UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

[Mark One]

 

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

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008

 

OR

 

o  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 159d) OF THE SEUCIRITES

EXHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from             to             

 

Commission file number 0-15266

 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC.

 

New Jersey

 

22-2405059

(State of incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

 

 

Identification No.)

 

481 Edward H. Ross Drive, Elmwood Park, New Jersey  07407

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number 201-791-2600

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:    None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Name of Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, $.01 par value

 

NASDAQ Global Market

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o  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 o.

 

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 in any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer.” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer x

Non-Accelerated filer o

Smaller reporting company o

 

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o  No x.

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock of Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. (consisting of Common Stock, $.01 par value) held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $297,400,000 based upon the last sale price for the Common Stock on April 30, 2008, the last trading date of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter, as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market System.

 

On January 5, 2009, there were 13,788,343 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding

 

 

 



 

PART I

 

Item. 1. - Business

 

Overview

 

We believe that we are the largest independent regional clinical laboratory servicing the greater New York metropolitan area. We offer a comprehensive list of laboratory testing services utilized by healthcare providers in the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring and treatment of diseases.

 

We currently process nearly 4.1 million requisitions each year. A requisition form accompanies a patient specimen. It indicates the tests to be performed and the party to be invoiced for the tests. Our clients include doctors, employers, clinics and governmental units. We have a network of over 50 patient service centers for collection of patient specimens.

 

In 2006 we acquired GeneDx, a diagnostic genetic testing laboratory providing services to national and international customers. GeneDx specializes in testing for rare and complex genetic conditions through the use of DNA sequencing. In 2007 we introduced the first commercially available genome-wide oligonucleotide microarray analysis testing useful for the diagnosis of, among other conditions, developmental disorders, which has significantly grown GeneDx’s business. The success and growth of GeneDx can be attributed to both the unique nature of our testing and the highly experienced clinicians and researchers who run the business.

 

In addition to our clinical testing operations, we operate a clinical knowledge management service through our PSIMedica business unit.  This system uses customer data from laboratory results, pharmaceutical data, claims data and other data sources to provide administrative and clinical decision support systems which enable our customers to provide quality and efficient healthcare to their populations.

 

We also operate a web-based connectivity portal solution for laboratories and physicians through our CareEvolve subsidiary. We use this portal ourselves to provide laboratory ordering and results to our physician customers.  We are also marketing this connectivity solution to other laboratories throughout the country.

 

We are a New Jersey corporation. We may at times refer to ourselves and our subsidiaries as the “Company.” We are the successor to Med-Mobile, Inc., a New Jersey corporation that was organized in 1981. Our executive offices are located at 481 Edward H. Ross Drive, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407, telephone number: 201-791-2600.

 

The Clinical Laboratory Testing Market in the United States

 

We believe that the U.S. market for clinical laboratory testing generates approximately $52 billion in annual revenue.  Nearly all laboratory tests are performed by one of three types of laboratories: hospital laboratories, physician office laboratories or independent clinical laboratories. We believe approximately 55% of the clinical laboratory tests done in the United States are currently performed in a hospital laboratory, approximately 40% performed by an independent clinical laboratory and the balance in a physician office or other laboratory.

 

During the last few years, the economic fundamentals of the industry have been improving. In the cost containment era of the 1990s, the industry was negatively impacted by the rapid growth of managed care, stringent government regulation and investigations into fraud and abuse. These factors led to revenue and profit declines and industry consolidations, especially among commercial clinical laboratories. As a result, fewer but larger clinical laboratories have emerged with greater economies of scale, more effective compliance with government billing regulation and other laws and a better approach to pricing their services. These changes resulted in improved profitability.  In addition, new and emerging technologies continue to provide greater testing opportunities for clinical laboratories.

 

We believe the industry will continue to experience growth in testing volume due to the following:

 

Aging of the population of the United States;

Awareness by patients of the value of laboratory tests;

Decrease in the cost of tests;

Decrease in the influence of managed care organizations on the ordering patterns of their physicians;

Development of sophisticated and specialized tests for early detection of disease and disease management;

Diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis C;

Early detection and prevention as a means of reducing healthcare costs;

Employer sponsored wellness programs;

Research and development in genomics.

 

Business Strategy

 

We are a regional clinical laboratory with subspecialty testing capabilities. As a regional laboratory, we service the New York metropolitan area, and currently conduct business in most New York State counties, as well as in most of New Jersey and some parts of Pennsylvania and Connecticut. We primarily offer laboratory services to physician offices in these areas with an infrastructure that includes a comprehensive logistical department, extensive phlebotomy services and phlebotomy draw stations scattered around our geographic area. We have also developed expertise in certain testing areas with specific emphasis in cancer pathology and diagnostics as well as molecular diagnostics. These services are marketed as a business unit, called GenPath, which services customers outside of routine physician office testing. Through the acquisition of the operating assets of GeneDx, we have acquired expertise and credibility in the area of genetic diagnostic testing and we intend to leverage that resource in the development of expanded genetic diagnostic testing. We have developed certain specialized markets, such as in the areas of correctional health, substance abuse testing, fertility testing and molecular diagnostics. Testing in these areas also may be supported outside of physician offices.

 

We have one of the largest regional marketing staffs of any laboratory in the country, some of whom are trained specifically in Oncology and call on Oncology practices and hospitals.

 

              We believe that our large marketing staff and strong infrastructure within our designated area can be leveraged to bring new technologies to physicians and healthcare providers. Over the past year, our volume of testing in the area of molecular diagnostics has increased.  We believe that laboratory data has great value in managing the healthcare of a population, but can only be properly utilized when combined with medical claims and pharmacy data. Our medical information unit, PSIMedica, seeks to combine laboratory data with these other data elements in order to provide information analytics that will help to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare. We seek to continue our strong growth not only through our marketing organization, new technologies and superior service, but by providing value added analytics in conjunction with laboratory results.

 

Our mission is to be recognized by our clients as the best provider of clinical laboratory testing, information and related services. The principal components of our strategy to achieve our mission are as follows:

 

Capitalize on our position within the clinical market

Lead in the providing of medical information

Provide the highest quality service

Pursue strategic growth opportunities

 

2



 

Services

 

The clinical laboratory testing business consists of routine testing and esoteric testing. Routine testing generates approximately 50% and esoteric testing generates approximately 50% of our net revenues. The net revenue generated by our GeneDx and our CareEvolve subsidiaries were 3.94% and .82% in fiscal 2007, respectively and 5.7% and .74% in fiscal 2008, respectively as a percentage of total revenue.

 

Routine Testing

 

Routine tests measure various health parameters such as the functions of the heart, kidney, liver, thyroid and other organs. Below is an abbreviated list of some commonly ordered tests:

 

Blood Cell Counts

Cholesterol levels

HIV-related tests

Pap Smears

Pregnancy

Substance Abuse

Urinalysis

 

We perform these tests at our main processing facility in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.

 

We operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We perform and report most routine tests within 24 hours. Tests results are delivered via driver or electronically.

 

Esoteric Tests

 

We also perform esoteric tests that require sophisticated equipment and materials, highly skilled personnel, professional attention and which are ordered less frequently than routine tests. These tests are generally priced higher than routine tests. Esoteric tests are usually in these medical fields:

 

Endocrinology (the study of glands and their hormone secretions)

Genetics (the study of chromosomes, genes and their protein products)

Immunology (the study of the immune system)

Microbiology (the study of microscopic forms of life)

Oncology (the study of abnormal cell growth)

Serology (the study of body fluids)

Toxicology (the study of chemicals and drugs and their effects on the body)

 

We perform cancer cytogenetic testing at our leased facilities in Elmwood Park, NJ and Milford, Massachusetts and genetic testing at our GeneDx leased facilities in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

 

Medical Information

 

Our PSIMedica business unit is based on a Clinical Knowledge Management (“CKM”) System that uses data derived from various disparate sources to provide both administrative and clinical analysis of a population. The source data consists of enrollment (demographic) data, claims data, pharmacy data, laboratory results data, and any other data that may be available. The system uses sophisticated algorithms to cleanse and configure the data so that analysis can be comprehensive and meaningful. The data is maintained on multiple levels of analysis enabling review of data from the global level to the granular transactional detail.  The system includes a base set of queries that provide basic functionality and allows on-line real-time ad hoc query capability enabling the user to customize analysis to the best needs of the organization using the system. In addition to the basic queries provided by the system, PSIMedica Quality Indicators (“PQI”) provide comprehensive, disease state oriented queries that disclose the quality and efficiency of the care and service. These indicators have been designed to provide the customer with standards and outcome predictors based on a medical standards basis.  We are using PSIMedica to market value-added clinical laboratory services to bulk purchasers of clinical laboratory solutions, as well as marketing our PSIMedica programs to businesses such as Health Plans, Integrated Delivery Networks, Disease Management Companies, Insurers, Clinical Trial Companies and other healthcare providers that most benefit from the ability of the system to combine both clinical and administrative analysis.

 

Other Products

 

CareEvolve, our wholly owned subsidiary, is a physician-based connectivity portal.  This system provides a complex, sophisticated system for ordering laboratory services and delivering laboratory results.  The system is designed to be physician-centric and to provide a highly flexible, scalable, comprehensive desktop solution for physicians to manage their day-to-day practice and personal needs, as well as to handle their clinical laboratory ordering and reporting.  This product has been designed to work as a platform with plug and play capability that can easily be used by other laboratories that also need a web-based solution for their physician customers.

 

Payors and Clients

 

We provide laboratory services to a range of healthcare providers. A “payor” is the party who pays for the tests while the “client” is the party that refers the tests to us. We may consider an organization that has a contract with us, such as a clinic or governmental agency, both a payor and a client. Some states, such as New York and New Jersey, prohibit us from billing physician clients. During fiscal year 2008, no single client accounted for more than 10% of our net revenues.

 

The following table reflects the current estimates of the breakdown of net revenue by payor for the twelve months ended October 31, 2006, 2007, and 2008.

 

 

 

October 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct Patient Billing

 

4

%

3

%

4

%

Commercial Insurance

 

47

%

46

%

44

%

Professional Billing

 

23

%

25

%

24

%

Medicare

 

24

%

24

%

26

%

Medicaid

 

2

%

2

%

2

%

 

 

100

%

100

%

100

%

 

3



 

Clients

 

Physicians who order clinical tests for their patients represent one of the primary sources of our testing volume. Fees invoiced to patients and third parties are based on our fee schedule, which may be subject to limitations on fees imposed by third-party payors. Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are based on fee schedules set by governmental authorities.

 

Employers, Governmental Agencies

 

We provide laboratory services to governmental agencies and large employer groups. We believe that we are the largest regional laboratory providing laboratory testing services to correctional facilities in the Northeastern United States. All of these clients are charged on a contractual basis.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

We employ full and part-time sales and marketing representatives. All of our sales and marketing personnel operate in a dual capacity, as both marketing and client support representatives. This ensures that all of our salespersons are intimately involved with the client. We believe that this is unique in the industry and is extremely helpful in client retention, since it provides a strong connection between the physician and our staff.

 

Client Service Coordinators

 

We utilize the services of full and part-time client service coordinators at our Elmwood Park, Clarksburg and Gaithersburg facilities, all of whom are trained in medical and laboratory terminology. This staff is used as an interface with physicians and nurses and augments the client support provided by our sales force. They also report highly abnormal and life threatening results to the ordering physician immediately via telephone in order to provide speedy medical resolution to any patient problem.

 

Logistical Support

 

We employ full and part-time couriers. They pick up patient specimens from and deliver printed reports to physician offices, nursing homes, clinics and correctional facilities.

 

Strategic Growth Opportunities

 

Over the last several years, we have experienced substantial growth and have expanded our operational capabilities. In September 2006, we acquired certain assets and liabilities of two Maryland laboratories, a pathology laboratory and a genetics laboratory for $1,500,000 and $10,000,000, respectively. The genetics laboratory purchase agreement contains certain operational targets, which, if achieved in the four years following the closing, could result in an increase in the purchase price from $10,000,000 to a maximum $17,000,000. During the recently completed fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 as well as for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, the genetics laboratory achieved certain of the targets, entitling the prior owners to receive $1,917,000 in cash and an additional 11,548 shares of our Common Stock with respect to each such year. These amounts have been accrued and are reflected in our financial statements. We retained the staffs of these laboratories and continue to operate at the same locations. We intend to develop further and expand both our core laboratory business and other products. This growth and expansion has placed, and will continue to place, a significant strain on our resources. We cannot assure that we will be able to successfully manage a continuation of the rate of growth similar to that which we have experienced in the past, should such growth occur.

 

Billing

 

Billing for laboratory services is extremely complicated. We must bill various payors, such as patients, Medicare, Medicaid, insurance companies and employer groups, all of which have different billing requirements. Compliance with applicable laws and regulations as well as internal compliance procedures adds complexity to this process.

 

Our bad debt expense is the result of issues that are not credit-related as is the case in most industries. It is due in most part to missing or incorrect billing information on our requisitions; this occurs because we depend on the healthcare provider to supply us with the information. We perform the tests and report the test results as requested on the requisition regardless of whether the demographic information is correct or even missing altogether. We then attempt to obtain any missing information and correct the billing information received from the healthcare provider. This adds to the complexity, slows the invoicing process, and generally increases the aging of our accounts receivable. When all issues are not resolved in a timely manner, the item is written-off to bad debt expense through the allowance for doubtful accounts. Other items such as pricing differences and payor disputes also complicate billing. Adjustments to receivables as a result of these types of matters are accounted for as revenue adjustments and are not written-off to bad debt expense.

 

Competition

 

We compete with three types of providers in a highly fragmented and competitive industry: hospital laboratories, physician-office laboratories and other independent clinical laboratories. Our major competitors in the New York metropolitan area are Quest Diagnostics and Laboratory Corporation of America. Although we are much smaller than these national laboratories, we believe that we compete successfully with them in our region because of the following factors:

 

Fewer layers of staff

A more responsive business atmosphere

Customized service

 

We believe our responses to medical consultation are faster and more personalized than those of the national laboratories. Our client service staff only deals with basic technical questions and those that have medical or scientific significance are referred directly to our senior scientists and medical staff.

 

Quality Assurance

 

                Medical testing is essentially a process of communication and data transfer. In order to provide accurate and precise information to the physician, it is essential that we maintain a well structured and vigorous quality assurance program. Our goal is to continually improve this process. We hold the required Federal and State licenses necessary to permit our operation of a clinical laboratory at our facilities in New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Massachusetts. We submit to vigorous proficiency tests (or surveys) in all tests that we perform. We are also subject to unannounced inspections from the various state licensing agencies.

 

Our laboratories are accredited by the College of American Pathologists (“CAP”). This accreditation includes on-site inspections and participation in the CAP proficiency testing program or an equivalent. CAP is an independent organization of board certified pathologists approved by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) to inspect clinical laboratories in order to determine compliance with the standards required by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (“CLIA-88”).

 

Our Quality Assurance Committee, headed by a Quality Assurance Coordinator and composed of supervisors from all departments, meets daily to assess and evaluate the laboratory’s quality.  Based on the information received from the Committee, recommendations are made to correct conditions which have led to errors.  Management, department supervisors and members of the Committee continually monitor the laboratory’s quality.

 

4



 

Depending on the test, two or three levels of Quality Control materials are run in each analytical assay to assure precision and accuracy.  Patient population statistics are evaluated each day. Testing of highly abnormal samples is repeated to assure accuracy.

 

We believe that all of these procedures are necessary, not only in assuring a quality product, but also in maintaining Federal and state licensing.  These high standards of quality are an important factor in what we regard as our excellent rate of client retention.

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report, including without limitation, statements regarding our financial position, business strategy, products, products under development, markets, budgets and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in statements set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” herein and elsewhere in this Report, including, without limitation, in conjunction with the forward-looking statements included in this Report. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the enumerated Risk Factors and such other statements.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Because of the following factors, as well as of the factors affecting our operating results and financial condition, financial performance should not be considered to be a reliable indicator of future performance. Investors should not use historical trends to anticipate results in future periods. See also “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements”.

 

Regulation of Clinical Laboratory Operations

 

The clinical laboratory industry is highly regulated and subjected to significant Federal and state regulation. This includes inspections and audits by governmental agencies. These agencies may impose fines, criminal penalties, or other enforcement actions to enforce laws and regulations. These penalties can include revocation of a clinical laboratory’s license. Changes in regulations may increase the cost of testing or processing claims.

 

Waste management is subject to Federal and state regulations governing the transportation and disposal of medical waste including bodily fluids.  Federal regulations require licensure of interstate transporters of medical waste. In New Jersey, we are subject to the Comprehensive Medical Waste Management Act, (“CMWMA”), which requires us to register as a generator of special medical waste. All of our medical waste is disposed of by a licensed interstate hauler.  The hauler provides a manifest of the disposition of the waste products as well as a certificate of incineration which is retained by us. These records are audited by the State of New Jersey on a yearly basis. We are also subject to Federal requirements. The Federal Hazardous materials transportation law, 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq., and the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), 49 CFR parts 171-180. The Federal government has classified hazardous medical waste as hazardous materials for the purpose of regulation. These regulations preempt State regulation which must be “substantively the same,” “the non-Federal requirement must conform “in every significant respect to the Federal requirement. Editorial and other similar de minimis changes are permitted.” 49 CFR 107.202(d). The amendments to provisions in 49 U.S.C., 5125 reaffirmed the need to achieve greater uniformity and to promote the public health, welfare, and safety at all levels, Federal standards for regulating the transportation of hazardous materials in intrastate, interstate, and foreign commerce are necessary and desirable. We believe we are in compliance with all Federal and State medical waste regulations.

 

Regulation of Reimbursement for Laboratory Services

 

Containment of health-care costs, including reimbursement for clinical laboratory services, has been a focus of ongoing governmental activity.  Omnibus budget reconciliation legislation, designed to “reconcile” existing laws with reductions and reimbursements required by enactment of a Congressional budget can adversely affect clinical laboratories by reducing Medicare reimbursement for laboratory services. For most of the tests performed for Medicare beneficiaries or Medicaid recipients, laboratories are required to bill Medicare or Medicaid directly, and to accept Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement as payment in full.

 

The current administration, Congress and various Federal agencies have examined the rapid growth of Federal expenditures for clinical laboratory services, and the use by the major clinical laboratories of dual fee schedules (“client” fees charged to physicians, hospitals, institutions and companies with whom a laboratory deals on a bulk basis and which involve relatively low administrative costs, and “patient” fees charged to individual patients and third party payors, including Medicare, who generally require separate bills or claims for each patient encounter and which involve relatively high administrative costs).  The permitted Medicare reimbursement rate for clinical laboratory services has been reduced by the Federal government in a number of instances over the past several years to a present level equal to 74% of the national median of laboratory charges. Calendar year 2008 marked the final year of a five-year freeze on Laboratory fee updates, as required by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. A number of proposals for legislation or regulation are under discussion which could have the effect of substantially reducing Medicare reimbursements to clinical laboratories through reduction of the present allowable percentage or through other means.  In addition, the structure and nature of Medicare reimbursement for laboratory services is also under discussion and we are unable to predict the outcome of these discussions. Depending upon the nature of congressional and/or regulatory action, if any, which is taken and the content of legislation, if any, which is adopted, we could experience a significant decrease in revenues from Medicare and Medicaid, which could have a material adverse effect on us.  For the first time in five years, as of January 1, 2009, laboratories will receive a 4.5% across the board increase in reimbursements.

 

CLIA-88

 

                CLIA-88 extended Federal licensing requirements to all clinical laboratories (regardless of the location, size or type of laboratory), including those operated by physicians in their offices, based on the complexity of the tests they perform.  The legislation also substantially increased regulation of cytology screening, most notably by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services, (“HHS”) to implement regulations placing a limit on the number of slides that a cytotechnologist may review in a twenty-four hour period.  CLIA-88 also established a more stringent proficiency testing program for laboratories and increased the range and severity of sanctions for violating Federal licensing requirements.  A number of these provisions, including those that imposed stricter cytology standards and increased proficiency testing, have been implemented by regulations applicable only to laboratories subject to Medicare certification. On February 28, 1992, HHS published three sets of regulations implementing CLIA-88, including quality standard regulations establishing Federal quality standards for all clinical laboratories; application and user fee regulations applicable to most laboratories in the United States which became effective on March 30 1993; and enforcement procedure regulations applicable to laboratories that are found not to meet CLIA-88 requirements.  The quality standard regulations establish varying levels of regulatory scrutiny depending upon the complexity of testing performed.  Under these regulations, a laboratory that performs only one or more of seventy eight routine “waived” tests may apply for a waiver from most requirements of CLIA-88.  We believe that most tests performed by physician office laboratories will fall into either the “waived” or the “moderately complex” category.  The latter category applies to simple or automated tests and generally permits existing personnel in physicians’ offices to continue to perform testing under the implementation of systems that insure the integrity and accurate reporting of results, establishment of quality control systems, proficiency testing by approved agencies, and biannual inspection.  Our testing is often much more complex and as a result, we are subject to full compliance with CLIA-88. The quality standard and enforcement procedure regulations became effective on September 1, 1992, most personnel, quality control and proficiency testing requirements have been implemented; the remainder will be phased in over a number of years.  Our laboratory completed its first CLIA inspection under CLIA-88 guidelines and received its certificate of compliance effective February 7, 1996. It has been reinspected since on a bi-annual basis and found to be in compliance.

 

5



 

Compliance Program

 

The Office of Inspector General has published a Model Compliance Program for the clinical laboratory industry. This is a voluntary program for laboratories to demonstrate to the Federal government that they are responsible providers. We have implemented a voluntary compliance program adhering to the standards set forth in the Model Compliance Program.

 

Confidentiality of Health Information

 

Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), on December 28, 2000, the Secretary of HHS issued final regulations that would establish comprehensive federal standards with respect to the use and disclosure of protected health information by a health plan, healthcare provider or healthcare data clearinghouse. The regulations establish a regulatory framework on various subject matter, including:

 

The circumstances under which disclosures and uses of protected health information require the patient’s consent, or authorization or no patient consent or authorization.

The content of notices of privacy practices for protected health data.

Patients’ rights to access, amend and receive an accounting of the disclosures and uses of protected health information.

Administrative, technical and physical safeguards required for that use or for disclosure of protected health data.

 

These regulations establish a “minimum” and would default to more stringent state laws. Therefore, we are required to comply with both sets of standards. Laboratories were required to submit a compliance plan to HHS by October 16, 2003.  We filed our application for a one year extension for compliance with the Transaction Data Set Regulations and filed our compliance plan during the extension period in accordance with the model form provided by HHS. HIPAA provides for significant fines as well as substantial criminal penalties for violations of the Act.

 

Laboratory Developed Tests (“LDTs”)

 

Complex laboratories such as BioReference frequently develop testing procedures to provide diagnostic results to customers for tests which are not available using Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved methods. These tests have been traditionally offered by nearly all complex laboratories for the last few decades. The FDA has been considering changes in the way laboratories are allowed to offer these LDTs. While changes have been considered for some time now, the potential for FDA involvement appears greater now than in the past. Currently all such tests are conducted and offered under approval by CLIA and individual state licensing procedures; the FDA is considering requiring FDA approval on a portion of those currently non-FDA approved tests. There is an associated risk for BioReference that some of the tests that it currently offers might need to be subject to approval by the FDA; there are currently no formal definitions, procedures or FDA processes on how such approvals would be handled.

 

Fraud and Abuse Regulations

 

Medicare and Medicaid anti-kickback laws prohibit clinical laboratories from making payments or furnishing other benefits to influence the referral of tests billed to federal programs. Federal enforcement agencies (including both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Inspector General) liberally interpret and aggressively enforce statutory fraud and abuse provisions of these anti-kickback statutes. According to public statements made by the Department of Justice, healthcare fraud has become one of its highest priorities. Many of the anti-fraud statutes are vague or indefinite and have not been interpreted in the courts.  We believe we operate lawfully within these statutes; however, we cannot predict if some of our practices may be interpreted as violating these statutes and regulations.

 

Intellectual Property

 

BioReference, primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiary, GeneDx, but additionally through its primary laboratory in Elmwood Park has in the past, and may in the future, have the need to deal with intellectual property issues, such as patent issues, trademark issues and copyright issues. BioReference diligently researches all matters that may give rise to an intellectual property issue and has taken substantial legal steps to make sure that all such matters are fully considered and understood. In certain instances the issues are not apparent and in some other cases, BioReference believes that the current intellectual property law may not be appropriate to current conditions or may be in a transitional state of change and BioReference may challenge the law in such instances. There is an associated risk with such challenges that could force BioReference to stop or change a testing procedure in certain instances or could possibly result in financial expense as a result of the Company’s decision.

 

Insurance

 

We maintain professional liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, $3,000,000 in the aggregate. In addition, we maintain excess commercial insurance of $5,000,000 per occurrence and $5,000,000 in the aggregate. We believe that our present insurance coverage is sufficient to cover currently estimated exposures, but we cannot assure that we will not incur liabilities in excess of the policy limits.  In addition, although we believe that we will be able to continue to obtain adequate insurance coverage, we cannot assure that we will be able to do so at acceptable cost.

 

Employees

 

At October 31, 2008, we had 1,484 full-time and 423 part-time employees serving in executive positions, as technicians and technologists (including physicians, pathologists and PhDs), in marketing and as drivers and in bookkeeping, clerical and administrative positions. None of our employees are represented by a labor union. We regard relations with our employees as satisfactory.

 

Risks Associated with Growth:

 

                Over the last several years, we have experienced substantial growth and have expanded our operational capabilities. In September 2006, we acquired certain assets and liabilities of two Maryland laboratories, a pathology laboratory and a genetics laboratory for $1,500,000 and $10,000,000, respectively. The genetics laboratory purchase agreement contains certain operational targets, which, if achieved in the next four years could result in an increase in the purchase price from $10,000,000 to a maximum $17,000,000. During the recently completed fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 as well as for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, the genetics laboratory achieved certain of the targets, entitling the prior owners to receive $1,917,000 in cash and an additional 11,548 shares of our Common Stock with respect to each such year. These amounts have been accrued and are reflected in our financial statements. We retained the staffs of these laboratories and continue to operate at the same locations. We intend to develop further and expand both our core laboratory business and other products. This growth and expansion has placed, and will continue to place, a significant strain on our resources. We cannot assure that we will be able to successfully manage a continuation of the rate of growth similar to that which we have experienced in the past, should such growth occur.

 

Fluctuations in Operating Results:

 

Our quarterly and annual operating results can be affected by a wide variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control and which have in the past and could in the future materially and adversely affect our operating results. These factors include the quantities and timing of specimens received, pricing pressures, reimbursement changes, availability and cost of diagnostic supplies, cost of logistic and delivery systems, changes in product mix, retention and expansion of our marketing staff, timing of payments from governmental agencies and third-party payors and the effect of adverse weather conditions. We rely principally upon our internal logistic group for pick-up and delivery of specimens. However, as we shift our product mix we have begun to rely on Federal Express, UPS and other such providers for this service. Any disruption in this service, as occurred on

 

6



 

September 11, 2001 when the National Airspace System (“NAS”) was shut down for a week, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. As a result of these factors, our operating results may continue to fluctuate in the future.

 

Uncertainties Related to Government Regulation and Enforcement

 

We are a provider of healthcare services. As such, we are subject to extensive and rapidly changing federal, state and local laws and regulations governing licensure, billing practices, financial relationships, referrals, conduct of operations, purchase of existing businesses and other aspects of our business. We cannot predict the timing or impact of any changes in these laws and regulations or their interpretations by regulatory bodies, and we cannot assure that these changes will not have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Current federal laws governing federal healthcare programs, as well as some state laws, regulate certain aspects of the relationship between healthcare providers, including us, and their referral sources. The Federal Anti-Kickback Law and the Stark Law generally prohibit providers and others from soliciting, offering, receiving or paying, directly or indirectly, any monies in return for either making a referral for a service or item or purchasing, ordering or leasing a service or item, and prohibits physicians from making such referrals to entities in which they have an investment interest or with which they have a compensation arrangement. Exceptions to these laws are limited. Violations are punishable by disallowance of claims, civil monetary or criminal penalties and or exclusion from Medicare. Government authorities (both federal and state) have become more aggressive in examining laboratory billing practices, and in seeking repayments and even penalties based on how the services were billed, regardless of whether the carriers had furnished clear guidance.

 

In addition, our laboratory operations are required to be licensed or certified under CLIA-88, CMS (Medicare) and various State and local laws. We are also subject to federal and state laws relating to the handling and disposal of medical waste and radioactive materials, as well as the safety and health of laboratory employees. Although we seek to structure our practices to comply with these laws and regulations, no assurances can be given regarding compliance in any given situation. The possible sanctions for failure to comply with these laws and regulations may include the denial to conduct business, significant fines and criminal penalties. Any significant fine or criminal penalty could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. Any exclusion or suspension from participation in a CMS program, any loss of licensure or accreditation or the inability to obtain the required license would have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Uncertainties Related to Third-Party Payors

 

We typically bill third party payors such as Medicare, Medicaid, Governmental programs and private insurers for our services. Such third party payors are constantly negotiating prices with the goal of lowering their costs, which may result in lower profit margins for us. Reimbursement rates have been established for most, but not every service. We cannot collect from third party payors for services that these payors have not approved for reimbursement. As is common with all laboratories, there is a certain amount of variability with respect to reimbursement among third party payors. Furthermore, third party payors have, on occasion ceased reimbursements when certain tests are ordered for patients with certain diagnoses while maintaining reimbursement when those tests are ordered for other diagnoses deemed appropriate by the carrier. In addition, Medicare or Medicaid may retroactively audit its payments to us and may determine that certain payments must be returned.

 

Potential Healthcare Reform Including Decreasing Reimbursement Rates

 

                        The public and the federal government continue to focus attention on reforming the healthcare system in the United States. At the beginning of calendar year 2005, CMS announced significant cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates for flow cytometry testing. We benefited from a partial restoration of the former reimbursement rates in fiscal 2007. Furthermore, several legislative proposals have been introduced in Congress and state legislatures in recent years that would effect major reforms of the healthcare systems. In addition, CMS has made a number of proposals regarding the payment and coverage of laboratory services including the development of national coverage policies. Because of the uncertainties in regard to the nature, timing and extent of any such reimbursement changes, audits and reform initiatives, we are unable to predict the effect of these changes on us. For the first time in five years, as of January 1, 2009, laboratories will receive a 4.5% across the board increase in reimbursements.

 

Uncertainties Related to Accounts Receivable

 

All of our services are rendered based upon a fee for services list. We assume the financial risk related to collection of these receivables such as:

 

Delays attendant to reimbursement by third party payors

Difficulties in gathering complete and accurate billing information

Inability to collect accounts

Long collection cycles

 

There have been times when our accounts receivable have increased at a greater rate than revenue growth and, therefore, has adversely affected our cash flow from operations. We have taken steps to implement systems and processing changes intended to improve billing procedures and related collection results. We believe that we have made progress by reorganizing our accounts receivable and billing functions and that our allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate. However, we cannot assure that our ongoing assessment of accounts receivable will not result in the need for additional provisions. Such additional provisions, if implemented, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

 

Competition

 

We operate in a business which is characterized by intense competition. Our major competitors in the New York metropolitan area, Quest Diagnostics and Laboratory Corporation of America, are large national laboratories which possess greater name recognition, larger customer bases, significantly greater financial resources and employ substantially more personnel than we do. Many of our competitors have long established relationships. We cannot give assurances that we will be able to compete successfully with such entities in the future. Our ability to attract and retain sales representatives and management may also affect our ability to compete in this marketplace.

 

Dependence on Bank Financing

 

In May 2008, the Company entered into an amended revolving note payable loan agreement with PNC Bank, N.A. (“the bank”).  The maximum amount of the credit line available to the Company pursuant to the loan agreement is the lesser of (i) $40,000,000 or (ii) 50% of the Company’s qualified accounts receivable [as defined in the agreement].  The amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement provides for interest on advances to be subject to the bank’s prime rate or the Eurodollar rate of interest plus, in certain instances, an additional interest percentage.  The additional interest percentage charges on Eurodollar borrowings range from 1% to 4% and are determined based upon certain financial ratios achieved by the Company.  At October 31, 2008, the Company had elected to have all of the total advances outstanding to be subject to the bank’s prime rate of interest of 4.0%.  The credit line is collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets. The line of credit is available through October 2012 and may be extended for annual periods by mutual consent, thereafter.  The terms of this agreement contain, among other provisions, requirements for maintaining defined levels of capital expenditures, fixed charge coverage, and the prohibition of the payment by the Company of cash dividends. As of October 31, 2008, the Company was utilizing $18,831,000 of the available credit under this revolving note payable loan agreement.

 

7



 

Effective as of October 31, 2007, we executed a fifth amendment to the loan agreement formalizing the repayment terms of a $5 million term loan from PNC Bank used by our wholly-owned subsidiary, BRLI No. 2 Acquisition Corp. to fund the $5 million acquisition Cash Payment in connection with the purchase of the operating assets of GeneDx. The term loan is evidenced by a secured promissory note payable over a six year term in equal monthly principal payments of $69,000, plus interest at an annual rate of 6.85%.  The balance on this note as of October 31, 2008 was approximately $3,333,000.

 

In January 2007, the Company issued a ten year term note of $4,100,000 for the financing of equipment.  The note is payable in equal monthly installments of $47,000 including principal and interest, with payment commencing on March 1, 2007 at an effective interest rate of 6.63% per annum.  The balance on this note as of October 31, 2008 was approximately $3,564,000.

 

Dependence on our Chief Executive Officer

 

Our success is substantially dependent on the efforts and abilities of Marc D.  Grodman, M.D., our founder, president and chief executive officer. The unavailability of Dr. Grodman, whether as a result of his death, disability or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect upon our business.

 

Possible Volatility of Stock Price

 

There is a history of volatility in the market price for shares of companies in the healthcare marketplace. Factors such as fluctuations in our quarterly revenues and operating results, announcements of new innovations or services by us or our competitors, changes in third party payment policies and government regulations may have a material effect on the market price of our Common Stock. In addition, any announcement of a material pending legal action could have a negative impact on the market price of our Common Stock regardless of the outcome of any such matter.

 

Factors In Place To Discourage Takeover Attempts

 

The substantial percentage ownership of our outstanding Common Stock by our executive officers and directors; our charter provision providing for a staggered board of directors so that only one-third of the board is elected each year to serve a three year term; and the requirement that the holders of not less than 80% of our outstanding Common Stock must approve any merger, consolidation, asset sale or acquisition of the Company not approved by the board of directors may discourage attempts by third parties to tender for or otherwise obtain control of the Company, even if such an attempt might be deemed beneficial to the Company and its shareholders. See Item 11 — “Employment Agreements with Executive Officers” as to employment agreements signed by the Company which provide for substantial Severance Payments upon termination of employment in the event of a Change in Control of the Company. These Severance Payment provisions may also discourage attempts by third parties to tender for or otherwise obtain control of the Company.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

The Company has received a comment letter from the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commissions regarding its periodic and current reports under the Exchange Act. Two of the comments have not yet been resolved.

 

The first comment related to the provision in the GeneDx acquisition agreement which required the stock portion of the upside contingent purchase price to be valued at the value per share of the closing date stock value (i.e. $21.65 per share). The Staff contends that the value of the stock portion of the upside contingent purchase price payments should be determined based on its fair value when the contingency is resolved. It is the Company’s position that any revaluation of the stock portion of the upside contingent purchase price payment would be quantitatively insignificant and would have no material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

The second comment requested an analysis to support the Company’s position that segment reporting is not required for its GeneDx and CareEvolve operations. The Company is in the process of responding to this comment. The Company’s position is that the threshold levels have not been exceeded requiring segment reporting for these two operations. GeneDx’s and CareEvolve’s revenues in fiscal 2007 were less than 4% and 1% and in fiscal 2008, less than 6%, and 1%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated revenues. In addition, BioReference and GeneDx basically provide laboratory testing services to the same class of customers and must meet similar regulatory requirements. The Company also believes that GeneDx and BioReference have other similar economic characteristics so that separate segment reporting for GeneDx is not required.

 

Item 2. - Properties

 

We operate through a regional network of laboratories. The table below summarizes certain information as to our principal facilities as of October 31, 2008.

 

Location

 

Purpose

 

Type of
Occupance

Clarksburg, MD

 

Pathology Laboratory

 

Leased

Elmwood Park, NJ

 

Main Laboratory

 

Leased

Elmwood Park, NJ

 

Corporate Headquarters

 

Leased

Gaithersburg, MD

 

Genetics Laboratory

 

Leased

Milford, MA

 

Oncology Laboratory

 

Leased

Poughkeepsie, NY

 

Pathology Laboratory

 

Leased

 

We believe that each of these facilities as presently equipped has the production capacity for its currently foreseeable level of operations. We also lease additional relatively small draw stations throughout the New York metropolitan area to collect specimens from physician-referred patients for testing at our processing facilities.

 

Item 3. - Legal Proceedings

 

 At October 31, 2008 and at the date of this Report, we were not involved in any material legal proceedings.

 

Item 4. - Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

 No matter was submitted to a vote of our security holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

 

8



 

PART II

 

Item 5. - Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity

 

Our Common Stock is listed for trading on The NASDAQ Global Market System under the symbol “BRLI”. It traded on the NASDAQ Small Cap System from November 24, 1993 until March 26, 2002 when our application to list our Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market System was approved.

 

The following table sets forth the range of high and low closing bid prices for our Common Stock for the periods indicated, as derived from reports furnished by Pink Sheets LLC. Such quotations represent prices between dealers, do not include mark-ups, mark-downs or commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

 

Fiscal Year

 

Bid Prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

25.56

 

$

21.96

 

Second Quarter

 

26.95

 

23.49

 

Third Quarter

 

28.41

 

24.66

 

Fourth Quarter

 

35.10

 

26.09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

35.21

 

$

26.92

 

Second Quarter

 

28.99

 

23.95

 

Third Quarter

 

25.81

 

20.64

 

Fourth Quarter

 

30.71

 

20.48

 

 

On January 9, 2009 the last sale price for the Common Stock on NASDAQ was $23.57 per share.

 

At October 31, 2008, the number of record owners of the Common Stock was 342. Such number of record owners was determined from our shareholder records and does not include beneficial owners whose shares are held in nominee accounts with brokers, dealers, banks and clearing agencies.

 

Dividends

 

We have not paid any dividends on our Common Stock since our inception and, do not contemplate or anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, our loan agreement with PNC Bank prohibits us from paying any cash dividends or making any cash distributions with respect to shares of our Common Stock.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

On September 26, 2006 we issued 230,947 shares of our Common Stock in connection with the acquisition of the operating assets of GeneDx. These shares were valued for the purpose of this acquisition at $21.65 per share, the average closing price for the Common Stock on NASDAQ on the ten trading days immediately preceding the August 29, 2006 signing of the purchase agreement. An additional 11,548 shares of our Common Stock were issued to the prior owners of GeneDx in December 2007, as a result of GeneDx achieving certain operating results during the first annual measuring period following the closing of the acquisition.  In December 2008 an additional 11,548 shares of our common stock were issued to the prior owners of GeneDx, as a result of GeneDx achieving certain operating results during the second annual measuring period following the closing of the acquisition.

 

A restrictive legend was placed on the certificates for the 230,947 shares and each of the 11,548 share installments and stop transfer instructions were issued against the shares. The sellers represented that they were acquiring the stock for investment and not with a view to distribution. The shares were issued in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 in accordance with Section 4(2) of the Act on the basis that the transaction did not involve a public offering.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The information required under this item is disclosed in item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

On October 31, 2007 the June 1, 2005 Board of Directors Authorization for the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock expired.  No shares had been repurchased under this plan.

 

On July 14, 2008 the Board of Directors authorized a repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock over the period ending October 31, 2010.  As of October 31, 2008 the Company repurchased 19,700 shares at a cost of approximately $452,000. The shares were canceled upon repurchase

 

9



 

Item 6. -  Selected Financial Data

 

 

 

[In Thousands Except Per Share Data]

 

 

 

October 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Dada:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Revenues

 

$

301,071

 

$

250,431

 

$

193,134

 

$

163,896

 

$

136,184

 

Cost of Services

 

$

153,831

 

$

124,029

 

$

96,079

 

$

83,352

 

$

68,201

 

Gross Profit

 

$

147,240

 

$

126,402

 

$

97,055

 

$

80,544

 

$

67,983

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

$

118,683

 

$

101,345

 

$

79,074

 

$

67,937

 

$

55,163

 

Income From Operations

 

$

28,557

 

$

25,057

 

$

17,981

 

$

12,607

 

$

12,820

 

Other Expenses – Net

 

$

1,866

 

$

2,150

 

$

1,239

 

$

1,118

 

$

634

 

Provision for Income Tax Expense

 

$

11,074

 

$

8,950

 

$

5,451

 

$

3,868

 

$

3,670

 

Net Income

 

$

15,617

 

$

13,957

 

$

11,291

 

$

7,621

 

$

8,516

 

Net Income Per Share

 

$

1.13

 

$

1.02

 

$

.86

 

$

.60

 

$

.71

 

Net Income Per Share - Diluted

 

$

1.12

 

$

1.01

 

$

.85

 

$

.58

 

$

.67

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

171,969

 

$

154,574

 

$

120,473

 

$

88,373

 

$

72,151

 

Total Long-Term Liabilities

 

$

9,439

 

$

9,557

 

$

7,112

 

$

4,934

 

$

4,520

 

Total Liabilities

 

$

70,429

 

$

69,307

 

$

51,694

 

$

37,658

 

$

31,478

 

Working Capital

 

$

58,561

 

$

48,747

 

$

39,994

 

$

30,515

 

$

23,815

 

Shareholder’s Equity

 

$

101,540

 

$

85,267

 

$

68,779

 

$

50,715

 

$

40,673

 

Other Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash – Operating Activities

 

$

18,876

 

$

5,897

 

$

5,200

 

$

2,899

 

$

5,026

 

Net Cash – Investing Activities

 

$

(9,901

)

$

(7,774

)

$

(4,676

)

$

(4,990

)

$

(6,762

)

Net Cash – Financing Activities

 

$

(8,176

)

$

4,820

 

$

4,127

 

$

(287

)

$

4,451

 

 

Item 7. -  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

OVERVIEW

 

We are a clinical laboratory located in northeastern New Jersey. Our regional footprint lies within the New York City metropolitan area and the surrounding areas of New Jersey and southern New York State as well eastern Pennsylvania and some areas of western Connecticut; under certain circumstances, we provide services further into New York State, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. As a regional provider, we are a full-service laboratory that primarily services physician office practices; our drivers pick up samples and deliver reports and supplies, we provide sophisticated technical support, phlebotomy services or patient service centers where appropriate, and electronic communication services in many cases. We have also developed a national reputation for our expertise in certain focused areas of clinical testing. GenPath, the label under which we provide our cancer and oncology services, is recognized for the superior hematopathology services it provides throughout the country. Physicians outside of our regional footprint send samples to our laboratory in order to take advantage of the expertise that we are able to provide in blood-based cancer pathology and associated diagnostics. Our correctional healthcare services are used throughout the country at prisons and jails. The focused markets we serve on a national basis outside of our regional footprint do not require many of the logistical and other ancillary support services required within the region. Even within our regional footprint, we provide the same services that we provide on a national basis as well as some regional focused diagnostic services, such as histology and pathology support services, substance abuse testing, fertility testing, hemostasis testing, women’s health testing, and molecular diagnostics that are unavailable from many of the smaller regional competitors; testing in some of these areas may be provided outside of physician offices.

 

Over the last few years, there have been fundamental changes in the laboratory services industry. In the 1990s, the industry was negatively impacted by the growth of managed care, increased government regulation, and investigations into fraud and abuse. These factors led to revenue and profit declines and industry consolidations, especially among commercial laboratories. There are currently only three publicly-traded full service laboratories operating in the U.S. While that means that the two national mega-laboratories and BioReference Laboratories are the only remaining publicly traded full service commercial laboratories, there are numerous hospital outreach programs and smaller reference laboratories that compete for the commercial clinical laboratory business scattered throughout the country. Clinical laboratories have had to improve efficiency, leverage economies of scale, comply with government regulations and other laws and develop more profitable approaches to pricing. Moreover, there has been a proliferation of technology advancements in clinical diagnostics over the last decade that has created significant opportunities for new testing and growth.

 

As a full service clinical laboratory, we are constantly looking for new technologies and new methodologies that will help us to grow. Since the turn of the century, our size alone has made us attractive to companies that are driving the advances in technology. We represent a significant opportunity for these companies to market their products in one of the major population centers of the world—the New York Metropolitan area. We have had several successful strategic relationships with such technology opportunities. In addition to new technology opportunities, we have an extremely seasoned and talented management staff that has been able to identify emerging laboratory markets that are under-served or under-utilized. We are currently developing programs for cardiology, histology and women’s health to go along with our existing hemostasis, hematopathology and correctional healthcare initiatives which have already been established and in which we have been increasing our market share for the past several years. We will continue to vigilantly seek focused diagnostic marketing opportunities where we can provide information, technology, service or support that expand and grow our clinical laboratory.

 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company acquired the operating assets of GeneDx, a leading DNA sequencing laboratory.  As molecular testing in general becomes a more significant element in the diagnostic testing industry, the Company believes that genetic testing will become an essential diagnostic tool of the future.  GeneDx was started by two geneticists from the NIH in 2000.  Over the next six years, based on the reputation and expertise of the founders and the outstanding team they built around themselves, along with a very focused and dedicated understanding of the science of genetics, GeneDx became known as one of the premier genetic testing laboratories for the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases.  The Company believed that the promise of genetic testing is in the diagnosis of the genetic variants of common diseases.  It is the Company’s intention to leverage the expertise and reputation of GeneDx in order to take a leadership role in the expanding area of genetic testing.  The Company is seeking cutting edge methods of testing that will be commercially viable diagnostic tools for the advancement of genetic testing. During the past year, GeneDx introduced GenomeDx, a new test based on CGH Array technology, a high-speed, chip-based technology, that has allowed GeneDx to move to the forefront of an emerging technology platform. The Company is already expanding the menu of tests offered and employing marketing techniques that were extremely successful in building GenPath, our oncology laboratory.  In addition to scientists and technicians to manage testing, GeneDx employs several genetic counselors to help patients and referring physicians and geneticists understand the meaning of the test results.  Prior to the acquisition, GeneDx ‘s revenues and profits were increasing at an accelerating rate. This increase has continued through fiscal 2008.

 

10



 

While we recognize that we are a clinical laboratory that processes samples, we also understand that we are an information company that needs to effectively communicate the results of our efforts back to healthcare providers. Laboratory results play a major role in the implementation of physician healthcare. Laboratory results are used to diagnose, monitor and classify health concerns. In many cases, laboratory results represent the confirming data in diagnosing complicated health issues. Since laboratory results play such an important role in routine physician care, we have developed informatics solutions that leverage our role in healthcare. We needed to build a web-based solution to quickly, accurately, conveniently and competitively collect ordering information and deliver results, so we built an internal solution that we call CareEvolve. That solution has been essential to our own operations. We license the technology to other laboratories throughout the country which they utilize to more effectively compete against the national laboratories. These other laboratories licensing our technology are not out competitors since they are outside our regional footprint.

 

We have also created our PSIMedica business unit which has developed a Clinical Knowledge Management (CKM) System that takes data from enrollment, claims, pharmacy, laboratory results and any other available electronic source to provide both administrative and clinical analysis of a population. The system uses proprietary algorithms to cleanse and configure the data and transfer the resulting information into a healthcare data repository. Using advanced cube technology methodologies, the data can be analyzed from a myriad of views and from highly granular transactional detail to global trended overview. Events such as the Katrina disaster in Louisiana two summers ago and general pressures from the government have made development of an electronic medical record system and Pay-for Performance reimbursement priority goals in the healthcare industry. A large portion of an individual’s medical record consists of laboratory data and a key performance indicator in any Pay-for-Performance initiative is laboratory result data. Our CKM system is a mature, full functioning solution that will allow us to play a role in these important national initiatives.

 

To date, neither our PSIMedica business unit nor CareEvolve has produced significant revenues.

 

Results of Operations (In thousands, except per patient data)

 

Fiscal Year 2008 Compared to 2007

 

NET REVENUES:

 

Net Revenues for the year ended October 31, 2008 were $301,071 as compared to $250,431 for the year ended October 31, 2007; this represents an 20% increase in net revenues. This increase is due to an 11% increase in patients serviced and a 9% increase in net revenue per patient. Our laboratory operations had net revenues of $298,543 in fiscal 2008.

 

The number of patients serviced during the year ended October 31, 2008 was 4,085, which was 11% greater when compared to the prior fiscal year.  Net revenue per patient for the year ended October 31, 2008 was $73.09 compared to net revenue per patient for the year ended October 31, 2007 of $67.14, an increase of $5.95 or 9% as a result of increases in esoteric testing.

 

COST OF SERVICES:

 

Cost of Services for the year ended October 31, 2008 was $153,831 as compared to $124,029 for the year ended October 31, 2007, an increase of 24%. This increase is related to the increase in net revenues of 20%. Reagent, laboratory and medical supplies increased at a year over year rate of 25% reflecting a significant increase in the more expensive tests that we offer from payers who reimburse at lower rates than our traditional business trends. In addition, phlebotomy salaries increased 35% when compared to the prior comparable period. Also, pick-up and delivery vehicle operating expenses (energy related costs) continued to have an impact on cost of services. As energy prices subside, we expect to see this category’s impact reduced during the coming fiscal year.  We have introduced some new testing platforms and methodologies over the last year and have seen a modest research and development increase in the cost of introducing new tests.

 

GROSS PROFIT:

 

Gross profit on net revenues increased to $147,240 for the year ended October 31, 2008 from $126,402 for the year ended October 31, 2007; an increase of $20,838 (16%), primarily attributable to the increase in net revenues. Gross profit margins decreased by 1% during the current fiscal yar driven by increased expenses outlined above.

 

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

 

General and administrative expenses for the year ended October 31, 2008 were $118,683 as compared to $101,345 for the year ended October 31, 2007, an increase of $17,338 or 17%. This increase is 3% less than the increase in net revenues and includes moderate increases to our marketing and sales expenses.

 

INTEREST EXPENSE:

 

Interest expense decreased from $2,410 during the year ended October 31, 2007 to $2,135 during the year ended October 31, 2008; a decrease of $275. This decrease is due to a decrease in utilization and in the interest rates on the PNC Bank line of credit, acquisition debt and capital leases. Management believes that this trend will continue in the near term due to the decrease in interest rates.

 

NET INCOME:

 

We realized net income of $15,617 for the twelve month period ended October 31, 2008 as compared to $13,957 for the twelve month period ended October 31, 2007, an increase of 12%.

 

Pre-tax income for the period ended October 31, 2008 was $26,691, as compared to $22,907 for the period ended October 31, 2007, an increase of $3,784 (17%) and was caused primarily by an increase in direct expenses in relation to an increase in net revenues.  The provision for income taxes increased from $8,950 for the period ended October 31, 2007, to $11,074 for the current twelve month period.

 

Results of Operations (In thousands, except per patient data)

 

Fiscal Year 2007 Compared to 2006

 

NET REVENUES:

 

Net Revenues for the year ended October 31, 2007 were $250,431 as compared to $193,134 for the year ended October 31, 2006; this represents an 30% increase in net revenues. This increase is due to an 20% increase in patients serviced and a 8% increase in net revenue per patient. Our laboratory operations had net revenues of $247,031, in fiscal 2007.

 

The number of patients serviced during the year ended October 31, 2007 was 3,681, which was 20% greater when compared to the prior fiscal year.  Net revenue per patient for the year ended October 31, 2007 was $67.14 compared to net revenue per patient for the year ended October 31, 2006 of $61.95, an increase of $5.19, or 8% as a result of increases in esoteric testing.

 

COST OF SERVICES:

 

Cost of Services for the year ended October 31, 2007 was $124,029 as compared to $96,079 for the year ended October 31, 2006, an increase of 29%. This increase is related to the increase in net revenues of 30%. However, reagent, laboratory and medical supplies increased at a year over year rate of

 

11



 

38% reflecting a significant increase in the more expensive tests that we offer from payers who reimburse at lower rates than our traditional business trends. This is in a large part the result of changes in managed care contracts in the New York Metropolitan area that enabled the Company to grow substantially in revenues.

 

GROSS PROFIT:

 

Gross profit on net revenues increased to $126,402 for the year ended October 31, 2007 from $97,055 for the year ended October 31, 2006; an increase of $29,347 (30%), primarily attributable to the increase in net revenues. Gross profit margins remained constant at 50% since both revenues and expenses increased 30%.

 

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

 

General and administrative expenses for the year ended October 31, 2007 were $101,345 as compared to $79,074 for the year ended October 31, 2006, an increase of $22,271 or 28%. This increase is related to the increase in net revenues of 30%

 

INTEREST EXPENSE:

 

Interest expense increased from $1,412 during the year ended October 31, 2006 to $2,410 during the year ended October 31, 2007; an increase of $998. This increase is due to increased utilization of our line of credit, the acquisition of our genetics laboratory and capital lease acquisitions. Management believes that this trend may continue in the future due to the continued use of our revolving line of credit to fund our growth.

 

NET INCOME:

 

We realized net income of $13,957 for the twelve month period ended October 31, 2007 as compared to $11,291 for the twelve month period ended October 31, 2006, an increase of 24%.

 

Pre-tax income for the period ended October 31, 2007 was $22,907, as compared to $16,742 for the period ended October 31, 2006, an increase of $6,165 (37%) and was caused primarily by a decrease in expenses in relation to an increase in net revenues.  The provision for income taxes increased from $5,451 for the period ended October 31, 2006, to $8,950 for the current twelve month period.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources (Dollars in thousands except for the $5 million term loan, the equipment financing loan, and their repayment terms as well as the GeneDx contingent payments)

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2008

 

Our working capital at October 31, 2008 was approximately $58,561 as compared to approximately $48,747 at October 31, 2007, an increase of $9,814. Our cash position increased by approximately $799 during the current period. We decreased our short term borrowing by approximately $4,421 and repaid approximately $3,800 in existing debt. We had current liabilities of approximately $60,990 at October 31, 2008. We generated approximately $19,000 in cash from operations, an increase of approximately $13,000 as compared to the year ended October 31, 2007.

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, totaled approximately $93,718 at October 31, 2008, an increase of approximately $7,700 from October 31, 2007, or 9%. This increase was primarily attributable to increased revenue.  Cash collected over the twelve month period ended October 31, 2008 increased 26% over the prior twelve month period.

 

Net service revenues on the statements of operations are as follows:

 

 

 

Years Ended
October 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

Gross Revenues

 

$

1,039,030

 

$

779,953

 

$

522,117

 

Contr. Adjustments and Discounts

 

737,959

 

529,522

 

328,983

 

Net Revenues

 

301,071

 

250,431

 

193,134

 

Percent of Contractual Adjustments and Discounts To Gross Revenues

 

71.0

%

67.9

%

63.0

%

 

The table above illustrates the relationship between contractual adjustments and gross revenues for the fiscal years 2008, 2007, and 2006. Between 2007 and 2008, contractual adjustments increased approximately 310 basis points. The most significant factor in this increase was the increase in market share caused by the acquisition of contracts with low reimbursement third party payors.

 

Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally diversified due to the large number of patients comprising our client base.  We have significant receivable balances with government payors and various insurance carriers.  Generally, we do not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables. However, we continually monitor and evaluate our client acceptance and collection procedures to minimize potential credit risks associated with our accounts receivable and to establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts. As a consequence, we believe that our accounts receivable credit risk exposure beyond such allowance is not material to the financial statements.

 

A number of proposals for legislation continue to be under discussion which could substantially reduce Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to clinical laboratories.  Depending upon the nature of regulatory action, and the content of legislation, we could experience a significant decrease in revenues from Medicare and Medicaid, which could have a material adverse effect on us. We are unable to predict, however, the extent to which such actions will be taken.  For the first time in five years, as of January 1, 2009, laboratories will receive a 4.5% across the board increase in reimbursements.

 

12



 

LABORATORY GROSS RECEIVABLES BY PAYOR GROUP

FY 2008

 

 

 

30
DAYS

 

%

 

60
DAYS

 

%

 

90
DAYS

 

%

 

>90
DAYS

 

%

 

TOTAL

 

%

 

Self Pay

 

$

3,655

 

20

%

$

2,930

 

16

%

$

2,627

 

14

%

$

9,114

 

50

%

$

18,326

 

100

%

Medicare

 

19,019

 

54

%

5,360

 

15

%

1,921

 

5

%

8,861

 

25

%

35,161

 

100

%

Medicaid

 

3,721

 

28

%

2,841

 

22

%

2,312

 

18

%

4,325

 

33

%

13,199

 

100

%

Pro Bill

 

10,275

 

63

%

1,702

 

10

%

1,834

 

11

%

2,484

 

15

%

16,295

 

100

%

Comm. Ins

 

53,022

 

51

%

18,263

 

18

%

8,111

 

8

%

24,363

 

23

%

103,759

 

100

%

Total

 

$

89,692

 

48

%

$

31,096

 

17

%

$

16,805

 

9

%

$

49,147

 

26

%

$

186,740

 

100

%

 

FY 2007

 

 

 

30
DAYS

 

%

 

60
DAYS

 

%

 

90
DAYS

 

%

 

>90
DAYS

 

%

 

TOTAL

 

%

 

Self Pay

 

$

2,621

 

19

%

$

1,818

 

13

%

$

1,548

 

11

%

$

7,952

 

57

%

$

13,939

 

100

%

Medicare

 

14,197

 

47

%

4,091

 

13

%

2,293

 

8

%

9,943

 

33

%

30,524

 

100

%

Medicaid

 

3,379

 

24

%

2,486

 

17

%

2,374

 

17

%

6,139

 

43

%

14,378

 

100

%

Pro Bill

 

9,128

 

60

%

2,466

 

16

%

558

 

4

%

3,187

 

21

%

15,339

 

100

%

Comm. Ins

 

42,431

 

42

%

14,582

 

14

%

11,236

 

11

%

33,839

 

33

%

102,088

 

100

%

Total

 

$

71,756

 

41

%

$

25,443

 

14

%

$

18,009

 

10

%

$

61,060

 

35

%

$

176,268

 

100

%

 

Billing for laboratory services is complicated and we must bill various payors, such as the individual, the insurance company, the government (federal or state), the private company or the health clinic. Other factors that may complicate billing include:

 

Differences between fee schedules and reimbursement rates.

Incomplete or inaccurate billing information as provided by the doctor.

Disparity in coverage and information requirements.

Disputes with payors.

Internal and external compliance policies and procedures.

 

Significant costs are incurred as a result of our participation in government programs since billing and reimbursement for laboratory tests are subject to complex regulations. We perform the requested tests and report the results whether the information is correct or not or even missing. This adds to the complexity and slows the collection process and increases the aging of our accounts receivable (“A/R”). When patient invoices are not collected in a timely manner the item is written off to the allowance.

 

Days Sales Outstanding (“DSO”) for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 were 115 and 107, respectively, a decrease of approximately 7%. These changes are exaggerated by our primary marketplace, the physician office marketplace. However, when you compare our DSO lag to our collectible net revenues as reported on our financial statements for the periods in question, it varies between 98% to 102%, depending on the period.

 

Overall, the components of A/R as shown above for the two most recently completed fiscal years under review have not varied much year over year. The percent of A/R over 90 days has decreased to 26% as of October 31, 2008 as compared to 35% as of October 31, 2007.

 

In May 2008, the Company entered into an amended revolving note payable loan agreement with PNC Bank, N.A. (“the bank”).  The maximum amount of the credit line available to the Company pursuant to the loan agreement is the lesser of (i) $40,000 or (ii) 50% of the Company’s qualified accounts receivable [as defined in the agreement].  The amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement provides for interest on advances to be subject to the bank’s prime rate or the Eurodollar rate of interest plus, in certain instances, an additional interest percentage.  The additional interest percentage charges on Eurodollar borrowings range from 1% to 4% and are determined based upon certain financial ratios achieved by the Company.  At October 31, 2008, the Company had elected to have all of the total advances outstanding to be subject to the bank’s prime rate of interest at 4.0%.  The credit line is collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets. The line of credit is available through October 2012 and may be extended for annual periods by mutual consent, thereafter.  The terms of this agreement contain, among other provisions, requirements for maintaining defined levels of capital expenditures, fixed charge coverage, and the prohibition of the payment by the Company of cash dividends. As of October 31, 2008, the Company was utilizing $18,831 of the available credit under this revolving note payable loan agreement.

 

Effective as of October 31, 2007, we executed a fifth amendment to the loan agreement formalizing the repayment terms of a $5 million term loan from PNC Bank used by our wholly-owned subsidiary, BRLI No. 2 Acquisition Corp. to fund the $5 million acquisition Cash Payment in connection with the purchase of the operating assets of GeneDx. The term loan is evidenced by a secured promissory note payable over a six year term in equal monthly principal payments of $69, plus interest at an annual rate of 6.85%.  The Balance on this note as of October 31, 2008 was approximately $3,333.

 

In January 2007, the Company issued a ten year term note of $4,100 for the financing of equipment.  The note is payable in equal monthly installments of $47 including principal and interest, with payment commencing on March 1, 2007 at an effective interest rate of 6.63% per annum.  The balance on this note as of October 31, 2008 was approximately $3,564.

 

In September 2006, we acquired certain assets and liabilities of two Maryland laboratories, a pathology laboratory and a genetics laboratory for $1,500,000 and $10,000,000, respectively. The genetics laboratory purchase agreement contains certain operational targets, which, if achieved in the four years following the closing, could result in an increase in the purchase price from $10,000,000 to a maximum $17,000,000. During the recently completed fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 as well as for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, the genetics laboratory achieved certain of the targets, entitling the prior owners to receive $1,917,000 in cash and an additional 11,548 shares of our Common Stock with respect to each such year. These amounts have been accrued and are reflected in our financial statements.

 

The weighted average interest rate on short-term borrowings outstanding as of October 31, 2008 and 2007 was approximately 5.35% and 7.39%, respectively.

 

13



 

We intend to expand our laboratory operations through aggressive marketing while also attempting to diversify into related medical fields through acquisitions.  These acquisitions may involve cash, notes, Common Stock, and/or combinations thereof.

 

Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

Payments Due By Period

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Total

 

FY 2009

 

FY 2010

 

FY 2011

 

FY 2012

 

FY 2013
and thereafter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt

 

$

6,904

 

$

1,180

 

$

1,194

 

$

1,217

 

$

1,243

 

$

2,069

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Leases

 

$

5,732

 

$

2,469

 

$

1,807

 

$

1,051

 

$

405

 

$

-0-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Leases

 

$

2,829

 

$

2,294

 

$

455

 

$

62

 

$

14

 

$

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase Obligations

 

$

49,691

 

$

17,042

 

$

15,153

 

$

9,432

 

$

6,446

 

$

1,618

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Liabilities under Employment and Consultant Contracts

 

$

12,622

 

$

3,976

 

$

3,568

 

$

3,069

 

$

1,469

 

$

540

 

Total

 

$

77,778

 

$

26,961

 

$

22,177

 

$

14,831

 

$

9,577

 

$

4,232

 

 

Our cash balances at October 31, 2008 totaled approximately $12,696 as compared to approximately $11,897 at October 31, 2007.  We believe that our cash position, the anticipated cash generated from future operations,  and the  availability of our credit line with PNC Bank, will meet our anticipated cash needs in fiscal 2008. However, we will be making an approximately two million dollar payment to the prior owners of GeneDx during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. Therefore, we have approximately $10,700 in cash and approximately $21,200 of credit availability through our PNC credit line.

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet items.

 

Impact of Inflation

 

To date, inflation has not had a material effect on our operations.

 

New Authoritative Pronouncements

 

In May 2008, the FASB issued two new Financial Accounting Standards No. 162 “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” and No. 163 “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60”.  FAS #162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States (the GAAP hierarchy).  This Statement is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  This statement is not expected to have a material impact on the reporting of our results of operations. FAS #163 is primarily geared towards financial guarantee insurance contracts by insurance enterprises.  It is not expected to have any material effect on the reporting of our results of operations.

 

In March 2008 the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.  This statement is effective for all interim periods beginning November 15, 2008.  This Statement changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities.  This statement is not expected to have a material impact on the reporting of our results of operations.

 

In December 2007 the FASB issued FAS  141(R) “Business Combinations” and FAS 160 “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements”  These statements are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years in the case of FAS 160, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. Together these statements revise the accounting rules with respect to accounting for business combinations.

 

Specifically, the objective of FAS 141(R) is to improve the relevance, representational faithfulness and comparability of the information that the reporting entity provides in its financial reports about a business combination and its effects. This statement thus establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer:

 

·Recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree

 

·Recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase

 

·Determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination.

 

The objective of FAS 160 is to improve the relevance, comparability, and transparency of the financial information that a reporting entity provides in its consolidated financial statements by establishing accounting and reporting standards that require:

 

·The ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified, labeled, and presented in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity.

 

14



 

·The amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statement of income.

 

·Changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary be accounted for consistently. A parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary changes if the parent purchases additional ownership interests in its subsidiary or if the parent sells some of its ownership interests in its subsidiary. It also changes if the subsidiary reacquires some of its ownership interests or the subsidiary issues additional ownership interests. All of those transactions are economically similar, and this Statement requires that they be accounted for similarly, as equity transactions.

 

·When a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained noncontrolling equity investment in the former subsidiary be initially measured at fair value. The gain or loss on the deconsolidation of the subsidiary is measured using the fair value of any noncontrolling equity investment rather than the carrying amount of that retained investment.

 

·Entities provide sufficient disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners.

 

Together these statements are not currently expected to have a significant impact on the entity’s consolidated financial statements. A significant impact may however be realized on any future acquisition(s) by this Company. The amounts of such impact can not be currently determined and will depend on the nature and terms of such future acquisition(s), if any.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods.

 

Accounting for Goodwill

 

We evaluate the recoverability and measure the possible impairment of goodwill under SFAS 142, The impairment test is a two-step process that begins with the estimation of the fair value of the reporting unit. The first step screens for potential impairment and the second step measures the amount of the impairment, if any.  Management’s estimate of fair value considers publicly available information regarding our market capitalization as well as (i) publicly available information regarding comparable publicly-traded companies in the clinical laboratory testing industry, (ii) the financial projections and future prospects of our business, including its growth opportunities and likely operational improvements, and (iii) comparable sales prices, if available. As part of the first step to assess potential impairment, management compares the estimate of fair value to book value on a consolidated net assets basis.  If the book value of the consolidated net assets is greater than the estimate of fair value, we then proceed to the second step to measure the impairment, if any.  The second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying value

 

The implied fair value is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value of the reporting unit was the purchase price paid to acquire the reporting unit.  The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill.  If the carrying amount of the goodwill is greater than its implied fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized in that period.

 

Accounting for Intangible and Other Long-Lived Assets

 

We evaluate the possible impairment of our long-lived assets, including intangible assets. We review the recoverability of our long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable.  Evaluation of possible impairment is based on our ability to recover the asset from the expected future pretax cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) of the related operations. If the expected undiscounted pretax cash flows are less than the carrying amount of such asset, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the estimated fair value and carrying amount of the asset.

 

Accounting for Revenue

 

Service revenues are principally generated from laboratory testing services including chemical diagnostic tests such as blood analysis, urine analysis and genetic testing among others. Net service revenues are recognized at the time the testing services are performed and are reported at their estimated net realizable amounts. These estimated net realizable amounts from patients, third party payors and others for services rendered, are accrued on an estimated basis in the period the related services are rendered and adjusted in subsequent periods based upon an analysis of the Company’s collection experience from each category of payor group as well as prospectively determined contractual adjustments and discounts with third party payors. Differences between these adjustments and any subsequent revisions are included in the statement of operations in which the revisions are made and are disclosed, if material. Applying this methodology and aggregating its collection experience from all payor groups, the Company has not been required to record an adjustment related to revenue recorded in prior periods that was material in nature.

 

Accounting for Contractual Credits and Doubtful Accounts

 

An allowance for contractual credits and discounts is estimated by payor group and determined based upon a review of the reimbursement policies and subsequent collections from the different types of payors. The Company has not been required to record an adjustment in a subsequent period related to revenue recorded in a prior period that was material in nature.

 

Accounting for Employment Benefit Plan

 

The Company sponsors a 401(k) Profit-Sharing Plan [the “Plan”].  Employees become eligible for participation after attaining the age of eighteen and completing one year of service.  Participants may elect to contribute up to ten percent of their compensation, as defined in the Plan Adoption Agreement, to a maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Service.  The Company may choose to make a matching contribution to the plan for each participant who has elected to make tax-deferred contributions for the plan year, at a percentage determined each year by the Company. The Company elected to make a matching contribution which amounted to $457,544 for 2008, $359,177 for 2007, and $225,971 for 2006. The Employer contribution will be fully vested after the third year of service.

 

15



 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains historical information as well as forward-looking statements. Statements looking forward in time are included in this Annual Report pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance suggested herein.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. While many aspects of our business are subject to complex federal, state and local regulations, the accounting for our business is generally straightforward.  Our revenues are primarily comprised of a high volume of relatively low dollar transactions, and about 42% of all our costs consist of employee compensation and benefits.  Revenues are recognized at the time the services are performed and are reported at the estimated net realizable amounts from patients, third-party payors and others for services rendered including prospectively determined adjustments under reimbursement agreements with third-party payors.  These adjustments are accrued on an estimated basis in the period the services are rendered and adjusted in future periods as final settlements are determined.  These estimates are reviewed and adjusted, if warranted, by senior management on a monthly basis.  We believe that our estimates and assumptions are correct; however, several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors in addition to those discussed under “ Risk Factors” as well as elsewhere herein including:

 

our failure to integrate newly acquired businesses (if any) and the costs related to such integration.

our failure to obtain and retain new customers and alliance partners, or a reduction in tests ordered or specimens submitted by existing customers.

adverse results from investigations of clinical laboratories by the government, which may include significant monetary damages and/or exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

loss or suspension of a license or imposition of a fine or penalties under, or future changes in, the law or regulations of CLIA-88, or those of Medicare, Medicaid or other federal, state or local agencies.

changes in federal, state, local and third party payor regulations or policies (or in the interpretation of current regulations) affecting governmental and third-party reimbursement for clinical laboratory testing (such as the decrease in Medicare reimbursement for Flow Cytometry testing at the beginning of calendar year 2005 described above under Cautionary Statements).

failure to comply with the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements and the recently passed Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act.

failure to comply with HIPAA, which could result in significant fines as well as substantial criminal penalties.

changes in payor mix.

failure to maintain our days sales outstanding levels.

increased competition, including price competition.

our ability to attract and retain experienced and qualified personnel.

adverse litigation results.

liabilities that result from our inability to comply with new corporate governance requirements.

failure to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Item 7A. - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

We do not invest in or trade market risk sensitive instruments. We also do not have any foreign operations or foreign sales so that our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk is non-existent.

 

We do have exposure to both rising and falling interest rates. At October 31, 2008, advances of approximately $18,831,000 under our Loan Agreement with PNC Bank were subject to interest charges at the Bank’s then prime rate of 4.0 %.

 

We estimate that our monthly cash interest expense at October 31, 2008 was approximately $177,000 and that a one percentage point increase or decrease in short-term rates would increase or decrease our monthly interest expense by approximately $16,000.

 

See Note 5  to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein.

 

Item 8. - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

Financial Statements are annexed hereto

 

Item 9. - Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None

 

Item 9A. - Controls and Procedures

 

An evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

The management of Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”), including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:

 

·              pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

 

·              provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorization of management and directors of the Company; and

 

·              provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

 

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2008. Management based this assessment on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control — Integrated

 

16



 

Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Management’s assessment included an evaluation of the design of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operating effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting.

 

Based on this assessment, management has determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2008 is effective. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. MSPC, Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, a Professional Corporation, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our internal control over financial reporting and has expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2008.

 

Item 9B. -  Other Information

 

None.

 

17



 

PART III

 

Item 10.- Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to each of the directors and executive officers of the Company.

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc D. Grodman, M.D.

 

57

 

Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howard Dubinett

 

57

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sam Singer

 

65

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph Benincasa(a)(c)(e)

 

59

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harry Elias(a)(c)(e)

 

78

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary Lederman, Esq. (b)(c)(e)

 

74

 

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Roglieri, M.D. (a)(d)(e)

 

69

 

Director

 

 


(a)

 

Member of the Audit Committee

(b)

 

Chairman of the Audit Committee

(I)

 

Member of the Compensation Committee

(d)

 

Chairman of the Compensation Committee

(e)

 

Member of Nominating Committee

 

The Audit Committee is comprised of the four non-employee members of the Board of Directors, Gary Lederman (Chairman), Joseph Benincasa, John Roglieri and Harry Elias. The Board of Directors deems each such individual as “independent” as defined by the rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers. The Audit Committee met four times during fiscal year 2008. The Audit Committee confers with the Company’s auditors and reviews, evaluates and advises the Board of Directors concerning the adequacy of the Company’s accounting systems, its financial reporting practices, the maintenance of its books and records and its internal controls. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews the scope of the audit of the Company’s financial statements and the results thereof. The Board of Directors has determined that Gary Lederman is qualified to serve as the Company’s “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

 

The Compensation Committee is comprised of four non-employee members of the Board of Directors, John Roglieri (Chairman), Joseph Benincasa, Harry Elias and Gary Lederman. The Compensation Committee met once during fiscal year 2008. The Compensation Committee reviews salaries, cash bonuses and compensation plans for the Company’s executive officers and eligible employees and makes recommendations concerning same to the Board of Directors.

 

The Company does not have an Executive Committee. Officers are elected by and hold office at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

                The Nominating Committee is comprised of the four non-employee members of the Board of Directors, Harry Elias, Joseph Benincasa, Gary Lederman and John Roglieri. Pursuant to its charter, the Nominating Committee’s role is to establish criteria for the selection of directors; to identify individuals qualified to be directors; to evaluate director candidates proposed by stockholders; to recommend individuals to fill vacancies on the Board and to recommend nominees for director at each annual stockholder meeting. The Nominating Committee may consider nominees for director of the Company submitted in writing c/o the Committee at the Company’s executive offices, whether by executive officer of the Company; current directors of the Company, search firms (if any) engaged by the Committee, and, in the circumstances provided below, shall consider nominees for director proposed by a stockholder. Information with respect to the proposed nominee must be provided in writing by the stockholder addressed to the Committee at the Company’s executive offices, and received not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting, provided that if the current year’s annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within 30 days of the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting, notice from a stockholder shall be considered timely if it is received not later than the tenth day following the date on which the notice of the annual meeting was mailed or the date on which public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever occurs first. The information shall include the name of the nominee, and such information with respect to the nominee as would be required under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement if the proposed nominee were to be included therein. In addition, the stockholder’s notice shall also include the class and number of shares the stockholder owns, a description of all arrangements and understandings between the stockholder and the proposed nominee, a representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person named in its notice, a representation as to whether the stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement to or solicit proxies from shareholders of the Company and information with respect to the stockholder as would be required under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

 

The Nominating Committee generally identifies potential candidates for director by seeking referrals from the Company’s management, members of the Board of Directors and their various business contacts. Candidates are evaluated based upon factors such as independence, knowledge, judgment, integrity, character, leadership, skills, education, experience, financial literacy, standing in the community and ability to foster a diversity of backgrounds and views and to complement the Board’s existing strengths. There are no differences in the manner in which the Committee will evaluate nominees for director based on whether the nominee is recommended by a stockholder.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its executive officers and to key financial and accounting personnel. The Company will, upon a stockholder’s written request to Investor Relations, c/o the Company, furnish a paper copy of the Code of Ethics.

 

The following is a brief account of the business experience of each director and executive officer of the Company.

 

Marc D. Grodman, M.D. founded the Company in December 1981 and has been its Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director since its formation. Dr. Grodman is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and Assistant Attending Physician at Presbyterian Hospital, New York City. From 1980 to 1983, Dr. Grodman attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and was a Primary Care Clinical Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. From 1982 to 1984, he was a medical consultant to the Metal Trades Department of the AFL-CIO. Dr. Grodman received a B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973 and an M.D. degree from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1977.  Except for his part time duties as Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Assistant Attending Physician at Columbia University and Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Grodman devotes all of his working time to the business of the Company.

 

18



 

Since January 2005, Dr. Grodman has been a member of the Board of Directors, and since April 2008, Chairman of the American Clinical Laboratory Association, an industry organization comprised of the largest and most significant commercial clinical laboratories in the United States. Other Board members include the chief executive officers of Quest Diagnostics and Laboratory Corporation of America.

 

Howard Dubinett has been the Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since its formation in 1981. He became a Director of the Company in April 1986. Mr. Dubinett attended Rutgers University. Mr. Dubinett devotes all of his working time to the business of the Company.

 

Sam Singer has been the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since October 1987 and a Director since November 1989.  He is responsible for all of the Company’s financial activities. Mr. Singer was the Controller for Sycomm Systems Corporation, a data processing and management consulting company, from 1981 to 1987, prior to joining the Company.  He received a B.A. degree from Strayer University and an M.B.A. from Rutgers University.  Mr. Singer devotes all of his working time to the business of the Company.

 

Joseph Benincasa became a Director of the Company in June 2005. Mr. Benincasa currently serves as the Executive Director of The Actors’ Fund of America, a position he has held since 1989. The Actors’ Fund is the leading national, non-profit human services organization providing comprehensive social and health care services, employment, training and housing support to the entertainment profession. It is headquartered in New York City with regional offices in Chicago and Los Angeles. He is a director of St. Peter’s University Medical Center and also sits on the board of directors of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped; Career Transition for Dancers; the Times Square Alliance; the New York Society of Association Executives and the Somerset Patriots, a minor league baseball team. Mr. Benincasa holds a B.A. degree from St. Joseph’s University and an M. Ed. Degree from Rutgers University. He also attended Fordham University Graduate School of Business.

 

Harry Elias became a Director of the Company in March 2004. Mr. Elias commenced his employment in sales and marketing with JVC Company of America (“JVC”) in 1967, subsequently being appointed as JVC’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 1983 and as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 1990. In 1995, Mr. Elias was named as JVC’s Chief Operating Officer, a position he occupied until April 2003 when he resigned his positions upon his appointment as JVC’s “Honorable Chairman.” JVC, a distributor of audio and video products headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey is the wholly owned United States subsidiary of Victor Company of Japan, a manufacturer of audio and video products headquartered in Japan. In January 2005, after retiring from JVC, Mr. Elias was appointed Chairman of the Board of and commenced to serve as a consultant to AKAI USA, the sole distributor in the United States of electronic products produced by AKAI, a Chinese manufacturer. Mr. Elias retired from AKAI in 2007 and currently is self-employed as a Business Consultant.

 

Gary Lederman, Esq. became a Director of the Company in May 1997. He received his B.A. degree from Brooklyn College in 1954 and his J.D. degree from NYU Law School in 1957.  He was manager of Locals 370, 491 and 662 of the U.F.C.W. International Union from 1961 to 1985. He is retired from the unions and has been a lecturer at Queensboro Community College in the field of insurance. He served on an institutional review board for RTL, a pharmaceutical drug testing laboratory until his retirement in February 2007.

 

John Roglieri, M.D. became a Director of the Company in September 1995.  He is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and an Assistant Attending Physician at Presbyterian Hospital, New York City.  Dr. Roglieri received a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering and a B.A. degree in Applied Sciences from Lehigh University in 1960, an M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School in 1966, and a Masters degree from Columbia University’s School of Business in 1978.  From 1969 until 1971, he was a Senior Assistant Surgeon in the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, D.C..  From 1971 until 1973 he was a Clinical and Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital.  From 1973 until 1975, he was Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars program at Columbia University.  In 1975 he was appointed Vice-President, Ambulatory Services at Presbyterian Hospital, a position which he held until 1980.  Since 1980, he has maintained a private practice of internal medicine at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.  From 1988 until 1992, he was also Director of the Employee Health Service at Presbyterian Hospital. From 1992 through 1999, Dr. Roglieri was the Corporate Medical Director of NYLCare, a managed care subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”). Dr. Roglieri was chief medical officer of Physician WebLink, a national physician practice management company, from 1999 to 2000. Since 2001, he has been a Medical Director for New York Life in Manhattan. He is a member of advisory boards to several pharmaceutical companies, a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the journals Managed Care and Seminars in Medical Practice, and is a subject of biographical record in Who’s Who in America.

 

There are no family relationships between or among any directors or executive officers of Bio-Reference Laboratories. The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation provides for a staggered Board of Directors pursuant to which the Board is divided into three classes of directors and the members of only one class are elected each year to serve a three-year term. Mr. Benincasa, Mr. Lederman and Dr. Roglieri are the Class III directors whose term expires in fiscal 2009. Dr. Grodman and Mr. Dubinett are the Class I directors whose term expires in fiscal 2010.

 

Key Personnel and Consultants

 

The following key personnel and consultants make significant contributions to the Company’s operations.

 

James Weisberger, M.D. (Age 53) joined the Company in September 2003 as Vice President, Assistant Chief Medical Officer and Director of Hematopathology. He is currently employed as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer. Prior to joining the Company, he was Director of Hematopathology at IMPATH, Inc.  (1999-2003). He is board certified in internal medicine, anatomic and clinical pathology, and hematopathology. He has a New York State Department of Health Certificate of Qualification as a Laboratory Director. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology at New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York.  Prior to joining IMPATH,  he was an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pathology at New York Medical College (1995-1999).  He has a B.S. degree from Stanford University (1977); an M.S. degree from Stanford University (1978); and an M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania (1983).

 

Charles T.  Todd, Jr.  (Age 57) is a Senior Vice President engaged in  Sales. Mr.  Todd was the founder and CEO of GenCare Biomedical Research Corporation (“GenCare”), a specialty oncology laboratory that was purchased by the Company in 1995.  He attended Seton Hall University from where he received a B.S. degree in Finance in 1974.

 

Richard Faherty (Age 62) serves as the Company’s Chief Information Officer and oversees the Company’s two informatics operations. Mr. Faherty provided custom programming and system analysis services to GenCare from 1987 until its acquisition by the Company in 1995. He became a consultant to the Company in 1995 in the information technology area and an employee in 1999. Mr. Faherty is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (1968) and the Fordham Law School (1975).

 

John W.  Littleton (Age 48) joined the Company in September 2002 as a Vice President engaged in Sales.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr.  Littleton was Vice President of Sales for Specialty Laboratories and the Northeast Regional Vice President of Sales for Quest Diagnostics.  He received a B.A.. degree from Seton Hall University in 1983.

 

John Bennett, M.D., Scientific Advisory Board Chairman, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York.  Dr.  Bennett has long been recognized as an intellectual force in the treatment and understanding of leukemias, lymphomas and other cancer-related diseases.  He established the French-American-British (FAB) Leukemia Working Group and is one of the world’s leading authorities on Myelodysplasia.  He is founder and Chairman of the MDS Foundation, as well as Editor of the Journal of Leukemia Research. Dr.  Bennett is currently Professor Emeritus and former Head of the Medical Oncology Unit at the University of Rochester Medical Center and formerly was a Professor of Oncology in Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical School.  For nearly four decades, Dr.  Bennett has been honored by the medical community as an expert in the field of oncology as evidenced by the numerous chairs he has held in prestigious societies and committees and his authorship of more than 400 publications in peer review journals, the majority of which are in the area of hematologic

 

19



 

malignancies.  Dr. Bennett earned his B.A. from Harvard University and his M.D. from Boston University. He served his residency in medicine at Beth-Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts and completed a fellowship in hematology at Boston City Hospital. He headed the Morphology and Cytochemistry Section of the Clinical Center at the National Institute of Health (“NIH”) before joining the faculty at the University of Rochester. Dr. Bennett serves the Company in an advisory capacity as chairman of our Scientific Advisory Board.

 

Sherri Bale, Ph.D., FACMG joined the Company in September 2006, when BioReference Laboratories acquired the operating assets of GeneDx. She received her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, and her post-doctoral training in medical genetics at the NIH. She is an American Board of Medical Genetics-Certified Ph.D. — Medical Geneticist and Founding Member of the American College of Medical Genetics. She founded GeneDx with Dr. John Compton, also a long-time NIH scientist, after 16 years at the NIH. For the past eight years, she has served as President and Clinical Director of GeneDx, which specializes in developing and providing molecular diagnostic tests for rare hereditary disorders. She has authored more than 125 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and books in the field. She serves on numerous Boards of patient advocacy and non-profit organizations, and is a member of the Faculty of the Metropolitan Medical Genetics Training Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, in Bethesda, MD. She holds a second degree black belt in judo.

 

John Compton, Ph.D., (Age 60) serves as Scientific Director and Co-President of GeneDx Inc., the operating assets of which were acquired by BioReference Laboratories in September 2006. He has 25 years experience in the development and application of molecular biological techniques to answer questions about genetics and epidermal differentiation, and has authored more than 60 publications in the field. He holds B.S. degrees in Physics and Biology from MIT, received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in Biophysics, and did his post-doctoral training in protein-DNA interactions at the Baylor College of Medicine. Following six years as an independent investigator at the Jackson Laboratory, he joined the Laboratory of Skin Biology in the NIAMS at the NIH in 1991 where he was Staff Scientist in the Genetic Studies Section until 2000, when he and NIH colleague Sherri Bale formed GeneDx to develop and provide molecular genetic testing in rare hereditary disorders. In 2003 they were jointly awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award by the Technology Council of Maryland. John is also in his eighth year as Mayor of the Town of Washington Grove, MD.

 

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

 

Based solely on a review of Forms 3 and 4 and any amendments thereto furnished to the Company pursuant to Rule 16a-3(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or representations that no Forms 5 were required, we believe that with respect to fiscal 2008, our officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our equity timely complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.

 

Item 11 – Executive Compensation

 

The table below summarizes the total compensation paid or accrued by us with respect to the years ended October 31, 2007 and 2008 to our three executive officers and to our two other most highly compensated senior management employees during the period. All of our group life, health, hospitalization or medical reimbursement plans, if any, as well as our 401(k) plan, do not discriminate in scope, terms or operation, in favor of any or our officers, senior management members or directors, and are generally available to all salaried employees.

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

 

Name and
Principal Position

 

Fiscal
Year (b)

 

Salary
($) (c)

 

Bonus
($)(d)
(1)

 

Stock
Awards
($)(e)

 

Option
Awards
($)(f)

 

Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(g)(2)

 

Change in
Pension Value
and Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)(h)

 

All
Other
Compensation
($)(i)(3)

 

Total
($)(j)

 

Marc D. Grodman M.D.

 

2007

 

$

852,000

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

$

85,200

 

-0-

 

$

96,230

 

$

1,033,430

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

2008

 

910,877

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

101,424

 

1,012,301

 

Howard Dubinett

 

2007

 

$

323,350

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

$

32,335

 

-0-

 

$

40,070

 

$

395,755

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

2008

 

362,935

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

40,070

 

403,005

 

Sam Singer

 

2007

 

$

323,350

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

$

32,335

 

-0-

 

$

39,822

 

$

395,507

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

2008

 

362,935

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

39,739

 

402,674

 

Richard Faherty

 

2007

 

$

438,750

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

$

43,875

 

-0-

 

$

167,187

 

$

649,812

 

Chief Information Officer

 

2008

 

486,540

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

139,962

 

626,502

 

Charles T. Todd, Jr.

 

2007

 

$

385,500

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

$

38,550

 

-0-

 

$

10,184

 

$

434,234

 

Senior Vice President – Sales

 

2008

 

505,237

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

13,116

 

518,353

 

 


(1) Under SEC disclosure rules, the term “bonus” does not include awards that are performance based. As a result of this definition, payments under our 2007 Incentive Bonus Plan for Senior Management are not considered “bonuses” and are reported under the column captioned “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation”.

(2) The 2007 Senior Management Incentive Bonus Plan adopted by the Compensation Committee provided for bonuses as a percentage of salary to be paid to designated members of Senior Management (twelve in total) to the extent the Company’s Total Operating Income equaled certain designated percentages of Total Net Revenues. The amounts in column (g) reflect the cash awards to the named officers under the 2007 Senior Management Incentive Bonus Plan. No bonuses were earned under the Plan with respect to fiscal 2008.

(3) The amounts in column (i) All Other Compensation are detailed below.

 

20



 

Name

 

Personal Use of Company
Leased Automobile

 

Personal Use of
Company Airplane

 

Life Insurance
Premium (a)

 

Other

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc D. Grodman

 

$

20,900

 

$

5,330

 

$

70,000

 

$

-0-

 

$

96,230

 

Howard Dubinett

 

15,070

 

-0-

 

25,000

 

-0-

 

40,070

 

Sam Singer

 

14,822

 

-0-

 

25,000

 

-0-

 

39,822

 

Richard Faherty

 

28,109

 

1,673

 

-0-

 

137,408

(b)

167,190

 

Charles Todd Jr.

 

9,385

 

799

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

10,184

 

 

Name

 

Personal Use of Company
Leased Automobile

 

Personal Use of
Company Airplane

 

Life Insurance
Premium (a)

 

Other

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc D. Grodman

 

$

23,020

 

$

8,404

 

$

70,000

 

$

-0-

 

$

101,424

 

Howard Dubinett

 

15,070

 

-0-

 

25,000

 

-0-

 

40,070

 

Sam Singer

 

14,739

 

-0-

 

25,000

 

-0-

 

39,739

 

Richard Faherty

 

28,021

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

111,941

(b)

139,962

 

Charles Todd Jr.

 

9,937

 

3,179

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

13,116

 

 


(a) See “Split Dollar Life Insurance” herein

(b) Mr. Faherty rents an airplane to the Company (when the Company’s owned airplane is unavailable) for corporate flights. Such rentals totaled  $71,108 in fiscal 2008 and $55,965 in fiscal 2007. In addition, a separate corporation of which Mr. Faherty is the majority shareholder provided networking, data reporting and programming services to the Company in fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007 for which it received $40,833 and $81,713 in compensation respectively.

 

Employment Agreements with Named Officers

 

Dr. Grodman serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to a seven-year employment agreement which expires on October 31, 2011. Dr. Grodman has the right to elect to cancel the employment agreement effective at the end of any calendar month commencing October 31, 2008 on not less than 90 days prior written notice, subject to a six month non-competition restriction. The employment agreement is automatically renewable for additional two year periods subject to the right of either party to elect not to renew at least six months prior thereto. The employment agreement provides Dr. Grodman with minimum annual base compensation of $750,000 subject to annual percentage increases to the extent of annual percentage increases in the Consumer Price Index. Dr. Grodman’s minimum annual base compensation for fiscal 2009 as determined by the Compensation Committee is $965,180. The Compensation Committee can but is not required to increase Dr. Grodman’s compensation at the end of any fiscal year based upon his and the Company’s performance. The employment agreement also provides Dr. Grodman with business use of an automobile leased by the Company and participation in any fringe benefit and bonus plans available to the Company’s employees to the extent determined by the Compensation Committee. The employment agreement contains provisions governing in the event of Dr. Grodman’s partial or total disability and provides for termination for cause or in the event of Dr. Grodman’s death. Dr. Grodman has the right to terminate the employment agreement in the event of a material change in his duties and responsibilities, the relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices from Elmwood Park, New Jersey to a location more than fifty miles distant or a material breach of the employment agreement by the Company (including a reduction in Dr. Grodman’s benefits under the agreement). In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, Dr. Grodman can elect to terminate the agreement. In that event, he will be entitled to be paid a lump sum Severance Payment equal to 2.99 times the average of his annual compensation paid by the Company for the five calendar years preceding the earlier of the calendar year in which the Change of Control occurred or the calendar year of the Date of Termination, subject to the provisions of Section 409-A of the Internal Revenue Code. See “Split-Dollar Life Insurance” herein as to the Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Agreement between the Company and Dr. Grodman.

 

Mr. Dubinett serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer pursuant to an employment agreement which has been extended through October 31, 2009.  Mr. Dubinett’s minimum annual compensation under the extended agreement is equal to his annual compensation in fiscal 2002 and is subject to increases based on increases in the Consumer Price Index as well as to increases at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Dubinett’s minimum annual base compensation for fiscal 2009 as determined by the Compensation Committee is $381,425. The agreement provides for (i) the leasing of an automobile for his use; (ii) participation in fringe benefit, bonus, pension, profit sharing, and similar plans maintained for the Company’s employees; (iii) disability benefits; (iv) certain termination benefits; and (v) in the event of termination due to a Change in Control of the Company, a Severance Payment equal to 2.99 times Mr. Dubinett’s average annual compensation during the preceding five years, subject to the provisions of Section 409-A of the Internal Revenue Code. See “Split Dollar Life Insurance” herein as to the Endorsement Split Dollar Life Insurance Agreement between the Company and Mr. Dubinett.

 

Mr. Singer serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to an employment agreement which has been extended through October 31, 2009, Mr. Singer’s minimum annual compensation under the extended agreement is equal to his annual compensation in fiscal 2002 and is subject to increases based on increases in the Consumer Price Index as well as to increases at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Singer’s minimum annual base compensation for fiscal 2009 as determined by the Compensation Committee is $381,425. The agreement provides for (i) the leasing of an automobile for his use; (ii) participation in fringe benefit, bonus, pension, profit sharing, and similar plans maintained for the Company’s employees; (iii) disability benefits; (iv) certain termination benefits; and (v) in the event of termination due to a Change

 

21



 

in Control of the Company, a Severance Payment equal to 2.99 times Mr. Singer’s average annual compensation during the preceding five years, subject to the provisions of Section 409-A of the Internal Revenue Code. See “Split-Dollar Life Insurance” herein as to the Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Agreement between the Company and Mr. Singer.

 

Mr. Faherty serves as Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Services pursuant to an employment agreement currently due to expire on October 31, 2011. Mr. Faherty’s initial Base Compensation of $400,000 in fiscal 2005 is subject to increases based upon management’s evaluation of his and the Company’s performance and is also subject to increases based on increases in the Consumer Price Index. The agreement provides for (i) the leasing of an automobile for Mr. Faherty’s use; (ii) participation in fringe benefit and bonus plans available to the Company’s employees; (iii) disability benefits; (iv) certain termination benefits; and (v) in the event of termination due to a Change in Control of the Company, a Severance Payment equal to 2.99 times Mr. Faherty’s average annual compensation during the preceding five years, subject to the provisions of Section 409-A of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Mr. Todd serves as a Senior Vice President in Sales pursuant to an Employment Agreement currently due to expire on October 31, 2011. Mr. Todd’s initial Base Compensation of $350,000 in fiscal 2005 is subject to increases based upon management’s evaluation of his and the Company’s performance and is also subject to increases based on increases in the Consumer Price Index. The agreement provides for (i) the leasing of an automobile for Mr. Todd’s use; (ii) participation in fringe benefits and bonus plans available to the Company’s employees; (iii) disability benefits; (iv) certain termination benefits; and (v) in the event of termination due to a Change in Control of the Company, a Severance Payment equal to 2.99 times Mr. Todd’s average annual compensation during the preceding five years, subject to the provisions of Section 409-A of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control as of October 31, 2008

 

The following table sets out the payments that could be paid to each of our three executive officers and to our two other most highly compensated senior management employees upon termination of employment due to death, disability, for Good Reason or a Change in Control, in each case occurring as of October 31, 2007.

 

Employee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year 2008

 

Disability(a)

 

Good Reason(b)

 

Death(c)

 

Change in Control(d)

 

Marc D. Grodman M.D.

 

$

1,366,300

 

$

2,732,600

 

$

7,861,374

 

$

2,253,250

 

Howard Dubinett

 

362,900

 

362,900

 

1,334,550

 

876,152

 

Sam Singer

 

362,900

 

362,900

 

768,295

 

877,175

 

Richard Faherty

 

486,500

 

1,459,600

 

243,300

 

1,170,738

 

Charles Todd, Jr.

 

505,200

 

1,515,700

 

252,618

 

973,093

 

 


(a) Dr. Grodman’s employment agreement entitles him to monthly compensation at his then current Base Compensation for 18 months in the event of his Total Disability. The employment agreement of each of the other employees listed in the table entitles the employee to monthly compensation at his then current Base Compensation for twelve months in the event of his Total Disability.

(b) “Good Reason” entitling the employee to voluntarily terminate his employment agreement includes assignment of duties inconsistent with his current duties, reduction of his Base Compensation, relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices to a location more than 50 miles from the current location and other breaches by the Company of the employment agreement. In the event of his voluntary termination for “Good Reason”, each of the employees listed in the table is entitled to be paid his monthly Base Compensation until completion of his current Employment Period which is as follows: Dr. Grodman — until October 31, 2011; Messrs. Dubinett and Singer – until October 31, 2009; and Messrs. Faherty and Todd — until October 31, 2011.

(c) Under Dr. Grodman’s employment agreement, his employment terminates in the event of his death and his beneficiaries would be entitled to the death proceeds of the insurance policy owned by the Company on his life after deducting the Company’s “Interest in the Policy”. In the event of Mr. Dubinett’s death or Mr. Singer’s death while employed by the Company, the decedent’s beneficiaries would be entitled to the death proceeds of the insurance policy owned by the Company on his life after deducting the Company’s “Interest in the Policy” plus additional payments equal to six months of his Base Compensation in effect at the time of his death. See “Split-Dollar Life Insurance” herein. In the event of Mr. Faherty’s death or Mr. Todd’s death while employed by the Company, the decedent’s beneficiaries would be entitled to additional payments equal to six months of his Base Compensation at the time of his death.

(d) In the event of a termination of employment after a “Change in Control” of the Company, the employee is entitled to receive a lump sum Severance Payment equal to 2.99 times the average of his annual compensation paid or payable by the Company in connection with his employment and included in his gross income as compensation income for the five calendar years preceding the calendar year in which the Change in Control occurred, subject to the provisions of Section 409-A of the Internal Revenue Code

 

Split-Dollar Life Insurance

 

Pursuant to the terms of their 1997 employment agreements, the Company had established split-dollar life insurance programs for each of its three Executive Officers. As a result of the passage of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (signed into law on July 30, 2002), these three programs were modified. Pursuant to the modification, each of the three Executive Officers assigned ownership of his policies to the Company and new policies were issued to replace the prior policies with annual premiums under the new policies ($70,000 under Dr. Grodman’s policy and $25,000 each under Messrs. Dubinett’s and Singer’s policies) being equal to the premiums paid under the replaced policies. The Company has now executed new “Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Agreements” with each of its three Executive Officers. Pursuant to the new agreements, the Company has agreed to continue to pay the annual premium on the policy on each officer’s life during the period of his full-time employment by the Company. The Company is the sole owner of the policy and of its net cash surrender value, and in the event of the officer’s death while serving as a full-time employee of the Company, the Company will be entitled to receive that amount of the death proceeds equal to its interest in the policy (the aggregate amount of premiums paid by the Company with respect to the policy less the amount of any loans, if any, from the Insurer to the Company against the cash value or policy proceeds, and less the aggregate amount of any premiums paid by the officer to the Company in reimbursement of premiums paid by the Company) and the balance of the death proceeds will be paid to the officer’s designated beneficiaries. The premiums paid by the Company on the current policies and the prior policies aggregated approximately $1,542,000 and $1,422 ,000 at October 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, respectively. At those dates, the net cash surrender value of the three current policies aggregated approximately $1,225,000 and $1,054,000, respectively and is recorded on the books of the Company at these values.

 

22



 

Stock Options

 

Employee Stock Option Plans

 

The 1989 Plan
 

In July 1989, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 1989 Employees Stock Option Plan (the “1989 Plan”) which was approved by shareholders in November 1989.  The 1989 Plan provided for the grant of options to purchase up to 666,667 shares of Common Stock.  Under the terms of the 1989 Plan, options granted thereunder could be designated as options which qualify for incentive stock option treatment (“ISOs”) under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“the Code”), or options which do not so qualify (“NQOs”).

 

Under the 1989 Plan, the exercise price of an option designated as an ISO could not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option was granted.  However, in the event an option designated as an ISO was granted to a 10% shareholder (as defined in the 1989 Plan) such exercise price was required to be at least 110% of such fair market value.  Exercise prices of NQOs could be less than such fair market value.  The aggregate fair market value of shares subject to options granted to a participant which are designated as ISOs which first become exercisable in any calendar year could not exceed $100,000. All options under the 1989 Plan were required to be granted before the Plan’s July 1999 Termination Date so that no further options can be granted under the 1989 Plan. At October 31, 2008, there were no outstanding ISOs under the 1989 Plan.

 

The 2000 Plan

 

On August 25, 2000, the Board of Directors adopted the 2000 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan (the “2000 Plan”) reserving an aggregate 800,000 shares of Bio-Reference Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of ISOs which may be granted under the 2000 Plan.  Stockholders ratified the adoption of the 2000 Plan at our December 14, 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. During fiscal 2008, no options were granted under the 2000 Plan. During fiscal 2008, ISOs issued under the 2000 Plan to purchase an aggregate 4,500 shares at exercise prices ranging from $5.94 to $8.40 per share were exercised and as a result, at October 31, 2008, there were outstanding ISOs under the 2000 Plan exercisable to purchase an aggregate 157,000 shares at exercise prices ranging from $5.52 to $15.334 per share.

 

The 2000 Plan authorizes the grant of options which qualify for ISO treatment under Section 422 of the Code, to purchase up to a maximum aggregate 800,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Options may only be granted under the 2000 Plan to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (including officers and directors who are also employees).

 

The 2000 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors. The Board has the discretion to determine the eligible employees to whom, and the price (not less than the fair market value on the date of grant) at which options will be granted; the periods during which each option is exercisable; and the number of shares subject to each option. The Board has the authority to interpret the 2000 Plan and to establish and amend rules and regulations relating thereto.

 

The 2000 Plan provides that the exercise price of an option granted thereunder shall not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. However, in the event an option is granted under the 2000 Plan to a holder of 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, the exercise price must be at least 110% of such fair market value. Under the 2000 Plan, options must be granted before the August 24, 2010 Termination Date. No option may have a term longer than ten years (limited to five years in the case of an option granted to a 10% or greater stockholder of the Company). The aggregate fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock with respect to which options are exercisable for the first time by a grantee under the 2000 Plan during any calendar year cannot exceed $100,000. Options granted under the 2000 Plan are non-transferable and must be exercised by an optionee, if at all, while employed by the Company or a subsidiary or within three months after termination of such optionee’s employment due to retirement, or within one year of such termination if due to disability or death. The Board may, in its sole discretion, cause the Company to lend money to or guaranty any obligation of an employee for the purpose of enabling such employee to exercise an option granted under the 2000 Plan provided that such loan or obligation cannot exceed fifty percent (50%) of the exercise price of such option.

 

The 2003 Plan

 

On June 3, 2003, the Board of Directors adopted the 2003 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan (the “2003 Plan”) reserving an aggregate 800,000 shares of Bio-Reference Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of  ISOs which may be granted under the 2003 Plan. Stockholders ratified the adoption of the 2003 Plan at our July 31, 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. During fiscal 2008, ISOs were granted under the 2003 Plan exercisable to purchase 20,000 shares at an exercise price of $34.99 per share. In fiscal 2008, ISOs issued under the 2003 Plan to purchase 29,313 shares at exercise prices ranging from $12.22 to $21.46 per share were exercised and ISOs granted under the 2003 Plan exercisable to purchase 7,145 shares were canceled due to terminations of employment. As a result, at October 31, 2008, there were outstanding ISOs under the 2003 Plan exercisable to purchase an aggregate 244,280 shares at exercise prices ranging from $12.22 to $34.99 per share.

 

The 2003 Plan authorizes the grant of options which qualify for ISO treatment under Section 422 of the Code to purchase up to a minimum aggregate 800,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.  Options may only be granted under the 2003 Plan to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (including those officers and directors who are also employees).

 

The 2003 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors.  The Board has the discretion to determine the eligible employees to whom, and the prices (not less than the fair market value on the date of grant) at which options will be granted; the periods during which each option is exercisable; and the number of shares subject to each option.  The Board has the authority to interpret the 2003 Plan and to establish and amend rules and regulations relating thereto.

 

The 2003 Plan provides that the exercise price of an option granted thereunder shall not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted.  However, in the event an option is granted under the 2003 Plan to a holder of 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, the exercise price must be at least 110% of such fair market value.

 

                Under the 2003 Plan, options must be granted before the June 2, 2013 Termination Date.  No option may have a term longer than ten years (limited to five years in the case of an option granted to a 10% or greater stockholder of the Company).  The aggregate fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock with respect to which options are exercisable for the first time by a grantee under all of the Company’s Stock Option Plans during any calendar year cannot exceed $100,000.  Options granted under the 2003 Plan are non-transferable and must be exercised by an optionee, if at all, while employed by the Company or a subsidiary or within three months after termination of such optionee’s employment due to retirement, or within one year of such termination if due to disability or death.  The Board may, in its sole discretion, cause the Company to lend money to or guaranty any obligation of an employee for the purpose of enabling such employee to exercise an option granted under the 2003 Plan provided that such loan or obligation cannot exceed fifty percent (50%) of the exercise price of such option.

 

23



 

Non-Qualified Options (NQOs) and Warrants

 

At October 31, 2007, there were outstanding NQOs owned by one member of the Scientific Advisory Board exercisable to purchase an aggregate 15,000 shares at an exercise price of $7.94 per share. These NQOs expired unexercised in fiscal 2008.

 

See Note 11 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Option Grants to Our Three Named Executive Officers (and the Two Other Named Most Highly Compensated Senior Management Employees)  in Last Fiscal Year

 

No options to purchase shares of our Common Stock were granted to any of our three Named Executive Officers or the two other named most highly compensated senior management employees in fiscal 2008.

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

At October 31, 2007 and at October 31, 2008, there were no outstanding options held by our three executive officers, the two other named most highly compensated senior management employees or any of our directors.

 

During Fiscal 2008 no options were exercised by any member of the Board of Directors.

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

During fiscal 2008, each director who was not a Company employee was compensated for his services as a director with a quarterly fee of $13,750. In addition, Gary Lederman as chairman of the Audit Committee and John Roglieri M.D. as chairman of the Compensation Committee was each compensated for serving as a Committee Chairman with an additional quarterly fee of $2,750. No director’s fees were paid to our employee directors.

 

The following table sets forth the compensation paid to our directors in fiscal 2008.

 

Director

 

Director’s Committee

 

 

 

Fiscal Year 2008

 

Fees

 

Chairman Fees

 

Other

 

Total

 

Joseph Benincasa

 

$

55,000

 

-0-

 

-0-

 

$

55,000

 

Harry Elias

 

55,000

 

-0-

 

$

527

(a)

55,527

 

Gary Lederman (b)

 

55,000

 

$

11,000

(b)

-0-

 

66,000

 

John Roglieri M.D. (c)

 

55,000

 

11,000

(c)

-0-

 

66,000

 

 


(a) For personal use of Company airplane

(b) Chairman of the Audit Committee

(c) Chairman of the Compensation Committee

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Background

 

Through fiscal 2001, the Board of Directors, including the Company’s three executive officers, were responsible for reviewing the compensation paid to the Company’s executive officers, provided that none of the Company’s executive officers could vote with respect to his own compensation package. In fiscal 2002, the Company established a Compensation Committee consisting of three non-employee directors, Morton L. Topfer (Chairman), Gary Lederman and John Roglieri. Mr. Topfer resigned as a director and as a member of the Compensation Committee in February 2004. In March 2004, Dr. Roglieri became the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and Mr. Elias was elected as a member of the Committee. Mr. Benincasa was elected as a member of the Committee in June 2005.

 

In May 1997, the Company executed an employment agreement with Dr. Grodman which expired on October 31, 2004.  Effective November 1, 2004, the Company executed a new seven year employment agreement with Dr. Grodman, the terms of which are described above. See “Employment Agreements with Named Officers.”

 

In May 1997, the Company also executed employment agreements with Messrs. Dubinett and Singer (each expiring on October 31, 2002). During fiscal 2002, the Compensation Committee authorized extensions of both Messrs. Dubinett and Singer’s contracts for two additional years, with the Company having the option to extend each agreement for two consecutive one-year periods in addition. In consideration for Messrs. Dubinett and Singer executing the extension agreements, the Company agreed that the base compensation during each extension year would not be less than the total cash compensation paid to such individual in fiscal 2002. The Company’s option to extend Mr. Dubinett and Mr. Singer’s employment agreements has been further extended through fiscal 2009.

 

Executive Compensation Philosophy

 

In view of the fact that our three named executive officers own substantial equity interests in the Company, our compensation program for them focuses primarily on base salary, subject to annual increase based upon a review of the executive’s and the Company’s performance. In addition, to further incentivize our executive officers as well as certain other members of senior management, in 2005, we established a Senior Management Incentive Bonus Plan designed to assist in the Company’s profitability. Bonuses under the Plan are earned and paid only to the extent the Company’s Total Operating Income equaled certain designated percentages of Total Net Revenues. Plan criteria were met with respect to fiscal 2005 and 2007 so that bonuses were earned and paid, but no bonuses were earned or paid under the Plan with respect to fiscal 2006 or fiscal 2008 as the Plan’s targeted performances were not achieved.

 

24



 

Rationale for Current Employment Agreements with the Three Executive Officers

 

During the summer of calendar year 2004 with the knowledge that Dr. Grodman’s seven year employment agreement was due to expire in October 2004, the Compensation Committee commenced negotiations with Dr. Grodman for the terms of a new employment agreement. In the course of its negotiations, the Committee took into account among other factors as a barometer of Dr. Grodman’s performance as the Company’s chief executive officer, the substantial increase since 1997 in the Company’s net revenues, operating income and the market price of the Common Stock. Another factor taken into account by the Committee was the compensation being paid to the chief executive officers of a peer group of nine other publicly owned clinical testing laboratories including the two major companies in the industry, Quest Diagnostics, Inc. and Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings. The terms of Dr. Grodman’s “split-dollar” insurance arrangement with the Company and the fact that the proposed new employment agreement did not provide Dr. Grodman with additional equity compensation was also taken into account. After discussion, each of the three members of the Compensation Committee at the time (Dr. Roglieri, Mr. Elias and Mr. Lederman) concluded that the terms of the proposed new employment agreement were fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the proposed compensation thereunder was not excessive.

 

The Compensation Committee has determined that the base salaries paid with respect to fiscal 2008, and the terms of the extension agreements with Messrs. Dubinett and Singer, were reasonable in relationship to the services performed, the responsibilities assumed and the results obtained, and were in the best interests of the Company. In connection with Dr. Grodman’s compensation, the Compensation Committee considered the Company’s increase in net revenues, patients serviced, working capital and shareholders’ equity in fiscal 2008 compared with the corresponding period in fiscal 2007. Furthermore, the compensation paid to Messrs. Grodman, Dubinett and Singer for fiscal 2008 comports with the Compensation Committee’s perception of base compensation levels of principal executives employed by other companies, both public and private.

 

Benefits and Perquisites

 

Our policy is to provide health benefits as well as access to our 401(K) Plan to which we contribute a maximum of $500 per employee each year, to all of our employees including our three executive officers.

 

We lease automobiles for their use but amounts reflecting their personal use are reported as income to them subject to tax. Similarly, personal use of the Company airplane by any of our executive officers is reported as income to them, subject to tax. See Footnote (3) to the “Summary Compensation Table”.

 

Change in Control Benefits

 

Our employment agreements with our three executive officers provide for substantial Severance Payments to them in the event of a change in control of the Company. This provision provides an additional level of financial security for our three executive officers. These executives could well be asked to evaluate a transaction purportedly expected to maximize shareholder value while resulting in the elimination of their jobs. The Severance Payment provision (2.99 times the annual average of the preceding five years of compensation) could help to minimize the distraction caused by concerns over personal financial security in the context of a proposed change in control.

 

Stock Option Grant Practices

 

The Company grants stock options at an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value on the date of the grant. Due to the substantial stock ownership position of our three executive officers, no stock options have been granted to them (or restricted stock awarded to them) in the last three years.

 

Policy Regarding the One Million Dollar Deduction Limitation

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public corporations for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid for any fiscal year to a corporation’s chief executive officer and to the four other most highly compensated executive officers in office as of the end of the fiscal year. The statute exempts qualifying performance-based compensation from the deduction limit if certain requirements are met. However, shareholder interests may at times be best served by not restricting the Compensation Committee’s discretion and flexibility in developing compensation programs, even though the programs may result in non-deductible compensation expenses. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee may from time to time approve elements of compensation for certain officers that are not fully deductible, although no such elements have been approved to date.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

During fiscal 2008, the members of the Company’s Compensation Committee were:

John Roglieri M.D. – Chairman

Joseph Benincasa

Harry Elias

Gary Lederman

 

No member of the Compensation Committee was an officer or employee of the Company in fiscal 2008 or was formerly an officer of the Company.

 

25



 

Compensation Committee Report

 

The members of the Company’s Compensation Committee hereby state;

 

(A)      We have reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2008 with the Company’s Management, and

 

(B)        Based on such review and discussions, we have recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2008

 

 

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

By

John Roglieri M.D., Chairman

 

 

Joseph Benincasa

 

 

Harry Elias

 

 

Gary Lederman

 

Item 12. - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

The following table sets forth information as of January 4, 2009 with respect to the ownership of Common Stock by (i) each person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each of our directors, (iii) each of our executive officers, and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Name and Address of

 

 

 

 

 

Beneficial Owner

 

 

 

 

 

Directors and

 

Shares of Common Stock

 

Percentage

 

Executive Officers*

 

Beneficially Owned(1)

 

Ownership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc D. Grodman(2)

 

1,503,104

 

11

%

Howard Dubinett(3)

 

310,872

 

2

%

Sam Singer(4)

 

132,416

 

1

%

Joseph Benincasa

 

-0-

 

0

%

Harry Elias

 

-0-

 

0

%

Gary Lederman(5)

 

27,200

 

 

**

John Roglieri(6)

 

5,000

 

 

**

Executive Officers

 

1,978,592

 

14

%

and Directors as a group

 

 

 

 

 

(seven persons)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)

 

 

 

 

 

Other Greater than 5%

 

 

 

 

 

Beneficial Owner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arbor Capital Management, LLC(7)

 

732,900

 

5

%

120 South Sixth Street

 

 

 

 

 

Minneapolis, MN 55402

 

 

 

 

 

 


*                 The address of all of the Company’s directors and executive officers is c/o the Company, 481 Edward H. Ross Drive, Elmwood Park, New Jersey 07407.

 

**          Less than one (1%) percent.

 

(1)          Except as otherwise noted, each holder named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned.

 

(2)          Includes 1,276,437 shares owned directly. Also includes 173,467 shares owned directly by Dr. Grodman’s wife, Pam Grodman, and 53,200 shares owned by their children. Dr. Grodman disclaims beneficial ownership of these 226,667 shares.

 

On October 12, 2006, Dr. Grodman established a Rule 10b-5-1 Sales Plan (the “Sales Plan”) with Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. (“Bear Stearns”) to facilitate sales of a variable number of Dr. Grodman’s shares of BRLI Common Stock (up to 200,000 shares) in variable pre-paid forward transactions (“Forward Transactions”) at a minimum per share sale price as specified in the Sales Plan. In connection with the contemplated Forward Transactions, Dr. Grodman pledged 200,000 shares of his BRLI Common Stock to secure his obligation to deliver a maximum aggregate 200,000 shares of Common Stock to Bear Stearns on the final settlement dates (approximately 23-25 months after each sale). The Sales Plan was terminated on December 21, 2006 at which date an aggregate 175,936 shares had been sold pursuant to the Forward Transactions. As prepayment for the pledge of these shares, Bear Stearns paid Dr. Grodman approximately $3,950,000 or approximately $22.46 per share. The number of shares that Dr. Grodman will be obligated to deliver on the final settlement dates will vary based upon the market prices of the Common Stock on such settlement dates. Dr. Grodman will benefit from any excess in the market prices of the Common Stock at the final settlement dates to the extent such prices exceed approximately $25.30 up to approximately $30.38 per share, by being able to deliver fewer shares. Until the final settlement dates, Dr. Grodman is deemed the beneficial owner of the pledged shares.

 

Based on the closing price for BRLI Common Stock on NASDAQ on November 18, 2008, the settlement date with respect to the first 66,666 shares of the aggregate 175,936 shares sold, Dr. Grodman transferred 66,666 of the pledged shares to Bear Stearns, now a division of J.P. Morgan, for which he had received a prepayment of $1,497,343. The net effect to Dr. Grodman is that on the initial settlement date, he sold 66,666 shares at a price of $22.46 per share.

 

Based on the closing price for BRLI Common Stock on NASDAQ on December 18, 2008, the settlement date with respect to the second 66,666 shares of the aggregate 175,936 shares sold, Dr. Grodman was obliged to deliver only 63,976 of the pledged shares to Bear Stearns for which he had received a prepayment of $1,497,272. The net effect to Dr. Grodman is that on the second settlement date, he sold 63,976 shares at a price of $23.40 per share.

 

(3)          Includes 310,872 shares owned directly. In lieu of an outright sale, on October 15, 2007, Howard Dubinett entered into a pre-paid variable price forward sales contract (“Forward Contract”) with UBS Securities LLC (“UBS”). Pursuant to the Forward Contract, Mr. Dubinett pledged 89,047 shares of his BRLI Common Stock to secure his obligation to deliver a maximum 89,047 shares of BRLI Common Stock to

 

26



 

UBS on October 19, 2009 (the “Settlement Date”). As prepayment for the pledge of these shares, UBS agreed to pay Mr. Dubinett $2,572,474 or approximately $28.89 per share representing 87.9% of the proceeds from the sale of 89,047 shares on October 16, 2007. The number of shares that Mr. Dubinett is required to deliver on the Settlement Date varies based upon the price of the Common Stock on the Settlement Date. Mr. Dubinett will benefit from any excess in the price of the Common Stock on the Settlement Date between $32.87 per share up to a maximum $39.44 per share by being able to deliver fewer shares. Until the Settlement Date, Mr. Dubinett retains the voting rights to the 89,047 pledged shares and is deemed the beneficial owner of such shares.

 

(4)          Includes 122,016 shares owned directly, and 10,400 shares owned by children who share Mr. Singer’s household. Mr. Singer disclaims beneficial ownership of these 10,400 shares.

 

(5)          Includes 27,200 shares owned directly.

 

(6)          Includes 5,000 shares owned directly.

 

(7)          Arbor Capital Management, LLC (“Arbor”) in its capacity as an investment advisor may be deemed the beneficial owner of these 732,900 shares which are owned by investment advisory clients. In its Schedule 13G filing dated February 5, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arbor stated that to the best of its knowledge, these 732,900 shares were acquired in the ordinary course of business; were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the Company; and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table provides information as of October 31, 2008 regarding shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Company’s equity compensation plans:

 

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)
Number of Shares Remaining Available
for Future Issuances Under Equity

 

 

 

Number of Shares Issuable upon
Exercise of Outstanding Options

 

Weighted-Average Exercise Price
per Share of Outstanding Options

 

Compensation Plans (Excluding Shares)
Reflected in Column (a))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Stockholders

 

383,780

(1)

$

12.98

 

383,760

(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Stockholders

 

-0-

 

$

-0-

 

-0-

 

Totals

 

383,780

 

$

12.98

 

383,760

 

 


(1) Reflects shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding ISOs granted pursuant to the Company’s  2000 and 2003 Employee Stock Option Plans.

(2) Reflects shares reserved for issuance upon the grant of ISOs which may be granted pursuant to the Company’s 2000 and 2003 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plans.

 

Item 13. – Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

No material transactions occurred between the Company and related parties other than as reported elsewhere herein during fiscal 2008.

 

Director Independence

 

The Company’s “independent” directors as independence is defined by Rule 4200(a)(15) of The NASDAQ Stock Market Rules are as follows:

 

Joseph Benincasa

Harry Elias

Gary Lederman

John Roglieri M.D.

 

They also comprise all of the members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee.

 

Item 14. -  Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The firm of MSPC,  Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, A Professional Corporation (“MSPC”) audited our accounts and the accounts of our subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2008 and 2007. Moore Stephens and its predecessor firm have been our auditors since 1988.

 

(1)          Audit Fees

 

MSPC billed us approximately $235,120 for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 and the review of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for such fiscal year compared to approximately $232,300 in billings for such services for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007. In addition, MSPC billed us approximately $17,500 in fiscal 2008 for its audit of our 401(k) Plan for calendar year 2007 as compared to approximately $17,500 of such fees in fiscal 2007 with respect to calendar year 2006.

 

(2)           Audit-Related Fees

 

MSPC billed us approximately $15,750 for due diligence fees incurred in relation to acquisitions during fiscal 2008 and approximately $97,750 for Sarbanes-Oxley (“SOX”) related audit fees.

 

27



 

(3)           Tax Fees

 

MSPC billed us approximately $72,500 for tax services for fiscal 2008 and approximately $46,900 for tax services for fiscal 2007.

 

(4)           All Other Fees

 

No fees were billed to us by MSPC with respect to fiscal 2008 or fiscal 2007 other than for services described in Item 14 (1), (2) and (3) herein.

 

(5)          Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

The engagement of MSPC to render the above audit and tax services was approved by our audit committee prior to the engagement.

 

28



 

PART IV

 

Item 15. –

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

 

 

 

(a)1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

The following financial statements of the Company are included in Part II, Item 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page to Page

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

32

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets - October 31, 2008 and 2007

33 - 34

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations- Years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

35

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity Years ended October 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006

36

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

37 - 38

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements-

39- 50

 

 

 

2.

Financial Statements Schedule

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the Years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006

52

 

 

 

3.

Exhibits

After 53

 

 

 

 

 

Incorporated by

Exhibit No.

 

Item

 

Reference to

 

 

 

 

 

3.1*

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated November 15, 1989

 

(A)

 

 

 

 

 

3.1.1*

 

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation dated October 4, 1991 (authorizing one-for-10 reverse stock split)

 

(B)

 

 

 

 

 

3.1.2*

 

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation dated August 23, 1993 (authorizing one-for-three reverse stock split)

 

(C)

 

 

 

 

 

3.1.3*

 

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation dated March 23, 1998 (creating Series A Senior Preferred Stock)

 

(F)

 

 

 

 

 

3.1.4*

 

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation dated March 31, 1998 (creating Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock)

 

(F)

 

 

 

 

 

3.1.5*

 

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation dated September 22, 2003 (increasing authorized shares of Common Stock to 35,000,000 shares)

 

(J)

 

 

 

 

 

3.2*

 

By-laws

 

(D)

 

 

 

 

 

3.2.1*

 

Amendments to Article III, Sections 2 and 4 of the By-laws adopted June 1, 2005

 

(L)

 

 

 

 

 

4.1*

 

Form of Common Stock Certificate, $.01 par value

 

(M)

 

 

 

 

 

10.1*

 

Lease Agreement for Elmwood Park, New Jersey Premises, expiring in February, 2004

 

(F)

 

 

 

 

 

10.1.1*

 

Fifth Amendment dated as of July 16, 2004 to Lease for Elmwood Park, New Jersey Premises

 

(M)

 

 

 

 

 

10.1.2*

 

Sixth Amendment dated as of October 27, 2004 to Lease for Elmwood Park, New Jersey Premises

 

(M)

 

 

 

 

 

10.2*

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Marc Grodman expiring in October 2011

 

(K)

 

 

 

 

 

10.3*

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Howard Dubinett as in effect at October 31, 2001

 

(F)

 

 

 

 

 

10.3.1*

 

Extension to Employment Agreement between the Company and Howard Dubinett effective November 1, 2002

 

(I)

 

 

 

 

 

10.3.2*

 

Extension to Employment Agreement between the Company and Howard Dubinett effective November 1, 2004.

 

(M)

 

 

 

 

 

10.3.3*

 

Amendment No. 3 to Employment Agreement between the Company and Howard Dubinett dated December 18, 2007.

 

(P)

 

 

 

 

 

10.4*

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Sam Singer as in effect at October 31, 2001

 

(F)

 

 

 

 

 

10.4.1*

 

Extension to Employment Agreement between the Company and Sam Singer effective November 1, 2002

 

(I)

 

29



 

10.4.2*

 

Extension to Employment Agreement between the Company and Sam Singer effective November 1, 2004

 

(M)

 

 

 

 

 

10.4.3*

 

Amendment No. 3 to Employment Agreement between the Company and Sam Singer dated December 18, 2007.

 

(P)

 

 

 

 

 

10.5*

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Charles T. Todd, Jr. effective November 1, 2005.

 

(N)

 

 

 

 

 

10.6*

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Scott Fein effective October 31, 2005.

 

(N)

 

 

 

 

 

10.7*

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Richard L. Faherty effective November 1, 2005.

 

(N)

 

 

 

 

 

10.8*

 

The Company’s 1989 Stock Option Plan

 

(B)

 

 

 

 

 

10.8.1*

 

The Company’s 2000 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan.

 

(G)

 

 

 

 

 

10.8.2*

 

The Company’s 2003 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan.

 

(J)

 

 

 

 

 

10.9

 

Terms of the Company’s 2008 Senior Management Incentive Bonus Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.13*

 

Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement as of September 30, 2004 between the Company and PNC Bank, National Association.

 

(M)

 

 

 

 

 

10.13.1*

 

Fourth Amendment as of October 31, 2006 to Loan and Security Agreement as of September 30, 2004 between the Company and PNC Bank, National Association

 

(O)

 

 

 

 

 

10.13.2*

 

Fifth Amendment as of October 31, 2007 to Loan and Security Agreement as of September 30, 2004 between the Company and PNC Bank, National Association

 

(P)

 

 

 

 

 

10.13.3

 

Sixth Amendment as of May 12, 2008 to Loan and Security Agreement as of September 30, 2004 between the Company and PNC Bank, National Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

Subsidiaries of the Company

 

 

 

The following are the Company’s two wholly-owned subsidiaries:

 

 

 

 

 

Name under which it
Conducts or

 

 

 

State of Incorporation

 

Conducted Business

 

CareEvolve.com, Inc.

 

New Jersey

 

CareEvolve

 

BRLI No. 2 Acquisition Corp.

 

New Jersey

 

GeneDx

 

 

23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

 

 

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

 

 

32.1

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 of Chief Executive Officer

 

 

32.2

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350 of Chief Financial Officer

 


The exhibits designated above with an asterisk (*) have previously been filed with the Commission and, pursuant to 17 C.F.R. Secs. 201.24 and 240.12b-32, are incorporated by reference to the documents as indicated below.

 

(A)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-31360).

(B)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s annual report on Form 10KSB for the year ended October 31, 1992.

(C)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-68678).

(D)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-18 (File No. 33-5048-NY).

(F)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1999.

(G)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2000.

(H)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2001.

(I)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2002

(J)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.  333-111578).

(K)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (for December 6, 2004).

(L)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2005

(M)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2004.

(N)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2005.

(O)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006.

(P)

 

Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company’s Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007.

 

30



 

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC.

 

 

By

/S/ Marc D. Grodman

 

Marc D. Grodman

Chairman of the Board, President,

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Dated:

January 9, 2009

 

In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/S/ Marc D. Grodman

 

Marc D. Grodman

Chairman of the Board, President,

Chief Executive Officer and Director

January 9, 2009

 

/S/ Howard Dubinett

 

Howard Dubinett

Executive Vice President,

Chief Operating Officer and Director

January 9, 2009

 

/S/ Sam Singer

 

 

Sam Singer

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,

 

Chief Accounting Officer and Director

 

January 9, 2009

 

 

 

/S/ Joseph Benincasa

 

 

Joseph Benincasa

 

Director

 

January 9, 2009

 

 

 

/S/ Harry Elias

 

 

Harry Elias

 

Director

 

January 9, 2009

 

 

 

/S/ Gary Lederman

 

 

Gary Lederman

 

Director

 

January 9, 2009

 

 

 

/S/ John Roglieri

 

 

John Roglieri

 

Director

 

January 9, 2009

 

 

31



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders

Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc.

Elmwood Park, New Jersey

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of October 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2008.  We also have audited Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. and its subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).  Bio-Reference Laboratories Inc.’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (a) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (b) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (c) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of October 31, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Also in our opinion, Bio-Reference Laboratories Inc. and its subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).

 

 

 

MSPC

 

Certified Public Accountants and Advisors,

 

A Professional Corporation

 

 

Cranford, New Jersey

 

January 5, 2009

 

 

32



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

[Dollars In Thousands, Except Share Data]

 

 

 

October 31,

 

October 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

$

12,696

 

$

11,897

 

Accounts Receivable - Net

 

93,718

 

86,018

 

Inventory

 

3,731

 

3,120

 

Other Current Assets

 

1,771

 

1,443

 

Deferred Tax Assets

 

7,635

 

6,019

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

119,551

 

108,497

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT - AT COST

 

41,748

 

33,791

 

LESS:  Accumulated Depreciation

 

17,291

 

13,266

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT - NET

 

24,457

 

20,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits

 

525

 

516

 

Goodwill - Net

 

19,072

 

16,681

 

Intangible Assets - Net

 

5,574

 

6,550

 

Other Assets

 

1,224

 

1,054

 

Deferred Tax Assets

 

1,566

 

751

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL OTHER ASSETS

 

27,961

 

25,552

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

171,969

 

$

154,574

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

33



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

[Dollars In Thousands, Except Share Data]

 

 

 

October 31,

 

October 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts Payable

 

$

25,801

 

$

24,576

 

Accrued Salaries and Commissions Payable

 

5,590

 

5,214

 

Accrued Taxes and Expenses

 

7,315

 

3,583

 

Revolving Note Payable - Bank

 

18,831

 

23,252

 

Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt

 

1,175

 

1,154

 

Capital Lease Obligations - Short-Term Portion

 

2,278

 

1,971

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

60,990

 

59,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Lease Obligations - Long-Term Portion

 

3,052

 

2,509

 

Long Term Debt - Net of Current Portion

 

5,729

 

6,766

 

Deferred Tax Liabilities

 

658

 

282

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

9,439

 

9,557

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Stock $.10 Par Value; Authorized 1,666,667 shares, including 3,000 shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock

 

 

 

None Issued

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock, $.01 Par Value; Authorized 35,000,000 shares: Issued  and Outstanding 13,776,795 and 13,748,634 at October 31, 2008 and at October 31, 2007, respectively

 

138

 

138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Paid-In Capital

 

42,085

 

41,435

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retained Earnings

 

59,317

 

43,700

 

Totals

 

101,540

 

85,273

 

Deferred Compensation

 

 

(6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

101,540

 

85,267

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

171,969

 

$

154,574

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

34



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

[Dollars In Thousands, Except Share Data]

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

October 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET REVENUES:

 

$

301,071

 

$

250,431

 

$

193,134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COST OF SERVICES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

5,962

 

4,394

 

3,427

 

Employee Related Expenses

 

71,545

 

57,800

 

46,064

 

Reagents and Lab Supplies

 

46,258

 

36,887

 

26,637

 

Other Cost of Services

 

30,066

 

24,948

 

19,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL COST OF SERVICES

 

153,831

 

124,029

 

96,079

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GROSS PROFIT ON REVENUES

 

147,240

 

126,402

 

97,055

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and Administrative Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

2,424

 

2,437

 

1,640

 

Other General and Administrative Expenses

 

75,946

 

64,053

 

50,550

 

Bad Debt Expense

 

40,313

 

34,855

 

26,884

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL GENERAL AND ADMIN. EXPENSES

 

118,683

 

101,345

 

79,074

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

28,557

 

25,057

 

17,981

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

2,135

 

2,410

 

1,412

 

Interest Income

 

(269

)

(260

)

(173

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES - NET

 

1,866

 

2,150

 

1,239

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

26,691

 

22,907

 

16,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

11,074

 

8,950

 

5,451

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

 

$

15,617

 

$

13,957

 

$

11,291

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME PER SHARE - BASIC:

 

$

1.13

 

$

1.02

 

$

0.86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME PER SHARE - DILUTED:

 

$

1.12

 

$

1.01

 

$

0.85

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

35



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

[Dollars In Thousands Except Number of Shares]

 

 

 

Series A

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Preferred Stock

 

Common Stock

 

Paid-in

 

Retained

 

Deferred

 

Total Shareholders’

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Earnings

 

Compensation

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance on October 31, 2005

 

 

 

12,981,367

 

$

130

 

$

32,348

 

$

18,452

 

$

(215

)

$

50,715

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of Deferred Compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

114

 

114

 

Stock Based Compensation

 

 

 

 

 

15,500

 

 

39

 

 

 

 

 

39

 

Exercise of Options - Employees

 

 

 

 

 

291,500

 

4

 

1,378

 

 

 

 

1,382

 

Exercise of Options - Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

16,000

 

 

50

 

 

 

 

 

50

 

Exercise of Options - Advisory Board

 

 

 

 

 

17,500

 

 

188

 

 

 

 

 

188

 

Stock Issued for Acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

230,947

 

2

 

4,998

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,291

 

 

 

11,291

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance on October 31, 2006

 

 

 

13,552,814

 

$

136

 

$

39,001

 

$

29,743

 

$

(101

)

$

68,779

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of Deferred Compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

95

 

95

 

Exercise of Options - Employees

 

 

 

 

 

150,820

 

2

 

1,841

 

 

 

 

 

1,843

 

Exercise of Options - Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

20,000

 

 

136

 

 

 

 

 

136

 

Exercise of Options - Advisory Board

 

 

 

 

 

25,000

 

 

228

 

 

 

 

 

228

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Effect - Non-Qualified Options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

229

 

 

 

 

 

229

 

Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,957

 

 

 

13,957

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance on October 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

13,748,634

 

$

138

 

$

41,435

 

$

43,700

 

$

(6

)

$

85,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of Deferred Compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

6

 

Exercise of Options - Employees

 

 

 

 

 

33,813

 

 

542

 

 

 

 

 

542

 

Stock Based Compensation

 

 

 

 

 

2,500

 

 

86

 

 

 

 

 

86

 

Stock Issued for Acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

11,548

 

 

474

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock Repurchased and Cancelled

 

 

 

 

 

(19,700

)

 

(452

)

 

 

 

 

(452

)

Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,617

 

 

 

15,617

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance on October 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

13,776,795

 

$

138

 

$

42,085

 

$

59,317

 

$

0

 

$

101,540

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

36



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

[Dollars In Thousands]

 

 

 

Years Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

15,617

 

$

13,957

 

$

11,291

 

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

8,386

 

6,831

 

5,067

 

Amortization of Deferred Compensation

 

6

 

95

 

114

 

Deferred Income Taxes (Benefit)

 

(2,055

)

(1,790

)

(1,841

)

(Gain) Loss on Disposal of Property and Equipment

 

321

 

12

 

(85

)

Stock - Based Compensation Expense

 

86

 

 

39

 

Change in Assets and Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Increase) Decrease in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts Receivable

 

(11,700

)

(22,649

)

(11,967

)

Provision for Bad Doubtful Accounts

 

4,000

 

4,409

 

(741

)

Inventory

 

(611

)

(961

)

(820

)

Other Current Assets

 

(328

)

(245

)

(283

)

Other Assets

 

(170

)

(120

)

(175

)

Deposits

 

(9

)

130

 

(196

)

Increase (Decrease) in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

 

5,333

 

6,228

 

4,797

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CASH - OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

18,876

 

5,897

 

5,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business Acquisitions Related Costs

 

(1,917

)

 

(1,951

)

Acquisition of Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

 

(7,824

)

(7,745

)

(2,859

)

Proceeds from Sale of Equipment

 

 

 

134

 

Acquisition of Intangible Assets

 

(160

)

(29

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CASH - INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

(9,901

)

(7,774

)

(4,676

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments of Long-Term Debt

 

(1,016

)

(1,200

)

(1,061

)

Payments of Capital Lease Obligations

 

(2,829

)

(2,743

)

(2,240

)

Increase (Decrease) in Revolving Line of Credit

 

(4,421

)

6,556

 

5,808

 

Proceeds from Exercise of Options

 

542

 

2,207

 

1,620

 

Common Stock Repurchased

 

(452

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CASH - FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

(8,176

)

4,820

 

4,127

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

799

 

2,943

 

4,651

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIODS

 

$

11,897

 

$

8,954

 

$

4,303

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIODS

 

$

12,696

 

$

11,897

 

$

8,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

2,120

 

$

2,415

 

$

1,386

 

Income Taxes

 

$

10,646

 

$

11,082

 

$

7,173

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements

 

37



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data]

 

Supplemental Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:

 

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007 the genetics laboratory “GeneDx” achieved certain operating targets, entitling the prior owners to receive $1,917 in cash and an additional 11,548 shares of our Common Stock valued at $250 and $250 respectively.  Also, an additional $224 of contingent consideration has been recorded as of October 31, 2008.    As of October 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007 these amounts have been recorded as an increase to Goodwill.  See note [18] for additional information.

 

During fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company wrote-off approximately $2,560, $2,541 and $546 of property which were fully depreciated.

 

During fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006 the Company wrote-off approximately $2,333, $-0-, $200 of intangible assets that were fully amortized.

 

During fiscal 2008, 2007, and 2006, the Company incurred capital lease obligations totaling approximately $3,679, $2,241, and $1,082 in connection with the acquisition of property and equipment.

 

During the twelve month period ended October 31, 2008, October 31, 2007 and October 31, 2006 the Company recorded the tax effect on the exercise of non-qualified stock options. The tax benefit approximated $-0-, $229, and $-0- and was recorded as an increase to Paid-In Capital and the Deferred Tax Asset.

 

During the twelve month period ended October 31, 2008, October 31, 2007 and October 31, 2006 the Company financed the purchase of equipment through a term note of approximately $-0 , $4,100 and $-0-.

 

In October 2006, the Company issued 230,947 shares of its unregistered common stock valued at $5,000, incurred debt of $5,000 and assumed liabilities of $375 in connection with the acquisition of GeneDx.

 

In October 2006, the Company assumed liabilities of $455 in connection with the acquisition of Diagnostic Pathology Services, Inc.

 

 [See Notes 9, 11 and 18 for additional non-cash transactions]

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements

 

38



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

[1] Organization and Business

 

Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. [“Bio-Reference” or the “Company”] was incorporated on December 24, 1981.  Bio-Reference is principally engaged in providing clinical laboratory testing services, primarily to customers in the greater New York metropolitan area as well as to customers in a number of other states.  Bio-Reference offers a comprehensive list of chemical diagnostic tests including blood and urine analysis, blood chemistry, hematology services, serology, radioimmuno analysis, toxicology (including drug screening), pap smears, tissue pathology (biopsies) and other tissue analysis.  It operates two clinical laboratories, one in Elmwood Park, New Jersey and one in Valley Cottage, New York, and an andrology laboratory in New York City, a cytogenetics testing laboratory located in Milford, MA, a pathology laboratory in Poughkeepsie, NY, a pathology laboratory in Clarksburg, MD and a genetics laboratory in Gaithersburg, MD.  Bio-Reference markets its laboratory testing services directly to physicians, geneticists, hospitals, clinics, correctional and other health facilities.

 

The Company’s clinical laboratory testing business currently represents its one reportable business segment. The clinical laboratory testing business accounts for over 93% of consolidated assets, net revenues and net income in each of the three years ended October 31, 2008 All other operating segments include the Company’s non-clinical laboratory testing businesses and consist of our clinical knowledge management service through our PSIMedica business unit, a web-based connectivity portal solution for laboratories and physicians through its CareEvolve subsidiary. Segment information is not presented since it is not reported to or used by the chief operating decision maker at the operating segment level.

 

 [2] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash equivalents are comprised of certain highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased.  The Company had $12,696 and $11,897 in cash equivalents at October 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Inventory - Inventory is stated at the lower of cost [on a first-in, first-out basis] or market.  Inventory consists primarily of purchased laboratory supplies, which is used in our various testing laboratories.

 

Property and Equipment - Property and equipment are carried at cost.  Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets which range from 2 to 15 years.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease, which is approximately five years.

 

The statements of operations reflect depreciation expense related to property and equipment of $7,249, $5,635 and $4,456 for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

On sale or retirement, the asset cost and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts, and any related gain or loss is reflected in general and administrative expenses.  Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense when incurred.

 

Goodwill - Effective November 1, 2001, the Company evaluates the recoverability and measures the possible impairment of its goodwill under SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”  The impairment test is a two-step process that begins with the estimation of the fair value of the reporting unit. The first step screens for potential impairment and the second step measures the amount of the impairment, if any.  Management’s estimate of fair value considers publicly available information regarding the market capitalization of the Company as well as (i) publicly available information regarding comparable publicly-traded companies in the clinical laboratory testing industry, (ii) the financial projections and future prospects of the Company’s business, including its growth opportunities and likely operational improvements, and (iii) comparable sales prices, if available. As part of the first step to assess potential impairment, management compares the estimate of fair value for the Company to the book value of the Company’s consolidated net assets.  If the book value of the consolidated net assets is greater than the estimate of fair value, the Company would then proceed to the second step to measure the impairment, if any.  The second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying value

 

The implied fair value is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value of the reporting unit was the purchase price paid to acquire the reporting unit.  The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill.  If the carrying amount of the goodwill is greater than its implied fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized in that period.  No impairment loss was recognized in the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.

 

The balance sheet reflects prior Goodwill accumulated amortization of $2,401 as of October 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Other Intangible Assets - Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method.  The estimated useful life of costs capitalized is evaluated for each specific project when completed, at which time such costs begin to be amortized. The statements of operations reflect amortization expense related to intangible assets of $1,137, $1,196, and $611 for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The balance sheet reflects accumulated amortization of $3,820, and $5,015 as of October 31, 2008, and 2007, respectively. During the 2008 fiscal year, the Company wrote off approximately $2,333 of capitalized costs related to covenants not to compete and employment agreements which were fully amortized. During the 2006 fiscal year, the Company wrote off approximately $200 of capitalized costs related to covenants not to compete and employment agreements which were fully amortized.

 

Net Service Revenue - Service revenues are principally generated from laboratory testing services including chemical diagnostic tests such as blood analysis, urine analysis and genetic testing among others. Net service revenues are recognized at the time the testing services are performed and are reported at their estimated net realizable amounts. Net realizable amounts from patients, third party payors and others for services rendered, are accrued on an estimated basis in the period the related services are rendered, and are adjusted in subsequent periods based upon an analysis of the Company’s collection experience from each category of payor group as well as prospectively determined contractual adjustments and discounts with third party payors. Differences between these adjustments and any subsequent revisions are included in the statement of operations in which the revisions are made and are disclosed, if material. Applying this methodology and aggregating its collection experience from all payor groups, the Company has not been required to record an adjustment related to revenue recorded in prior periods that was material in nature. Revenues on the statements of operations are net of the following amounts for allowances and discounts.

 

 

 

October 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Revenues

 

$

1,039,030

 

$

779,953

 

$

522,117

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual Adjustments and Discounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medicare/Medicaid Portion

 

199,543

 

152,275

 

119,505

 

Other

 

538,416

 

377,247

 

209,478

 

Total Contractual Adjustments and Discounts

 

737,959

 

529,522

 

328,983

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Revenues

 

301,071

 

$

250,431

 

$

193,134

 

 

39



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Sheet #3

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

[2] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Continued]

 

Contractual Credits and Provision for Doubtful Accounts - An allowance for contractual credits and discounts is estimated by payor group and determined based upon a review of the reimbursement policies and subsequent collections from the different types of payors. The Company has not been required to record an adjustment in a subsequent period related to revenue recorded in a prior period, that was material in nature. Agings of accounts receivable are monitored by billing personnel and follow-up activities are conducted as necessary. Bad debt expense is recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales considered necessary to maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts at an appropriate level, based on the Company’s experience with its accounts receivable. The Company writes off receivables against the allowance for doubtful accounts when they are deemed to be uncollectible. For client billing, accounts are written off when all reasonable collection efforts prove to be unsuccessful. Patient accounts are written off after the normal billing cycle has occurred, which may include transfer to a third party collection agency. Third party accounts are written off when they exceed the payer’s timely filing limits. Accounts Receivable on the balance sheets are net of the following amounts for contractual credits and doubtful accounts.

 

 

 

October 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual Credits/Discounts

 

$

78,042

 

$

79,257

 

Doubtful Accounts

 

15,643

 

11,643

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Allowance

 

$

93,685

 

$

90,900

 

 

Current Income Taxes – The Company recognizes interest and penalties on settlement of tax liabilities in its income from operations.  For the fiscal years 2006 through 2008, no material amounts for interest and penalties have been recorded.

 

Deferred Income Taxes - Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed annually for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.

 

Earnings Per Share - Basic earnings per share [“EPS”] reflects the amount of income [loss] attributable to each share of common stock based on average common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted EPS reflects Basic EPS while giving effect to all potential dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the period, such as common shares that could result from the exercise or conversion of securities into common stock.  The computation of Diluted EPS is calculated by using the treasury stock method, which assumes that any proceeds obtained from the exercise of such dilutive securities would be used to purchase common stock at the average market price of the common stock during the period.  This reduces the gross number of dilutive shares by the number of shares purchasable from the proceeds of the securities assumed to be exercised.  Securities whose conversion would have an anti-dilutive effect on EPS are not assumed converted.  Securities that could potentially dilute earnings in the future are disclosed in Note 10.

 

Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Recoverability and Impairment of Intangible Assets and Other Long-Lived Assets - Effective November 1, 2002, the Company evaluates the possible impairment of its long-lived assets, including intangible assets (which are amortized pursuant to the provisions of SFAS 142), under SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”). The Company reviews the recoverability of its long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable.  Evaluation of possible impairment is based on the Company’s ability to recover the asset from the expected future pretax cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) of the related operations. If the expected undiscounted pretax cash flows are less than the carrying amount of such asset, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the estimated fair value and carrying amount of the asset. The Company’s adoption of SFAS 144 did not result in any impairment loss being recorded.  No impairment loss was recognized in the fiscal years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.

 

Stock Options Issued to Employees –Effective November 1, 2005, the Company adopted the fair value method of recording stock-based compensation, as defined in SFAS No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment”, under the modified prospective transition method for stock options awarded to employees after the date of adoption and for previously issued stock options that were not vested as of November 1, 2005 which were issued under the Company’s three stock based employee compensation plans. Under the modified prospective transition method, the Company is required to recognize compensation expense for options granted commencing November 1, 2005 and thereafter. Additionally, the fair value of existing unvested awards at the date of adoption is recorded in compensation expense over the remaining requisite service period.

 

Prior to November 1, 2005, the Company applied Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and related interpretations in accounting for stock options and other stock-based compensation. APB No. 25 required the use of the intrinsic value method, which measured compensation cost as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the stock at the measurement date over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock.

 

Advertising Costs -Advertising costs are expensed when incurred.  Advertising costs amounted to approximately $1,092, $627 and $745 for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Reclassifications - Certain prior year amounts may have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

 

[3] Property and Equipment - Property and equipment - at cost is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

October 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medical Equipment

 

$

16,993

 

$

12,461

 

Leasehold Improvements

 

7,294

 

6,194

 

Furniture, Fixtures and Office Equipment

 

7,003

 

5,856

 

Automobiles and Aircraft

 

10,458

 

9,280

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub Totals

 

41,748

 

33,791

 

Less Accumulated Depreciation

 

17,291

 

13,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals – Net of Accumulated Depreciation

 

$

24,457

 

$

20,525

 

 

40



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Sheet #3

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

 [4] Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets are summarized as follows:

 

October 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

Net of Accumulated

 

Intangible Asset

 

Amortization Period

 

Cost

 

Amortization

 

Amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer Lists

 

20

 

4,873

 

1,941

 

2,932

 

Covenants Not-to-Compete

 

5

 

4,205

 

1,768

 

2,437

 

Patents

 

17

 

316

 

111

 

205

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

 

 

$

9,394

 

$

3,820

 

$

5,574

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

Net of Accumulated

 

Intangible Asset

 

Amortization Period

 

Cost

 

Amortization

 

Amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer Lists

 

20

 

5,045

 

1,828

 

3,217

 

Covenants Not-to-Compete

 

5

 

4,205

 

927

 

3,278

 

Patents

 

17

 

156

 

101

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

 

 

$

9,406

 

$

2,856

 

$

6,550

 

 

The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter as of October 31, 2008 is as follows:

 

October 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

$

1,121

 

2010

 

1,094

 

2011

 

984

 

2012

 

215

 

2013

 

206

 

Thereafter

 

1,954

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

5,574

 

 

 [5] Revolving Note Payable - Bank

 

In May 2008, the Company entered into an amended revolving note payable loan agreement with PNC Bank, N.A. (“the bank”).  The maximum amount of the credit line available to the Company pursuant to the loan agreement is the lesser of (i) $40,000 or (ii) 50% of the Company’s qualified accounts receivable [as defined in the agreement].  The amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement provides for interest on advances to be subject to the bank’s prime rate or the Eurodollar rate of interest plus, in certain instances, an additional interest percentage.  The additional interest percentage charges on Eurodollar borrowings range from 1% to 4% and are determined based upon certain financial ratios achieved by the Company.  At October 31, 2008, the Company had elected to have all of the total advances outstanding to be subject to the bank’s prime rate of interest of 4.0%.  The credit line is collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets. The line of credit is available through October 2012 and may be extended for annual periods by mutual consent, thereafter.  The terms of this agreement contain, among other provisions, requirements for maintaining defined levels of capital expenditures, fixed charge coverage, and the prohibition of the payment by the Company of cash dividends. As of October 31, 2008, the Company was utilizing $18,831 of the available credit under this revolving note payable loan agreement.

 

Effective as of October 31, 2007, we executed a fifth amendment to the loan agreement formalizing the repayment terms of a $5 million term loan from PNC Bank used by our wholly-owned subsidiary, BRLI No. 2 Acquisition Corp. to fund the $5 million acquisition Cash Payment in connection with the purchase of the operating assets of GeneDx. The term loan is evidenced by a secured promissory note payable over a six year term in equal monthly principal payments of $69, plus interest at an annual rate of 6.85%.  The Balance on this note as of October 31, 2008 was approximately $3,333.

 

In January 2007, the Company issued a ten year term note of $4,100 for the financing of equipment.  The note is payable in equal monthly installments of $47 including principal and interest, with payment commencing on March 1, 2007 at an effective interest rate of 6.63% per annum.  The balance on this note as of October 31, 2008 was approximately $3,564.

 

41



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Sheet #3

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

 [6] Long-Term Debt - Bank

 

During fiscal 2006, the company borrowed $5,000 at 6.85% for a 6 year term and approximately an additional $20 at 4.75% for 5 year term. An additional $4,100 was borrowed in fiscal 2007.  At October 31, 2008 the principal long term debt balance outstanding under the borrowings was $5,729. The current maturity of short term debt balance was $1,175.

 

Principal repayment for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter as of October 31, 2008 is as follows:

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

October 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

$

1,175

 

2010

 

1,194

 

2011

 

1,217

 

2012

 

1,243

 

2013

 

437

 

Thereafter

 

1,638

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

$

6,904

 

 

 [7] Related Party Transactions

 

In March 2001, the Company entered into a joint marketing agreement [the “agreement”] with General Prescription Programs, Inc. [“GPP”].  Provisions of the agreement provide that GPP will assist the Company in marketing its PSIMedica programs to various customers.  In addition, GPP will provide ongoing data and data support to the PSIMedica program development.  The term of the agreement is for a five year period commencing on October 2001.  In exchange for obtaining GPP marketing and technical services, the Company issued GPP 220,000 shares of its common stock with a fair value of approximately $248 which is being amortized over the five year term of the agreement. For the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded an expense of $-0-, $-0- and $50, respectively.  The Chairman of the Board of GPP is the brother of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

 

See Item 11 – “Executive Compensation” as to rentals paid by the Company to Richard Faherty, one of the Company’s five most highly compensated senior management employees for use of Mr. Faherty’s airplane in fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007 (when the Company’s owned airplane was unavailable) and for payments for networking, data reporting and programming services provided to the Company in such years by a separate corporation of which Mr. Faherty is the majority shareholder. Such aircraft rentals totaled $71,108 in fiscal 2008 and $55,965 in fiscal 2007 and networking, data reporting and programming services provided to the Company in fiscal 2008 and in fiscal 2007 totaled $40,833 and $81,713 in compensation respectively.

 

 [8] Income Taxes

 

The reconciliation of income tax from continuing operations computed at the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows:

 

 

 

October 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Federal Statutory Rate

 

35

%

35

%

34.0

%

State and Local Taxes, Net of U.S. Federal Tax Benefit

 

8.46

%

7.90

%

8.0

%

Permanent differences and Other

 

(1.97

)%

(3.83

)%

(9.44

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual Rate

 

41.49

%

39.07

%

32.56

%

 

The provision [benefit] for income taxes shown in the consolidated statements of operations consists of the following:

 

 

 

October 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

9,657

 

$

8,191

 

$

5,578

 

State & Local

 

3,472

 

2,778

 

1,714

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

(1,315

)

(1,611

)

(1,406

)

State and Local

 

(740

)

(408

)

(435

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Provision for Income Taxes

 

$

11,074

 

$

8,950

 

$

5,451

 

 

At October 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had a net deferred tax asset [liability] of approximately $8,543 and $6,488, respectively.  The deferred taxes primarily relate to timing differences associated with the deductibility of depreciation, bad debts and certain accrued expenses and deferred costs. For fiscal years ended in 2008 and in 2007, the Company had no net operating loss carry-forwards available to reduce current year taxable income.

 

42



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Sheet #3

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

[8] Income Taxes - Continued

 

 

 

October 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Asset:

 

 

 

 

 

Bad Debt Allowance

 

$

6,727

 

$

5,006

 

Property & Equipment

 

1,566

 

1,099

 

Accrued Expenses

 

908

 

665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,201

 

6,770

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Liability:

 

 

 

 

 

Property & Equipment

 

(658

)

(282

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(658

)

(282

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Asset [Liability] - Net

 

$

8,543

 

$

6,488

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Deferred Tax Asset - Net

 

$

7,635

 

$

6,019

 

Long Term Deferred Tax Asset - Net

 

1,566

 

751

 

Long Term Deferred Tax [Liability] - Net

 

(658

)

(282

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Asset – Net

 

$

8,543

 

$

6,488

 

 

During fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 the Company recorded a net deferred tax benefit of $2,055.  This reflects a net benefit of approximately $1,720 in allowance for bad debts, $91 in property and equipment and other intangibles, and $244 in certain accrued expenses. Although realization is not assured and dependent upon things such as generating sufficient taxable income in future periods, management, through sufficient positive evidence,  believes it is more likely than not that all of the deferred tax asset will be realized. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income or changes in the accrued expenses during the future periods are reduced.

 

At October 31, 2008, fiscal 2005 through 2008 are subject to examination by US federal and state tax authorities.  Through the issuance of these financial statements the outcome of these examinations has not been determined.

 

[9] Capital Transactions

 

[A] Preferred Stock and Common Stock - The Company is authorized to issue an aggregate of 1,666,667 shares of preferred stock, $.10 par value.  At October 31, 2003, there were 604,078 shares of Series A Senior preferred stock issued and outstanding.  The Series A Senior preferred stock is convertible into an aggregate 604,078 shares of common stock on or before May 1, 2007 at a conversion price of $.75 per share and has the same voting rights [one vote per share], dividend rights and liquidation rights as each share of common stock. In July 2004, the Series A Senior preferred stock shareholders (the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and his wife) converted 604,078 shares of preferred stock into an equal number of common shares of the Company. The Company received approximately $453 in proceeds upon conversion.

 

In July 2003, the stockholders approved an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock from 18,333,333 shares to 35,000,000 shares.

 

Holders of the Company’s Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters submitted for shareholder vote.  Holders are also entitled to receive dividends ratably, if declared.  In the event of dissolution or liquidation, holders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities.

 

On March 31, 1998, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan and declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock and each outstanding share of Series A Senior Preferred Stock.  Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase one one-ten-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock [the “Junior Preferred Stock”] from the Company at a price of $4.00.  Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of the Junior Preferred Stock, the value of each one-ten-thousandth of a share of Junior Preferred Stock is intended to approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.  Junior Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable.  Each outstanding share of Junior Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend of $.05 per share and will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 10,000 times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock.  In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Junior Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $10 per share and will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 10,000 times the payment made per share of Common Stock.  Each share of Junior Preferred Stock will have 10,000 votes, voting together with the Common Stock.

 

In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which the Common Stock is exchanged, each share of Junior Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 10,000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock.  The Rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions.  The Rights are not exercisable unless any one of certain triggering events occur, including the acquisition by an individual or entity and their associates of 25% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.  The Shareholder Rights Plan was designed to protect the Company and its shareholders from coercive, unfair and inadequate takeover bids and practices.  The Plan was designed to strengthen the Board of Directors’ ability to deter a person or group from attempting to gain control of the Company without offering a fair price and equal treatment to all shareholders. The Rights Plan expired in March 2008.

 

The Company implemented a stock repurchase program to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of its common stock in the over-the-counter market on or before October 31, 2004 provided (1) all such repurchases and bids to repurchase effective on any given day shall be made only through a single broker or dealer on that day (2) any such repurchases on a given day shall not be the opening transaction recorded to the consolidated transaction reporting system and no repurchases shall be made during the last half hour before the scheduled close of trading (3) the highest price paid to repurchase any shares shall not exceed the higher of the highest independent bid or the last independent reported sale price and (4) the maximum number of shares that can be repurchased on a given day (excluding block repurchases) shall not exceed 25% of the average daily trading volume reported for the four calendar weeks preceding the week in which the repurchase is made. Common Stock acquired by the Company under the repurchase program are to be retired and canceled. In fiscal 2004 and 2003, the Company repurchased 30,000 and 229,300 shares of the Company’s common stock at a cost of $350 and $1,070, respectively.

 

On June 1, 2005, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock over the period of ending October 31, 2007.  As of October 31, 2007, no shares were repurchased under this plan.

 

On July 14, 2008 the Board of Directors authorized a repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock over the period ending October 31, 2010.  As of October 31, 2008 the company repurchased 19,700 shares at a cost of $452.  The shares were canceled upon repurchase.

 

43



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Sheet #3

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

[B] Equity Transactions for Services – For the fiscal years ended in 2008 and 2007, the company issued 2,500 and -0- shares of the Company’s common stock for employment or consulting services [See Note 11 for common stock options issued for employee and consulting services].

 

[10] Earnings Per Share

 

The computation of basic and diluted net earnings per common share is as follows [in thousands, except per share data rounded]:

 

 

 

For Years Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Available to Common Stockholders

 

$

15,617

 

$

13,957

 

$

11,291

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

 

13,776

 

13,655

 

13,101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warrants/Options

 

191

 

216

 

227

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Diluted Common Shares Outstanding

 

13,967

 

13,871

 

13,328

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Per Share - Basic

 

$

1.13

 

$

1.02

 

$

0.86

 

Net Income Per Share - Diluted

 

$

1.12

 

$

1.01

 

$

0.85

 

 

For the year ended October 31, 2008 options to purchase 2,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $34.99 per share were not included in the computation of diluted EPS.  For the year ended October 31, 2006, outstanding options to purchase 7,000 shares of Company common stock at exercise price of  $21.46 per share were not included in the computation of diluted EPS.  The exercise price of these options and warrants was greater than the average market price of the common shares and were considered anti-dilutive.

 

[11] Stock Options and Warrants

 

[A] Employee Incentive Stock Options - In June 2003, the Board of Directors adopted, and in July 2003, the stockholders approved, the 2003 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan [the “2003 Plan”].  The 2003 Plan authorizes the grant of incentive stock options to purchase up to a maximum aggregate 800,000 shares of Company common stock. The 2003 Plan provides that the exercise price of an option granted there under shall not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted.  However, in the event an option is granted under the 2003 Plan to a holder of 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, the exercise price must be at least 110% of such fair market value.  Under the 2003 Plan, options must be granted before the June 2, 2013 Termination Date.  No option may have a term longer than ten years (limited to five years in the case of an option granted to a 10% or greater stockholder of the Company).  The aggregate fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock with respect to which options are exercisable for the first time by a grantee under all of the Company’s Stock Option Plans during any calendar year cannot exceed $100.  Options granted under the 2003 Plan are non-transferable and must be exercised by an optionee, if at all, while employed by the Company or a subsidiary or within three months after termination of such optionee’s employment due to retirement, or within one year of such termination if due to disability or death.  The Board (or a Stock Option Committee, if designated), may, in its sole discretion, cause the Company to lend money to or guaranty any obligation of an employee for the purpose of enabling such employee to exercise an option granted under the 2003 Plan provided that such loan or obligation cannot exceed fifty percent (50%) of the exercise price of such option. In fiscal year ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, 20,000, -0- and -0- options were granted under the Plan, respectively. A total of 29,313, 83,220 and 56,500 incentive stock options issued under the 2003 Plan were exercised in fiscal years ended in October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  A total of 7,145, 14,000 and -0- options were cancelled in fiscal years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.

 

In August 2000, the Company adopted, and on December 15, 2000, the stockholders approved, the 2000 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan [“2000 Plan”]. The 2000 Plan provides for the granting of incentive stock options to purchase an aggregate of 800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price not less than 100% of the fair market value per share of the common stock at the date of grant.  However, in the event an option is granted under the 2000 Plan to a holder of 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock, the exercise price must be at least 110% of fair market value at the date of grant.  Employees of the Company or its subsidiary, as determined, are eligible for the 2000 Plan.  The term of the options shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant.  In fiscal 2000, 200,000 options were granted under the 2000 Plan which vests in four equal annual installments commencing January 31, 2002 contingent on the Company realizing targeted net revenue levels.  In fiscal years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, no options were granted under the Plan, respectively. A total of 4,500, 66,600 and 245,500 incentive stock options issued under the 2000 Plan were exercised in fiscal year ended in October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. A total of -0-, 2,000, and -0- options were cancelled in fiscal year ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Options issued under the 2000 Plan must be granted before the August 2010 termination date.

 

In November 1989, the shareholders approved and the Company adopted the 1989 Employee Stock Option Plan [“1989 Plan”] which provides for the granting of options to acquire 666,667 shares of common stock.  Under the terms of this stock option plan, incentive stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock are granted at a price not less than the fair market value of the common stock at the date of grant.  A total of -0-, 1,000, and 5,000 incentive stock options issued under the 1989 Plan were exercised in fiscal years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively.  Additionally, no options were canceled in fiscal years ended in October 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively.  All options under the 1989 Plan were required to be granted before the Plan’s July 1999’s termination date so that no further options can be granted under the 1989 Plan.

 

These stock options are exercisable up to ten years from the date of grant.  The following is a summary of Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan transactions:

 

44



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

 [11] Stock Options and Warrants - Continued

 

 

 

2003 Plan

 

 

 

Shares Under Options

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price Per Share

 

 

 

[In Thousands]

 

 

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2005*

 

414

 

$

16.47

 

Granted

 

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(56

)

15.21

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2006

 

358

 

$

16.47

 

Granted

 

 

 

Expired

 

(14

)

16.61

 

Exercised

 

(83

)

15.32

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2007

 

261

 

$

17.10

 

Granted

 

20

 

$

34.99

 

Expired

 

(7

)

18.11

 

Exercised

 

(30

)

17.48

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2008*

 

244

 

$

15.63

 

 


*Eligible for exercise at October 31, 2005 were 398 at a weighted average exercise price per share of $16.64

*Eligible for exercise at October 31, 2008 were 227 at a weighted average exercise price per share of $17.22

 

 

 

2000 Plan

 

1989 Plan

 

 

 

Shares Under
Options

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share

 

Shares Under
Options

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share

 

 

 

[In Thousands]

 

 

 

[In Thousands]

 

 

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2005

 

476

 

$

5.40

 

6

 

$

.72

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(246

)

2.32

 

(5

)

.72

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2006

 

230

 

$

8.69

 

1

 

$

.72

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(2

)

5.72

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(67

)

8.52

 

(1

)

.72

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2007

 

161

 

$

8.79

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(4

)

6.76

 

 

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2008

 

157

 

$

8.85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

Exercisable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Remaining

 

Exercise

 

Shares

 

Exercise

 

Exercise Price Range

 

Outstanding

 

Life

 

Price

 

Outstanding

 

Price

 

$4.21000

 

to

 

$5.70000

 

Per Share

 

18

 

5.58

 

5.52

 

18

 

5.52

 

$5.94000

 

to

 

$6.82000

 

Per Share

 

60

 

4.84

 

6.82

 

60

 

6.82

 

$7.19000

 

to

 

$8.40000

 

Per Share

 

44

 

5.68

 

8.13

 

44

 

8.13

 

$12.09000

 

to

 

$14.50000

 

Per Share

 

18

 

6.60

 

13.32

 

18

 

13.32

 

$14.51000

 

to

 

$15.61000

 

Per Share

 

115

 

7.31

 

15.59

 

98

 

15.59

 

$17.75000

 

to

 

$21.46000

 

Per Share

 

146

 

8.00

 

18.25

 

146

 

18.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

401

 

 

 

 

 

384

 

 

 

 

45



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

 [11] Stock Options and Warrants

 

The weighted average grant date fair value of incentive stock options under the 2003 plan granted during the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006  was $16.06, $-0-, and $-0- per share, respectively.  These options have weighted average remaining contractual lives of approximately 8 years.

 

Compensation cost recognized for the year ended October 31, 2008 was $40, with a related tax benefit of $-0-

 

[B] Non-Incentive Stock Options and Warrants - Non-incentive stock options and warrants may be granted to employees or non-employees at fair market value or at a price less than fair market value of the common stock at the date of grant.  The following is a summary of transactions:

 

 

 

Non Incentive Stock Options & Warrants

 

 

 

Shares Under Options

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price Per Share

 

 

 

[In Thousands]

 

 

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2005*

 

94

 

$

7.72

 

Granted

 

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(34

)

7.15

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2006

 

60

 

$

8.04

 

Granted

 

 

 

Expired

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(45

)

8.07

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2007

 

15

 

$

7.94

 

Granted

 

 

 

Expired

 

15

 

7.94

 

Exercised

 

 

 

Outstanding and Eligible for Exercise at October 31, 2008

 

 

 

 


*Eligible for exercise at October 31, 2005 were 89 at a weighted average exercise price of $7.38

 

[12] Employment Contracts and Consulting Agreements

 

During fiscal 2003, the Company established a Scientific Advisory Board [the “Board”] and entered into consulting agreements with members of the Board.  The terms of the agreements range from three years and two months to four years and three months.

 

The Company has multiple employment contracts with its key executives with expiration dates ranging from October 31, 2009 through October 31, 2013. At October 31, 2008, the approximate aggregate minimum commitment under these employment contracts and agreements, excluding commissions or consumer price index increases, is as follows:

 

October 31

 

Employees and Consultants

 

Advisory Board

 

2009

 

$

3,883

 

93

 

2010

 

3,568

 

 

2011

 

3,069

 

 

2012

 

1,469

 

 

2013

 

540

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

12,529

 

93

 

 

Some of these agreements provide bonuses and commissions based on a percentage of collected revenues ranging from 1% to 10% on accounts referred by or serviced by the employee or consultant.

 

In addition to the above, the Company has entered into seven at – will employment and consulting agreements which together with prior at – will agreements provide for annual aggregate minimum commitments of approximately $16,150 which have no termination dates.

 

In accordance with Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 [the “Act”], companies are prohibited from making future loans to officers and directors and also prohibited are any extension of credit after the date of the acts enactment. While the Company had entered into and funded “split-dollar” life insurance agreements of several officer/directors of the Company before passage of the Act, future premiums could be deemed an extension of credit.  Until further clarification of the issue, the Company suspended paying any additional future premiums. In January 2004, the Company adopted a new “split-dollar” life insurance program under which the Company will be the sole owner of the policies (including the cash values of the policies) and will pay the premiums on the policies. Prior to termination of his employment, the executive will have the right to name the beneficiary of the death benefit but will have no access to any policy cash value. The new “split-dollar” insurance program was adopted in consideration of the executives transferring back the ownership of the insurance policies under the original “split-dollar” program of the Company and their reimbursement to the Company of those amounts, if any, by which the premiums paid, exceed the net cash surrender values of the policies.

 

[13] Capitalized Lease Obligations

 

The Company leases various assets under capital leases expiring in fiscal 2012 as follows:

 

 

 

October 31

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Medical Equipment

 

$

4,391

 

$

4,054

 

Furniture, Fixtures and Office Equipment

 

1,294

 

1,425

 

Automobiles

 

6,376

 

5,035

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

12,061

 

10,514

 

Less: Accumulated Depreciation

 

7,164

 

6,612

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

$

4,897

 

$

3,902

 

 

46



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

[13] Capitalized Lease Obligations - Continued

 

Depreciation expense on assets under capital leases was approximately $1,515, $1,427, and $1,451 for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Aggregate future minimum rentals under capital leases are:

 

October 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

$

2,469

 

2010

 

1,807

 

2011

 

1,051

 

2012

 

405

 

2013

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

5,732

 

 

 

 

 

Less Interest:

 

402

 

 

 

 

 

Present Value of Minimum Lease Payments

 

$

5,330

 

 

 [14] Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company leases various office and laboratory facilities and equipment under operating leases expiring from 2008 to 2013.  Several of these leases contain renewal options for one to five year periods.

 

Total expense for property and equipment rental for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $5,940 $5,376 and $4,134, respectively.  There were no contingent rental amounts due through October 31, 2008.

 

Aggregate future minimum rental payments on non cancelable operating leases [exclusive of several month to month leases] are as follows:

 

October 31,

 

Property

 

Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

$

2,034

 

$

259

 

2010

 

293

 

162

 

2011

 

7

 

55

 

2012

 

 

14

 

2013

 

 

5

 

Thereafter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

2,334

 

$

495

 

 

The Company has entered into several purchase agreements for reagent supplies through October, 2013.  Minimum purchase commitments as of October 31, 2008 are as follows:

 

October 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

17,042

 

 

 

2010

 

15,153

 

 

 

2011

 

9,432

 

 

 

2012

 

6,446

 

 

 

2013

 

1,618

 

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

49,691

 

 

 

 

Reagent supplies expensed under purchase agreements amount to $13,164, $4,136 and $2,241 for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

 [15] Litigation

 

In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to a number of asserted and unasserted potential claims.  In the opinion of management, the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

[16] Insurance

 

The Company maintains professional liability insurance of $3,000 in the aggregate, with a per occurrence limit of $1,000 .  In addition, the Company maintains excess commercial insurance of $5,000 per occurrence and $5,000 in aggregate.  The Company believes, but cannot assure, that its insurance coverage is adequate for its current business needs.  A determination of Company liability for uninsured or underinsured acts or omissions could have a material adverse affect on the Company’s operations.

 

47



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

 [17] Significant Risks and Uncertainties

 

[A] Concentrations of Credit Risk - Cash - At October 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had approximately $9,850 and $9,969 , respectively, in cash and certificate of deposit balances at financial institutions which were in excess of the federally insured limits.

 

 [B] Concentration of Credit Risk - Accounts Receivable - Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally diversified due to the large number of patients comprising the client base.  The Company does have significant receivable balances with government payors and various insurance carriers.  Generally, the Company does not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables, however, the Company continually monitors and evaluates its client acceptance and collection procedures to minimize potential credit risks associated with its accounts receivable and establishes an allowance for uncollectible accounts and as a consequence, believes that its accounts receivable credit risk exposure beyond such allowance is not material to the financial statements.

 

A number of proposals for legislation continue to be under discussion which could substantially reduce Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to clinical laboratories.  Depending upon the nature of regulatory action, and the content of legislation, the Company could experience a significant decrease in revenues from Medicare and Medicaid, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.  The Company is unable to predict, however, the extent to which such actions will be taken.

 

[18] Acquisitions

 

In October 2006, the Company completed its acquisition of certain assets of GeneDx, Inc. (GeneDx), a Gaithersburg, Maryland gene-based testing laboratory.  In connection with this acquisition the Registrant issued 230,947 shares of its unregistered common stock (the “Stock”) to GeneDx. GeneDx was a private company beneficially owned by two individuals who were unaffiliated with the Registrant at the time of the purchase. In addition to the Stock, the purchase price included a $5 million Cash Payment and the assumption by the Registrant of certain liabilities. The Sellers may also receive an upside Contingent Payment, not to exceed $7 million, dependent upon future performance of GeneDx operations. The 230,947 shares were valued for purposes of the purchase at $21.65 per share, the average closing price for the common stock on NASDAQ on the ten trading days immediately preceding the August 29, 2006 signing of the purchase agreement. The acquisition resulted in goodwill of $4,360 being recorded.

 

During the recently completed fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007 the genetics laboratory “GeneDx” achieved certain operating targets, entitling the prior owners to receive $1,917 in cash and an additional 11,548 shares of our Common Stock valued at $250 for each of these respective fiscal years.  Based on FAS 141 requirements of valuing the contingent consideration at the time when the contingency has been resolved, the Company in fiscal 2008 recognized an additional contingent consideration cost of $224 for the value of shares issued to the prior owners of GeneDx.  This consists of $140 recognized for fiscal 2007 and $84 recognized for fiscal 2008.  Fiscal 2007 financial statements have not been restated for the $140 adjustment due to immateriality of the amount involved.  As of October 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007 both of these amounts have been recorded as an increase to Goodwill and Additional Paid-In Capital.  In addition, the Company reclassified certain intangible assets previously reported as Costs Related to Acquisitions to Goodwill in accordance with promulgated accounting principles.

 

In October 2006, the Company also completed its acquisition of certain assets of Diagnostic Pathology Services, Inc., a Clarksburg, Maryland laboratory for the sum of $1,500 plus the assumption of certain liabilities. The acquisition resulted in goodwill of $785 being recorded.

 

 [19] Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

For certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, trade payables, and short-term debt, it was estimated that the carrying amount approximated fair value for the majority of these items because of their short maturities.  The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for similar issues or by discounting expected cash flows at the rates currently offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities.

 

Due to the non-interest bearing nature and unspecified payment terms, it was not practicable to estimate the fair value of amounts due from related parties [See also Note 7].

 

[20] Health Insurance Plan

 

The Company has a limited self-funded health insurance plan for its employees under which the Company pays the initial $150 of covered medical expenses per person each year.  The Company has a contract with an insurance carrier for any excess up to a maximum of $2,000 per person and $4,642 in the aggregate.  Health insurance premium expense for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 amounted to approximately $1,836, $1,302 and $1,122, respectively.  Uninsured employee medical expenses incurred by the Company amounted to approximately $8,238, $6,893 and $4,202 for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  During fiscal years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, employee contributions of $1,906, $1,401 and $1,129 offset, the above health plan costs.

 

 [21] Employee Benefit Plan (Dollars Not In Thousands)

 

The Company sponsors a 401(k) Profit-Sharing Plan [the “Plan”].  Employees become eligible for participation after attaining the age of eighteen and completing one year of service.  Participants may elect to contribute up to ten percent of their compensation, as defined in the Plan, to a maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Service.  The Company may choose to make a matching contribution to the plan for each participant who has elected to make tax-deferred contributions for the plan year, at a percentage determined each year by the Company. The Company elected to make a matching contribution which amounted to $457,544 for 2008, $359,177 for 2007, and $225,971 for 2006.  These amounts were charged to the Statement of Operations. The Employer contribution will be fully vested after the third year of service.

 

[22] New Authoritative Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2008, the FASB issued two new Financial Accounting Standards No. 162 “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” and No. 163 “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts–an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60”.  FAS #162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States (the GAAP hierarchy).  This Statement is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  This statement is not expected to have a material impact on the reporting of our results of operations. FAS #163 is primarily geared towards financial guarantee insurance contracts by insurance enterprises.  It is not expected to have any material effect on the reporting of our results of operations.

 

In March 2008 the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.  This statement is effective for all interim periods beginning November 15, 2008.  This Statement changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities.  This statement is not expected to have a material impact on the reporting of our results of operations.

 

48



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

[22] New Authoritative Accounting Pronouncements  - Continued

 

In December 2007 the FASB issued FAS  141(R) “Business Combinations” and FAS 160 “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements” These statements are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years in the case of FAS 160, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. Together these statements revise the accounting rules with respect to accounting for business combinations.

 

Specifically, the objective of FAS 141(R) is to improve the relevance, representational faithfulness and comparability of the information that the reporting entity provides in its financial reports about a business combination and its effects. This statement thus establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer:

 

· Recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree

 

· Recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase

 

· Determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination.

 

The objective of FAS 160 is to improve the relevance, comparability, and transparency of the financial information that a reporting entity provides in its consolidated financial statements by establishing accounting and reporting standards that require:

 

· The ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified, labeled, and presented in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity.

 

· The amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statement of income.

 

· Changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary be accounted for consistently. A parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary changes if the parent purchases additional ownership interests in its subsidiary or if the parent sells some of its ownership interests in its subsidiary. It also changes if the subsidiary reacquires some of its ownership interests or the subsidiary issues additional ownership interests. All of those transactions are economically similar, and this Statement requires that they be accounted for similarly, as equity transactions.

 

· When a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained noncontrolling equity investment in the former subsidiary be initially measured at fair value. The gain or loss on the deconsolidation of the subsidiary is measured using the fair value of any noncontrolling equity investment rather than the carrying amount of that retained investment.

 

· Entities provide sufficient disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners.

 

Together these statements are not currently expected to have a significant impact on the entity’s consolidated financial statements. A significant impact may however be realized on any future acquisition(s) by this Company. The amounts of such impact can not be currently determined and will depend on the nature and terms of such future acquisition(s), if any.

 

 [23] Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Unaudited]

 

 

 

Three Month Ended

 

Fiscal
Year

 

 

 

1/31/08

 

4/30/08

 

7/31/08

 

10/31/08

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Revenues

 

$

66,879

 

$

75,180

 

$

77,776

 

$

81,236

 

$

301,071

 

Gross Profit

 

$

31,651

 

$

36,182

 

$

38,606

 

$

40,801

 

$

147,240

 

Net Income

 

$

2,208

 

$

3,427

 

$

4,737

 

$

5,245

 

$

15,617

 

Net Income Per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

.16

 

$

.25

 

$

.34

 

$

.39

 

$

1.13

 

Diluted

 

$

.16

 

$

.25

 

$

.34

 

$

.38

 

$

1.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding – Basic [in thousands]

 

13,765

 

13,783

 

13,778

 

13,777

 

13,776

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted [in thousands]

 

14,000

 

13,985

 

13,961

 

13,967

 

13,967

 

 

49



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,

[Dollars In Thousands Except Share Data or Unless Otherwise Indicated]

 

[23] Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Unaudited]  - Continued

 

 

 

Three Month Ended

 

Fiscal
Year

 

 

 

1/31/07

 

4/30/07

 

7/31/07

 

10/31/07

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Revenues

 

$

53,722

 

$

60,953

 

$

65,961

 

$

69,795

 

$

250,431

 

Gross Profit

 

$

26,193

 

$

30,524

 

$

33,494

 

$

36,191

 

$

126,402

 

Net Income

 

$

1,966

 

$

3,158

 

$

4,189

 

$

4,644

 

$

13,957

 

Net Income Per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

.14

 

$

.23

 

$

.31

 

$

.34

 

$

1.02

 

Diluted

 

$

.14

 

$

.23

 

$

.30

 

$

.33

 

$

1.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding – Basic [in thousands]

 

13,583

 

13,634

 

13,682

 

13,723

 

13,656

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted [in thousands]

 

13,839

 

13,884

 

13,921

 

13,973

 

13,871

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Month Ended

 

Fiscal
Year

 

 

 

1/31/06

 

4/30/06

 

7/31/06

 

10/31/06

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Revenues

 

$

42,918

 

$

47,189

 

$

49,026

 

$

54,001

 

$

193,134

 

Gross Profit

 

$

20,334

 

$

23,788

 

$

24,343

 

$

28,590

 

$

97,055

 

Net Income

 

$

1,153

 

$

2,749

 

$

3,678

 

$

3,711

 

$

11,291

 

Net Income Per Common Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

.09

 

$

.21

 

$

.28

 

$

.28

 

$

.86

 

Diluted

 

$

.09

 

$

.20

 

$

.27

 

$

.27

 

$

.85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding – Basic [in thousands]

 

12,992

 

13,027

 

13,056

 

13,327

 

13,101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted [in thousands]

 

13,407

 

13,428

 

13,512

 

13,607

 

13,328

 

 

50



 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc.

Elmwood Park, New Jersey

 

Our report on our audit of the basic consolidated financial statements of Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. and its subsidiaries appears on page 32.  That audit was conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the consolidated basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedule II is presented for purposes of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is not otherwise a required part of the basic consolidated financial statements.  Such information has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic consolidated financial  statements, and in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.

 

 

 

MSPC

 

Certified Public Accountants and Advisors,

 

A Professional Corporation

 

 

 

 

Cranford, New Jersey

 

January 5, 2009

 

 

51



 

BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006

[In Thousands]

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

(e)

 

 

 

Balance at

 

Charged to

 

Deductions Charged

 

Balance at

 

 

 

the Beginning

 

Cost and

 

to Valuation

 

the End

 

Description

 

of a Period

 

Expenses

 

Allowance Accounts

 

of a Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended October 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

11,643

 

40,313

 

(36,313

)

15,643

 

Contractual Credits/Discounts

 

79,257

 

737,959

 

(739,174

)

78,042

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Allowance

 

90,900

 

778,272

 

(775,487

)

93,685

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended October 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

7,234

 

34,855

 

(30,446

)

11,643

 

Contractual Credits/Discounts

 

49,394

 

529,522

 

(499,659

)

79,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Allowance

 

56,628

 

564,377

 

(530,105

)

90,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended October 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

7,975

 

26,884

 

(27,625

)

7,234

 

Contractual Credits/Discounts

 

40,945

 

328,983

 

(320,534

)

49,394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Allowance

 

48,920

 

355,867

 

(348,159

)

56,628

 

 

.   .   .   ..   .   .   .   .   ..   .

 

52