Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): | ||||
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No fee required. | |||
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 | |||
1) | Title of each class of securities to which the transaction applies: | |||
2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: | |||
3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): | |||
4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: | |||
5) | Total fee paid: | |||
o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials | |||
o | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. | |||
1) | Amount Previously Paid: | |||
2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: | |||
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4) | Date Filed: | |||
Exhibit No | ||
99.1
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Express Scripts, Inc. press release, dated February 5, 2007. |
Investor Contacts:
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Media Contacts: | |
Edward Stiften, Chief Financial Officer
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Steve Littlejohn, Vice President, Public Affairs | |
David Myers, Vice President, Investor Relations
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(314) 702-7556 | |
(314) 702-7173 |
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Steve Balet / Laurie Connell
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Joele Frank / Steve Frankel | |
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
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Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher | |
(212) 929-5500
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(212) 355-4449 |
| Financing The Express Scripts financing is in place and is subject only to standard and customary conditions. Express Scripts has executed a commitment letter with Credit Suisse and Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking to fully finance the proposed transaction. | ||
| Regulatory The waiting period under Hart-Scott-Rodino will expire on March 8 under the re-filing of notification by Express Scripts. Express Scripts is working with the Federal Trade Commission in seeking to clear the transaction without the need for a second request. | ||
| ESRX Stockholder Approval Express Scripts expects to obtain stockholder approval no later than its upcoming annual meeting. | ||
| Clients In the past three years, Express Scripts has taken more than two times as many clients from Caremark than vice versa. In every prior Express Scripts transaction, the combined client base grew. |
| Certainty of Value Express Scripts offers Caremark stockholders greater certainty of value through a significant cash payment approximately 50% of the total consideration. In addition, Express Scripts is offering Caremark stockholders currency in a company that has significantly outperformed CVS over the last 10 years, with total stockholder returns of 1531% to 315%, respectively. In contrast, CVS is offering a weaker currency and a token dividend. |
| Failure to Allow Due Diligence Since December 18, 2006, Express Scripts has been ready and willing to proceed. However, the Caremark Board and management have stonewalled and not allowed us an opportunity to conduct due diligence. Confirmatory due diligence could have been long completed if the Caremark Board and management had cooperated, consistent with what is in the best interests of Caremark stockholders. It is ironic that Caremark has raised this customary condition as an issue when its resolution is within Caremarks own power. | ||
| Break-up Fee Instead of considering all options, Caremarks Board of Directors is adhering to a highly unusual interpretation of the $675 million break-up fee. Caremark is treating the fee as a price of admission for a conversation, rather than as a termination fee which will be paid to Caremark under certain circumstances upon termination of its merger agreement with CVS. | ||
| Cold Shoulder We believe that the Caremark Boards pattern of behavior as demonstrated by its refusal to allow standard due diligence and its odd interpretation of the break-up fee are obvious maneuvers to keep Express Scripts more certain and superior offer off the table. By refusing to speak directly with Express Scripts, the Caremark Board and management are working to withhold the information that Caremark stockholders must have to make a truly informed choice. |
| uncertainties associated with our acquisitions, which include integration risks and costs, uncertainties associated with client retention and repricing of client contracts, and uncertainties associated with the operations of acquired businesses | ||
| costs and uncertainties of adverse results in litigation, including a number of pending class action cases that challenge certain of our business practices | ||
| investigations of certain PBM practices and pharmaceutical pricing, marketing and distribution practices currently being conducted by the U.S. Attorney offices in Philadelphia and Boston, and by other regulatory agencies including the Department of Labor, and various state attorneys general | ||
| changes in average wholesale prices (AWP), which could reduce prices and margins, including the impact of a proposed settlement in a class action case involving First DataBank, an AWP reporting service | ||
| uncertainties regarding the implementation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, including the financial impact to us to the extent that we participate in the program on a risk-bearing basis, uncertainties of client or member losses to other providers under Medicare Part D, and increased regulatory risk | ||
| uncertainties associated with U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaids (CMS) implementation of the Medicare Part B Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP), including the potential loss of clients/revenues to providers choosing to participate in the CAP | ||
| our ability to maintain growth rates, or to control operating or capital costs | ||
| continued pressure on margins resulting from client demands for lower prices, enhanced service offerings and/or higher service levels, and the possible termination of, or unfavorable modification to, contracts with key clients or providers | ||
| competition in the PBM and specialty pharmacy industries, and our ability to consummate contract negotiations with prospective clients, as well as competition from new competitors offering services that may in whole or in part replace services that we now provide to our customers | ||
| results in regulatory matters, the adoption of new legislation or regulations (including increased costs associated with compliance with new laws and regulations), more aggressive enforcement of existing legislation or regulations, or a change in the interpretation of existing legislation or regulations | ||
| increased compliance relating to our contracts with the DoD TRICARE Management Activity and various state governments and agencies | ||
| the possible loss, or adverse modification of the terms, of relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, or changes in pricing, discount or other practices of pharmaceutical manufacturers or interruption of the supply of any pharmaceutical products | ||
| the possible loss, or adverse modification of the terms, of contracts with pharmacies in our retail pharmacy network | ||
| the use and protection of the intellectual property we use in our business | ||
| our leverage and debt service obligations, including the effect of certain covenants in our borrowing agreements | ||
| our ability to continue to develop new products, services and delivery channels | ||
| general developments in the health care industry, including the impact of increases in health care costs, changes in drug utilization and cost patterns and introductions of new drugs | ||
| increase in credit risk relative to our clients due to adverse economic trends | ||
| our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel | ||
| other risks described from time to time in our filings with the SEC |
| Express Scripts and Caremark may not enter into any definitive agreement with respect to the proposed transaction | ||
| required regulatory approvals may not be obtained in a timely manner, if at all | ||
| the proposed transaction may not be consummated | ||
| the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction may not be realized | ||
| the integration of Caremarks operations with Express Scripts may be materially delayed or may be more costly or difficult than expected | ||
| the proposed transaction would materially increase leverage and debt service obligations, including the effect of certain covenants in any new borrowing agreements. |