiscal 2007. The majority of ABSG’s revenue is generated from the distribution of pharmaceuticals, primarily injectibles, to physicians who specialize in a variety of disease states, especially oncology. ABSG also distributes vaccines, plasma, and other blood products. ABSG’s business may be adversely impacted in the future by changes in medical guidelines and the Medicare reimbursement rates for certain pharmaceuticals, including oncology drugs administered by physicians and anemia drugs. Since ABSG provides a number of services to or through physicians, any changes to this service channel could result in slower or reduced growth in revenues.

Revenue related to the distribution of anemia-related products, which represented approximately 5.8% of Pharmaceutical Distribution’s total revenue in fiscal 2008, decreased approximately 23% from the prior fiscal year. The decline in sales of anemia-related products since the second half of fiscal 2007 has been most pronounced in the use of these products for cancer treatment. Sales of oncology anemia-related products represented approximately 2.2% of total revenue in fiscal 2008 and decreased approximately 32% from the prior fiscal year. Several developments contributed to the decline in sales of anemia drugs, including expanded

 

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warning and other product safety labeling requirements, more restrictive federal policies governing Medicare reimbursement for the use of these drugs to treat oncology patients with kidney failure and dialysis, and changes in regulatory and clinical medical guidelines for recommended dosage and use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has announced that it is reviewing new clinical study data concerning the possible risks associated with erythropoiesis stimulating agents and may take additional action with regard to these drugs. In March 2008, manufacturers of certain anemia products announced further labeling revisions to reflect additional safety information. Moreover, the FDA announced on July 30, 2008 that it is ordering additional safety labeling changes related to the use of the drugs in the treatment of certain cancers. As a result, we expect oncology-related anemia drug sales to decline further in fiscal 2009 from our fiscal 2008 total. CMS has indicated that it may impose additional restrictions on Medicare coverage in the future. Also, on July 30, 2008, CMS announced it is considering a review of national Medicare coverage policy for these drugs for patients who have cancer or pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease. Further changes in medical guidelines for anemia drugs may impact the availability and extent of reimbursement for these drugs from third party payors, including federal and state governments and private insurance plans. Our future revenue growth rate and/or profitability may continue to be impacted by any future reductions in reimbursement for anemia drugs or changes that limit the dosage and or use of anemia drugs.

We currently expect that our total revenue growth in fiscal 2009 will be between 1% and 3%, as this range reflects market growth of 1%-2% as estimated by industry data firm IMS Healthcare, Inc., (“IMS”), the expected strong growth of certain of our large institutional customers, primarily within ABDC, offset in part by the loss of certain business with a national retail chain customer to a competitor, effective July 1, 2008. Sales to this chain customer approximated $3.0 billion of total revenue in fiscal 2008. The Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s expected growth largely reflects U.S. pharmaceutical industry conditions, including increases in prescription drug utilization, the introduction of new products, and higher pharmaceutical prices offset, in part, by the increased use of lower-priced generics. The segment’s growth has also been impacted by industry competition and changes in customer mix. Industry sales in the United States, as estimated by IMS, are expected to grow between 1% and 2% in 2008 and 2009 and between 3% and 6% during the five-year period ending 2012. IMS also indicated that certain sectors of the market, such as biotechnology and other specialty and generic pharmaceuticals would grow faster than the overall market. The Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s future revenue growth will continue to be affected by various factors such as: competition within the industry, customer consolidation, changes in pharmaceutical manufacturer pricing and distribution policies and practices, increased downward pressure on reimbursement rates, changes in Federal government rules and regulations, industry growth trends, such as the likely increase in the number of generic drugs that will be available over the next few years as a result of the expiration of certain drug patents held by brand manufacturers, and general economic conditions.

Pharmaceutical Distribution gross profit of $2.0 billion in fiscal 2008 increased $167.4 million or 9% from the prior fiscal year. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to revenue growth, growth of our generic programs, the acquisition of Bellco, and strong brand-name manufacturer price appreciation. As a percentage of total revenue, gross profit in fiscal 2008 and 2007 was 2.91% and 2.87%, respectively. Fiscal 2008 gross profit benefited from gains of $13.2 million relating to favorable litigation settlements with a former customer (an independent retail group purchasing organization) and a major competitor and a $8.6 million settlement of disputed fees with a supplier, and was offset, in part, by an $8.4 million inventory write-down of certain pharmacy dispensing equipment. Fiscal 2007 gross profit was impacted by ABSG’s $27.8 million charge relating to the write-down of tetanus-diphtheria vaccine inventory to its estimated net realizable value (see MBL Matter under Note 13 of consolidated financial statements).

Our cost of goods sold includes a last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) provision that is affected by changes in inventory quantities, product mix, and manufacturer pricing practices, which may be impacted by market and other external influences. We recorded a LIFO charge of $21.1 million and $2.2 million in fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively. The fiscal 2008 LIFO charge reflects greater brand-name supplier price inflation, which more than offset the impact of price deflation of generic drugs. During fiscal 2007, inventory declines resulted in liquidation

 

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of LIFO layers carried at lower costs prevailing in the prior fiscal year. The effect of the liquidation in fiscal 2007 was to decrease cost of goods sold by $7.2 million.

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating expenses of $1.2 billion in fiscal 2008 increased $60.7 million or 5% from the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily related to the operating expenses of our recent acquisitions, primarily those of Bellco. Additionally, operating expenses in fiscal 2008 were impacted by ABDC impairment charges related to capitalized equipment and software development costs totaling $10.8 million, primarily due to ABDC’s decision to abandon the use of certain software which will be replaced in connection with our Business Transformation project. Operating expenses in fiscal 2008 were also impacted by a $5.3 million write-down of intangible assets relating to certain smaller business units. As a percentage of total revenue, operating expenses in fiscal 2008 decreased 3 basis points from the prior fiscal year due to improvements in operating leverage, primarily in ABDC, where operating expenses declined despite an increase in total revenue, due to a more streamlined organizational structure within ABDC and ABSG and the cost savings achieved resulting from our cE2 initiative.

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating income of $836.7 million in fiscal 2008 increased 15% from the prior fiscal year as the increase in gross profit exceeded the increase in operating expenses. As a percentage of total revenue, operating income in fiscal 2008 increased 7 basis points from the prior fiscal year due to the improvements in the gross profit and operating expense margins.

Other

The Other reportable segment includes the operating results of Long-Term Care, through the July 31, 2007 spin-off date. The operating results of PMSI, which was sold in October 2008, have been reclassified to discontinued operations.

Intersegment Eliminations

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

Year ended September 30, 2007 compared with Year ended September 30, 2006

Consolidated Results

Operating revenue of $61.3 billion in fiscal 2007, which excludes bulk deliveries, increased 9% from the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily due to increases in operating revenue in our ABDC and ABSG operating segments, both of which are included in the Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment. Our acquisitions contributed 1% of the operating revenue growth in fiscal 2007.

The Company reports as revenue bulk deliveries to customer warehouses, whereby the Company acts as an intermediary in the ordering and delivery of pharmaceutical products. Bulk deliveries of $4.4 billion in fiscal 2007 decreased 3% from the prior fiscal year. Revenue relating to bulk deliveries fluctuates primarily due to changes in demand from the Company’s largest bulk customer. Due to the insignificant service fees generated from bulk deliveries, fluctuations in volume have no significant impact on operating margins. However, revenue from bulk deliveries has a positive impact on the Company’s cash flows due to favorable timing between the customer payments to the Company and payments by the Company to its suppliers.

Total revenue of $65.7 billion in fiscal 2007 increased 8% from the prior fiscal year. This increase was due to growth in our Pharmaceutical distribution segment.

 

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Gross profit of $2.2 billion in fiscal 2007 increased 5% from the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily due to the increase in Pharmaceutical Distribution operating revenue, an increase in compensation under its fee-for-service agreements and the growth of its generic programs, offset in part by a $27.8 million charge incurred by ABSG relating to tetanus-diphtheria vaccine inventory and the decline in gross profit of the Other Segment. During fiscal 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized gains of $35.8 million and $40.9 million, respectively, from antitrust litigation settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers, which represented 1.6% and 1.9% of gross profit, respectively.

DSAD&A of $1.4 billion in fiscal 2007 increased 1% from the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily related to our operating revenue growth, operating expenses of our acquired companies, an increase in bad debt expense of $11.0 million and an increase in share-based compensation of $8.1 million, all of which was partially offset by a decline in DSAD&A of the Other Segment, and a decline in employee incentive compensation. As a percentage of total revenue, DSAD&A in fiscal 2007 decreased 14 basis points from the prior fiscal year primarily due to the decline in DSAD&A of the Other Segment resulting from the divestiture of the Long-Term Care business.

The following table illustrates the charges incurred by the Company relating to facility consolidations, employee severance and other for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):

 

     2007     2006

Facility consolidations and employee severance

   $ (5,863 )   $ 4,271

Information technology transition costs

     1,679       9,218

Costs relating to the Long-Term Care transaction

     9,335       6,634

Gain on sale of assets

     (3,079 )     —  
              

Total facility consolidations, employee severance and other

   $ 2,072     $ 20,123
              

In fiscal 2007, the Company completed its integration plan to consolidate its distribution network and eliminate duplicative administrative functions. The plan included building six new facilities, closing 31 facilities and outsourcing a significant amount of its information technology activities.

In fiscal 2006, the Company incurred a charge of $13.9 million for an increase in a compensation accrual due to an adverse decision in an employment related dispute with a former Bergen Brunswig chief executive officer whose employment was terminated in 1999. In October 2007, the Company received a favorable ruling from a California appellate court reversing certain portions of the prior adverse decision. As a result, the Company reduced its liability in fiscal 2007 to the Bergen Brunswig chief executive officer by $10.4 million (see Bergen Brunswig Matter under Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements). The fiscal 2006 compensation expense and the fiscal 2007 reduction thereof have been recorded as a component of facility consolidations and employee severance.

In fiscal 2007, the Company recognized a $3.1 million gain relating to the sale of certain retail pharmacy assets of its former Long-Term Care business.

In fiscal 2006, the Company realized a $17.3 million gain from the sale of the former Bergen Brunswig headquarters building in Orange, California. This gain was recorded as a component of the facility consolidations and employee severance.

The Company paid a total of $20.7 million and $20.6 million for employee severance, lease cancellation and other costs during fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively, related to the integration plan. Remaining unpaid amounts of $15.9 million for employee severance, lease cancellation, and other costs are included in accrued expenses and other in the accompanying consolidation balance sheet at September 30, 2007. Most employees receive their severance benefits over a period of time, generally not in excess of 12 months, while others may receive a lump-sum payment.

 

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Operating income of $788.7 million in fiscal 2007 increased 14% from the prior fiscal year due to the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, offset in part, by the Other segment. As a percentage of total revenue, operating income in fiscal 2007 increased 6 basis points from the prior fiscal year due to the improvement in Pharmaceutical Distribution’s operating income margin. The gain on antitrust litigation settlements, less the costs of facility consolidations, employee severance and other contributed $33.8 million to operating income in fiscal 2007 and contributed 5 basis points to operating income as a percentage of total revenue. The gain on antitrust litigation settlements, less the costs of facility consolidations, employee severance and other contributed $20.8 million to operating income in fiscal 2006 and contributed 3 basis points to operating income as a percentage of total revenue.

Other loss of $3.0 million in fiscal 2007 primarily related to other-than-temporary impairment losses incurred with respect to equity investments. Other income of $4.4 million in fiscal 2006 primarily included a $3.4 million gain resulting from an eminent domain settlement and a $3.1 million gain on the sale of an equity investment, offset in part, by losses incurred relating to another equity investment.

Interest expense, interest income and their respective weighted average interest rates in fiscal 2007 and 2006 were as follows (in thousands):

 

     2007     2006  
     Amount     Weighted Average
Interest Rate
    Amount     Weighted Average
Interest Rate
 

Interest expense

   $ 75,661     5.65 %   $ 65,874     5.64 %

Interest income

     (43,417 )   4.26 %     (53,410 )   4.03 %
                    

Interest expense, net

   $ 32,244       $ 12,464    
                    

Interest expense increased from the prior fiscal year primarily due to an increase of $114.3 million in average borrowings primarily related to the Company’s Canadian operations. Interest income decreased from the prior fiscal year due to a decline in average invested cash and short-term investments of $313.6 million from the prior fiscal year. The decrease in invested cash and short-term investments from the prior fiscal year was primarily related to the Company’s $1.4 billion of purchases of its common stock in fiscal 2007, offset largely by $1.2 billion of net cash provided by operating activities.

Income tax expense reflects an effective income tax rate of 37.0%, versus 36.6% in the prior fiscal year. The tax rate for fiscal 2007 was greater than the tax rate from the prior fiscal year, which benefited from more favorable tax adjustments than fiscal 2007 and a larger portion of the Company’s invested cash in tax-free investments.

Income from continuing operations of $474.8 million in fiscal 2007 increased 9% from the prior fiscal year due to the increase in operating income, partially offset by the increase in interest expense. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $2.53 in fiscal 2007 increased 21% from $2.09 per diluted share in the prior fiscal year. The difference between diluted earnings per share growth and the increase in income from continuing operations was due to the 9% reduction in weighted average common shares outstanding from purchases of our common stock in connection with our stock repurchase program (see Liquidity and Capital Resources), net of the impact of stock option exercises. The divested Long-Term Care business contributed $0.08 and $0.10 of diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively. The gain on antitrust litigation settlements less the costs of facility consolidations, employee severance and other contributed $17.0 million to income from continuing operations and $0.09 to diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2007. The gain on antitrust litigation settlements, the eminent domain settlement, the sale of an equity investment and the favorable tax adjustments, less the costs of facility consolidations, employee severance and other contributed $23.2 million to income from continuing operations and $0.11 to diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2006.

 

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Loss from discontinued operations of $5.6 million, net of income taxes, in fiscal 2007, included a $24.6 million charge, net of income taxes, incurred by the Company related to an adverse court ruling with respect to a contingent purchase price adjustment in connection with the 2003 acquisition of Bridge. Substantially all of the assets of the Bridge business were sold in July 2005. The aforementioned charge was substantially offset by income from discontinued operations of the PMSI business. Income from discontinued operations of $33.3 million, net of income taxes, in fiscal 2006 primarily related to the PMSI business.

Segment Information

Pharmaceutical Distribution

Pharmaceutical Distribution total revenue of $65.3 billion in fiscal 2007 increased 8% from the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily driven by the strong, above market, 27% revenue growth of ABSG, principally in its distribution businesses. ABDC grew its total revenue by 4% in comparison to the prior fiscal year. During fiscal 2007, 64% of total revenue was from sales to institutional customers and 36% was from sales to retail customers; this compared to a customer mix in the prior fiscal year of 62% institutional and 38% retail. In comparison with the prior-year results, sales to institutional customers increased 10% primarily due to the strong growth of the specialty pharmaceutical business. Sales to retail customers increased 5% as growth in retail chain sales was offset, in part, by our decision to discontinue servicing the large lower margin customer discussed below.

The ABDC total revenue growth rate in fiscal 2007 benefited from increased sales to certain of its large customers and the 1% revenue contribution resulting from the full-year impact of its 2006 Canadian acquisitions. ABDC’s total revenue growth rate was negatively impacted by the Company’s decision not to renew a contract, effective January 2007, with a large, low-margin customer that contributed approximately $1.0 billion of total revenue for ABDC in fiscal 2006 and the July 2006 loss of two customer accounts that totaled $1.2 billion of revenue in fiscal 2006. These customer accounts transitioned to another distributor after they were acquired by a company supplied by that distributor.

ABSG grew at a rate in excess of overall pharmaceutical market growth. ABSG’s total revenue of $12.6 billion in fiscal 2007 grew 27% from the prior fiscal year. The majority of this group’s revenue is generated from the distribution of pharmaceuticals to physicians who specialize in a variety of disease states, especially oncology. ABSG’s oncology business continued to outperform the market and was ABSG’s most significant contributor to revenue growth. During fiscal 2007, the oncology business benefited from a semi-exclusive distribution agreement that it signed with a large biotechnology manufacturer during the second half of fiscal 2006 and ABSG’s Besse Medical business experienced strong growth in fiscal 2007 primarily arising from the distribution of a new physician-administered ophthalmology product, which was introduced in the second half of fiscal 2006. ABSG also distributes vaccines, plasma and other blood products.

Approximately 6% of the Company’s total revenue in fiscal 2007 related to the distribution of anemia-related products, which are distributed by both ABDC and ABSG. Several developments contributed to the decline in sales of anemia drugs during the second half of fiscal 2007, including the decision in March 2007 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) to require an expanded warning label on these drugs, CMS’s review of reimbursement policies for these drugs and restrictions on recommended dosage or use. In July 2007, CMS issued new, more restrictive policies regarding Medicare coverage of anemia drugs used in the treatment of oncology patients and for kidney failure and dialysis. On November 8, 2007, the FDA announced revised boxed warnings and other safety-related product labeling changes for these drugs addressing the risks posed to patients with cancer or chronic kidney failure. CMS also has indicated that it may impose additional restrictions on Medicare coverage in the future. Further changes in medical guidelines for anemia drugs may impact the availability and extent of reimbursement for these drugs from third party payers, including federal and state governments and private insurance plans.

 

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This segment’s growth largely reflects U.S. pharmaceutical industry conditions, including increases in prescription drug utilization, the introduction of new products, and higher pharmaceutical prices offset, in part, by the increased use of lower-priced generics. The segment’s growth has also been impacted by industry competition and changes in customer mix.

Pharmaceutical Distribution gross profit of $1.9 billion in fiscal 2007 increased 9% from the prior fiscal year. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to the increase in total revenue, an increase in compensation under our fee-for-service agreements, and the growth of our generic programs offset in part by competitive pricing pressures and ABSG’s $27.8 million charge relating to the write-down of tetanus-diphtheria vaccine inventory to its estimated net realizable value (see MBL Matter under Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements). As a percentage of total revenue, gross profit in fiscal 2007 increased 2 basis points from the prior fiscal year. The Company’s cost of goods sold includes a last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) provision that is affected by changes in inventory quantities, product mix, and manufacturer pricing practices, which may be impacted by market and other external influences. During fiscal 2007, inventory declines resulted in liquidation of LIFO layers carried at lower costs prevailing in the prior year. The effect of the liquidation in fiscal 2007 was to decrease cost of goods sold by $7.2 million.

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating expenses of $1.1 billion in fiscal 2007 increased 6% from the prior fiscal year. The increase was primarily related to our total revenue growth, operating expenses of our acquired companies, an increase in bad debt expense of $8.6 million primarily related to the bankruptcy of a retail chain customer in our West Region and an increase in share-based compensation, and was partially offset by a decrease in employee incentive compensation. As a percentage of total revenue, operating expenses in fiscal 2007 decreased 4 basis points from the prior fiscal year due to economies of scale realized as a result of the increase in operating revenue, productivity gains achieved throughout the Company’s distribution network as a result of our Optimiz® program and a decrease in employee incentive compensation, and was partially offset by the increase in bad debt expense and the operating costs of our recently acquired companies.

Pharmaceutical Distribution operating income of $730.0 million in fiscal 2007 increased 14% from the prior fiscal year as the increase in gross profit exceeded the increase in operating expenses. As a percentage of total revenue, operating income in fiscal 2007 increased 6 basis points from the prior fiscal year due to the improvement in the operating expense margin.

Other

The Other reportable segment includes the operating results of Long-Term Care, through the July 31, 2007 spin-off date. The operating results of PMSI, which was sold in October 2008, have been reclassified to discontinued operations.

Intersegment Eliminations

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

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

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

 

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Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade receivables are primarily comprised of amounts owed to the Company for its pharmaceutical distribution and services activities and are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts and a reserve for customer sales returns. In determining the appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company considers a combination of factors, such as the aging of trade receivables, industry trends, its customers’ financial strength, credit standing, and payment and default history. Changes in the aforementioned factors, among others, may lead to adjustments in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts. The calculation of the required allowance requires judgment by Company management as to the impact of these and other factors on the ultimate realization of its trade receivables. Each of the Company’s business units performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and maintains reserves for probable bad debt losses based on historical experience and for specific credit problems when they arise. The Company writes off balances against the reserves when collectability is deemed remote. Each business unit performs formal documented reviews of the allowance at least quarterly and the Company’s largest business units perform such reviews monthly. There were no significant changes to this process during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 and bad debt expense was computed in a consistent manner during these periods. The bad debt expense for any period presented is equal to the changes in the period end allowance for doubtful accounts, net of write-offs, recoveries and other adjustments. Schedule II of this Form 10-K sets forth a rollforward of the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Bad debt expense for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $27.6 million, $48.5 million and $37.5 million, respectively. Long-Term Care’s bad debt expense, which is included in the above amounts, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $17.6 million and $15.2 million, respectively. The bankruptcy of a regional chain customer in ABDC’s West Region accounted for a significant portion of the increase in bad debt expense from fiscal 2006 to fiscal 2007. An increase or decrease of 0.1% in the 2008 allowance as a percentage of trade receivables would result in an increase or decrease in the provision on accounts receivable of approximately $3.3 million.

Supplier Reserves

The Company establishes reserves against amounts due from its suppliers relating to various price and rebate incentives, including deductions or billings taken against payments otherwise due them from the Company. These reserve estimates are established based on the judgment of Company management after carefully considering the status of current outstanding claims, historical experience with the suppliers, the specific incentive programs and any other pertinent information available to the Company. The Company evaluates the amounts due from its suppliers on a continual basis and adjusts the reserve estimates when appropriate based on changes in factual circumstances. An increase or decrease of 0.1% in the 2008 supplier reserve balances as a percentage of trade payables would result in an increase or decrease in cost of goods sold by approximately $7.3 million. The ultimate outcome of any outstanding claim may be different from the Company’s estimate.

Loss Contingencies

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

 

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Merchandise Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost for approximately 78% and 79% of the Company’s inventories at September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, have been determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. If the Company had used the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method of inventory valuation, which approximates current replacement cost, inventories would have been approximately $176.0 million and $154.9 million higher than the amounts reported at September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We recorded a LIFO charge (credit) of $21.1 million, $2.2 million, and $(1.0) million in fiscal 2008, 2007, and 2006 respectively. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, inventory declines resulted in liquidation of LIFO layers carried at lower costs prevailing in prior years. The effect of the liquidation in fiscal 2007 was to decrease cost of goods sold by $7.2 million and increase diluted earnings per share by $0.02.

Business Combinations

In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” the purchase price of an acquired company is allocated between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired business based on their estimated fair values, with the residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. The Company engages third-party appraisal firms to assist management in determining the fair values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Such valuations require management to make significant judgments, estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets. Management makes estimates of fair value based upon assumptions it believes to be reasonable. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies, and are inherently uncertain. Critical estimates in valuing certain of the intangible assets include but are not limited to: future expected cash flows from and economic lives of customer relationships, trade names, existing technology, and other intangible assets; and discount rates. Unanticipated events and circumstances may occur which may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual events.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

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

In order to test goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives under SFAS No. 142, a determination of the fair value of the Company’s reporting units and intangible assets with indefinite lives is required and is based, among other things, on estimates of future operating performance of the reporting unit and/or the component of the entity being valued. The Company is required to complete an impairment test for goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives and record any resulting impairment losses at least on an annual basis or more often if warranted by events or changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying value may exceed fair value (“impairment indicators”). This impairment test includes the projection and discounting of cash flows, analysis of the Company’s market capitalization and estimating the fair values of tangible and intangible assets and liabilities. Estimating future cash flows and determining their present values are based upon, among other things, certain assumptions about expected future operating performance and appropriate discount rates determined by management. In fiscal 2008, PMSI experienced certain customer losses and learned that it would lose its largest customer at the end of calendar 2008. As a result, and after considering other factors, the Company committed to a plan to divest PMSI. The Company performed an interim impairment test of its PMSI reporting unit and determined that its goodwill was impaired. Therefore, PMSI wrote-off the carrying value of its goodwill of $199.1 million. In addition, it also recognized charges of $26.7 million to record the estimated loss on the sale of PMSI (see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements). The Company completed its required annual impairment tests relating to goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives in the fourth quarter of

 

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fiscal 2008 and, as a result, recorded $5.3 million of impairment charges. The Company’s estimates of cash flows may differ from actual cash flows due to, among other things, economic conditions, changes to the business model, or changes in operating performance. Significant differences between these estimates and actual cash flows could materially affect the Company’s future financial results.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company utilizes a binomial option pricing model to determine the fair value of share-based compensation expense, which involves the use of several assumptions, including expected term of the option, future volatility, dividend yield and forfeiture rate. The expected term of options represents the period of time that the options granted are expected to be outstanding and is based on historical experience. Expected volatility is based on historical volatility of the Company’s stock as well as other factors, such as implied volatility.

Income Taxes

The Company’s income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and uncertain tax positions reflect management’s assessment of estimated future taxes to be paid on items in the financial statements. Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between financial reporting and tax reporting bases of assets and liabilities, as well as net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards for tax purposes.

The Company has established a net valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets for which the ultimate realization of future benefits is uncertain. Expiring carryforwards and the required valuation allowances are adjusted annually. After application of the valuation allowances described above, the Company anticipates that no limitations will apply with respect to utilization of any of the other net deferred income tax assets described above.

Effective October 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN No. 48 provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. FIN No. 48 also provides guidance, among other things, on the measurement of the income tax benefit associated with uncertain tax positions, de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties and financial statement disclosures.

The Company has established an estimated liability for federal, state and non-U.S. income tax exposures that arise and meet the criteria for accrual under FIN No. 48. The Company prepares and files tax returns based on its interpretation of tax laws and regulations and records estimates based on these judgments and interpretations. In the normal course of business, the Company’s tax returns are subject to examination by various taxing authorities. Such examinations may result in future tax and interest assessments by these taxing authorities. Inherent uncertainties exist in estimates of tax contingencies due to changes in tax law resulting from legislation, regulation and/or as concluded through the various jurisdictions’ tax court systems.

The Company believes that its estimates for the valuation allowances against deferred tax assets and tax contingency reserves are appropriate based on current facts and circumstances. However, others applying reasonable judgment to the same facts and circumstances could develop a different estimate and the amount ultimately paid upon resolution of issues raised may differ from the amounts accrued.

The significant assumptions and estimates described in the preceding paragraphs are important contributors to the ultimate effective tax rate in each year. If any of the Company’s assumptions or estimates were to change, an increase or decrease in the Company’s effective tax rate by 1% on income from continuing operations before income taxes would have caused income tax expense to change by $7.6 million in fiscal 2008.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table illustrates the Company’s debt structure at September 30, 2008, including availability under revolving credit facilities and the receivables securitization facility (in thousands):

 

     Outstanding
Balance
   Additional
Availability

Fixed-Rate Debt:

     

$400,000, 5 5/8% senior notes due 2012

   $ 398,773    $ —  

$500,000, 5 7/8% senior notes due 2015

     498,112      —  

Other

     840      —  
             

Total fixed-rate debt

     897,725      —  
             

Variable-Rate Debt:

     

Blanco revolving credit facility due 2009

     55,000      —  

Multi-currency revolving credit facility due 2011

     235,130      447,515

Receivables securitization facility due 2009

     —        975,000

Other

     1,276      2,343
             

Total variable-rate debt

     291,406      1,424,858
             

Total debt, including current portion

   $ 1,189,131    $ 1,424,858
             

The Company’s aggregate availability under its revolving credit facilities and its receivables securitization facility provide sufficient sources of capital to fund the Company’s working capital requirements.

The Company has a $750 million five-year multi-currency senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of lenders. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, one of the lenders, Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc., filed for bankruptcy. As a result, the Company’s availability under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility was reduced by $55 million. Interest on borrowings under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility accrues at specified rates based on the Company’s debt rating and ranges from 19 basis points to 60 basis points over LIBOR/EURIBOR/Bankers Acceptance Stamping Fee, as applicable (40 basis points over LIBOR/EURIBOR/Bankers Acceptance Stamping Fee at September 30, 2008). Additionally, interest on borrowings denominated in Canadian dollars may accrue at the greater of the Canadian prime rate or the CDOR rate. The Company pays quarterly facility fees to maintain the availability under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility at specified rates based on the Company’s debt rating, ranging from 6 basis points to 15 basis points of the total commitment (10 basis points at September 30, 2008). The Company may choose to repay or reduce its commitments under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility at any time. The Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility contains covenants that impose limitations on, among other things, indebtedness of excluded subsidiaries and asset sales. Additional covenants require compliance with financial tests, including a leverage ratio.

The Company has a $975 million receivables securitization facility (“Receivables Securitization Facility”), of which $181.2 million expires in June 2009 and $793.8 million expires in November 2009. The Company has available to it an accordion feature whereby the commitment may be increased, subject to lender approval, to $1.2 billion for seasonal needs during the December and March quarters. Interest rates are based on prevailing market rates for short-term commercial paper plus a program fee, and vary based on the Company’s debt ratings. The program fee and the commitment fee, on average, were 53 basis points and 20 basis points, respectively, at September 30, 2008. At September 30, 2008, there were no borrowings under the Receivables Securitization Facility. In connection with the Receivables Securitization Facility, ABDC sells on a revolving basis certain accounts receivable to Amerisource Receivables Financial Corporation, a wholly owned special purpose entity, which in turn sells a percentage ownership interest in the receivables to commercial paper conduits sponsored by financial institutions. ABDC is the servicer of the accounts receivable under the Receivables Securitization Facility. After the maximum limit of receivables sold has been reached and as sold receivables are collected,

 

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additional receivables may be sold up to the maximum amount available under the facility. The facility is a financing vehicle utilized by the Company because it generally offers an attractive interest rate relative to other financing sources. The Company securitizes its trade accounts, which are generally non-interest bearing, in transactions that are accounted for as borrowings under SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.” The agreement governing the Receivables Securitization Facility contains restrictions and covenants which include limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, making of certain restricted payments, issuance of preferred stock, creation of certain liens, and certain corporate acts such as mergers, consolidations and sale of substantially all assets.

The $55 million Blanco revolving credit facility, which was scheduled to expire in April 2008, was amended and now expires in April 2009. Borrowings under the Blanco credit facility are guaranteed by the Company. Interest on borrowings under the Blanco credit facility accrues at the specific rates based on the Company’s debt rating (55 basis points over LIBOR at September 30, 2008). Additionally, the Company pays quarterly facility fees on the full amount of the facility to maintain the availability under the Blanco credit facility at specific rates based on the Company’s debt rating (10 basis points at September 30, 2008). The borrowing is not classified in the current portion of long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2008 because the Company has the ability and intent to refinance it on a long-term basis.

The Company has outstanding $400 million of 5 5/8% senior notes due September 15, 2012 (the “2012 Notes”) and $500 million of 5 7/8% senior notes due September 15, 2015 (the “2015 Notes”). The 2012 Notes and 2015 Notes each were sold at 99.5% of principal amount and have an effective yield of 5.71% and 5.94%, respectively. Interest on the 2012 Notes and the 2015 Notes is payable semiannually in arrears. Both the 2012 Notes and the 2015 Notes are redeemable at the Company’s option at a price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount thereof, or the sum of the discounted value of the remaining scheduled payments, as defined.

In January 2008, the Company’s debt rating was raised by one of the rating agencies. In accordance with the terms of the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility and the Blanco credit facility, interest on borrowings began accruing at lower rates, reducing the LIBOR spread and the facility fee on both facilities. In July 2008, the Company’s debt rating was raised by another rating agency, and, as a result, the Company’s senior unsecured debt is now rated investment grade by all three of the primary rating agencies. While the July 2008 ratings upgrade does not affect the Company’s borrowing rates, it will no longer be required to maintain minimum earnings to fixed charges ratios, in connection with the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility.

The Company’s operating results have generated cash flow, which, together with availability under its debt agreements and credit terms from suppliers, has provided sufficient capital resources to finance working capital and cash operating requirements, and to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions, repayment of debt, the payment of interest on outstanding debt, dividends, and repurchases of shares of the Company’s common stock.

Recent deterioration in general economic conditions could adversely affect the amount of prescriptions that are filled and the amount of pharmaceutical products purchased by consumers and, therefore, reduce purchases by our customers. In addition, interest rate fluctuations and volatility in financial markets may also negatively impact our customers’ ability to obtain credit to finance their businesses on acceptable terms. Reduced purchases by our customers or changes in payment terms could adversely affect our revenue growth and cause a decrease in our cash flow from operations.

Recently, the credit markets have been experiencing volatility and disruption. As previously mentioned, one of our lenders under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility filed for bankruptcy, and as a result, our availability under this facility was reduced by $55 million. We continue to monitor the creditworthiness of our lenders and while we do not currently anticipate the failure of any additional lenders under our revolving credit facilities and/or under the liquidity facilities of our receivables securitization facility, the failure of any further lenders could have an adverse effect on our ability to finance our business operations.

 

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Additionally, our receivables securitization facility expires in calendar 2009. While we did not have any borrowings outstanding under this facility as of September 30, 2008, we have historically utilized amounts available to us under this facility throughout the year to meet our business needs. In fiscal 2009, we will seek to renew this facility at available market rates, which we believe will be higher than the interest rates currently available to us. While we believe we will be able to renew this facility, there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so.

The Company’s primary ongoing cash requirements will be to finance working capital, fund the payment of interest on debt, fund repurchases of its common stock, finance acquisitions and fund capital expenditures and routine growth and expansion through new business opportunities. For example, in October 2007, the Company purchased Bellco for $162.2 million, net of $20.7 million of cash acquired. In November 2007, the Company’s board of directors authorized an increase to the $850 million share repurchase program by $500 million, subject to market conditions. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Company purchased $679.7 million of its common stock. As of September 30, 2008, the Company had approximately $18.1 million of availability remaining on its $1,350 million share repurchase program. In November 2008, the Company’s board of directors approved a new program authorizing the Company to purchase up to $500 million of its outstanding shares of common stock, subject to market conditions. The Company expects to purchase approximately $350 million of its common stock in fiscal 2009, subject to market conditions. Future cash flows from operations and borrowings are expected to be sufficient to fund the Company’s ongoing cash requirements.

Following is a summary of the Company’s contractual obligations for future principal and interest payments on its debt, minimum rental payments on its noncancelable operating leases and minimum payments on its other commitments at September 30, 2008 (in thousands):

 

     Payments Due by Period
     Total    Within 1
year
   1-3 years    4-5 years    After 5
years

Debt, including interest payments

   $ 1,495,892    $ 111,823    $ 108,682    $ 716,637    $ 558,750

Operating leases

     242,663      64,071      90,084      39,593      48,915

Other commitments

     551,033      130,713      170,584      148,484      101,252
                                  

Total

   $ 2,289,588    $ 306,607    $ 369,350    $ 904,714    $ 708,917
                                  

The $55 million Blanco revolving credit facility, which expires in April 2009, is included in the “Within 1 year” column in the above repayment table. However, this borrowing is not classified in the current portion of long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2008 because the Company has the ability and intent to refinance it on a long-term basis.

The Company has commitments to purchase product from influenza vaccine manufacturers through June 30, 2015. The Company is required to purchase annual doses at prices that the Company believes will represent market prices. The Company currently estimates its remaining purchase commitment under these agreements, as amended, will be approximately $379.2 million as of September 30, 2008. These influenza vaccine commitments are included in “Other commitments” in the above table.

The Company outsources a significant portion of its corporate and ABDC information technology activities to IBM Global Services. The remaining commitment under this ten-year outsourcing arrangement, which expires in June 2015, is approximately $115.7 million and is included in “Other commitments” in the above table.

During fiscal 2008, the Company’s operating activities provided $737.1 million of cash as compared to cash provided of $1,207.9 million in the prior fiscal year. Net cash provided by operating activities during fiscal 2008 was principally the result of income from continuing operations of $469.1 million, non-cash items of $212.8 million, and an increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes of $53.7 million. Non-cash

 

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items included the provision for deferred income taxes of $62.1 million, which was significantly higher than the prior fiscal year due to the increase in income tax deductions associated with merchandise inventories. Merchandise inventories increased slightly despite the 7% increase in total revenue, as the number of average inventory days on hand decreased by 2 days compared to the prior fiscal year primarily due to the continued benefits achieved from the consolidation of our distribution network and strong inventory management. Accounts receivable declined by $8.7 million from the prior fiscal year compared to the increase in sales as average days sales outstanding declined from 19.4 days in fiscal 2007 to 18.7 days in fiscal 2008 due to changes in customer mix including the July 1, 2008 sales reduction with a large chain customer. Additionally ABDC, which has lower average days sales outstanding than ABSG, grew faster than ABSG in fiscal 2008. Accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes grew less than revenues due to the reversal of favorable timing at the end of fiscal 2007. Average days payable outstanding in fiscal 2008 declined by  1/2 of one day from the prior fiscal year. Operating cash uses during fiscal 2008 included $68.5 million in interest payments and $262.9 million of income tax payments, net of refunds.

During fiscal 2007, the Company’s operating activities provided $1,207.9 million of cash as compared to cash provided of $807.3 million in the prior fiscal year. Cash provided by operating activities during fiscal 2007 was principally the result of income from continuing operations of $474.8 million, non-cash items of $181.1 million, an increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes of $507.6 million, and a decrease in merchandise inventories of $286.1 million, partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $236.0 million. The increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes was primarily driven by the increase in sales and days payable outstanding. Days payable outstanding in fiscal 2007 increased by 2 days from the prior fiscal year due to favorable timing of payments to our suppliers and the strong growth of ABSG, which has a higher days payable outstanding ratio than ABDC because certain of ABSG’s businesses have more favorable payment terms with their suppliers. The inventory turnover rate for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment improved to 13.6 times in fiscal 2007 from 12.2 times in the prior fiscal year. The number of inventory days on hand decreased compared to the prior fiscal year primarily due to the benefits resulting from the Company having completed its integration plan to consolidate the ABDC distribution network and the strong growth of ABSG’s business, which has lower inventory days on hand requirements. After several years of consolidation activity, the 26 U.S. ABDC distribution facilities in fiscal 2007 provided a stable distribution network environment, which combined with strong inventory management, resulted in a significant reduction in safety stock inventory. The increase in accounts receivable was due to the increase in operating revenue and an increase in average days sales outstanding for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment. Average days sales outstanding for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment increased to 18.8 days in fiscal 2007 from 16.7 days in the prior fiscal year. This increase was largely driven by the above-market rate growth of the Specialty Group, which generally has a higher receivable investment than the ABDC distribution business. Operating cash uses during fiscal 2007 included $65.9 million in interest payments and $253.2 million of income tax payments, net of refunds.

During fiscal 2006, the Company’s operating activities provided $807.3 million of cash as compared to cash provided of $1,526.6 million in the prior fiscal year. Cash provided by operating activities during fiscal 2006 was principally the result of income from continuing operations of $434.5 million, non-cash items of $215.1 million (of which $89.2 million represented deferred income taxes), and a $1,152.7 million increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes, partially offset by a $673.2 million increase in accounts receivable and a $349.3 million increase in merchandise inventories. The increase in accounts payable was primarily a result of our 13% operating revenue increase and the timing of payments to our suppliers. The increase in inventory was due to the increase in operating revenue, net of the effect of the increase in the inventory turnover rate. The inventory turnover rate for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment improved to 12.2 times in fiscal 2006 from 10.2 times in the prior fiscal year. The improvement was derived from lower average inventory levels due to an increase in the number of fee-for-service agreements, inventory management and other vendor agreements, and a reduction in the number of distribution facilities. The increase in accounts receivable was due to the increase in operating revenue and an increase in average days sales outstanding. Average days sales outstanding for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment increased to 16.7 days in fiscal 2006 from 15.4 days in the prior fiscal year.

 

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This increase was largely driven by the above-market rate growth of the Specialty Group, which generally has a higher receivable investment than the ABDC business. Deferred income taxes of $89.2 million in fiscal 2006 were significantly higher than the prior fiscal year, primarily due to the increase in income tax deductions associated with merchandise inventories. Operating cash uses during fiscal year 2006 included $62.3 million in interest payments and $107.5 million of income tax payments, net of refunds.

Capital expenditures in fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006 were $137.3 million, $111.3 million and $111.9 million, respectively. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2008 related principally to improving our information technology infrastructure, which included a significant purchase of software relating to our ERP-enabled Business Transformation project, the expansion of our ABPG production facility in Rockford, Illinois, and investments in warehouse expansions and improvements. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2007 related principally to improving our information technology infrastructure, investments in ABDC warehouse expansions, equipment investments at ABSG and ABPG, equipment and furniture related to ABSG’s new corporate facility, and ABPG’s Illinois facility expansion. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2006 related principally to the construction of our new ABDC distribution facilities, investments in warehouse expansions and improvements, information technology and warehouse automation. The Company currently estimates that it will spend approximately $140 million for capital expenditures during fiscal 2009.

In October 2007, the Company purchased Bellco, a privately held New York distributor of branded and generic pharmaceuticals, for a purchase price of $162.2 million, net of $20.7 million of cash acquired.

In October 2006, the Company acquired IgG, a specialty pharmacy and infusion services business specializing in IVIG, for $37.2 million. In November 2006, the Company acquired AMD, a Canadian company that provides services including reimbursement support and nursing support services, for $13.4 million. In April 2007, the Company acquired Xcenda, a consulting business which applies customized solutions and innovative approaches that discover and communicate the value of pharmaceuticals and other healthcare technologies, for $25.2 million. Additionally, in fiscal 2007, in connection with its fiscal 2006 acquisition of Brecon, the Company made a contingent payment in the amount of $7.6 million to the former owners of Brecon. The Company also made payments of $2.9 million in fiscal 2007 related to certain prior period acquisitions.

During fiscal 2006, the Company established operations in Canada by acquiring three distributors. The Company acquired Trent for a purchase price of $81.1 million, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Asenda for a purchase price of $18.2 million, and the Company acquired Rep-Pharm, Inc. for a purchase price of $47.5 million. All three businesses acquired now comprise AmerisourceBergen Canada Corporation. In fiscal 2006, the Company also acquired Brecon, a United Kingdom-based company, for an initial purchase price of $50.2 million, acquired Network for Medical Communication & Research, LLC (“NMCR”) for a purchase price of $86.6 million, and acquired certain assets of a technology solutions company relating to the Long-Term Care business for $12.6 million. The assets of this technology solutions company were subsequently included in the Long-Term Care divestiture transaction.

Net cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2008, 2007, and 2006 included purchases and sales of short-term investment securities. Net proceeds (purchases) relating to these investment activities in fiscal 2008, 2007, and 2006 were $467.4 million, $(399.6) million, and $281.3 million, respectively. These short-term investment securities primarily consisted of commercial paper and tax-exempt variable rate demand notes used to maximize the Company’s after tax interest income. The Company does not have any short-term investment securities as of September 30, 2008, nor has it purchased or sold short-term investment securities since its second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2008.

Net cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2007 also included proceeds from the sales of property and equipment, primarily related to the sale of certain distribution facilities and proceeds from the sales of other assets, which principally related to the sale of certain retail pharmacy assets of the Company’s former Long-Term Care business.

 

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Net cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2006 also included proceeds of $49.6 million from the sale of property and equipment (of which $38.0 million related to the sale of the former Bergen Brunswig headquarters in Orange, California), proceeds of $28.1 million from two sale-leaseback transactions entered into by the Company with financial institutions relating to equipment previously acquired for its new distribution facilities, and $7.6 million of proceeds from the sale of an equity investment and an eminent domain settlement.

Net cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2008, 2007, and 2006 included net (repayments) borrowings of $(16.4) million, $101.8 million, and $134.9 million, respectively, under the Company’s revolving and securitization credit facilities. The net borrowings in fiscal 2007 and 2006 were primarily related to the Company’s Canadian operations.

In connection with the spin-off transaction, Long-Term Care borrowed $125.0 million from a financial institution, and provided a one-time distribution to the Company. This distribution is reflected as a financing activity on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.

During fiscal 2008, 2007, and 2006, the Company purchased a total of $679.7 million, $1,434.4 million and $717.7 million, respectively, of its common stock in connection with its share repurchase programs, which are summarized below.

In May 2007, the Company’s board of directors authorized a program allowing the Company to purchase up to $850 million of its outstanding shares of common stock, subject to market conditions. During fiscal 2007, the Company purchased $652.6 million under this new program. In November 2007, the Company’s board of directors authorized an increase to the $850 million share repurchase program by $500 million, subject to market conditions. During fiscal 2008, the Company purchased $679.7 million under this program. The Company has $18.1 million of availability remaining under this share repurchase program as of September 30, 2008.

In August 2006, the Company’s board of directors authorized a program allowing the Company to purchase up to $750 million of its outstanding shares of common stock. During fiscal 2007, the Company purchased 15.6 million shares of its common stock to complete its authorization under this program.

In May 2005, the Company’s board of directors authorized a program allowing the Company to purchase up to $450 million of its outstanding shares of common stock. Through June 30, 2005, the Company had purchased $94.2 million of its common stock under this program. In August 2005, the Company’s board of directors authorized an increase to the amount available under this program by approximately $394 million, bringing the then-remaining availability to $750 million, and the total repurchase program to approximately $844 million. During fiscal 2006 and 2007, the Company purchased $748.4 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of its common stock under this program.

During fiscal 2008, 2007, and 2006, the Company paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.075, $0.05, and $0.025 per share, respectively. On November 13, 2008, the Company’s board of directors increased the quarterly dividend by 33% and declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share, which will be paid on December 8, 2008 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 24, 2008. The Company anticipates that it will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future. However, the payment and amount of future dividends remain within the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will depend upon the Company’s future earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors.

Market Risk

The Company’s most significant market risk is the effect of fluctuations in interest rates. The Company manages interest rate risk by using a combination of fixed-rate and variable-rate debt. The Company also has market risk exposure relating to its cash and cash equivalents and its short-term investment securities

 

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available-for-sale. At September 30, 2008, the Company had $291.4 million of variable-rate debt. The amount of variable rate debt fluctuates during the year based on the Company’s working capital requirements. The Company periodically evaluates various financial instruments that could mitigate a portion of its exposure to variable interest rates. However, there are no assurances that such instruments will be available on terms acceptable to the Company. There were no such financial instruments in effect at September 30, 2008.

The Company had $878.1 million in cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2008. The unfavorable impact of a hypothetical decrease in interest rates on cash and cash equivalents would be partially offset by the favorable impact of such a decrease on variable-rate debt. For every $100 million of cash invested that is in excess of variable-rate debt, a 50 basis point decrease in interest rates would increase the Company’s annual net interest expense by $0.5 million.

The non-U.S. operations of the Company are exposed to foreign currency and exchange rate risk. The Company may utilize foreign currency denominated forward contracts to hedge against changes in foreign exchange rates. Such contracts generally have durations of less than one year. During fiscal 2008, the Company’s largest exposures to foreign exchange rates existed primarily with the Canadian Dollar. The Company had no foreign currency denominated forward contracts at September 30, 2008. The Company may use derivative instruments to hedge its foreign currency exposures but not for speculative or trading purposes.

Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Effective October 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48. Refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the Company’s adoption of FIN No. 48.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This standard applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, but does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 will become effective for the Company’s financial assets and liabilities in fiscal 2009 and nonfinancial assets and liabilities in fiscal 2010. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” SFAS No. 159 permits the Company to elect fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain financial assets and liabilities that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value, on an instrument-by-instrument basis. If the Company elects the fair value option, it would be required to recognize changes in fair value in its earnings. This standard also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to improve comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 will be effective for fiscal 2009. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations,” which replaces SFAS No. 141. SFAS No. 141R establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the goodwill acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquired business. SFAS No. 141R also establishes disclosure requirements, which will enable users to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141R is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2008, which will be the Company’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements contained in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) and elsewhere in this report are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and change in circumstances. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied are the following: changes in pharmaceutical market growth rates; the loss of one or more key customer or supplier relationships; changes in customer mix; customer or supplier defaults or insolvencies; changes in pharmaceutical manufacturers’ pricing and distribution policies or practices; adverse resolution of any contract or other dispute with customers or suppliers; federal and state government enforcement initiatives to detect and prevent suspicious orders of controlled substances and the diversion of controlled substances; changes in U.S. Legislation or regulatory action affecting pharmaceutical product pricing or reimbursement policies, including under Medicaid and Medicare; changes in regulatory or clinical medical guidelines and/or labeling for the pharmaceuticals we distribute, including erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) used to treat anemia patients; price inflation in branded pharmaceuticals and price deflation in generics; significant breakdown or interruption of our information technology systems; success of integration, restructuring or systems initiatives; interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory developments in Canada, the United Kingdom and elsewhere outside of the United States; the impact of divestitures or the acquisition of businesses that do not perform as we expect or that are difficult for us to integrate or control; our inability to successfully complete any other transaction that we may wish to pursue from time to time; changes in tax legislation or adverse resolution of challenges to our tax positions; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources; continued volatility and further deterioration of the capital and credit markets; and other economic, business, competitive, legal, tax, regulatory and/or operational factors affecting our business generally. Certain additional factors that management believes could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements are set forth elsewhere in this MD&A, in Item 1A (Risk Factors), Item 1 (Business) and elsewhere in this report.

 

ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company’s most significant market risks are the effects of changing interest rates and foreign currency risk. See discussion on page 47 under the heading “Market Risk,” which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   51

Consolidated Financial Statements:

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2008 and 2007

   52

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2008, 2007, and 2006

   53

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Fiscal Years Ended September  30, 2008, 2007, and 2006

   54

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2008, 2007, and 2006

   55

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   56

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of AmerisourceBergen Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of AmerisourceBergen Corporation and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2008. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

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

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of AmerisourceBergen Corporation and subsidiaries at September 30, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, AmerisourceBergen Corporation changed its method of accounting for uncertainty in income taxes in fiscal 2008. As discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, AmerisourceBergen Corporation changed its method of accounting for defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans in fiscal 2007.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), AmerisourceBergen Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 25, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

November 25, 2008

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     September 30,
2008
    September 30,
2007
 
     (in thousands, except share and
per share data)
 

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 878,114     $ 640,204  

Short-term investment securities available-for-sale

     —         467,419  

Accounts receivable, less allowances for returns and doubtful accounts:

    

2008—$393,714; 2007—$374,121

     3,480,267       3,415,772  

Merchandise inventories

     4,211,775       4,097,811  

Prepaid expenses and other

     55,914       31,828  

Assets held for sale

     43,691       284,818  
                

Total current assets

     8,669,761       8,937,852  
                

Property and equipment, at cost:

    

Land

     35,258       35,793  

Buildings and improvements

     281,001       260,438  

Machinery, equipment and other

     616,942       533,279  
                

Total property and equipment

     933,201       829,510  

Less accumulated depreciation

     (381,042 )     (335,863 )
                

Property and equipment, net

     552,159       493,647  
                

Other assets:

    

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     2,875,366       2,743,285  

Other assets

     120,500       135,280  
                

Total other assets

     2,995,866       2,878,565  
                

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 12,217,786     $ 12,310,064  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 7,326,580     $ 6,964,594  

Accrued expenses and other

     270,823       334,190  

Current portion of long-term debt

     1,719       476  

Accrued income taxes

     —         32,099  

Deferred income taxes

     550,708       506,414  

Liabilities held for sale

     17,759       26,337  
                

Total current liabilities

     8,167,589       7,864,110  
                

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     1,187,412       1,227,077  

Other liabilities

     152,740       119,157  

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $ 0.01 par value—authorized, issued and outstanding:

    

600,000,000 shares, 240,577,082 shares and 156,215,460 shares at September 30, 2008, respectively, and 600,000,000 shares, 237,926,795 shares and 169,476,139 shares at September 30, 2007, respectively

     2,406       2,379  

Additional paid-in capital

     3,692,023       3,583,387  

Retained earnings

     2,479,078       2,286,489  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (16,490 )     (5,247 )

Treasury stock, at cost: 2008—84,361,622 shares; 2007—68,450,656 shares

     (3,446,972 )     (2,767,288 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     2,710,045       3,099,720  
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 12,217,786     $ 12,310,064  
                

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Fiscal year ended September 30,

   2008     2007     2006  
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

Operating revenue

   $ 67,518,933     $ 61,266,792     $ 56,282,216  

Bulk deliveries to customer warehouses

     2,670,800       4,405,280       4,530,205  
                        

Total revenue

     70,189,733       65,672,072       60,812,421  

Cost of goods sold

     68,142,731       63,453,013       58,690,805  
                        

Gross profit

     2,047,002       2,219,059       2,121,616  

Operating expenses:

      

Distribution, selling and administrative

     1,124,683       1,343,575       1,326,713  

Depreciation

     64,954       68,227       68,980  

Amortization

     17,127       16,448       12,916  

Facility consolidations, employee severance and other

     12,377       2,072       20,123  
                        

Operating income

     827,861       788,737       692,884  

Other loss (income)

     2,027       3,004       (4,387 )

Interest expense, net

     64,496       32,244       12,464  
                        

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     761,338       753,489       684,807  

Income taxes

     292,274       278,686       250,344  
                        

Income from continuing operations

     469,064       474,803       434,463  

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income tax

expense of $2,150, $10,285, and $22,103 for fiscal 2008, 2007,

and 2006, respectively

     (218,505 )     (5,636 )     33,251  
                        

Net income

   $ 250,559     $ 469,167     $ 467,714  
                        

Earnings per share:

      

Basic earnings per share:

      

Continuing operations

   $ 2.92     $ 2.56     $ 2.12  

Discontinued operations

     (1.36 )     (0.03 )     0.16  
                        

Total

   $ 1.56     $ 2.53     $ 2.28  
                        

Diluted earnings per share:

      

Continuing operations

   $ 2.89     $ 2.53     $ 2.09  

Discontinued operations

     (1.34 )     (0.03 )     0.16  

Rounding

     (0.01 )     —         —    
                        

Total

   $ 1.54     $ 2.50     $ 2.25  
                        

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

      

Basic

     160,642       185,181       205,009  

Diluted

     162,460       187,886       207,446  

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES

IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

      Common
Stock
   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

September 30, 2005

   $ 2,312    $ 3,314,060     $ 1,604,093     $ (24,814 )   $ (615,294 )   $ 4,280,357  

Net income

          467,714           467,714  

Reduction in minimum pension liability, net of tax of $6,598

            10,576         10,576  

Other, net of tax

            (1,065 )       (1,065 )
                   

Total comprehensive income

                477,225  
                   

Cash dividends declared, $0.10 per share

          (20,595 )         (20,595 )

Exercise of stock options

     42      116,126             116,168  

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

        21,878             21,878  

Share-based compensation expense

        16,412             16,412  

Common stock purchases for employee stock purchase plan

        (1,532 )           (1,532 )

Purchases of common stock

              (748,756 )     (748,756 )
                                               

September 30, 2006

     2,354      3,466,944       2,051,212       (15,303 )     (1,364,050 )     4,141,157  

Net income

          469,167           469,167  

Foreign currency translation

            8,801         8,801  

Reduction in minimum pension liability, net of tax of $7,693

            12,032         12,032  

Other, net of tax

            (209 )       (209 )
                   

Total comprehensive income

                489,791  
                   

Adoption of SFAS No. 158, net of tax of $6,757

            (10,568 )       (10,568 )

Cash dividends declared, $0.20 per share

          (37,249 )         (37,249 )

Divestiture of PharMerica Long-Term Care

          (196,641 )         (196,641 )

Exercise of stock options

     25      74,992             75,017  

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

        19,603             19,603  

Share-based compensation expense

        24,964             24,964  

Common stock purchases for employee stock purchase plan

        (1,622 )           (1,622 )

Settlement of accelerated stock repurchase agreement

        (1,494 )           (1,494 )

Purchases of common stock

              (1,403,238 )     (1,403,238 )
                                               

September 30, 2007

     2,379      3,583,387       2,286,489       (5,247 )     (2,767,288 )     3,099,720  

Net income

          250,559           250,559  

Foreign currency translation

            (8,708 )       (8,708 )

Benefit plan funded status adjustment, net of tax of $3,157

            (4,938 )       (4,938 )

Benefit plan actuarial loss amortization to earnings, net of tax of $901

            1,410         1,410  

Other, net of tax

            993         993  
                   

Total comprehensive income

                239,316  
                   

Cash dividends declared, $0.30 per share

          (48,674 )         (48,674 )

Adoption of FIN No. 48

          (9,296 )         (9,296 )

Exercise of stock options

     27      71,196             71,223  

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

        11,988             11,988  

Share-based compensation expense

        26,384             26,384  

Common stock purchases for employee stock purchase plan

        (932 )           (932 )

Purchases of common stock

              (679,684 )     (679,684 )
                                               

September 30, 2008

   $ 2,406    $ 3,692,023     $ 2,479,078     $ (16,490 )   $ (3,446,972 )   $ 2,710,045  
                                               

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

Fiscal year ended September 30,

   2008     2007     2006  
     (in thousands)  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Net income

   $ 250,559     $ 469,167     $ 467,714  

Loss (income) from discontinued operations

     218,505       5,636       (33,251 )
                        

Income from continuing operations

     469,064       474,803       434,463  

Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation, including amounts charged to cost of goods sold

     75,239       76,680       76,018  

Amortization, including amounts charged to interest expense

     20,643       21,117       16,802  

Provision for doubtful accounts

     27,630       48,500       37,457  

Provision for deferred income taxes

     62,112       11,979       89,206  

Share-based compensation

     25,503       24,059       15,975  

Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment

     5,036       (1,229 )     (15,972 )

Other

     (3,402 )     40       (4,387 )

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

      

Accounts receivable

     8,745       (236,031 )     (673,175 )

Merchandise inventories

     (8,013 )     286,096       (349,284 )

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     (11,497 )     (7,508 )     (8,466 )

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and income taxes

     53,684       507,565       1,152,686  

Other liabilities

     (5,120 )     1,644       108  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities-continuing operations

     719,624       1,207,715       771,431  

Net cash provided by operating activities-discontinued operations

     17,445       189       35,834  
                        

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     737,069       1,207,904       807,265  
                        

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

Capital expenditures

     (137,309 )     (111,278 )     (111,871 )

Cost of acquired companies, net of cash acquired

     (169,230 )     (86,266 )     (296,224 )

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     3,020       8,077       49,639  

Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions

     —         —         28,143  

Proceeds from sales of other assets

     1,878       5,205       7,582  

Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale

     (909,105 )     (7,745,672 )     (1,997,022 )

Proceeds from sale of investment securities available-for-sale

     1,376,524       7,346,093       2,278,312  
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities-continuing operations

     165,778       (583,841 )     (41,441 )

Net cash used in investing activities-discontinued operations

     (2,357 )     (90,596 )     (1,261 )
                        

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     163,421       (674,437 )     (42,702 )
                        

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Borrowings under revolving and securitization credit facilities

     5,956,027       722,767       468,463  

Repayments under revolving and securitization credit facilities

     (5,972,423 )     (621,014 )     (333,575 )

Proceeds from borrowing related to PharMerica Long-Term Care distribution

     —         125,000       —    

Deferred financing costs and other

     (1,125 )     (2,648 )     (2,941 )

Purchases of common stock

     (679,684 )     (1,434,385 )     (717,714 )

Exercises of stock options, including excess tax benefits of $11,988, $19,603, and $21,878, in fiscal 2008, 2007, and 2006 respectively

     84,394       94,620       138,046  

Cash dividends on common stock

     (48,674 )     (37,249 )     (20,595 )

Purchases of common stock for employee stock purchase plan

     (932 )     (1,622 )     (1,532 )
                        

Net cash used in financing activities-continuing operations

     (662,417 )     (1,154,531 )     (469,848 )

Net cash used in financing activities-discontinued operations

     (163 )     —         —    
                        

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     (662,580 )     (1,154,531 )     (469,848 )
                        

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     237,910       (621,064 )     294,715  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     640,204       1,261,268       966,553  
                        

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

   $ 878,114     $ 640,204     $ 1,261,268  
                        

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AMERISOURCEBERGEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2008

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (the “Company”) is a pharmaceutical services company providing drug distribution and related healthcare services and solutions to its pharmacy, physician and manufacturer customers, which currently are based primarily in the United States and Canada. Prior to the July 31, 2007 divestiture of PharMerica Long-Term Care (see below and Note 3), the Company dispensed pharmaceuticals to long-term care patients. For further information on the Company’s operating segments, see Note 15.

Basis of Presentation

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

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

On July 31, 2007, the Company completed the spin-off of its former institutional pharmacy business, PharMerica Long-Term Care (“Long-Term Care”). Beginning August 1, 2007, the operating results of Long-Term Care ceased to be included in the operating results of the Company. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the historical operating results of Long-Term Care are not reported as a discontinued operation of the Company because of the significance of the continuing cash flows resulting from the pharmaceutical distribution agreement entered into between the disposed component and the Company. Accordingly, for periods prior to August 1, 2007, the Company’s operating results include Long-Term Care. The Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s sales to Long-Term Care before the spin-off in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were $714.2 million and $836.9 million, respectively, which were eliminated in consolidation in the Company’s historical operating results.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Company committed to a plan to divest its workers’ compensation business, PMSI. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the Company classified PMSI’s assets and liabilities as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets and classified PMSI’s operating results and cash flows as discontinued in the consolidated financial statements for the current and prior fiscal years presented. Previously, PMSI was included in the Company’s Other reportable segment. In October 2008, the Company completed the sale of PMSI (see Note 4).

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

Business Combinations

The purchase price of an acquired company is allocated between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired business based on their estimated fair values, with the residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. The results of operations of the acquired businesses are included in the Company’s results from the dates of acquisition (see Note 2).

Cash Equivalents

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

 

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Concentrations of Credit Risk and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company sells its merchandise inventories to a large number of customers in the healthcare industry that include institutional and retail healthcare providers. Institutional healthcare providers include acute care hospitals, health systems, mail order pharmacies, long-term care and other alternate care pharmacies and providers of pharmacy services to such facilities, and physician offices. Retail healthcare providers include national and regional retail drugstore chains, independent community pharmacies and pharmacy departments of supermarkets and mass merchandisers. The financial condition of the Company’s customers can be affected by changes in government reimbursement policies as well as by other economic pressures in the healthcare industry.

The Company’s trade accounts receivable are exposed to credit risk, but the risk is moderated because the Company’s customer base is diverse and geographically widespread. The Company generally does not require collateral for trade receivables. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts. In determining the appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company considers a combination of factors, such as the aging of trade receivables, industry trends, its customers’ financial strength, credit standing, and payment and default history. Changes in these factors, among others, may lead to adjustments in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts. The calculation of the required allowance requires judgment by Company management as to the impact of those and other factors on the ultimate realization of its trade receivables. Each of the Company’s business units performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and maintains reserves for probable bad debt losses based on historical experience and for specific credit problems when they arise. There were no significant changes to this process during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007, and 2006 and bad debt expense was computed in a consistent manner during these periods. The bad debt expense for any period presented is equal to the changes in the period end allowance for doubtful accounts, net of write-offs, recoveries and other adjustments. Schedule II of this Form 10-K sets forth a rollforward of the allowance for doubtful accounts. At September 30, 2008, the largest trade receivable due from a single customer represented approximately 9% of accounts receivable, net. In fiscal 2008, Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (“Medco”), our largest customer, accounted for 17% of our total revenue. No other single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total revenue.

The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents with several financial institutions. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. These deposits may be redeeemed upon demand, and are maintained with financial institutions with reputable credit, and, therefore, bear minimal credit risk. The Company seeks to mitigate such risks by monitoring the risk profiles of these counterparties. The Company also seeks to mitigate risk by monitoring the investment strategy of money market funds that it is invested in, which are classified as cash equivalents.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company accounts for derivative financial instruments in accordance with SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended, which requires that all derivatives be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value and establishes criteria for designation and effectiveness of hedging relationships.

As of September 30, 2008 and 2007, there were no outstanding derivative financial instruments. The Company’s policy prohibits it from entering into derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. The Company evaluates hedge effectiveness and records any ineffective portion in other income or expense.

Equity Investments

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for its investments in entities in which it has significant influence; generally, this represents an ownership interest of between 20% and 50%. The Company’s investments

 

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in marketable equity securities in which the Company does not have significant influence are classified as “available for sale” and are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in the accumulated other comprehensive loss component of stockholders’ equity. Unrealized losses that are determined to be other-than-temporary impairment losses are recorded as a component of earnings in the period in which that determination is made.

Foreign Currency

The functional currency of the Company’s foreign operations is the applicable local currency. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using the current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, while revenues and expenses are translated at the weighted-average exchange rates for the period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company accounts for purchased goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Under SFAS No. 142, purchased goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized; rather, they are tested for impairment on at least an annual basis. Intangible assets with finite lives, primarily customer relationships, non-compete agreements, patents and software technology, are amortized over their useful lives from 2 to 15 years.

The Company’s operating segments of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group, and AmerisourceBergen Packaging Group are also the reporting units under SFAS No. 142. Each operating segment has an executive who is responsible for managing the segment and reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), as defined by SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.” Each of the operating segments is comprised of a number of operating units, which are considered to be components under SFAS No. 142. The operating units, for which discrete financial information is available, are aggregated for purposes of goodwill impairment testing.

In order to test goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives under SFAS No. 142, a determination of the fair value of the Company’s reporting units and intangible assets with indefinite lives is required and is based, among other things, on estimates of future operating performance of the reporting unit and/or the component of the entity being valued. The Company is required to complete an impairment test for goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives and record any resulting impairment losses at least on an annual basis or more often if warranted by events or changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying value may exceed fair value (“impairment indicators”). This impairment test includes the projection and discounting of cash flows, analysis of the Company’s market capitalization and estimating the fair values of tangible and intangible assets and liabilities. Estimating future cash flows and determining their present values are based upon, among other things, certain assumptions about expected future operating performance and appropriate discount rates determined by management. In fiscal 2008, PMSI experienced certain customer losses and learned that it would lose its largest customer at the end of calendar 2008. As a result, and after considering other factors, the Company committed to a plan to divest PMSI. The Company performed an interim impairment test of its PMSI reporting unit and determined that its goodwill was impaired. Therefore, PMSI wrote-off the carrying value of its goodwill of $199.1 million. In addition, it also recognized charges of $26.7 million to record the estimated loss on the sale of PMSI (see Note 4). The Company completed its required annual impairment tests relating to goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 and, as a result, recorded $5.3 million of impairment charges. The Company’s estimates of cash flows may differ from actual cash flows due to, among other things, economic conditions, changes to the business model, or changes in operating performance. Significant differences between these estimates and actual cash flows could materially affect the Company’s future financial results.

 

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Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” The asset and liability method requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for expected future tax consequences of temporary differences that currently exist between tax bases and financial reporting bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities. In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Financial Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Effective October 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48 (see Note 5 for additional information regarding the Company’s adoption of FIN No. 48).

Loss Contingencies

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

Manufacturer Incentives

The Company accounts for fees and other incentives received from its suppliers, relating to the purchase or distribution of inventory, as a reduction to cost of goods sold, in accordance with FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting by a Customer for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor.” The Company considers these fees and other incentives to represent product discounts, and as a result, they are capitalized as product costs and relieved through cost of goods sold upon the sale of the related inventory.

Merchandise Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost for approximately 78% and 79% of the Company’s inventories at September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, have been determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. If the Company had used the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method of inventory valuation, which approximates current replacement cost, inventories would have been approximately $176.0 million and $154.9 million higher than the amounts reported at September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We recorded a LIFO charge (credit) of $21.1 million, $2.2 million, and $(1.0) million in fiscal 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, inventory declines resulted in a liquidation of LIFO layers carried at lower costs prevailing in prior years. The effect of the liquidation in fiscal 2007 was to decrease cost of goods sold by $7.2 million and increase diluted earnings per share by $0.02.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and from 3 to 10 years for machinery, equipment and other. The costs of repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.

The Company accounts for capitalized software costs under Statement of Position 98-1, “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use.” Accordingly, the Company begins to capitalize costs related to activities in the application development stage of a project. Software development costs are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets which range from 5 to 7 years.

 

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Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, product has been delivered or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Revenue as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations is net of estimated sales returns and allowances.

The Company’s customer sales return policy generally allows customers to return products only if the products can be resold at full value or returned to suppliers for full credit. The Company records an accrual for estimated customer sales returns at the time of sale to the customer. At September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company’s accrual for estimated customer sales returns was $282.6 million and $275.4 million, respectively.

The Company reports the gross dollar amount of bulk deliveries to customer warehouses in revenue and the related costs in cost of goods sold. Bulk delivery transactions are arranged by the Company at the express direction of the customer, and involve either shipments from the supplier directly to customers’ warehouse sites or shipments from the supplier to the Company for immediate shipment to the customers’ warehouse sites. The Company is a principal to these transactions because it is the primary obligor and has the ultimate and contractual responsibility for fulfillment and acceptability of the products purchased, and bears full risk of delivery and loss for products, whether the products are drop-shipped or shipped via cross-dock. The Company also bears full credit risk associated with the creditworthiness of any bulk delivery customer. As a result, and in accordance with EITF No. 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent,” the Company records bulk deliveries to customer warehouses as gross revenues. Gross profit earned by the Company on bulk deliveries was not material in any year presented.

Share-Based Compensation

SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) requires companies to measure compensation cost for all share-based payments at fair value. SFAS No. 123R also requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation expense to be reported as a financing cash flow ($12.0 million, $19.6 million, and $21.9 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007, and 2006 respectively), rather than an operating cash flow as previously required. In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107, the Company records share-based compensation within distribution, selling and administrative expenses to correspond with the same line item as the cash compensation paid to employees.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs include all costs to warehouse, pick, pack and deliver inventory to customers. These costs, which were $301.6 million, $335.0 million and $351.5 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, are included in distribution, selling and administrative expenses.

Short-Term Investment Securities Available-for-Sale

As of September 30, 2007, the Company had $467.4 million of investments in tax-exempt variable rate demand notes. Although the underlying maturities of the tax-exempt variable rate demand notes are long-term in nature, the investments are classified as short-term because they are automatically reinvested within a seven-day period unless the Company provides notice of intent to liquidate to the broker. The interest rate payable on these investments resets with each reinvestment. The Company’s investments in these securities are recorded at cost, which approximates fair market value due to their variable interest rates. The bonds are issued by municipalities and other tax-exempt entities, but are backed by letters of credit from the banking institutions that broker the debt placements. The Company did not purchase or sell any short-term investment securities consisting of tax-exempt variable rate demand notes during the second-half of fiscal 2008, nor does the Company hold any of these securities as of September 30, 2008.

 

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Supplier Reserves

The Company establishes reserves against amounts due from its suppliers relating to various price and rebate incentives, including deductions or billings taken against payments otherwise due them from the Company. These reserve estimates are established based on the judgment of Company management after carefully considering the status of current outstanding claims, historical experience with the suppliers, the specific incentive programs and any other pertinent information available to the Company. The Company evaluates the amounts due from its suppliers on a continual basis and adjusts the reserve estimates when appropriate based on changes in factual circumstances. The ultimate outcome of any outstanding claim may be different than the Company’s estimate.

Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This standard applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, but does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 will become effective for the Company’s financial assets and liabilities in fiscal 2009 and nonfinancial assets and liabilities in fiscal 2010. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” SFAS No. 159 permits the Company to elect fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain financial assets and liabilities that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value, on an instrument-by-instrument basis. If the Company elects the fair value option, it would be required to recognize changes in fair value in its earnings. This standard also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to improve comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 will be effective for fiscal 2009. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations,” which replaces SFAS No. 141. SFAS No. 141R establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the goodwill acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquired business. SFAS No. 141R also establishes disclosure requirements, which will enable users to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141R is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2008, which will be the Company’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard.

Note 2. Acquisitions

Fiscal 2008 Acquisition

On October 1, 2007, the Company acquired Bellco Health (“Bellco”) for a purchase price of $162.2 million, net of $20.7 million of cash acquired. Bellco is a pharmaceutical distributor in the Metro New York City area, where it primarily services independent retail community pharmacies. The acquisition of Bellco expanded the Company’s presence in this large community pharmacy market. Nationally, Bellco markets and sells generic pharmaceuticals to individual retail pharmacies, and provides pharmaceutical products and services to dialysis clinics. Bellco’s revenues were $2.1 billion for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. The purchase price was allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired by $139.8 million, which was allocated to goodwill. The fair values of the significant tangible assets acquired and

 

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liabilities assumed were as follows: accounts receivable of $112.2 million, merchandise inventories of $106.5 million, and accounts payable and accrued expenses of $237.0 million. The fair values of the intangible assets acquired of $31.7 million primarily consist of customer relationships of $28.7 million, which are being amortized over their weighted average life of 8.9 years.

Had the acquisition of Bellco been completed as of October 1, 2005, the Company’s total revenue, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2007 would not have been materially different than the amounts recorded for those periods.

Fiscal 2007 Acquisitions

In October 2006, the Company acquired I.G.G. of America, Inc. (“IgG”), a specialty pharmacy and infusion services business specializing in the blood derivative intravenous immunoglobulin (“IVIG”), for $37.2 million. The addition of IgG supports the Company’s strategy of building its specialty pharmaceutical services to manufacturers. The purchase price was allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired by $20.4 million, which was allocated to goodwill. Intangible assets acquired of $11.6 million consist of tradename of $3.3 million, non-compete agreements of $2.6 million and customer relationships of $5.7 million. Non-compete agreements and customer relationships are being amortized over their weighted average lives of 5 years and 7 years, respectively.

In November 2006, the Company acquired Access M.D., Inc. (“AMD”), a Canadian company, for $13.4 million. AMD provides services, including reimbursement support, third-party logistics and nursing support services, to manufacturers of specialty pharmaceuticals such as injectable and biological therapies. The acquisition of AMD expanded the Company’s specialty services businesses into Canada and complements the distribution services offered by AmerisourceBergen Canada Corporation. The purchase price was allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired by $11.9 million, which was allocated to goodwill. Intangible assets acquired of $2.9 million primarily consist of tradename of $1.5 million and non-compete agreements of $0.9 million. Non-compete agreements are being amortized over their weighted average lives of 5 years.

In April 2007, the Company acquired Xcenda LLC (“Xcenda”) for a purchase price of $25.2 million. Xcenda enhanced the Company’s consulting business within its existing pharmaceutical and specialty services businesses and provided additional capabilities within pharmaceutical brand services, applied health outcomes and biopharma strategies. The purchase price was allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price exceeded the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired by $18.7 million, which was allocated to goodwill. Intangible assets acquired of $5.9 million primarily consist of customer relationships of $2.7 million and tradename of $3.1 million. Customer relationships are being amortized over their weighted average life of 5 years.

Fiscal 2006 Acquisitions

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Company entered the Canadian market beginning with the October 2005 acquisition of Trent Drugs (Wholesale) Ltd. (“Trent”), a pharmaceutical distributor in Canada, for a purchase price of $81.1 million. The acquisition of Trent provided the Company a solid foundation to expand its pharmaceutical distribution capability into the Canadian marketplace. The Company changed the name of Trent to AmerisourceBergen Canada Corporation (“ABCC”). In March 2006, ABCC acquired substantially all of the assets of Asenda Pharmaceutical Supplies Ltd (“Asenda”), a Canadian pharmaceutical distributor that operated primarily in British Columbia and Alberta, for a purchase price of $18.2 million. The Asenda acquisition increased the Company’s operations in western Canada. In September 2006, ABCC acquired Rep-Pharm, Inc. (“Rep-Pharm”), a Canadian pharmaceutical wholesaler that distributes pharmaceuticals in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, for a purchase price of $47.5 million.

 

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The purchase price for each of the above acquisitions was allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values as of the dates of the respective acquisitions. The aggregate purchase price exceeded the fair value of the aggregate net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired by $55.7 million, which was allocated to goodwill. The aggregate intangible assets acquired of $12.1 million primarily consist of customer relationships and are being amortized over their weighted average lives of 5 to 7 years.

In February 2006, the Company acquired Network for Medical Communication & Research, LLC (“NMCR”), a privately held provider of accredited continuing medical education (“CME”) for physicians and analytical research for the oncology market, for a purchase price of $86.6 million. The acquisition of NMCR expanded AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group’s presence in its market-leading oncology distribution and services businesses. The CME business of NMCR complements Imedex, Inc., the Company’s accredited CME business. The purchase price was allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired by $69.2 million which was allocated to goodwill. Intangible assets acquired of $20.1 million primarily consist of trade names of $3.2 million and customer relationships of $16.1 million. Customer relationships are being amortized over their weighted average life of 8 years.

In March 2006, the Company acquired Brecon Pharmaceuticals Limited (“Brecon”), a United Kingdom-based provider of contract packaging and clinical trial materials (“CTM”) services for pharmaceutical manufacturers, for a purchase price of $50.2 million. During fiscal 2007, the Company paid the former owners of Brecon $7.6 million to settle a contingent payment obligation tied to Brecon achieving specific earnings targets in calendar year 2006. The acquisition of Brecon enhanced the Company’s packaging business and provides the added capability to offer pharmaceutical manufacturers contract packaging and CTM services in new geographic regions. The purchase price was allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired by $36.6 million, which was allocated to goodwill. Intangible assets acquired of $11.8 million primarily consist of tradenames of $5.8 million and customer relationships of $6.0 million. Customer relationships are being amortized over their weighted average life of 7 years.

In May 2006, the Company’s former Long-Term Care business acquired certain assets of a technology solution company for $12.6 million. The purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired by $8.3 million, which was allocated to goodwill. The primary asset acquired was $4.4 million of software that provides long-term care facilities with safe and efficient electronic medication management, and was being amortized over its useful life of 5 years. The assets of this technology solution company were disposed of in connection with the Long-Term Care divestiture.

Pro forma results of operations for the aforementioned fiscal 2007 and 2006 acquisitions have not been presented because the effects were not material to the consolidated financial statements on either an individual or aggregate basis.

Note 3. Divestiture of PharMerica Long-Term Care

On July 31, 2007, the Company and Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (“Kindred”) completed the spin-offs and subsequent combination of their institutional pharmacy businesses, Long-Term Care and Kindred Pharmacy Services (“KPS”), to form a new, independent, publicly traded company named PharMerica Corporation (“PMC”). At closing, in accordance with the terms of the master transaction agreement, the Company entered into a pharmaceutical distribution agreement with PMC. In connection with this transaction, Long-Term Care borrowed $125 million from a financial institution and provided a one-time distribution back to the Company. The cash distribution by Long-Term Care to the Company was tax-free. The institutional pharmacy businesses were then spun off to the stockholders of their respective parent companies, followed immediately by the merger of the two institutional pharmacy businesses into subsidiaries of PMC, which resulted in the Company’s and

 

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Kindred’s stockholders each owning approximately 50 percent of PMC immediately after the closing of the transaction. The Company’s stockholders received 0.0833752 shares of PMC common stock for each share of AmerisourceBergen common stock owned.

In connection with this transaction, the Company spun off $196.6 million of net assets from its institutional pharmacy business and recorded a corresponding reduction to its retained earnings. The net assets divested consisted of $169.3 million of accounts receivable, $51.3 million of inventory, $35.9 million of property and equipment, $149.2 million of goodwill, $9.4 million of other assets, $125.0 million of long-term debt, $34.8 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses, and $58.7 million of deferred tax liabilities.

Note 4. Discontinued Operations

During fiscal 2008, the Company committed to a plan to divest its workers’ compensation business, PMSI. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, the Company classified PMSI’s assets and liabilities as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets and classified PMSI’s operating results and cash flows as discontinued in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. Previously, PMSI was included in the Company’s Other reportable segment. PMSI’s revenue and (loss) income before income taxes were as follows:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
     2008     2007    2006

Revenue

   $ 403,759     $ 461,370    $ 456,760

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (216,355 )     31,561      55,822

In October 2008, the Company completed the sale of PMSI for approximately $34 million, net of a working capital adjustment, including a $19 million subordinated note payable due from PMSI on the fifth anniversary of the closing date (the “maturity date”), of which $4 million may be payable in October 2010, if PMSI achieves certain revenue targets with respect to its largest customer. Interest, which accrues at an annual rate of 7%, will be payable in cash on a quarterly basis, if PMSI achieves a defined minimum fixed charge coverage ratio or will be compounded semi-annually and paid at maturity. Additionally, if PMSI’s annual net revenue exceeds certain thresholds through December 2011, the Company may be entitled to additional payments of up to $10 million under the subordinated note payable due from PMSI on the maturity date of the note. The Company recorded a non-cash charge of $225.8 million during fiscal 2008 to reduce the carrying value of PMSI. This charge, which is included in the loss from discontinued operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, was comprised of a $199.1 million write-off of PMSI’s goodwill and a $26.7 million charge to record the Company’s loss on the sale of PMSI. The tax benefit recorded in connection with the above charge was minimal, as the loss on the sale of PMSI will be treated as a capital loss for income tax purposes, and the Company does not have significant capital gains to offset the capital loss.

The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities of PMSI (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2008
    September 30,
2007

Assets:

    

Accounts receivable

   $ 44,033     $ 56,586

Goodwill

     —         199,106

Other assets

     (342 )     29,126

Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

     14,959       24,188

Other liabilities

     2,800       2,149
              

Net assets

   $ 25,932     $ 258,481
              

 

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As more fully described in Note 13 under the Bridge Medical Matter, the Company received an adverse court decision with respect to a contingent purchase price adjustment in connection with the 2003 acquisition of Bridge. As a result, the Company recorded a charge of $24.6 million, net of income taxes of $2.3 million, in discontinued operations in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.

Note 5. Income Taxes

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

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Current provision:

      

Federal

   $ 198,187     $ 238,969     $ 138,389  

State and local

     26,862       26,180       21,228  

Foreign

     5,113       1,558       1,521  
                        
     230,162       266,707       161,138  
                        

Deferred provision:

      

Federal

     55,137       10,564       80,734  

State and local

     9,824       3,249       8,543  

Foreign

     (2,849 )     (1,834 )     (71 )
                        
     62,112       11,979       89,206  
                        

Provision for income taxes

   $ 292,274     $ 278,686     $ 250,344  
                        

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

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,  
         2008             2007             2006      

Statutory federal income tax rate

   35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %

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

   3.2     2.6     2.9  

Foreign

   0.1     0.1     0.1  

Other

   0.1     (0.7 )   (1.4 )
                  

Effective income tax rate

   38.4 %   37.0 %   36.6 %
                  

 

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

 

     September 30,  
     2008     2007  

Inventory

   $ 632,843     $ 581,258  

Fixed assets

     14,038       13,389  

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     137,242       130,091  

Other

     1,163       3,808  
                

Gross deferred tax liabilities

     785,286       728,546  
                

Net operating loss and tax credit carryovers

     (49,093 )     (47,735 )

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (38,917 )     (37,474 )

Accrued expenses

     (16,070 )     (18,296 )

Employee and retiree benefits

     (11,621 )     (12,747 )

Stock options

     (18,834 )     (11,169 )

Other

     (50,754 )     (36,453 )
                

Gross deferred tax assets

     (185,289 )     (163,874 )

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

     28,108       24,446  
                

Deferred tax assets, after allowance

     (157,181 )     (139,428 )
                

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ 628,105     $ 589,118  
                

As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $23.2 million of potential tax benefits from federal net operating loss carryforwards expiring in 13 to 14 years, and $23.6 million of potential tax benefits from state operating loss carryforwards expiring in 1 to 20 years. As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $2.3 million of state alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards.

In fiscal 2008, the Company increased the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets by $3.7 million primarily due to the addition of certain state net operating loss carryforwards. In fiscal 2007, the Company decreased the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets by $7.5 million primarily due to the resolution of certain tax matters, the spin-off of the Long-Term Care business and the addition of certain state net operating loss carryforwards. At September 30, 2008, $18.3 million of the remaining valuation allowance was recorded as a component of goodwill, which remained unchanged from September 30, 2007. Under current accounting rules, any future reduction of this valuation allowance, due to the realization of the related deferred tax assets, will reduce goodwill.

In fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, tax benefits of $12.0 million, $19.6 million and $21.9 million, respectively, related to the exercise of employee stock options were recorded as additional paid-in capital.

Income tax payments, net of refunds, were $262.9 million, $253.2 million and $107.5 million in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Effective October 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” FIN No. 48 provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. FIN No. 48 also provides guidance, among other things, on the measurement of the income tax benefit associated with uncertain tax positions, de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties and financial statement disclosures. The cumulative effect of adoption of this interpretation resulted in a $9.3 million reduction to retained earnings.

 

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The Company files income tax returns in U.S. federal and state jurisdictions as well as various foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for fiscal 2005 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The IRS is currently examining the Company’s tax return for fiscal year 2006. In Canada, the Company is currently under examination for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

As of September 30, 2008 and October 1, 2007, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits, defined as the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in the Company’s financial statements, of $49.3 million and $58.5 million, respectively ($35.0 million and $41.8 million, net of federal benefit, respectively). As of September 30, 2008 and October 1, 2007, included in these amounts are $15.3 million and $18.5 million of interest and penalties, respectively, which the Company continues to record in income tax expense. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, is as follows (in thousands):

 

Balance at October 1, 2007

   $ 39,930  

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     7,180  

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     (2,492 )

Settlements with tax authorities

     (6,617 )

Expiration of statutes of limitations

     (3,981 )
        

Balance at September 30, 2008

   $ 34,020  
        

If recognized as of September 30, 2008 and October 1, 2007, net of federal benefit, $33.1 million and $39.9 million, respectively, of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefit would reduce income tax expense and the effective tax rate. Also, if recognized as of September 30, 2008, net of federal benefit, $1.9 million of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefit would result in a decrease to goodwill which remains unchanged from the amount at October 1, 2007. During the next 12 months, it is reasonably possible that state tax audit resolutions and the expiration of statutes of limitations could result in a reduction of unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $8.5 million.

Note 6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Following is a summary of the changes in the carrying value of goodwill, by reportable segment, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands):

 

     Pharmaceutical
Distribution
    Other     Total  

Goodwill at September 30, 2006

   $ 2,316,800     $ 148,216     $ 2,465,016  

Goodwill recognized in connection with acquisitions (See Note 2)

     60,586       —         60,586  

Foreign currency translation

     14,795       —         14,795  

Adjustment to goodwill relating to prior acquisitions

     19,768       1,003       20,771  

Long-Term Care spin-off (See Note 3)

     —         (149,219 )     (149,219 )
                        

Goodwill at September 30, 2007

     2,411,949       —         2,411,949  

Goodwill recognized in connection with acquisition (See Note 2)

     139,814       —         139,814  

Foreign currency translation

     (11,263 )     —         (11,263 )

Adjustment to goodwill relating to deferred taxes

     (3,379 )     —         (3,379 )

Other

     (176 )     —         (176 )
                        

Goodwill at September 30, 2008

   $ 2,536,945     $ —       $ 2,536,945  
                        

 

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During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, in connection with the Long-Term Care spin-off, $149.2 million of goodwill was removed from the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Approximately $139.8 million and $39.1 million of goodwill recognized in connection with the Company’s fiscal 2008 and 2007 acquisitions of businesses, respectively, is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

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

 

     September 30, 2008    September 30, 2007
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Carrying
Amount
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Carrying
Amount

Indefinite-lived intangibles - trade names

   $ 252,138    $ —       $ 252,138    $ 258,587    $ —       $ 258,587

Finite-lived intangibles:

               

Customer relationships

     119,521      (44,664 )     74,857      99,546      (39,048 )     60,498

Other

     31,306      (19,880 )     11,426      31,625      (19,374 )     12,251
                                           

Total other intangible assets

   $ 402,965    $ (64,544 )   $ 338,421    $ 389,758    $ (58,422 )   $ 331,336
                                           

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Company recorded a $5.3 million write-down of trade names relating to certain of its smaller business units.

Amortization expense for other intangible assets was $17.1 million, $16.4 million and $12.9 million in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Amortization expense for other intangible assets is estimated to be $16.1 million in fiscal 2009, $15.3 million in fiscal 2010, $14.3 million in fiscal 2011, $12.1 million in fiscal 2012, $10.3 million in 2013 and $18.2 million thereafter.

Note 7. Debt

Debt consisted of the following:

 

     September 30,
     2008    2007
     (dollars in thousands)

Blanco revolving credit facility at 3.04% and 6.07%, respectively, due 2009

   $ 55,000    $ 55,000

Receivables securitization facility due 2009

     —        —  

Multi-currency revolving credit facility at 3.76% and 5.61%, respectively, due 2011

     235,130      274,716

$400,000, 5 5/8% senior notes due 2012

     398,773      398,500

$500,000, 5 7/8% senior notes due 2015

     498,112      497,896

Other

     2,116      1,441
             

Total debt

     1,189,131      1,227,553

Less current portion

     1,719      476
             

Total, net of current portion

   $ 1,187,412    $ 1,227,077
             

Long-Term Debt

In April 2008, the Company amended the Blanco revolving credit facility (the “Blanco Credit Facility”) to, among other things, extend the maturity date of the Blanco Credit Facility to April 2009. The Blanco Credit Facility is not classified in the current portion of long-term debt on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2008 because the Company has the ability and intent to refinance it on a long-term basis.

 

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Borrowings under the Blanco Credit Facility are guaranteed by the Company. Interest on borrowings under the Blanco Credit Facility accrues at specific rates based on the Company’s debt rating (55 basis points over LIBOR at September 30, 2008). Additionally, the Company pays quarterly facility fees on the full amount of the facility to maintain the availability under the Blanco Credit Facility at specific rates based on the Company’s debt rating (10 basis points at September 30, 2008).

The Company has a $750 million five-year multi-currency senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of lenders. During the three months ended September 30, 2008, one of the lenders, Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc., filed for bankruptcy. As a result, the Company’s availability under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility was reduced by $55 million. Interest on borrowings under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility accrues at specified rates based on the Company’s debt rating and ranges from 19 basis points to 60 basis points over LIBOR/EURIBOR/Bankers Acceptance Stamping Fee, as applicable (40 basis points over LIBOR/EURIBOR/Bankers Acceptance Stamping Fee at September 30, 2008). Additionally, interest on borrowings denominated in Canadian dollars may accrue at the greater of the Canadian prime rate or the CDOR rate. The Company pays quarterly facility fees to maintain the availability under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility at specified rates based on the Company’s debt rating, ranging from 6 basis points to 15 basis points of the total commitment (10 basis points at September 30, 2008). The Company may choose to repay or reduce its commitments under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility at any time. The Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility contains covenants that impose limitations on, among other things, indebtedness of excluded subsidiaries and asset sales. Additional covenants require compliance with financial tests, including a leverage ratio.

The Company has outstanding $400 million of 5.625% senior notes due September 15, 2012 (the “2012 Notes”) and $500 million of 5.875% senior notes due September 15, 2015 (the “2015 Notes”). The 2012 Notes and 2015 Notes each were sold at 99.5% of principal amount and have an effective interest yield of 5.71% and 5.94%, respectively. Interest on the 2012 Notes and the 2015 Notes is payable semiannually in arrears. Both the 2012 Notes and the 2015 Notes are redeemable at the Company’s option at a price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount thereof, or the sum of the discounted value of the remaining scheduled payments, as defined. In connection with the issuance of the 2012 Notes and the 2015 Notes, the Company incurred approximately $6.7 million and $8.3 million of costs, respectively, which were deferred and are being amortized over the terms of the notes.

The indentures governing the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility, the 2012 Notes, and the 2015 Notes, contain restrictions and covenants which include limitations on additional indebtedness; distributions and dividends to stockholders; the repurchase of stock and the making of other restricted payments; issuance of preferred stock; creation of certain liens; transactions with subsidiaries and other affiliates; and certain corporate acts such as mergers, consolidations, and the sale of substantially all assets. Additional covenants require compliance with financial tests, including leverage ratios, and maintenance of minimum tangible net worth.

Receivables Securitization Facility

The Company has a $975 million receivables securitization facility (“Receivables Securitization Facility”), of which $181.2 million expires in June 2009 and $793.8 million expires in November 2009. The Company has available to it an accordion feature whereby the commitment may be increased, subject to lender approval, to $1.2 billion for seasonal needs during the December and March quarters. Interest rates are based on prevailing market rates for short-term commercial paper plus a program fee, and vary based on the Company’s debt ratings. The program fee and the commitment fee, on average, were 53 basis points and 20 basis points, respectively, at September 30, 2008. At September 30, 2008, there were no borrowings under the Receivables Securitization Facility. In connection with the Receivables Securitization Facility, ABDC sells on a revolving basis certain accounts receivable to Amerisource Receivables Financial Corporation, a wholly owned special purpose entity, which in turn sells a percentage ownership interest in the receivables to commercial paper conduits sponsored by financial institutions. ABDC is the servicer of the accounts receivable under the Receivables Securitization

 

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Facility. After the maximum limit of receivables sold has been reached and as sold receivables are collected, additional receivables may be sold up to the maximum amount available under the facility. The facility is a financing vehicle utilized by the Company because it generally offers an attractive interest rate relative to other financing sources. The Company securitizes its trade accounts, which are generally non-interest bearing, in transactions that are accounted for as borrowings under SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.” The agreement governing the Receivables Securitization Facility contains restrictions and covenants which include limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, making of certain restricted payments, issuance of preferred stock, creation of certain liens, and certain corporate acts such as mergers, consolidations and sale of substantially all assets.

Other Information

Scheduled future principal payments of long-term debt are $56.7 million in fiscal 2009, $0.2 million in fiscal 2010, $0.2 million in fiscal 2011, $635.1 million in fiscal 2012, and $500.0 million in fiscal 2015.

Interest paid on the above indebtedness during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $68.5 million, $65.9 million and $62.3 million, respectively.

Total amortization of financing fees and the accretion of original issue discounts, which are recorded as components of interest expense, were $3.5 million, $4.7 million, and $3.9 million, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Note 8. Stockholders’ Equity and Earnings per Share

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 600,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

The board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series with various designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions. Except as required by law, or as otherwise provided by the board of directors of the Company, the holders of Preferred Stock will have no voting rights and will not be entitled to notice of meetings of stockholders. Holders of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when declared by the board of directors, out of legally available funds, dividends at the rates fixed by the board of directors for the respective series of Preferred Stock, and no more, before any dividends will be declared and paid, or set apart for payment, on Common Stock with respect to the same dividend period. No shares of Preferred Stock have been issued as of September 30, 2008.

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

 

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The following table illustrates the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes, as of September 30, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands):

 

     September 30,  
     2008     2007  

SFAS No. 158 adjustments

   $ (16,062 )   $ (12,534 )

Foreign currency translation

     170       8,896  

Other

     (598 )     (1,609 )
                

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

   $ (16,490 )   $ (5,247 )
                

In May 2005, the Company’s board of directors authorized a program allowing the Company to purchase up to $450 million of its outstanding shares of Common Stock. In August 2005, the Company’s board of directors authorized an increase in the amount available under the program, bringing the then-remaining availability to $750 million, and the total repurchase program to approximately $844 million. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Company purchased 17.5 million shares of Common Stock for a total of $748.4 million. In October 2006, the Company purchased 35 thousand shares for $1.6 million to complete this program.

In August 2006, the Company’s board of directors authorized a program allowing the Company to purchase up to $750 million of its outstanding shares of Common Stock. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, the Company purchased 15.6 million shares of Common Stock under this program for a total of $750.0 million.

In May 2007, the Company’s board of directors authorized a new program allowing the Company to purchase up to $850 million of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, subject to market conditions. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, the Company purchased 13.8 million shares of Common Stock under this program for a total of $652.6 million. In November 2007, the Company’s board of directors authorized an increase to the $850 million repurchase program by $500 million, subject to market conditions. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Company purchased 15.9 million shares of Common Stock under this program for a total of $679.7 million. As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $18.1 million of availability remaining under this share repurchase program.

In November 2008, the Company’s board of directors authorized a new program allowing the Company to purchase up to $500 million of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, subject to market conditions.

Basic earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the periods plus the dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock. The following table (in thousands) is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share.

 

     September 30,
     2008    2007    2006

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic

   160,642    185,181    205,009

Effect of dilutive securities—stock options and restricted stock

   1,818    2,705    2,437
              

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted

   162,460    187,886    207,446
              

The potentially dilutive employee stock options that were antidilutive for fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006 were 5.3 million, 2.1 million and 2.5 million, respectively.

 

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Note 9. Pension and Other Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors various retirement benefit plans, including defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans, postretirement medical plans and a deferred compensation plan covering eligible employees. Expenses relating to these plans were $16.8 million, $25.1 million, and $21.8 million in fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company uses a June 30 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

Adoption of SFAS No. 158

The Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 158 as of September 30, 2007. SFAS No. 158 required the Company to recognize the funded status (i.e. the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligations) of its defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plans in its balance sheet, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes. The Company made an adjustment of $10.6 million, net of income taxes, relating to net actuarial losses with respect to its defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plans, in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 158. Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at September 30, 2008 are net actuarial losses of $26.3 million ($16.1 million, net of income taxes). The net actuarial loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) that is expected to be amortized into fiscal 2009 net periodic pension expense is $0.7 million ($0.5 million, net of income tax).

The Company will be required to measure benefit plan assets and obligations as of its balance sheet date at September 30, 2009. The change in the measurement date is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Defined Benefit Plans

The Company provides a benefit for certain employees under two different noncontributory defined benefit pension plans consisting of a salaried plan and a supplemental executive retirement plan. Additionally, the Company previously provided benefits to certain employees under a union plan, which was merged with the salaried plan on October 1, 2005. For each employee, the benefits are based on years of service and average compensation. Pension costs, which are computed using the projected unit credit cost method, are funded to at least the minimum level required by government regulations. Since 2002, the salaried and the supplemental executive retirement plans have been closed to new participants and benefits that can be earned by active participants in the plan were limited.

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

 

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

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,  
             2008                     2007          

Change in Projected Benefit Obligations:

    

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 109,772     $ 104,022  

Service cost

     —         2,412  

Interest cost

     6,791       6,393  

Actuarial (gains) losses

     (6,238 )     2,798  

Benefit payments

     (5,003 )     (5,853 )

Settlement

     760       —    
                

Benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 106,082     $ 109,772  
                

Change in Plan Assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ 104,376     $ 87,757  

Actual return on plan assets

     (8,043 )     14,726  

Employer contributions

     3,874       8,632  

Expenses

     (1,153 )     (886 )

Benefit payments

     (5,003 )     (5,853 )
                

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ 94,051     $ 104,376  
                

Funded Status and Amounts Recognized:

    

Funded status

   $ (12,031 )   $ (5,396 )
                

Net amount recognized

   $ (12,031 )   $ (5,396 )
                

Amounts recognized in the balance sheets consist of:

    

Noncurrent assets

   $ 2,254     $ 8,227  

Current liabilities

     (5,862 )     (2,032 )

Noncurrent liabilities

     (8,423 )     (11,591 )
                

Net amount recognized

   $ (12,031 )   $ (5,396 )
                

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

 

     2008     2007  

Discount rate

   6.85 %   6.30 %

Rate of increase in compensation levels

   4.00 %   4.00 %

Expected long-term rate of return on assets

   8.00 %   8.00 %

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

 

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

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,  
     2008     2007     2006  

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:

      

Service cost

   $ —       $ 2,677     $ 3,473  

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

     6,791       6,393       6,046  

Expected return on plan assets

     (8,170 )     (7,430 )     (6,549 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     —         19       58  

Recognized net actuarial loss

     1,481       1,309       2,579  

Loss due to curtailments and settlements

     971       160       12  
                        

Net periodic pension cost of defined benefit pension plans

     1,073       3,128       5,619  

Net pension cost of multi-employer plans

     469       555       1,652  
                        

Total pension expense

   $ 1,542     $ 3,683     $ 7,271  
                        

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

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Discount rate

   6.30 %   6.35 %   5.25 %

Rate of increase in compensation levels

   4.00 %   4.00 %   4.00 %

Expected long-term rate of return on assets

   8.00 %   8.00 %   8.00 %

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

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

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

 

     Pension Benefits
Allocation
    Target
Allocation
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Asset Category:

        

Equity securities

   68 %   70 %   70 %   70 %

Debt securities

   30     29     30     30  

Other

   2     1     —       —    
                        

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %   100 %
                        

The investment goals are to achieve the optimal return possible within the specific risk parameters and, at a minimum, produce results, which achieve the plans’ assumed interest rate for funding the plans over a full

 

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market cycle. High levels of risk and volatility are reduced by maintaining diversified portfolios. Allowable investments include government-backed fixed income securities, equity, and cash equivalents. Prohibited investments include unregistered or restricted stock, commodities, margin trading, options and futures, short-selling, venture capital, private placements, real estate and other high risk investments.

As of September 30, 2008 and 2007, certain of the Company’s defined benefit pension plans had accumulated and projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. The amounts related to these plans were as follows (in thousands):

 

     2008    2007

Accumulated benefit obligation

   $ 14,295    $ 13,929

Projected benefit obligation

     14,295      13,929

Plan assets at fair value

     10      306

Currently, the Company does not anticipate it will be required to contribute to its pension plans in fiscal 2009. Expected benefit payments over the next ten years, are anticipated to be paid as follows (in thousands):

 

     Pension Benefits

Fiscal Year:

  

2009

   $ 9,724

2010

     4,616

2011

     4,770

2012

     10,711

2013

     6,022

2014-2018

     33,239
      

Total

   $ 69,082
      

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

 

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Postretirement Benefit Plans

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

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

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,  
             2008                     2007          

Change in Accumulated Benefit Obligations:

    

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 16,047     $ 17,409  

Interest cost

     775       992  

Actuarial gains

     (4,208 )     (886 )

Benefit payments

     (1,550 )     (1,468 )
                

Benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 11,064     $ 16,047  
                

Change in Plan Assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ —       $ —    

Employer contributions

     1,550       1,468  

Benefit payments

     (1,550 )     (1,468 )
                

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ —       $ —    
                

Funded Status and Amounts Recognized:

    

Funded status

   $ (11,064 )   $ (16,047 )
                

Net amount recognized

   $ (11,064 )   $ (16,047 )
                

Amounts recognized in the balance sheets consist of:

    

Current liabilities

   $ (1,366 )   $ (1,964 )

Noncurrent liabilities

     (9,698 )     (14,083 )
                

Net amount recognized

   $ (11,064 )   $ (16,047 )
                

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

 

     2008     2007  

Discount rate

   6.85 %   6.30 %

Health care trend rate assumed for next year

   8.25 %   9.50 %

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline

   5.00 %   5.00 %

Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate

   2018     2017  

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

 

     One Percentage Point  
     Increase    Decrease  

Effect on total service and interest cost components

   $ 952    $ (812 )

Effect on benefit obligation

     76      (67 )

 

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

 

     Fiscal year ended
September 30,
     2008     2007     2006

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:

      

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

   $ 775     $ 992     $ 1,028

Recognized net actuarial (gain) loss

     (44 )     (426 )     182
                      

Total postretirement benefit expense

   $ 731     $ 566     $ 1,210
                      

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

 

     2008     2007     2006  

Discount rate

   6.30 %   6.35 %   5.25 %

Health care trend rate assumed for next year

   9.00 %   10.50 %   11.00 %

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline

   5.00 %   5.00 %   5.00 %

Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate

   2018     2017     2015  

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

 

     Postretirement
Benefits

Fiscal Year:

  

2009

   $ 1,366

2010

     1,343

2011

     1,253

2012

     1,207

2013

     1,090

2014-2018

     3,940
      

Total

   $ 10,199
      

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company sponsors the AmerisourceBergen Employee Investment Plan, which is a defined contribution 401(k) plan covering salaried and certain hourly employees. Eligible participants may contribute to the plan from 1% to 25% of their regular compensation before taxes (2% to 18% prior to January 1, 2006). The Company contributes $1.00 for each $1.00 invested by the participant up to the first 3% of the participant’s salary and $0.50 for each additional $1.00 invested by the participant of an additional 2% of salary. An additional discretionary contribution, in an amount not to exceed the limits established by the Internal Revenue Code, may also be made depending upon the Company’s performance. All contributions are invested at the direction of the employee in one or more funds. All contributions vest immediately except for the discretionary contributions made by the Company that vest in full after five years of credited service.

During fiscal 2006, the Compensation Committee approved the AmerisourceBergen Corporation Supplemental 401(k) Plan (formerly known as the Executive Retirement Plan). This unfunded plan provides benefits for selected key management, including all of the Company’s executive officers. This plan will provide eligible participants with an annual amount equal to 4% of the participant’s base salary and bonus incentive to the extent that his or her compensation exceeds the annual compensation limit established by Section 401(a) (17) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

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Costs of the defined contribution plans charged to expense for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were $15.7 million, $18.9 million and $13.7 million, respectively.

Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company also sponsors the AmerisourceBergen Corporation 2001 Deferred Compensation Plan. This unfunded plan, under which 1.48 million shares of Common Stock are authorized for issuance, allows eligible officers, directors and key management employees to defer a portion of their annual compensation. The amount deferred may be allocated by the employee to cash, mutual funds or stock credits. Stock credits, including dividend equivalents, are equal to the full and fractional number of shares of Common Stock that could be purchased with the participant’s compensation allocated to stock credits based on the average of closing prices of Common Stock during each month, plus, at the discretion of the board of directors, up to one-half of a share of Common Stock for each full share credited. Stock credit distributions are made in shares of Common Stock. No shares of Common Stock have been issued under the deferred compensation plan through September 30, 2008. The Company’s liability relating to its deferred compensation plan as of September 30, 2008 and 2007 was $6.3 million and $8.1 million, respectively.

Note 10. Share-Based Compensation

The Company has a number of stock option plans, a restricted stock plan and an employee stock purchase plan. The Company adopted SFAS No. 123R, using the modified-prospective transition method, beginning on October 1, 2005 and, therefore, began to expense the fair value of all options over their remaining vesting periods to the extent the options were not fully vested as of the adoption date and began to expense the fair value of all share-based compensation awards granted subsequent to September 30, 2005 over their requisite service periods.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Company recorded $25.5 million of share-based compensation expense, which was comprised of stock option expense of $17.4 million, restricted stock expense of $6.6 million, and employee stock purchase plan expense of $1.5 million. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, the Company recorded $24.1 million of share-based compensation expense, which was comprised of stock option expense of $17.5 million, restricted stock expense of $5.4 million, and employee stock purchase plan expense of $1.2 million. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Company recorded $16.0 million of share-based compensation expense, which was comprised of stock option expense of $12.0 million, restricted stock expense of $2.7 million, and employee stock purchase plan expense of $1.3 million.

Stock Option Plans

The Company’s employee stock option plans provide for the granting of incentive and nonqualified stock options to acquire shares of Common Stock to employees at a price not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. Option terms and vesting periods are determined at the date of grant by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors. Employee options generally vest ratably, in equal amounts, over a four-year service period and expire in ten years (seven years for all grants issued in February 2008 and thereafter). The Company’s non-employee director stock option plans provide for the granting of nonqualified stock options to acquire shares of Common Stock to non-employee directors at the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant. Non-employee director options vest ratably, in equal amounts, over a three-year service period, and options expire in ten years.

In connection with the divestiture of Long-Term Care, the Company’s stockholders received PMC common stock, as previously discussed in Note 3 and the Company’s Common Stock commenced trading without Long-Term Care on August 1, 2007. As a result, the price of the Company’s Common Stock decreased from $47.11 per share at the closing of regular trading on July 31, 2007 to an opening price on August 1, 2007 of $46.10 per share. In accordance with the antidilution provisions of the Company’s stock option plans, the number of stock

 

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options previously granted to each employee or non-employee director, as well as the corresponding grant price, was adjusted accordingly to reflect the decline in the market price of the Company’s Common Stock between the July 31, 2007 closing price and the August 1, 2007 opening price, as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Modification”). The net effect of the adjustments was to reduce the exercise prices of all outstanding options by the same percentage that the price of the Company’s Common Stock decreased from July 31, 2007 to August 1, 2007, increase the number of options exercisable under each grant, and preserve the aggregate spread (whether positive or negative) associated with each grant of options.

At September 30, 2008, options for an additional 7.9 million shares may be granted under the Company’s 2002 employee incentive plan and options for an additional 162 thousand shares may be granted under the Company’s non-employee director stock option plan.

The estimated fair values of options granted are expensed as compensation on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards and are net of estimated forfeitures. The Company estimates the fair values of option grants using a binomial option pricing model. Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s Common Stock and other factors, such as implied market volatility. The Company uses historical exercise data, taking into consideration the optionees’ ages at grant date, to estimate the terms for which the options are expected to be outstanding. The Company anticipates that the terms of options granted in the future will be similar to those granted in the past. The risk-free rates during the terms of such options are based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

The weighted average fair values of the options granted during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were $9.84, $14.86 and $10.56, respectively. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair values of options granted:

 

     Fiscal year ended September 30,
         2008           2007           2006    

Weighted average risk-free interest rate

   2.79%   4.73%   4.58%

Expected dividend yield

   0.70%   0.37%   0.23%

Weighted average volatility of common stock

   28.14%   24.49%   25.73%

Weighted average expected life of the options

   3.71 years   4.38 years   4.17 years

Changes to the above valuation assumptions could have a significant impact on share-based compensation expense.

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for its option plans for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 is presented below:

 

     Options
(000’s)
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

(000’s)

Outstanding at September 30, 2007

   13,530     $ 35      

Granted

   1,897       43      

Exercised

   (2,651 )     27      

Forfeited

   (973 )     45      
              

Outstanding at September 30, 2008

   11,803     $ 37    6 years    $ 50,338
              

Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2008

   11,154     $ 37    6 years    $ 49,760

Exercisable at September 30, 2008

   7,234     $ 33    5 years    $ 45,449

The intrinsic value of stock option exercises during fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $38.5 million, $54.8 million and $59.5 million, respectively.

 

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A summary of the status of the Company’s nonvested options as of September 30, 2008 and changes during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 is presented below:

 

     Options
(000’s)
    Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Nonvested at September 30, 2007

   5,443     $ 11

Granted

   1,897       10

Vested

   (1,812 )     10

Forfeited

   (959 )     11
        

Nonvested at September 30, 2008

   4,569     $ 11
        

Expected future compensation expense relating to the 4.6 million nonvested options outstanding as of September 30, 2008 is $40.5 million over a weighted-average period of 2 years.

Restricted Stock Plan

Restricted shares vest in full after three years. The estimated fair value of restricted shares under the Company’s restricted stock plans is determined by the product of the number of shares granted and the grant date market price of the Company’s Common Stock. The estimated fair value of restricted shares is expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of three years.

A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted shares as of September 30, 2008 and changes during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 is presented below:

 

     Restricted
Shares

(000’s)
    Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

Nonvested at September 30, 2007

   500     $ 49

Granted

   222       43

Vested

   (15 )     33

Forfeited

   (102 )     48
        

Nonvested at September 30, 2008

   605     $ 47
        

Expected future compensation expense relating to the 0.6 million restricted shares outstanding as of September 30, 2008 is $13.2 million over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The stockholders approved the adoption of the AmerisourceBergen 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, under which up to an aggregate of 8,000,000 shares of Common Stock may be sold to eligible employees (generally defined as employees with at least 30 days of service with the Company). Under this plan, the participants may elect to have the Company withhold up to 25% of base salary to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a price equal to 85% of the fair market value of the stock on the first or last business day of each six-month purchase period, whichever is lower. Each participant is limited to $25,000 of purchases during each calendar year. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company acquired 149,978 shares, 154,240 shares and 164,055 shares, respectively, from the open market for issuance to participants in this plan. As of September 30, 2008, the Company has withheld $1.4 million from eligible employees for the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock.

 

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Note 11. Leases and Other Commitments

At September 30, 2008, future minimum payments totaling $242.7 million under noncancelable operating leases with remaining terms of more than one fiscal year were due as follows; 2009—$64.1 million; 2010—$52.2 million; 2011—$37.9 million; 2012—$24.2 million; 2013—$15.4 million; and thereafter—$48.9 million. In the normal course of business, operating leases are generally renewed or replaced by other leases. Certain operating leases include escalation clauses. Total rental expense was $63.0 million in fiscal 2008, $71.3 million in fiscal 2007 and $68.9 million in fiscal 2006.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Company entered into two sale-leaseback agreements with a financial institution relating to certain equipment located at two of the Company’s new distribution facilities. The net book value of all of the equipment under the two leases totaled $26.5 million and was sold for $28.1 million. The Company deferred the gains associated with the sale-leaseback agreements, which are being amortized as a reduction of lease expense over the respective operating lease terms.

The Company has commitments to purchase product from influenza vaccine manufacturers through June 30, 2015. The Company is required to purchase annual doses at a price that the Company believes will represent market prices. The Company currently estimates its remaining purchase commitment under these agreements will be approximately $379.2 million as of September 30, 2008, of which $64.3 million represents the Company’s commitment in fiscal 2009.

The Company outsources a significant portion of its corporate and ABDC information technology activities to IBM Global Services. The remaining commitment under this ten-year outsourcing arrangement, which expires in June 2015, is approximately $115.7 million.

Note 12. Facility Consolidations, Employee Severance and Other

The following table illustrates the charges incurred by the Company relating to facility consolidations, employee severance and other for the three fiscal years ended September 30, 2008 (in thousands):

 

     2008    2007     2006

Facility consolidations and employee severance

   $ 9,741    $ (5,863 )   $ 4,271

Information technology transition costs

     —        1,679       9,218

Costs relating to business divestitures

     2,636      9,335       6,634

Gain on sale of retail pharmacy assets

     —        (3,079 )     —  
                     

Total facility consolidations, employee severance and other

   $ 12,377    $ 2,072     $ 20,123
                     

During fiscal 2008, the Company announced a more streamlined organizational structure and introduced an initiative (“cE2”) designed to drive increased customer efficiency and cost effectiveness. In connection with these efforts, the Company reduced various operating costs and terminated certain positions. The Company expects to incur the majority of employee severance costs related to the above efforts through December 31, 2008. During fiscal 2008, the Company terminated approximately 130 employees and incurred $10.0 million of employee severance costs, relating to the aforementioned efforts. Most employees receive their severance benefits over a period of time, generally not in excess of 12 months, while others may receive a lump-sum payment.

During fiscal 2007, the Company completed its integration plan to consolidate its distribution network and eliminate duplicative administrative functions. The plan included building six new facilities, closing 31 facilities, and outsourcing a significant amount of its information technology activities. During fiscal 2008, the Company reversed $1.0 million of employee severance charges previously estimated and recorded related to this integration plan.

 

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During fiscal 2006, the Company incurred a charge of $13.9 million for an increase in a compensation accrual due to an adverse decision in an employment-related dispute with a former Bergen Brunswig chief executive officer whose employment was terminated in 1999. In October 2007, the Company received a favorable ruling from a California appellate court reversing certain portions of the prior adverse decision. As a result, the Company reduced its liability in fiscal 2007 to the Bergen Brunswig chief executive officer by $10.4 million (see Bergen Brunswig Matter under Note 13). The fiscal 2006 compensation expense and the fiscal 2007 reduction thereof were recorded as a component of the facility consolidations and employee severance line in the above table.

During fiscal 2007, the Company recognized a $3.1 million gain relating to the sale of certain retail pharmacy assets of its former Long-Term Care business.

During fiscal 2006, the Company realized a $17.3 million gain from the sale of the former Bergen Brunswig headquarters building in Orange, California. This gain was recorded as a component of the facility consolidations and employee severance line in the above table.

The following table, which includes the total compensation accrual due to the former chief executive officer and excludes the gain realized on the sale of the former Bergen Brunswig headquarters, displays the activity in accrued expenses and other from September 30, 2006 to September 30, 2008 related to the matters discussed above (in thousands):

 

     Employee
Severance
    Lease Cancellation
Costs and Other
    Total  

Balance as of September 30, 2006

   $ 22,233     $ 9,131     $ 31,364  

Expense recorded during the period

     (7,529 )     12,680       5,151  

Payments made during the period

     (3,707 )     (16,946 )     (20,653 )
                        

Balance as of September 30, 2007

     10,997       4,865       15,862  

Expense recorded during the period

     9,060       3,317       12,377  

Payments made during the period

     (2,976 )     (3,826 )     (6,802 )
                        

Balance as of September 30, 2008

   $ 17,081     $ 4,356     $ 21,437  
                        

Note 13. Legal Matters and Contingencies

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

RxUSA Matter

In 2001, the Company sued one of its former customers, RxUSA International, Inc. and certain related companies (“RxUSA”), seeking over $300,000 for unpaid invoices. The matter is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (the “Federal District Court”). Thereafter, RxUSA filed counterclaims alleging breach of contract claiming that it was overbilled for products by over $400,000. RxUSA also alleged violations of the federal and New York antitrust laws, tortious interference with business relations

 

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and defamation. The Federal District Court has granted summary judgment for the Company on the antitrust and defamation counterclaims, but denied the motion on the breach of contract and tortious interference counterclaims. In connection with its tortious interference counterclaim, RxUSA asserts compensatory damages of $61 million plus punitive damages. The case is scheduled for trial on January 26, 2009. The Company intends to vigorously prosecute its claim for unpaid invoices and does not believe that the counterclaims asserted by RxUSA have merit, but cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter.

New York Attorney General Subpoena

In April 2005, the Company received a subpoena from the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York (the “NYAG”) requesting documents and responses to interrogatories concerning the manner and degree to which the Company purchased pharmaceuticals from other wholesalers, often referred to as the alternate source market, rather than directly from manufacturers. Similar subpoenas have been issued by the NYAG to other pharmaceutical distributors. After receiving the subpoena, the Company engaged in discussions with the NYAG, initially to clarify the scope of the subpoena and subsequently to provide background information requested by the NYAG. The Company has produced responsive information and documents and will continue to cooperate with the NYAG. Late in fiscal year 2007, the Company received a communication from the NYAG detailing potential theories of liability. Subsequently, the Company met with the NYAG to discuss this matter and has communicated the Company’s position on this matter to the NYAG. The Company believes that it has not engaged in any wrongdoing, but cannot predict the outcome of this matter.

Bergen Brunswig Matter

A former Bergen Brunswig chief executive officer who was terminated in 1999 filed an action that year in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange (the “Superior Court”) claiming that Bergen Brunswig (predecessor in interest to AmerisourceBergen Corporation) had breached its obligations to him under his employment agreement. Shortly after the filing of the lawsuit, Bergen Brunswig made a California Civil Procedure Code § 998 Offer of Judgment to the executive, which the executive accepted. The resulting judgment awarded the executive damages and the continuation of certain employment benefits. Since then, the Company and the executive have engaged in litigation as to what specific benefits were included in the scope of the Offer of Judgment and the value of those benefits. The Superior Court entered an Order in Implementation of Judgment on June 7, 2001, which identified the specific benefits encompassed by the Offer of Judgment. Following submission by the executive of a claim for benefits pursuant to the Bergen Brunswig Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “Plan”), the Company followed the administrative procedure set forth in the Plan. This procedure involved separate reviews by two independent parties, the first by the Review Official appointed by the Plan Administrator and second by the Plan Trustee, and resulted in a determination that the executive was entitled to a $1.9 million supplemental retirement benefit and such amount was paid. The executive challenged this award and on July 7, 2006, the Superior Court entered a Second Order in Implementation of Judgment determining that the executive was entitled to a supplemental retirement benefit, net of the $1.9 million previously paid to him, in the amount of $19.4 million, which included interest at the rate of ten percent per annum from August 29, 2001. The Company recorded a charge of $13.9 million in June 2006 to establish the total liability of $19.4 million on its balance sheet. The Court refused to award the executive other benefits claimed, including an award of stock options, a severance payment and forgiveness of a loan. Both the executive and the Company appealed the ruling of the Superior Court. On October 12, 2007, the Court of Appeal for the State of California, Fourth Appellate District (the “Court of Appeal”) made certain rulings, and reversed certain portions of the July 2006 decision of the Superior Court in a manner that was favorable to the Company. As a result, in fiscal 2007, the Company reduced its total liability to the executive by $10.4 million. The Company continues to accrue interest on the remaining liability to the executive, pending the final resolution of this matter. The former executive filed a petition with the Supreme Court of California for review of the October 12, 2007 appellate decision. The Supreme Court of California denied the petition on January 23, 2008. The parties then entered into a stipulation to remand the calculation of the executive’s supplemental retirement benefit to the Plan Administrator in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s decision of October 12, 2007. On June 10, 2008, the

 

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Plan Administrator issued a decision that the executive is entitled to receive approximately $6.9 million in supplemental retirement benefits plus interest, less the $1.9 million already paid to the executive under the Plan. The executive appealed this determination and a hearing on his appeal was held in August 2008 before a Review Official appointed by the Plan Administrator. On October 31, 2008, the Review Official issued an interim decision affirming in most respects the Plan Administrator’s determination of the executive’s supplemental retirement benefit. The Company expects the Review Official to issue a final decision by the end of 2008.

Bridge Medical Matter

In March 2004, the former stockholders of Bridge Medical, Inc. (“Bridge”) commenced an action against the Company in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Chancery Action”) claiming that they were entitled to payment of certain contingent purchase price amounts that were provided under the terms of an agreement under which the Company acquired Bridge in January 2003. In July 2005, the Company sold substantially all of the assets of Bridge. The contingent purchase price amounts at issue were conditioned upon the achievement by Bridge of certain earnings levels in calendar 2003 and calendar 2004 (collectively, the “Earnout Period”). The maximum amount that was payable in respect of calendar 2003 was $21 million and the maximum amount that was payable in respect of calendar 2004 was $34 million. The former stockholders of Bridge alleged (i) that the Company did not properly adhere to the terms of the acquisition agreement in calculating that no contingent purchase price amounts were due and (ii) that the Company breached certain obligations to assist the Bridge sales force and promote the Bridge bedside point-of-care patient safety product during the Earnout Period and that such breaches prevented Bridge from obtaining business that Bridge otherwise would have obtained. The trial of the Chancery Action and post-trial briefing were completed during May and June 2007. In September 2007, the Delaware Court of Chancery ruled that the former stockholders of Bridge were entitled to a payment of $21 million for earnout amounts, plus prejudgment interest in the amount of $5.9 million. As a result of the court’s decision, the Company recorded a charge of $24.6 million, net of income taxes, in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. The Company expects to receive a tax benefit only with respect to interest incurred in this matter. The Company appealed the decision of the Delaware Court of Chancery and in April 2008, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Delaware Chancery Court. In April 2008, the Company paid the judgment of $28.1 million, which included post-judgment interest.

MBL Matter

In May 2007, ASD Specialty Healthcare, Inc. (“ASD”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, filed a lawsuit against Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories (“MBL”) in the 44th Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas. ASD alleged that MBL committed fraud by making misrepresentations to ASD in connection with the execution of a contract with ASD for the distribution of 5 million doses of tetanus diphtheria (“TD”) vaccines. Later that month, MBL sued ASD in the Superior Court of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, asserting breach of contract, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and other claims. MBL requested declaratory judgment, actual and consequential damages in an undetermined amount, and treble damages. ASD filed counterclaims against MBL in the Massachusetts action for breach of contract, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, unfair trade practices, and other claims. The Texas lawsuit was dismissed in favor of the parties’ proceeding in Massachusetts, but ASD filed a motion for reconsideration of the dismissal.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company had recorded a $27.8 million write-down to estimated net realizable value for the TD vaccines, which remained unsold as of September 30, 2007. In March 2008, the parties entered into a settlement agreement resolving all disputes between them. As a result of the settlement, the Company recorded a $2.4 million gain in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008.

 

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Note 14. Litigation Settlements

Antitrust Settlements

During the last several years, numerous class action lawsuits have been filed against certain brand pharmaceutical manufacturers alleging that the manufacturer, by itself or in concert with others, took improper actions to delay or prevent generic drugs from entering the market. The Company has not been a named plaintiff in any of these class actions, but has been a member of the direct purchasers’ class (i.e., those purchasers who purchase directly from these pharmaceutical manufacturers). None of the class actions has gone to trial, but some have settled in the past with the Company receiving proceeds from the settlement funds. Currently, there are several such class actions pending in which the Company is a class member. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007, and 2006, the Company recognized gains of $3.5 million, $35.8 million and $40.9 million, respectively, relating to the above-mentioned class action lawsuits. These gains, which are net of attorney fees and estimated payments due to other parties, were recorded as reductions to cost of goods sold in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Other Settlements

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Company recognized a gain of $13.2 million as a reduction to cost of goods sold in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations resulting from favorable litigation settlements with a former customer (an independent retail group purchasing organization) and a major competitor.

Note 15. Business Segment Information

The Company is organized based upon the products and services it provides to its customers. The Company’s operations as of September 30, 2008 were comprised of two reportable segments: Pharmaceutical Distribution and Other. During fiscal 2008, the Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment was comprised of four operating segments, which included the operations of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (“ABDC”), the AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group (“ABSG”), Bellco Health (“Bellco”), and the AmerisourceBergen Packaging Group (“ABPG”). The Company recently completed the integration of Bellco’s separate operations within ABDC and ABSG and as of September 30, 2008, the Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment was comprised of three operating segments, which included ABDC, ABSG and ABPG. The Other reportable segment includes the operating results of Long-Term Care, through the July 31, 2007 spin-off date. The operating results of PMSI, which was sold in October 2008, have been reclassified to discontinued operations.

In accordance with FAS 131, the Company has aggregated the operating segments of ABDC, ABSG, and ABPG into one reportable segment, the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment. Its ability to aggregate these three operating segments into one reportable segment was based on the following:

 

   

the objective and basic principles of FAS 131;

 

   

the Aggregation Criteria as noted in paragraph 17 of FAS 131; and

 

   

the fact that ABDC, ABSG, and ABPG have similar economic characteristics.

The chief operating decision maker for the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company whose function was to allocate resources to, and assess the performance of, the ABDC, ABSG, and ABPG operating segments. ABDC, ABSG, and ABPG each have an executive who functions as an operating segment manager whose role includes reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on their respective operating segment’s business activities, financial results and operating plans.

The businesses of the Pharmaceutical Distribution operating segments are similar in that they service both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the pharmaceutical supply channel. The distribution of pharmaceutical drugs has historically represented more than 95% of the Company’s total revenues. ABDC and

 

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ABSG each operate in a high volume and low margin environment and, as a result, their economic characteristics are similar. Each operating segment warehouses and distributes products in a similar manner. Additionally, each operating segment is subject, in whole or in part, to the same extensive regulatory environment under which the pharmaceutical distribution industry operates.

ABDC distributes a comprehensive offering of brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to a wide variety of healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and other alternate site pharmacies and other customers. ABDC also provides pharmacy management, consulting services and scalable automated pharmacy dispensing equipment, medication and supply dispensing cabinets, and supply management software to a variety of retail and institutional healthcare providers.

ABSG, through a number of individual operating businesses, provides distribution and other services primarily to physicians who specialize in a variety of disease states, especially oncology, and to other alternate healthcare providers. ABSG also distributes vaccines, other injectables, plasma, and other blood products. In addition, through its specialty services businesses, ABSG provides a number of commercialization services, third party logistics, group purchasing, and other services for biotech and other pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as reimbursement consulting, data analytics, practice management, and physician education.

ABPG consists of American Health Packaging, Anderson Packaging (“Anderson”), and Brecon. American Health Packaging delivers unit dose, punch card, unit-of-use, compliance and other packaging solutions to institutional and retail healthcare providers. American Health Packaging’s largest customer is ABDC, and, as a result, its operations are closely aligned with the operations of ABDC. Anderson is a leading provider of contracted packaging services for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Brecon is a United Kingdom-based provider of contract packaging and clinical trial materials services for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Prior to its divestiture, Long-Term Care was a leading national dispenser of pharmaceutical products and services to patients in long-term care and alternate site settings, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and residential living communities. Long-Term Care’s institutional pharmacy business involved the purchase of prescription and nonprescription pharmaceuticals, principally from our Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, and the dispensing of those products to residents in long-term care and alternate site facilities.

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

 

     Total Revenue  

Fiscal year ended September 30,

   2008    2007     2006  

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 70,189,733    $ 65,340,623     $ 60,437,757  

Other

     —        1,045,663       1,211,548  

Intersegment eliminations

     —        (714,214 )     (836,884 )
                       

Total revenue

   $ 70,189,733    $ 65,672,072     $ 60,812,421  
                       

Management previously evaluated segment performance based on revenues excluding bulk deliveries to customer warehouses. For further information regarding the nature of bulk deliveries, which only occur in the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment, see Note 1. Beginning in fiscal 2008, management began evaluating segment performance based on total revenue. Intersegment eliminations represent the elimination of the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment’s sales to the Other segment. ABDC was the principal supplier of pharmaceuticals to the Other segment.

 

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     Operating Income  

Fiscal year ended September 30,

   2008     2007     2006  

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 836,747     $ 729,978     $ 640,938  

Other

     —         24,994       31,187  

Facility consolidations, employee severance and other

     (12,377 )     (2,072 )     (20,123 )

Gain on antitrust litigation settlements

     3,491       35,837       40,882  
                        

Operating income

     827,861       788,737       692,884  

Other loss (income)

     2,027       3,004       (4,387 )

Interest expense, net

     64,496       32,244       12,464  
                        

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

   $ 761,338     $ 753,489     $ 684,807  
                        

Segment operating income is evaluated before other loss (income); interest expense, net; facility consolidations, employee severance and other; and gain on antitrust litigation settlements. All corporate office expenses are allocated to the two reportable segments.

 

     Assets

At September 30,

   2008    2007

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 12,174,095    $ 12,025,246

Assets held for sale

     43,691      284,818
             

Total assets

   $ 12,217,786    $ 12,310,064
             

 

     Depreciation & Amortization

Fiscal year ended September 30,

   2008    2007    2006

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 82,081    $ 72,640    $ 68,310

Other

     —        12,035      13,586
                    

Total depreciation and amortization

   $ 82,081    $ 84,675    $ 81,896
                    

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

 

     Capital Expenditures

Fiscal year ended September 30,

   2008    2007    2006

Pharmaceutical Distribution

   $ 137,309    $ 104,360    $ 95,015

Other

     —        6,918      16,856
                    

Total capital expenditures

   $ 137,309    $ 111,278    $ 111,871
                    

Note 16. Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The recorded amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments available-for-sale, accounts receivable and accounts payable at September 30, 2008 and 2007 approxi