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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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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, 2000
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OR
/ / TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Transition period from to
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Commission file number 0-15266
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BIO-REFERENCE LABORATORIES, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey 22-2405059
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
481 Edward H. Ross Drive, Elmwood Park, New Jersey 07407
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Issuer's telephone number, including area code 201-791-2600
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange on which
Title of Class Registered
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None None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
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(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No .
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of the issuer'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. [ ]
On January 19, 2001, 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 Issuer was approximately $13,500,000 based upon
the last sales price for such Common Stock on said date in the over-the-counter
market as reported by the NASDAQ Small Cap System. On such date, there were
8,727,449 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer outstanding.
PART I
Item. 1 - BUSINESS
Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc., "Bio-Reference" or the "Company,"
operates a clinical laboratory servicing the greater New York metropolitan area.
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 analyses. Bio-Reference holds the required
Federal and state licenses necessary to permit its operation of its processing
facilities in New Jersey and New York State and to permit its servicing of its
clients in Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Bio-Reference markets its services directly to
physicians, hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities.
Subsequent to the close of fiscal 1998, the Company commenced the
expansion of its business from an almost exclusively transaction processing
operation (i.e. clinical laboratory testing) into health information and
connectivity areas by seeking to expand its business base through utilization of
its physician network and marketing staff. During fiscal 1999, the Company
entered into the e-health marketplace through the opening of its own drug screen
website, "DRUGSCREENLAB.com" and subsequently acquired an Internet website
"DoctorNY.com" serving the New York metropolitan area and hosting a number of
existing physician websites. To date, virtually all of the Company's revenues
have been derived from its clinical laboratory testing.
The United States market for clinical laboratory testing is estimated
to generate approximately $30 billion in annual revenues.
- 50% of these revenues are generated by hospital laboratories
- 50% of these revenues are generated by independent laboratories
and physician office laboratories.
Bio-Reference was incorporated under the laws of the State of New
Jersey in December 1981 under the name "Med-Mobile, Inc." Its initial primary
business was to provide mobile medical examinations. This business was
discontinued in June 1989. Since February 1987, the Company's primary business
has been the operation of a clinical laboratory located in northern New Jersey
servicing the greater New York metropolitan area. The Company expanded its
laboratory services through the March 1988 acquisition of Cytology and Pathology
Associates, Inc. and relocated all of its laboratory operations to its facility
in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. The Company changed its name to Bio-Reference
Laboratories, Inc. in November 1989. Bio-Reference has expanded its laboratory
testing capabilities and its customer base through internal growth as well as
through the completion of a series of acquisitions of the businesses of other
testing laboratories.
The Company's executive offices are located at 481 Edward H. Ross
Drive, Elmwood Park, New Jersey 07407. Its telephone number is (201) 791-2600.
DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF FISCAL 2000
In November 1999, the New York State Department of Corrections renewed
its contract with Bio-Reference's wholly-owned Medilabs subsidiary retaining
Medilabs to perform all laboratory testing for the Department's seventy
correctional institutions in the state encompassing over 70,000 prisoners from
maximum security prisons to rehabilitation centers. This agreement was renewed
again in November 2000 for one year.
On December 2, 1999, the Company acquired the WEB Business of Medical
Marketing Group, Inc. ("MMGI") including its Internet website "DoctorNY.com" as
well as certain website-based agreements and arrangements with MMGI's physician
clients in the New York metropolitan area for an aggregate 140,000 shares of
Bio-Reference's authorized but unissued Common Stock. MMGI also agreed during
the period that its Advertising Consulting Agreement with the Company
(hereinafter described) is in effect, to market Internet -oriented services to
healthcare and healthcare related businesses for linking to and participation in
the WEB Business conducted by the Company. The
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Company has agreed to pay a commission to MMGI equal to 15% of the recurring
Internet access and website fees received by the Company from additional
customers produced by MMGI through its sales efforts but solely with respect to
those customers produced after production of the 1,000th additional customer.
The "DoctorNY.com" website, with its associated domain sites and
existing physician websites, includes website development capabilities for
subscribing physicians as well as a search engine allowing consumers to locate
physicians by region, credentials, specialty or other parameters. The Company
plans to further develop the physician services offered by the system to enhance
physician-patient and physician-payor electronic communications on a secure
basis (i.e., preserving confidentiality), including communicating laboratory
results, e-mail prescriptions, refills, payor verification and eligibility, etc.
The offering of physician CME credits through the system is also contemplated.
The Company intends to market these services to its existing physician network
as well as to other individual physicians and groups of physicians.
Pursuant to non-competition agreements executed in connection with the
acquisition, the Company issued an additional 20,000 shares of Bio-Reference's
authorized but unissued Common Stock to MMGI, an additional 40,000 of such
shares to MMGI's principal stockholder and chief executive officer, and paid
$10,000 to a former MMGI executive officer. The Company also executed a one-year
Advertising Consulting Agreement (renewable by the Company for a maximum of
three additional one- year terms), pursuant to which MMGI agreed to render
advertising consulting, advisory and public relations services for the WEB
Business operated by Bio-Reference, on a project by project basis. For such
services, MMGI was paid a consulting fee of $40,000 in the Initial Year. In
November 2000, the Company extended the Advertising Consulting Agreement for an
additional year for a flat fee of $50,000. As an additional inducement to MMGI
to market Internet oriented services to healthcare and healthcare related
businesses for linkage to and participation in the WEB Business conducted by the
Company, the Company granted an option to MMGI exercisable to purchase a maximum
100,000 shares of Bio- Reference's authorized but unissued Common Stock at an
exercise price of $3.00 per share (equal to the last reported per share sales
price for Bio-Reference Common Stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market on December 1,
1999, the day immediately preceding the acquisition). The option was only
exercisable with respect to those shares as to which it became "vested," from
the date of vesting until one year after completion of the term of the
Advertising Consulting Agreement. The option was to become vested as to each
25,000 shares upon delivery by MMGI of 500 additional customers for the WEB
Business conducted by the Company. The Company waived the customer delivery
requirement in November 2000 in connection with the extension of the Advertising
Consulting Agreement so that the 100,000 share option became fully vested.
On December 14, 1999, the Company acquired the Health Food Business of
Right Body Foods, inc. ("RBF"), a manufacturer of starch free, low carbohydrate,
low caloric food products distributed in Long Island, New York, through health
professionals, dieticians, nutritionists and physicians. The acquisition was
effected through a newly formed, wholly-owned Company subsidiary. The Health
Food Business was acquired for an aggregate 180,000 shares of Bio-Reference's
authorized but unissued Common Stock. The Company intended to attempt to expand
the market for the Health Food Business products through its physician accounts
utilizing its existing sales force and distribution network.
The Company also executed an employment agreement with RBF's chief
executive officer, employing her through October 31, 2004 to perform executive
and marketing duties in connection with the establishment, supervision of
manufacturing and marketing of products for the Health Food Business. Pursuant
to the employment agreement, the executive was to be paid a minimum annual
salary of $150,000 and commissions equal to varying percentages (from 5% to 1%)
of net cash receipts of the Health Food Business in each fiscal year to the
extent such net cash receipts exceeded $1,000,000 in such fiscal year. The
commissions earned were to be credited against a guaranteed $50,000 commission
bonus (effective only for the first year). The executive was also being paid a
$100,000 signing bonus in 24 monthly installments. The executive was also issued
an additional 20,000 shares of Bio-Reference's authorized but unissued Common
Stock in consideration of her executing a non-competition agreement.
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In December 2000, the Company discontinued all further payments to
RBF's chief executive officer and commenced a lawsuit against her, her husband
and RBF seeking, among other remedies, rescission of the acquisition and the
return of all monies paid as well as all other consideration transferred
(including the shares). See Item 3 herein.
At November 1, 1998, the Company was being represented by counsel in
connection with various reviews being conducted by the Company's Medicare
carrier. One review involved overpayments that occur in the normal course of
business. The Company believes the overpayments will be determined to
approximate $150,000, of which approximately $75,000 has already been remitted
by the Company to Medicare. Counsel representing the Company in this matter
advised at such time that he could not offer any opinion or projection as to
whether the anticipated liability will be resolved at $150,000 or whether it
will be increased. Counsel further advised that based upon his review of
documents, many of the claims that Medicare thought were duplicate payments were
not in fact duplicates, but rather were properly billed. Counsel also advised
that in view of the complexity of this issue, he believed the final overpayment
would be an amount negotiated between the Company and Medicare. During fiscal
2000, there was no change in the status of this matter. The Company continued to
reserve the sum of $150,000 on its October 31, 2000 financial statements as the
estimated liability in connection therewith.
In January 2000, the Company commenced negotiations with New Jersey
Medicaid regarding a claim (the "Claim") made by the State in December 1999 that
with respect to certain clinical laboratory tests for which reimbursements were
made by the State to the Company, although such tests were authorized by the
physician, the underlying laboratory test requisitions did not bear the actual
signature of the physician ordering the test. The Company believes that it had
been in compliance with all requirements regarding bills submitted for payment
by New Jersey Medicaid and requires actual physician signatures before it bills
New Jersey Medicaid. However, in order to dispose of the issue, the Company
entered into an oral agreement with New Jersey Medicaid in January 2000 to
settle the Claim for approximately $227,000. The Company accrued the estimated
settlement of $227,000 on its October 31, 1999 financial statements. The
settlement was approved by the Director of the New Jersey Division of Medical
Assistance. The Company paid the settlement amount during fiscal 2000 and the
Claim was extinguished.
During fiscal 2000, the Company continued its development of certain
proprietary healthcare information software systems (the "PSIMedica project")
utilizing licensed software and various analytical tools and data provided from
two ERISA funds and other sources. Information being processed for the project
includes data related to member and/or patient eligibility, hospital claims,
pharmacy claims, medical claims and laboratory testing. The Company intends to
incorporate the products developed in the PSIMedica project into its core
laboratory presentations to group and institutional markets such as managed care
organizations and correctional institutions. Management anticipates that the
initial marketing of its PSIMedica products will commence during fiscal 2001. No
assurances can be given that such marketing will be successful.
The Company funds its operations through a revolving loan agreement
(the "Loan Agreement") with PNC Bank. At October 31, 2000, the Company was
utilizing $12,000,000 of this credit facility. This loan was due on March 31,
2001 and has been extended to September 30, 2001. If the Company is unable to
obtain a renewal or an extension of the loan beyond its September 30, 2001 due
date, it will be forced to seek replacement funding for its operations which may
not be available on acceptable terms.The Loan Agreement requires the Company to
be in compliance with various affirmative and negative covenants concerning its
operations and financial condition. Failure to comply could result in PNC Bank
declaring the Company to be in default thereby rendering all outstanding
indebtedness under the Loan Agreement immediately due and payable. One covenant
requires the Company to have at least $2,800,000 of working capital at the end
of each fiscal quarter. Another covenant requires the Company to have a minimum
Tangible Net Worth at fiscal year end; $5,500,000 at October 31, 2000 and
$6,000,000 at October 31, 2001. At the end of one quarter in fiscal 2000 (but
not at October 31, 2000), the Company's working capital was less than
$2,800,000. In addition, at October 31, 2000, the Company's Tangible Net Worth
was approximately $1,720,000 less than the minimum required $5,500,000. PNC Bank
has waived the Company's failure to be in compliance during or at the conclusion
of fiscal 2000 with these two covenants as well as a third covenant limiting the
Company's ability to lend funds. Assuming the loan is extended to October 31,
2001 or beyond said date, the Company will be required to be in compliance with
the minimum Tangible Net Worth requirement of $6,000,000 at October 31, 2001.
Therefore, the Company must increase its Tangible Net Worth during fiscal 2001
by at least $2,200,000, through earnings and/or sales of equity. No assurance
can be given
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that the Company will be able to effect such an increase. If it is
unable to increase its Tangible Net Worth to $6,000,000 at October 31, 2001, (or
is not in compliance with any other covenant) the Company will be required to
obtain a waiver from PNC Bank, the availability of which cannot be assured. A
failure to obtain a renewal or an extension of the loan, or to obtain a waiver,
if required, would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and
financial condition.
6
CLINICAL LABORATORY OPERATIONS
THE CLINICAL LABORATORY INDUSTRY
The United States market for clinical laboratory testing is estimated
to generate approximately $30 billion in annual revenues.
- 50% of these revenues are generated by hospital laboratories
- 50% of these revenues are generated by independent laboratories
and physician office laboratories.
HISTORY
Bio-Reference was incorporated in December 1981 to provide mobile
medical examination services but discontinued that business in June 1989.
Bio-Reference commenced clinical laboratory operations in 1987 with the belief
that a strong business opportunity existed for a medium-sized clinical
laboratory that produced high quality test results in a timely manner to
practicing physicians. The current competition may be primarily categorized in
two groups:
- businesses that are national in scope performing millions of
tests per month but impersonal in nature
- smaller laboratories that attempt to compete in terms of quality
and service but are limited in resources and scope of
capabilities.
Consequently, management believed that there existed a definite place for a
medium-sized commercial laboratory in the greater New York metropolitan area.
The Company did not realize income from operations from the time it
commenced clinical laboratory operations in 1987 until fiscal 1994. The Company
realized net income in each of the succeeding years until fiscal 1999. During
fiscal 1999, the Company had a loss of approximately $4,900,000 which included a
write-down of approximately $2.9 million for an impaired asset of $900,000 and
its associated additional reserve of $2,000,000 for accounts receivable
attributable to the Company's end stage renal dialysis business acquired from
Smith Kline Beecham.
In 1988, the Company consolidated and relocated all of its laboratory
operations into a 35,000 sq. ft. space in Elmwood Park, New Jersey,
approximately 10 miles from mid-town Manhattan. The new location was carefully
chosen to offer easy access to the greater New York metropolitan area. This move
afforded the Company an excellent geographical location to expand into newer
markets in southern New York State, including Westchester, Rockland and Nassau
Counties, southern and western New Jersey and southern Connecticut.
Bio-Reference proceeded to develop esoteric testing, while maintaining
its routine tests. It was found that by emphasizing the more difficult esoteric
tests, routine tests also increased, particularly profile testing in chemistry
and hematology. The Company hopes to continue its growth by aggressive
marketing, entry into additional markets, primarily in the greater New York
metropolitan area through acquisitions and the development of specialty niche
markets to complement its routine business. Over the years, the Company has
expanded its specialty testing services to include:
- anatomic pathology (biopsies and pap smears)
- cellular immunology (principally geared to the AIDS testing market)
- male infertility
- tumor markers
OPERATIONS
The efficiency of a medical laboratory depends on three items:
- Quantity of tests
- Selection of tests performed
- Ability to automate the process
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It is axiomatic that the initial fixed costs of testing a small
number of patients are high. Such costs include:
- cost of maintaining highly sophisticated equipment
- cost of a full support facility
- marketing
- logistical
- billing
- other administrative costs
As the patient volume increases, automated tests become progressively less
expensive as the fixed costs are already in place, making the laboratory more
cost efficient.
Most medical laboratory tests can be divided into three principal
categories:
- those that are highly automated and computer driven,
- those that are semi-automated requiring the use of sophisticated
equipment,
- those that are subjective and basically manually
determined.
The Company considers itself a highly automated and computer driven laboratory.
The Company's couriers pick up patient specimens from physician
offices, nursing homes and hospitals in the metropolitan New York area and test
results are generally delivered back to the physician within 24 hours. Larger
volume clients receive test results by way of printers placed in their offices,
thereby accelerating test reporting. Bio-Reference furnishes its physician
clients with periodic newsletters detailing:
- advances in laboratory medicine
- new tests
- clinical commentaries
- laboratory interpretation of test results.
In addition, the Company provides an annual Test Compendium to all physician
clients listing:
- all tests offered
- normal ranges
- correct collection of samples
- patient preparation
- up to date billing information
The Company utilizes the services of eighteen full-time Client Service
Coordinators, all of whom are fully trained in medical and laboratory
terminology. This staff is used as an interface with physicians and nurses and
augments the client support provided by the Company's sales staff. Highly
abnormal and life threatening results are immediately telephoned to the
physician in order to provide speedy medical resolution of any patient problem.
SALES AND MARKETING
The Company presently employs 47 full and part-time sales and marketing
personnel. The sales and marketing department works closely with the Technical
Director to:
- plan new tests
- pricing
- general client support.
All sales and marketing personnel operate in a dual capacity; both in selling
and as client support representatives. This ensures that all salespersons are
intimately involved with the client, not only in selling, but in servicing the
account that they sell. Bio-Reference believes that this is unique in the
industry and is extremely helpful in client retention, providing a strong link
between the physician and the Company's staff.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
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Medical testing is essentially one of communication and data transfer.
In order to provide accurate and precise information to the physician, it is
essential to maintain a well structured and vigorous quality assurance program.
Bio-Reference holds the required Federal and state licenses necessary to permit
its operation of a clinical laboratory at both its New Jersey and New York
facilities and to permit the servicing of its clients in Connecticut, Florida,
Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. To fully
maintain these licenses, the laboratory must submit to vigorous sets of
proficiency tests, or surveys, in all test procedures which are performed. Such
proficiency tests or surveys may be performed as many as four to five times a
year, depending upon the procedure, and results in hundreds of proficiency tests
throughout the year. In addition, the Company performs thousands of quality
control and quality assurance tests per year. The Company is also subjected to
unannounced inspections by inspectors from some of the jurisdictions noted above
who review past records, operating manuals, quality assurance records and safety
regulations.
In October 1998, the Company was notified that it had been
re-accredited by the College of American Pathologists "CAP" in its Elmwood Park,
New Jersey and Park Avenue, New York facilities. In September 1998, the Company
was notified that it had been re-accredited in its Valley Cottage, New York
facility. This accreditation by CAP, a peer review organization, involves an
intensive review by numerous experts in their specific fields, who review
technical, quality assurance, health and safety and computer documentation in
order to bestow accreditation, which is one of the most prestigious approvals
available to clinical laboratories.
The Company's 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
assurance committee continually monitor the laboratory's quality. Depending on
the test, two or three sets of Quality Control materials are run in each
analytical assay to assure precision and accuracy. Patient population statistics
are evaluated each day. Highly abnormal samples are repeated to assure their
accuracy.
It is the Company's position that all of these procedures are
necessary, not only in assuring a quality product, but also in maintaining
Federal and state licensing. The Company believes these high standards of
quality are an important factor in what management regards as an excellent rate
of client retention.
REVENUE RECOGNITION AND BUSINESS STRATEGY
Although the laboratory's clients are primarily physicians, it is
usually the individual patient, his or her commercial insurance carrier, or a
governmental agency such as Medicare or Medicaid that pays the laboratory
charges. These third parties pay health care providers according to allowable
costs or a predetermined contractual rate rather than according to the
provider's established rates; the difference between what is paid and what is
billed is the contractual allowance. Therefore, the Company has adopted the
practice of reducing its revenues by these allowances or contractual
adjustments.
Over the past years there has been an increase in the number of
patients that are covered by managed care health plans. These plans will often
negotiate with a limited number of clinical laboratories at discounted rates.
Some of these managed care health plans will contract with only a single
laboratory and pay for services on a capitation basis (meaning one price per
enrollee, regardless of how much laboratory work is performed). The effect of
managed care health plans to the laboratory industry equates to lower
reimbursement rates for laboratory services. If the laboratory is not a provider
of services to the managed care health plan, it will not be reimbursed for
providing the service and overall patient volume may be reduced. Therefore, this
change has reduced the potential market for a clinical laboratory's services if
it is not a provider to a particular managed care health plan.
In addition, Medicare as well as an increasing number of commercial
programs are requiring physicians to document the medical necessity when
ordering specific laboratory tests. Since the laboratory has a responsibility to
test a specimen when it first arrives in the laboratory, it may not be able to
wait until all applicable information is provided and there is a possibility
that a test can be performed
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and results provided before appropriate medical necessity is documented. In
these cases, the laboratory may not receive reimbursement for the tests.(See
"Developments Since the Beginning of Fiscal 2000" as to the status of a review
concerning overpayments being conducted by the Company's Medicare carrier) and a
recent settlement of a claim against the Company asserted by New Jersey
Medicaid.
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The following table reflects the Company's breakdown of revenue by
payor for the 12 months ended October 31, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 31,
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1998 1999 2000
---- ---- ----
Direct Patient Billing......................... 16% 14% 12%
Commercial Insurance........................... 30% 27% 36%
Professional Billing........................... 28% 34% 24%
Medicare....................................... 22% 22% 24%
Medicaid....................................... 4% 3% 4%
--- ---- -----
100% 100% 100%
COMPETITION
Bio-Reference's competition derives primarily from other laboratories
located in the New York metropolitan area. On a national basis, approximately
30% of this market is made up of the two largest national laboratories:
- Quest Clinical Laboratory, formerly a Division of Corning, Inc.
- Laboratory Corporation of America, Inc.
Although the Company is significantly smaller than the national
laboratories and has modest financial resources, management believes it can
compete successfully because it has;
- fewer layers of staff
- a more responsive business atmosphere
- customized service.
The Company believes its response to medical consultation is faster and more
personalized than in the national laboratories. Client service staff only deal
with basic technical questions and those that have medical or scientific
significance are referred directly to other senior scientists and staff.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Laboratories require licensure in each jurisdiction in which they
operate. Bio-Reference holds the required Federal and state licenses necessary
to permit its operation of a clinical laboratory at both its New Jersey and New
York facilities and to permit its servicing of its clients in those states where
it presently operates. Laboratory technicians and technologists must also
qualify under state regulations in order to be employed by the laboratory. All
of these licensing and certification programs set standards in areas such as
quality control, record keeping and personnel qualifications, including, in
varying measures from state to state, educational experience and licensure for
various levels of personnel responsible for testing. Compliance with these
standards is by periodic inspections by the appropriate Federal, state or local
agency. In addition, licensing and certification entail proficiency testing
which involves actual testing of specimens that have been specifically prepared
by the regulatory authority or designated agencies for testing by the
laboratory. There can be no assurance that the laboratory will maintain all
necessary licenses and in the event the laboratory loses its license in a
particular jurisdiction, it will be required to cease all activities in such
jurisdiction. There also cannot be any assurance that the Company will obtain
the licenses required in a proposed jurisdiction of operation.
The Company is also 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, the Company is subject to the Comprehensive Medical Waste
Management Act, "CMWMA," which requires the Company to register as a generator
of special medical waste. CMWMA mandates the sterilization of certain medical
waste and provides a tracking system to insure disposal in an approved facility.
All of the Company's 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 the Company. These
records are audited by the State of New Jersey on a yearly basis.
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
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"reconcile" existing laws with reductions and reimbursement required by
enactment of a Congressional budget can adversely affect clinical laboratories
by reducing Medicare reimbursement for laboratory services. Although in the
past, legislation has been enacted which reduced the permitted Medicare
reimbursement for clinical laboratory services from previously authorized
levels, none of the reductions enacted to date has had a material adverse effect
on the Company. For many 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 Clinton 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 (including the Company)
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. 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 management is unable to predict the
outcome of these discussions or its effect on the Company. 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, 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 any such actions will be taken.
Federal and state health care and related regulations are subject to
constant change. The Company cannot now predict what changes may be enacted
which may affect its business or the manner in which its business would be
affected by such changes. Two Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Acts have severely
restricted physician referrals of Medicare covered services to clinical
laboratories in which the referring physician or his immediate family has a
financial relationship. The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988,
"CLIA-88," acted to strengthen Federal control of medical laboratories by
regulating stricter quality assurance practices, licensing requirements and
staff qualifications.
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 eight routine "waived" tests may
apply for a waiver from most requirements of CLIA-88. The Company believes 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. The quality standard and
12
enforcement procedure regulations became effective on September 1, 1992,
although certain personnel, quality control and proficiency testing requirements
will be phased-in over a number of years. The laboratory has completed its first
CLIA inspection under CLIA-88 guidelines and received its certificate of
compliance effective February 7, 1996.
In October 1998, the Company was notified that it had been
re-accredited by the College of American Pathologists "CAP" in its Elmwood Park,
New Jersey and Park Avenue, New York facilities. In September 1998, the Company
was notified that it had been re-accredited in its Valley Cottage, New York
facility. This accreditation by CAP, a peer review organization, involves an
intensive review by numerous experts in their specific field, who review
technical, quality assurance, health and safety and computer documentation in
order to bestow accreditation, which is one of the most prestigious approvals
available to clinical laboratories.
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. Bio-Reference Laboratories has written and implemented a compliance
program adhering to the standards set forth in the Model Compliance Program.
INSURANCE
The Company maintains professional liability insurance of $1,000,000
per occurrence, $3,000,000 in the aggregate. In addition, the Company maintains
excess commercial insurance of $2,000,000 per occurrence. A determination of
Company liability for uninsured or underinsured acts or omissions would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's operations.
EMPLOYEES
At October 31, 2000, the Company had 502 full-time employees and 299
part-time employees. This includes:
- three executive officers
- Vice President of Technical Operations
- Marketing Vice-President,
- 98 full-time and 49 part-time technicians, and/or
technologists (including physicians, pathologists and Ph.D.'s)
- 251 full and part-time semi-technical employees
- 50 full and part-time marketing representatives
- 214 full and part-time clerical employees
- 126 full and part-time drivers.
- 6 Right Body Foods
- 2 CareEvolve.com
None of the Company's employees are represented by a labor union. The Company
regards relations with its employees as satisfactory.
Item 2 - PROPERTIES
The Company's executive offices and New Jersey processing facility
occupy approximately 56,000 square feet of leased space in two one-story brick
facilities at 481-487 Edward H. Ross Drive, Elmwood Park, New Jersey. The lease
for these facilities, which expires in February 2004, provides for a monthly
rental of $31,391. Bio-Reference's New York processing facility occupies
approximately 11,000 square feet of leased space in a two-story brick facility
at 140 Route 303, Valley Cottage, New York. The lease for this facility, which
expires in April 2002, provides for a monthly rental of $12,177. The Company's
testing equipment maintained at both of its processing facilities is in good
condition and in working order. Management believes that these facilities, as
presently equipped, have the capacity to generate up to approximately
$100,000,000 in annual revenues based on the type of testing now being performed
by the Company. The Company maintains fire, theft and liability insurance
coverage for its facilities in what it believes are adequate amounts. The
Company also leases 52 additional relatively
13
small draw stations throughout the New York metropolitan area to collect
specimens from physician-referred patients for testing at both of its processing
facilities.
Item 3 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On December 19, 2000, the Company and its wholly owned BRLI No.1
Acquisition Corp. subsidiary, as plaintiffs, instituted a lawsuit in the United
States District Court for the District of New Jersey against Rebecca Klafter,
her husband Mitchell Klafter and Right Body Foods, Inc. ("RBF") as defendants.
In its complaint, the plaintiffs alleged that in connection with their December
1999 purchase of the health food business of RBF and the simultaneous employment
of Rebecca Klafter as the Director of the business purchased, the defendants
made material misrepresentations and misleading statements to the plaintiffs
regarding the business being purchased. In its lawsuit the plaintiffs are
seeking rescission of the acquisition and all of the agreements entered into in
connection therewith, together with restitution, with interest, of all moneys
paid and consideration given, including shares of Bio-Reference Common Stock, to
any of the defendants in connection therewith, or in the alternative, damages in
excess of $1 million plus interest and costs. See "Developments Since the
Beginning of Fiscal 2000" herein.
The defendants filed an answer and counterclaims on January 22, 2001
naming the plaintiffs as well as the Company's chief executive officer and its
chief operating officer as counterclaim defendants. In addition to denying the
substantive allegations of the complaint and stating various affirmative
defenses, the defendants demanded that Rebecca Klafter be rehired, that all
payments required to be made to her under her agreements with the plaintiffs be
made and that the plaintiffs be required to remove all restrictions against her
ability to sell the shares received by her in the acquisition. In addition, the
defendants asserted a claim of sexual harassment on behalf of Rebecca Klafter
against the Company and BRLI No.1 Acquisition Corp. and alleged that the two
officers aided and abetted the two corporations in discriminating and in
retaliating against Ms. Klafter. In addition to seeking the removal of
restrictions against the shares, the defendants are seeking an indeterminate
amount of compensatory damages including back pay, "front" pay, bonuses,
incentive pay and overtime, punitive damages, interest and costs.
The litigation is in its initial stages so that no prediction can be
made as to probable outcome of this lawsuit.
Item 4 - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
The Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on December 15,
2000. At the meeting, the following two individuals were elected by the
following vote to serve as Class III directors, each for a term of three years
and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. In addition, the
stockholders ratified the adoption of the 2000 Employee Incentive Stock Option
Plan reserving an aggregate 800,000 shares of Bio-Reference's authorized but
unissued Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of incentive stock options
which may be granted under the Plan:
FOR WITHHELD ABSTAIN
--- -------- -------
John Roglieri 6,840,913 57,912 - 0 -
Gary Lederman 6,840,130 57,912 - 0 -
2000 Employee Stock Option Plan 6,777,129 115,779 5,917
The other directors of the Company whose term continued are as follows:
Marc D. Grodman Class I director
Howard Dubinett Class I director
Sam Singer Class II director
Frank Devito Class II director
14
PART II
Item 5. - MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's Common Stock was traded on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ") Small Cap System through July
13, 1992 after which it was delisted from trading on NASDAQ due to the Company's
failure to maintain shareholders' equity of at least $1,000,000. Commencing July
14, 1992, the Common Stock was quoted in the over-the-counter market on the NASD
OTC Bulletin Board. As a result of the improvement in the Company's financial
condition based upon its November 1993 public offering, the Common Stock was
readmitted for trading on the NASDAQ Small Cap System under the symbol "BRLI" on
November 24, 1993.
The following table sets forth the range of high and low bid prices for
the Common Stock for the periods indicated, as derived from reports furnished by
NASDAQ. 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
----------- ----------
HIGH LOW
---- ---
1999
First Quarter $1.875 $.96875
Second Quarter $1.5625 $.75
Third Quarter $1.03125 $.4375
Fourth Quarter $1.0625 $.78125
2000
First Quarter $3.50 $.78125
Second Quarter $3.125 $1.5625
Third Quarter $2.0 $1.28125
Fourth Quarter $2.34375 $1.1875
At January 19, 2001 the closing sales price for the Common Stock on
NASDAQ was $1.8125 per share.
At October 31, 2000 the number of record holders of the Common Stock
was 571. Such number of record owners was determined from the Company's
shareholder records and does not include beneficial owners whose shares are held
in nominee accounts with brokers, dealers, banks and clearing agencies.
DIVIDENDS
The Company has not paid any dividends upon its Common Stock since its
inception and, does not contemplate or anticipate paying any dividends in the
foreseeable future. Furthermore, the Company's loan agreement with PNC Bank
prohibits the Company from paying dividends or making any distributions with
respect to any shares of its stock without the prior written consent of the
Bank.
15
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
[In thousands, except per share data]
YEARS ENDED
---------------------------------------------------------------
OCTOBER 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
OPERATING DATA:
Net Revenues $ 66,460 $ 53,856 $ 46,554 $ 38,660 $ 35,126
Cost of Services $ 37,174 $ 30,850 $ 25,058 $ 19,339 $ 18,136
Gross Profit $ 29,286 $ 23,006 $ 21,496 $ 19,321 $ 16,989
General and Administrative Expenses $ 27,654 $ 26,432 $ 20,231 $ 17,436 $ 15,793
Income [Loss] from Operations $ 1,632 $ (3,426) $ 1,065 $ 1,885 $ 1,196
Non-Recurring Gain on Sale of
Intangible Assets $ -- $ -- $ 334 $ 2,026 $ --
Other Expenses - Net $ 1,568 $ 1,185 $ 841 $ 850 $ 552
Provision for Income Tax Expense
[Benefit] $ (42) $ 367 $ (38) $ (139) $ 52
Net income [Loss] $ 105 $ (4,978) $ 597 $ 3,200 $ 592
Net [Loss] Income Per Common Share $ .01 $ (.68) $ .08 $ .48 $ .10
Cash Dividends Per Common Share $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Total Assets $ 38,349 $ 32,318 $ 40,778 $ 29,095 $ 28,231
Total Long-Term Liabilities $ 2,378 $ 2,931 $ 3,708 $ 921 $ 1,533
Total Liabilities $ 25,287 $ 20,948 $ 24,555 $ 13,570 $ 16,128
Working Capital $ 2,820 $ 3,702 $ 8,364 $ 9,415 $ 4,072
Stockholders' Equity [Deficit] $ 13,061 $ 11,369 $ 16,223 $ 15,525 $ 12,103
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.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
NOTE REGARDING 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 THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS IN
FUTURE PERIODS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE PERFORMANCE SUGGESTED
HEREIN.
OVERVIEW
During fiscal 2000, Bio-Reference expanded its laboratory testing capabilities
and its customer base through internal growth. Previously, the Company completed
a series of acquisitions, as discussed below, to enhance its position in the
health information marketplace.
The Company licensed software from a third party to allow for the grouping for
analysis of medical claims data and has proceeded to develop its own proprietary
algorithms and enhancements to the licensed software so as to include laboratory
and prescription data. This project, called PSIMedica (Population Strategies in
Medicine), is currently working with two ERISA funds which total over 60,000
lives as beta sites for its analytical tools and programs. The Company expects
to seek customers for its PSIMedica products during fiscal year 2001.
16
The Company acquired certain assets of DoctorNY.com (www.doctorny.com), a health
portal which, with its associated domain sites and existing physician websites,
includes website development capabilities for health care providers, together
with a search engine which allows consumers to locate physicians by region,
credentials, specialty or other parameters. The Company announced the consumer
view represented by DoctorNY.com was part of its entry into the e-health
marketplace.
The Company developed a business-to-business Internet strategy which was
assigned to its new CareEvolve.com business unit. This unit is currently
developing physician services to enhance physician- patient and physician-payor
electronic communications on a secure basis (i.e., preserving confidentiality),
including communicating laboratory results, e-mail prescriptions, refills, payor
verification and eligibility. The CareEvolve system will further offer
physicians claims processing, CME credits, immunization records and promote
e-commerce services, including physician supplies, office supplies and computer
hardware.
The Company acquired certain assets of Right Body Foods, Inc. ("RBF"), a
manufacturer and distributor of freshly prepared, starch free, low-calorie, low
carbohydrate, food products, located in Syosset, New York. Its products are sold
through health professionals, dieticians, nutritionists and physicians. See Item
3 herein.
Results of Operations
NET INCOME
Comparing only the laboratory operations of the Company and excluding the one
time write down of an impaired asset and its associated increase in reserve
of accounts receivable which occurred in fiscal year 1999, the Company's
laboratory operations showed net income for the year of $747,483 compared to
a loss of $2,054,077 in the prior year. This turn around is related by and
large to an increase in net revenues which is reflective of an increase in
the number of tests per patient and in the frequency of more expensive or
specialty testing services. RBF had a loss of $449,810 for the year ended
October 31, 2000. CareEvolve had a loss of $192,518 for the year ended
October 31, 2000. Including CareEvolve and RBF, the Company realized net
income of $105,155 for fiscal 2000 as compared to a loss, including the write
down of the impaired asset, of $4,978,448 for the prior year.
NET REVENUES:
- ------------
Net Revenues for the year ended October 31, 2000 were $66,460,073 as compared to
$53,856,414 for the year ended October 31, 1999; this represents a 23% increase
in net revenues. This increase is due to a 12% increase in patients serviced and
a 9% increase in net revenues per patient and is reflective of an increase in
number of tests per patient serviced and in the frequency of more expensive or
specialty testing services. The Company's laboratory operations had net revenues
of $66,345,879 in fiscal 2000, of which MLI had net revenues of $12,394,210.
CareEvolve had net revenues of $25,717 and RBF had net revenues of $88,477.
The number of patients serviced during the year ended October 31, 2000 was
1,393,967 which was 12% greater when compared to the prior fiscal year's twelve
month period. Net revenue per patient for the year ended October 31, 2000 was
$47.57 compared to net revenue per patient for the year ended October 31, 1999
of $43.59, an increase of $3.98 or 9%. MLI's net revenue per patient was $29.16
for the year ended October 31, 2000 as compared to $31.71 for the year ended
October 31, 1999, a decrease of $2.55 or 9%.
In August 2000, the Company announced that its GenPath business unit resumed
full service oncology testing to physicians and institutions. While GenPath had
been offering limited oncology testing services since it was formed after the
sale of the GenCare Laboratory to Impath in 1997, GenPath currently offers full
service hematology/oncology and some genomic testing to its customers. The
Company's non- competition agreement with Impath expired in April, 2000.
Bio-Reference is assembling a scientific staff and a marketing sales force in
order to duplicate the success that GenCare had in this market.
17
COST OF SALES:
- -------------
Cost of Sales, excluding CareEvolve and RBF, increased from $30,850,337 for the
year ended October 31, 1999 to $36,734,839 for the year ended October 31, 2000.
This represents a 19% increase in direct operating costs. This increase is
related to the increase in net revenues of 23%. CareEvolve and RBF had cost of
sales of $439,512 during this period.
GROSS PROFITS:
- -------------
Gross profits on net revenues, excluding CareEvolve and RBF, increased to
$29,611,040 for the year ended October 31, 2000 from $23,006,077 for the year
ended October 31, 1999; an increase of $6,604,963 (29%), primarily attributable
to the increase in net revenues. Gross profit margins increased to 45% from 43%,
primarily attributable to the increase in net revenues per patient and the
operating efficiencies realized with regard to the increase in net revenues.
Management believes that the Company's automated chemistry laboratory will have
enough capacity to handle the projected increase in patient volume. The
Company's total gross profit was $29,285,722. CareEvolve and RBF had a gross
loss of $325,318 for the year ended October 31, 2000.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:
- -----------------------------------
General and administrative expenses for the year ending October 31, 2000 were
$27,653,858 as compared to $26,341,909 for the year ended October 31, 1999, an
increase of $1,311,949 or 5%. During the year ended October 31, 1999, the
Company wrote down an impaired asset of $924,371 attributable to its end stage
renal dialysis business acquired from Smith Kline Beecham and the associated
increase in reserves on its accounts receivable of $2,000,000. Without the
write-down and increase in reserves, the increase in indirect expenses would
have been $4,236,320 or 16% as compared with Fiscal 1998. This increase was
caused primarily by three factors, 1) an increase in marketing related expense
of $1,184,436 2) an increase in bad debt of $1,802,846 and 3) an increase in
data processing expense of $435,842 all of which are attributable to the
Company's growth. CareEvolve and RBF had general and administrative expenses of
approximately $317,000 for the year ended October 31, 2000.
INTEREST EXPENSE:
- ----------------
Interest expense increased from $1,465,765 during the year ended October 31,
1999 to $1,635,847 during the year ending October 31, 2000 an increase of
$170,082. Management believes that this trend will continue in the future due to
the expected increased use of the Company's revolving line of credit to fund the
Company's expansion and growth.
INCOME:
- -------
Comparing only the laboratory operations of the Company and excluding the one
time write down of an impaired asset and its associated increase in reserve of
accounts receivable which occurred in fiscal year 1999, the Company's laboratory
showed net income for fiscal 2000 of $747,483 compared to a loss of $2,054,077
for fiscal 1999. This turn around is related by and large to an increase in net
revenues which is reflective of an increase in the number of tests per patient
and in the frequency of more expensive or specialty testing services. RBF had a
loss of $449,810 for the year ended October 31, 2000. CareEvolve had a loss of
$192,518 during the year ended October 31, 2000. Including CareEvolve and RBF,
the Company realized net income of $105,155 in fiscal 2000 compared to a loss,
including the write down of the impaired asset, of $4,978,448 in fiscal 1999.
Fiscal Year 1999 Compared to Fiscal Year 1998
NET INCOME
- ----------
The Company's net income (loss) for the years ended October 31, 1999 and 1998
was $(4,978,448) and $596,583, respectively. The main reasons for the $5,575,031
decrease in net income is the write-down of approximately $2,900,000 for
impaired assets including the additional allowance for accounts
18
receivable relating to the Company's end stage renal dialysis business acquired
from SmithKline Beecham of approximately $2,000,000 and an increase in general
and administrative expenses of approximately $2,000,000 in fiscal 1999. . In
addition, net revenue per patient decreased 8% during the twelve month period
ended October 31, 1999, as compared to the twelve month period ended October 31,
1998. Gross profit margins decreased from 46% for the twelve month period ended
October 31, 1998 to 43% for the twelve month period ended October 31, 1999.
Based upon anticipated increases in patient volume, anticipated increased
testing to be performed, reimbursement rate improvements, and anticipated
decreases in operating costs, the bulk of the effects of which were expected to
be realized in the second half of fiscal 2000, the Company projected net income
for fiscal 2000.
NET REVENUES
Net revenues for the year ended October 31, 1999 were $53,856,414 as compared to
$46,553,730 for the year ended October 31, 1998; this represents a 16% increase
in net revenues. MLI had net revenues of $13,706,743 or 25% of the Company's net
revenues for fiscal 1999. The Company acquired MLI in April of 1998, for the
seven month period ended October 31, 1998, MLI had net revenues of $7,773,570 or
17% of the Company's net revenue for the twelve month period ended October 31,
1998.
The number of patients serviced during the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999
was 1,235,514 which was 25% greater when compared to the prior fiscal year. MLI
accounted for 35% of the patient count for the year ended October 31, 1999. Net
revenue per patient for the year ended October 31, 1998 was $47.29 compared to
net revenue per patient for the year ended October 31, 1999 of $43.59; a
reduction of $3.70 or 8%. This decrease is due to the inclusion of a full twelve
months of MLI's revenues with its associated lower revenue per patient in fiscal
year 1999. MLI's net revenue per patient was $31.71 for the twelve month period
ended October 31, 1999 compared to net revenue per patient of $33.04 in fiscal
year 1998. The Company expected an increase in net revenues in fiscal year 2000
due to a number of factors: internal growth, an estimated increase in the
contract with the New York State Department of Corrections, Medicare
reimbursement for tests previously not covered, an increase in Medicare
reimbursement for other selected tests, as well as new marketing initiatives in
newer testing areas, such as drugs of abuse testing, and complimentary and
alternative medicine. In addition, the Company identified three new business
initiatives (See Below), all of which it sought to leverage off existing
capabilities the Company possesses.
The Company anticipated increasing its revenues in fiscal 2000 through internal
growth and development of new marketing initiatives in laboratory testing
services outside the traditional physician market. In November 1999, the
contract to provide laboratory testing by the New York State Department of
Corrections for inmates in its facilities was renewed. This contract was valued
at approximately $6,300,000 for fiscal year 2000, an estimated increase of
approximately 10% from fiscal year 1999. The Company is seeking to market its
services to other correctional institutions.
In December 1999, the Company announced the acquisition of DoctorNY.com
(www.doctorny.com), a health portal which, with its associated domain sites and
existing physician websites, includes website development capabilities for
health care providers, together with a search engine which allows consumers to
locate physicians by region, credentials, specialty or other parameters. The
Company announced the consumer view represented by DoctorNY.com was part of its
entry into the e-health marketplace. The Company plans to further develop the
physician services offered by the system to enhance physician- patient and
physician-payor electronic communications on a secure basis (i.e., preserving
confidentiality), including communicating laboratory results, e-mail
prescriptions, refills, payor verification and eligibility, etc. The offering of
physician CME credits through the system is also contemplated. The Company
intends to market these services to its existing physician network as well as to
other individual physicians and groups of physicians.
In December 1999, the Company acquired Right Body Foods, Inc., a manufacturer
and distributor of freshly prepared, starch free, low-calorie, low carbohydrate,
food products, located in Syosset, New York. Its products are sold through
health professionals, dieticians, nutritionists and physicians. The Company
expected to use its marketing staff and physician network to increase the
distribution of these products. See Item 3 herein.
19
COST OF SERVICES:
- -----------------
Cost of sales increased from $25,058,008 for the year ended October 31, 1998 to
$30,850,337 for the year ended October 31, 1999, an increase of $5,792,329 or
23%. This increase was primarily the result of the MLI acquisition. MLI's direct
operating costs were $9,347,850 for the twelve month period ended October 31,
1999, as compared to $5,639,627 for the seven month period ended October 31,
1998, an increase of $3,708,223. The optimum consolidation of laboratory
operations had not been completed and was expected to only marginally impact the
Company's cost structure until the automated laboratory upgrade and expansion
was completed. While the automated laboratory was expected to have a marginal
impact on cost structure, the reduction of the Company's dependence on reference
laboratories was expected to have a more favorable impact during the second half
of fiscal 2000.
GROSS PROFITS:
- -------------
Gross profit on net revenues increased from $21,495,722 for the year ended
October 31, 1998 to $23,006,077 for the year ended October 31, 1999; an increase
of $1,510,355 primarily attributable to the increase in revenues. Gross profit
margins decreased from 46% for the year ended October 31, 1998 to 43% for the
year ended October 31, 1999. Management believed that the Company's gross profit
margin would increase in fiscal 2000, due to increased revenues from internal
growth, Medicare reimbursement for tests not previously covered, increases in
reimbursement rates from Medicare on certain tests, the completion of the
automated chemistry laboratory and decrease in direct operating expenses. The
decrease in gross profit margins in fiscal 1999 was primarily attributable to
the lower net revenues per patient, the increase in direct costs associated with
MLI and the duplication of direct costs that had not been eliminated as of
October 31, 1999 by an optimum consolidation of laboratory operations. The
Company invested a large amount of time and money during fiscal 1999 to increase
its processing capacity. Management believes that its capacity, once the
automated chemistry laboratory is completed for approximately $250,000, will be
more than adequate to handle the projected increase in patient volume.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:
- -----------------------------------
General and administrative expenses for the year ended October 31, 1999 were
$26,431,909 as compared to $20,430,757 for the year ended October 31, 1998, an
increase of approximately $6,000,000 or 29%. Approximately 48% of this increase
was the impairment charge of approximately $2,900,000 associated with the
Company's end stage renal dialysis business acquired from SmithKline Beecham. In
addition, occupancy expenses, telephone, data processing and marketing expenses
increased approximately $1,900,000 over the prior twelve month period. The
Company recorded a $227,000 expense associated with a New Jersey Medicaid
overpayment claim. Management believed that general and administrative expenses
in 2000 would increase but not at a higher percentage than the projected
increase in revenues.
INTEREST EXPENSE:
- ----------------
Interest expense increased from $1,280,737 for the year ended October 31, 1998
to $1,465,765 for the year ended October 31, 1999, resulting from the Company's
continuing use of its revolving line of credit with PNC Bank.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE REGARDING 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 THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS IN
FUTURE PERIODS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE PERFORMANCE SUGGESTED
HEREIN.
20
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2000
The Company's working capital at October 31, 2000 was approximately $2,800,000
as compared to approximately $3,700,000 at October 31, 1999, a decrease of
$900,000. The Company decreased its cash position by approximately $1,700,000
during the current period. The Company utilized approximately $3,600,000 in cash
for operating activities. To offset this use of cash, the Company borrowed
$3,300,000 in short term debt and repaid approximately $1,900,000 in existing
debt. The Company had current liabilities of approximately $23,000,000 at
October 31, 2000. The Company entered into an agreement during fiscal 2000 with
one of its vendors to convert approximately $670,000 of accounts payable
obligations into a three year term debt. Management believes operating costs
will be lower during fiscal year 2001 due to cost savings generated by the
automated laboratory.
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. The Company establishes
and maintains an allowance for uncollectible accounts based upon collection
history and anticipated collection, and as a consequence, believes that its
accounts receivable credit risk exposure beyond such allowance is not material
to the financial statements.
In January 2000, the Company commenced negotiations with New Jersey Medicaid
regarding a claim (the "Claim") made by the State in December 1999 that with
respect to certain clinical laboratory tests for which reimbursements were made
by the State to the Company, although such tests were authorized by the
physician, the underlying laboratory test requisitions did not bear the actual
signature of the physician ordering the test.
The Company believes it had been compliant with all requirements regarding
claims submitted for payment by New Jersey Medicaid and in fact requires actual
physician signatures before it bills New Jersey Medicaid. However, in order to
dispose of this issue, the Company and New Jersey Medicaid entered into an oral
agreement in January 2000 to settle the claim for approximately $227,000 and the
Company accrued this settlement amount in its October 31, 1999 financial
statements. The settlement was approved by the Director of the New Jersey
Division of Medical Assistance. The Company paid the settlement amount during
fiscal 2000 and on June 8, 2000, a Warrant to Discharge the Certificate of Debt
against the Company was filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey.
In April 1998, the Company amended its revolving loan agreement with PNC Bank.
The maximum amount of the credit line available to the Company is the lesser of
(1) $14,000,000 or (ii) 50% of the Company's qualified accounts receivable [as
defined in the agreement] plus 1% of any face amount of the certificates of
deposit, if any, pledged as collateral for this loan minus the amount of any
portion of the outstanding principal balance of the term loan which is deemed to
be collateralized by the certificates of deposit. Interest on advances are
currently at prime plus 1% and are scheduled to increase to prime plus 2% at
April 1, 2001. The credit line is collateralized by substantially all of the
Company's assets and the assignment of a $4,000,000 insurance policy on the life
of the president of the Company. The line of credit is available through
September 2001 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 and net
worth, various financial ratios and insurance coverage. As of October 31, 1998,
the Company was in compliance with the covenant provisions of this agreement and
was utilizing $12,000,000 of this credit facility. As of October 31, 2000, the
Company was in default of its Tangible Net Worth and one other covenant. The
Company received waivers for these defaults in January 2000. As of October 31,
2000, the Company was utilizing $12,000,000 of this credit facility.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE REGARDING 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 THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS IN
FUTURE PERIODS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE PERFORMANCE SUGGESTED
HEREIN.
21
The Company intends to expand its laboratory operations through aggressive
marketing while also diversifying into related medical fields through
acquisitions. These acquisitions may involve cash, notes, Common Stock, and/or
combinations thereof.
The Company has various employment and consulting agreements of up to seven
years with commitments totaling approximately $5,500,000 [See Note 12 of the
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein] and operating leases with
commitments totaling approximately $4,000,000 (of which approximately $1,700,000
and $2,300,000 are due during fiscal 2001) [See Notes 13 and 14].
The Company's cash balances at October 31, 2000 totaled approximately $440,000
as compared to $2,100,000 at October 31, 1999. The Company believes that its
cash position, the anticipated cash generated from future operations, the
availability of its credit line with PNC Bank, the utilization of certificates
of deposits maturing during the first quarter of fiscal year 2001 and the
interest due thereupon, will meet its future cash needs.
IMPACT OF INFLATION
To date, inflation has not had a material effect on the Company's operations.
NEW AUTHORITATIVE PRONOUNCEMENTS
The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 137, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities-Deferral of Effective Date of FASB Statements
No. 133." The Statement defers for one year the effective date of FASB Statement
No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." The
rule now will apply to all fiscal quarters of all fiscal years beginning after
June 15, 2000. The Statement will require the Company to recognize all
derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges
must be adjusted to fair value through income. If the derivative is a hedge,
depending on the value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments
are recognized through earnings or are recognized in other comprehensive income
until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a
derivative's change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings.
The adoption of SFAS No. 137 is not expected to have a material impact on the
Company's consolidated results of operation, financial position or cash flows.
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
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
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE REGARDING 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 THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS IN
FUTURE PERIODS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE PERFORMANCE SUGGESTED
HEREIN.
22
PART III
Item 10. - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
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.............................49 Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director
Howard Dubinett..................................49 Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and
Director
Sam Singer.......................................58 Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief
Accounting Officer and Director
Frank DeVito(b)..................................78 Director
John Roglieri, M.D(b)............................61 Director
Gary Lederman, Esq.(a)...........................66 Director
- ---------------
(a) Chairman of the Audit Committee
(b) Member of the Audit Committee
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 account 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.
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 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 College of Physicians and
Surgeons in 1977. Except for approximately 20 hours per month spent as Assistant
Professor of Clinical Medicine and Assistant Attending Physician at Columbia
University and Presbyterian Hospital and his rendering of medical services on a
part time basis to the Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York City, Dr.
Grodman devotes all of his working time to the business of the Company.
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 financial activities of the Company. 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.
23
Frank DeVito became a Director of the Company in April 1986. Mr.
DeVito, who is now retired, served as Vice President of the New Jersey State
AFL-CIO and from 1960 until December 1985 was President of AFL-CIO United Food
and Commercial Workers, Local 1245. Mr. DeVito is also the former president of
Benefit Plan Services of New Jersey, a medical insurance consulting company.
From 1981 through December 1985, Mr. DeVito was also President of United Food
and Commercial Workers District Council of Metropolitan New York and Northern
New Jersey, which was comprised of 35 local unions with approximately 150,000
members.
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
Master's degree from Columbia University School of Business in 1978. From 1969
until 1971, he was a Senior Assistant Surgeon in the U.S. Public Health Service
in Washington. 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. Dr. Roglieri is
currently the chief medical officer of Physician Weblink, a New York
metropolitan area physician practice management company. He is a member of
advisory boards to several pharmaceutical companies, a member of the Editorial
Advisory Board of the journal Managed Care and a biographee of Who's Who in
America.
Gary Lederman, Esq. became a director of the Company in May 1997. He
received his B.A. from Brooklyn College in 1954 and his J.D. 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 currently serves
on an institutional review board for RTL, a pharmaceutical drug testing
laboratory.
There are no family relationships between or among any directors or
executive officers of the Company. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation
provides for a staggered Board of Directors (the "Board") pursuant to which the
Board is divided into three classes of directors and the members of only one
class or one-third of the Board) are elected each year to serve a three-year
term. Officers are elected by and hold office at the discretion of the Board of
Directors. See Item 4 herein.
KEY PERSONNEL AND CONSULTANTS
The following key personnel and consultants make significant
contributions to the Company's operations.
Robert Rush, Ph.D (Age 60) has been employed by the Company since July
1993 as Vice President of Technical Operations. From 1989 to 1993, Dr. Rush was
a Technical Director for National Health Laboratories, Inc., a national clinical
laboratory. From 1988 to 1989 he was the Technical Director of Maryland Medical
Laboratory and from 1975 to 1988 he was the Technical Director of Smith-Kline
Beecham Clinical Laboratories, another national clinical testing laboratory, in
Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Rush also worked for the Technicon Instruments
Corporation, a Tarrytown, New York manufacturer of laboratory equipment, from
1969 to 1972, as a Section Head in Clinical Chemistry. Dr. Rush is a registered
Clinical Laboratory Director in the states of New Jersey, New York and
Connecticut. He is board certified by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry.
Dr. Rush received a B.A. degree in Chemistry from Hunter College in 1962 and
M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry in 1964 and 1966 from Pennsylvania State
University.
Bader Maria Pedemonte-Coira, M.D. (Age 42) has been employed by the
Company since August 2000 as Medical Director. She is certified by the American
Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology with special certification
in Hematopathology and Immunopathology. In addition to being
24
Medical Director, Dr. Pedemonte is director of GenPath, the oncology testing
section of Bio-Reference. She holds a New York State Department of Health
Certificate of qualification for Laboratory Director. Dr. Pedemonte's
professional appointments include Director of Hematopathology & Molecular
Pathology at JFK Medical Center in Edison, NJ (1998-2000). Hematopathologist,
IMPATH, Inc. New York, NY (1997-1998). Medical Director & Hematopathologist
GenCare-Biomedical Research Laboratory of Bio-Reference (1996-1998). She was
Associate Director & Pathologist, Molecular Tissue Pathology; Director, Cellular
Immunology, Corning Clinical Laboratories (Corning/MetPath) Teterboro, NJ (1991-
1996). Dr. Pedemonte is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pathology,
Columbia Unviersity, College of Physicians & surgeons, NY. (1991-Present).
Ayad Mudarris, Ph.D. (Age 49) has been employed by the Company since
February 1996 as an Assistant Director of Technical Operation and Director of
Toxicology. Dr. Mudarris has been a consultant to the Company since October
1994. From 1992 to 1994, Dr. Mudarris was a Technical Director for National
Health Laboratories, a national clinical laboratory located in Cranford, New
Jersey. From 1988 to 1992 he was Vice President and Director of Columbia
Biomedical Laboratory, A SAMHSA (NIDA) certified forensic drug testing
laboratory in Columbia, South Carolina, and from 1987 to 1988 as Scientific and
Managing Director of Keystone Laboratory, a toxicology laboratory in Asheville,
North Carolina. Dr. Mudarris is a registered Clinical Laboratory Director in the
State of New York. He is certified by the American Board of Bioanalysis as a
Clinical Laboratory Director and by the National Registry of Clinical chemistry
as a Clinical chemist. He received his B.S. degree in Pharmacy from Damascus
University in 1975 and M.S. degree in Medical Technology from Long Island
University in 1980 and Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from the University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1986.
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, the Company
believes that with respect to fiscal 2000, its officers, directors and
beneficial owners of more than 10% of its equity timely complied with all
applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.
Item 11. - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation
paid or accrued by the Company during the year ended on October 31, 2000 to its
Chief Executive Officer and its other executive officers who were serving as
executive officers of the Company on October 31, 2000. All of the Company's
group life, health, hospitalization or medical reimbursement plans, if any, do
not discriminate in scope, terms or operation, in favor of the executive
officers or directors of the Company and are generally available to all salaried
employees.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Long-Term
Annual Compensation Compensation
---------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Other All
Year Annual Restricted LTIP Other
Ended Compen- Stock Options Pay- Compen-
Name and Principal Position October 31, Salary Bonus Sation Awards (SARS) outs sation
- --------------------------- ----------- --------- --------- --------- ------ ------ ---- --------
Marc D. Grodman M.D. 2000 $366,921 $125,000 $-0- -0- -0- $-0- $-0-
President and Chief 1999 $306,557 $125,000 $-0- -0- -0- $-0- $-0-
Executive Officer 1998 $305,653 $125,000 $-0- -0- -0- $-0- $-0-
Howard Dubinett 2000 $160,004 $60,000 $-0- -0- -0- $-0- $-0-
Executive Vice 1999 $160,004 $60,000 $-0- -0- -0- $-0- $-0-
President and Chief 1998 $157,622 $57,750 $-0- -0- -0- $-0- $-0-
Operating Officer
Sam Singer 2000 $160,004 $60,000 $-0- -0- -0- $-0- $-0-
Vice President and 1999 $158,002 $60,000 $-0- -0- -0- $-0- $-0-
Chief Financial and 1998 $156,333 $57,750 $-0- -0- -0- $-0- $-0-
Accounting Officer
25
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS WITH EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
On May 13, 1997, Dr. Grodman agreed to the terms of a new employment
agreement pursuant to which he agreed to serve as president and chief executive
officer devoting at least 90% of his working time to the business of the
Company. The agreement provides (i) for a seven-year term commencing November 1,
1997; (ii) a minimum annual Base Compensation consisting of salary and bonus in
the aggregate amount of $395,000 subject to increases based on increases in the
Consumer Price Index as well as increases at the discretion of the board of
directors; (iii) typical health insurance coverage and an initial $2,000,000
face amount of "split dollar" life insurance insuring Dr. Grodman's life and
payable to his estate (excluding benefits required to be paid to the Company
pursuant to the split dollar plan) which amount was increased to $4,000,000
during fiscal year 1999; (iv) the leasing of an automobile for his use; (v)
participation in fringe benefit, bonus, pension, profit sharing, and similar
plans maintained for the Company's employees; (vi) disability benefits; (vii)
certain termination benefits; and (viii) in the event of termination due to a
change in control of the Company, a severance payment equal to 2.99 times Dr.
Grodman's average annual compensation during the preceding five years.
In consideration for Dr. Grodman's acceptance of the terms of the
employment agreement, the board of directors authorized the issuance to Dr.
Grodman of (a) 300,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, partially subject
to forfeiture, (b) five-year incentive stock options ("ISOs") exercisable to
purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock at $.790625 per share, and (c) ten-year
non-qualified stock options ("NQOs") exercisable to purchase 200,000 shares of
Common Stock at $.71875 per share. The ISOs are only exercisable while Dr.
Grodman is employed by the Company. The NQOs expire if Dr. Grodman's employment
agreement is terminated by the Company "For Cause" or at his option, "Without
Good Reason." See "Employee Stock Option Plans."
The 300,000 shares of Common Stock issued to Dr. Grodman were
forfeitable in part on the following basis if his employment agreement is
terminated by the Company "For Cause" or at Dr.
Grodman's option "Without Good Reason."
If Termination "For Cause"
or "Without Good Reason"
Occurs During the Following Number of Shares
Periods Forfeited
---------------------------- ----------------
May 1, 1997 through April 30, 1998 225,000 shs.
May 1, 1998 through April 30, 1999 150,000 shs.
May 1, 1999 through April 30, 2000 75,000 shs.
Dr. Grodman continues to be employed by the Company at the date hereof
so that the forfeiture provisions are no longer applicable.
Also on May 13, 1997, Mr. Dubinett agreed to the terms of a new
employment agreement pursuant to which he agreed to serve as executive vice
president and chief operating officer of the Company. The agreement provides (i)
for a five and one-half year term commencing May 1, 1997; (ii) a minimum annual
Base Compensation commencing November 1, 1997 consisting of salary and bonus in
the aggregate amount of $220,000 subject to increases based on increases in the
Consumer Price Index as well as increases at the discretion of the board of
directors; (iii) typical health insurance coverage and $500,000 face amount of
"split dollar" life insurance insuring Mr. Dubinett's life and payable to his
estate (excluding benefits required to be paid to the Company pursuant to the
split dollar plan)which amount was increased to $1,000,000 during fiscal year
1999; (iv) the leasing of an automobile for his use; (v) participation in fringe
benefit, bonus, pension, profit sharing, and similar plans maintained for the
Company's employees; (vi) disability benefits; (vii) certain termination
benefits; and (viii) 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.
In consideration for Mr. Dubinett's acceptance of the terms of the
employment agreement, the board of directors authorized the issuance to Mr.
Dubinett of (a) 240,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, partially subject
to forfeiture and (b) ten-year ISOs exercisable to purchase 60,000
26
shares of Common Stock at $.71875 per share. The ISOs are only exercisable while
Mr. Dubinett is employed by the Company.
The 240,000 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. Dubinett. were
forfeitable in part on the following basis if his employment agreement is
terminated by the Company "For Cause" or at Mr. Dubinett's option "Without Good
Reason."
27
If Termination "For Cause"
or "Without Good Reason"
Occurs During the Following Number of Shares
Periods Forfeited
---------------------------- ----------------
May 1, 1997 through April 30, 1998 180,000 shs.
May 1, 1998 through April 30, 1999 120,000 shs.
May 1, 1999 through April 30, 2000 60,000 shs.
Mr. Dubinett continues to be employed by the Company at the date hereof
so that the forfeiture provisions are no longer applicable.
Also on May 13, 1997, Mr. Singer agreed to the terms of a new
employment agreement pursuant to which he agreed to serve as vice president and
chief financial officer of the Company. The agreement provides (i) for a five
and one-half year term commencing May 1, 1997; (ii) a minimum annual Base
Compensation commencing November 1, 1997 consisting of salary and bonus in the
aggregate amount of $220,000 subject to increases based on increases in the
Consumer Price Index as well as increases at the discretion of the board of
directors; (iii) typical health insurance coverage and $400,000 face amount of
"split dollar" life insurance insuring Mr. Singer's life and payable to his
estate (excluding benefits required to be paid to the Company pursuant to the
split dollar plan) which amount was increased to $800,000 during fiscal year
1999; (iv) the leasing of an automobile for his use; (v) participation in fringe
benefit, bonus, pension, profit sharing, and similar plans maintained for the
Company's employees; (vi) disability benefits; (vii) certain termination
benefits; and (viii) in the event of termination due to a change in control of
the Company, a severance payment equal to 2.99 times Mr. Singer's average annual
compensation during the preceding five years.
In consideration for Mr. Singer's acceptance of the terms of the
employment agreement, the board of directors authorized the issuance to Mr.
Singer of (a) 200,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, partially subject to
forfeiture and (b) ten-year ISOs exercisable to purchase 50,000 shares of Common
Stock at $.71875 per share. The ISOs are only exercisable while Mr. Singer is
employed by the Company.
The 200,000 shares of Common Stock issued to Mr. Singer were
forfeitable in part on the following basis if his employment agreement is
terminated by the Company "For Cause" or at Mr. Singer's option "Without Good
Reason."
If Termination "For Cause"
or "Without Good Reason"
Occurs During the Following Number of Shares
Periods Forfeited
---------------------------- ----------------
May 1, 1997 through April 30, 1998 150,000 shs.
May 1, 1998 through April 30, 1999 100,000 shs.
May 1, 1999 through April 30, 2000 50,000 shs.
Mr. Singer continues to be employed by the Company at the date hereof
so that the forfeiture provisions are no longer applicable.
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLANS
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 Code, or options which
do not so qualify ("NQOs").
28
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 options 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.
As described above, on May 13, 1997, the Board of Directors granted
five-year ISOs under the Plan to Dr. Grodman, exercisable to purchase 100,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $.790625 per share
(equal to 110% of the last sale price for the Common Stock on NASDAQ on May 12,
1997). The board also granted ten-year ISOs under the Plan to Mr. Dubinett and
Mr. Singer exercisable to purchase 60,000 shares and 50,000 shares of Common
Stock respectively at an exercise price of $.71875 per share (equal to the last
sale price for the Common Stock on NASDAQ on May 12, 1997). In addition, the
board granted ten-year NQOs to Dr. Grodman, exercisable to purchase 200,000
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $.71875 per share.
At October 31, 1999, there were outstanding ISOs under the 1989 Plan
exercisable to purchase an aggregate 612,041 shares of Bio-Reference Common
Stock at prices ranging from $.71875 to $.790625 per share. Included were the
above described ISOs issued to Dr. Grodman and Messrs. Dubinett and Singer
exercisable to purchase 100,000 shares, 60,000 shares and 50,000 shares
respectively and additional ISOs held by Messrs. Dubinett and Singer exercisable
to purchase an aggregate 153,334 shares and 116,667 shares respectively. During
fiscal 2000, one employee exercised ISOs and purchased an aggregate 16,667
shares so that at October 31, 2000, there were outstanding ISOs under the 1989
Plan exercisable to purchase an aggregate 595,374 shares at prices ranging from
$.71875 to $.790625 per share.
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.
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. On the same date, the Board of Directors
granted ISOs pursuant to the 2000 Plan to five key employees exercisable to
purchase an aggregate 235,000 shares of Bio-Reference Common Stock reserved for
issuance under the 2000 Plan at an exercise price of $1.22 per share (the mean
between the closing bid and ask prices for the Common Stock in the
over-the-counter market on August 24, 2000). The ISOs were subject to
stockholder ratification of the adoption of the 2000 Plan which ratification was
obtained at the Company's December 15, 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. See
Item 4 herein.
At October 31, 2000, all of the above ISOs issued under the 2000 Plan
and exercisable at various times to purchase an aggregate 235,000 shares of
Bio-Reference Common Stock were outstanding.
DESCRIPTION OF THE 2000 PLAN
The 2000 Plan authorizes the grant of options which qualify for ISO
treatment under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (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 will be administered by the Board of Directors or by a
Stock Option Committee designated by the Board of Directors. The Board or the
Stock Option Committee, as the case may be, 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 or the Stock Option Committee has the authority to interpret the 2000 Plan
and to establish and amend rules and regulations relating thereto.
29
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 of the Stock Option
Committee, as the case may be, 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.
During fiscal year 2000, the Company granted NQOs to one employee
exercisable to purchase an aggregate 45,000 shares of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $1.19 per share. At October 31, 2000, employees held NQOs
exercisable to purchase an aggregate 762,850 shares at exercise prices ranging
from $.594 to $1.19 per share including NQOs held by Dr. Grodman exercisable to
purchase an aggregate 200,000 shares at an exercise price of $.71875 per share.
In addition, at October 31, 2000, two directors, John Roglieri and
Frank DeVito owned warrants exercisable to purchase 30,000 and 10,000 shares of
Common Stock respectively at an exercise price of $.71785 per share and
additional warrants were owned at such date by various consultants exercisable
to purchase an aggregate 145,000 shares of Common Stock at exercise prices
ranging from $1.19 to $3.00 per share.
See Note 9 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning
unexercised options for each of the executive officers named in the "Summary
Compensation Table." No options were exercised by any of such individuals in
fiscal 2000.
2000 FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
Number of Unexercised Options
at 2000 Fiscal Year-End Value of
----------------------- Unexercised
In-The-Money
Name Exercisable Unexercisable Options at 10/31/00
- ---- ----------- ------------- -------------------
Marc D. Grodman 200,000 -0- $ 256,250
100,000 -0- $ 120,938
Howard Dubinett 213,334 -0- $ 273,334
Sam Singer 166,667 -0- $ 213,542
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
Directors who are not employees of the Company are also paid a $1,000
per quarter director's fee.
Item 12. - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information as of January 19, 2001 with
respect to the ownership of Common Stock by (i) each person known by the Company
to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of its outstanding Common Stock, (ii)
each director of the Company, (iii) each executive officer of
30
the Company, and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. The
percentages have been calculated on the basis of treating as outstanding for a
particular holder, all shares of Common Stock outstanding on said date owned by
such holders and all shares of Common Stock issuable to such holder in the event
of exercise or conversion of outstanding options, warrants and convertible
securities owned by such holder at said date which are exercisable or
convertible within 60 days of such date.
Shares of
Name and Address of Common Stock Percentage
Beneficial Owner Beneficially Owned(1) Ownership
------------------- --------------------- ----------
Directors and Executive Officers*
Marc D. Grodman(2)................................................ 1,673,845 17%
Howard Dubinett (3)............................................... 477,001 5%
Sam Singer(4)..................................................... 377,667 4%
Frank DeVito(5)................................................... 10,202 --
John Roglieri(6).................................................. 31,667 --
Gary Lederman (7)................................................. 25,200 --
Executive Officers and directors
as a group (six persons)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)....................... 2,595,582 26%
- -----------
* 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.
(1) Except 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 608,100 shares owned directly by Dr. Grodman, 549,678 shares
issuable upon conversion of Series A Senior Preferred Stock and 300,000
shares issuable upon exercise of options. Also includes 121,667 shares
owned directly and 54,400 shares issuable upon conversion of Series A
Senior Preferred Stock held by Dr. Grodman's wife, Pam Grodman, and a
Company controlled by her and 40,000 shares owned by their minor
children. (See Item 13). Dr. Grodman disclaims beneficial ownership of
these 216,067 shares.
(3) Includes 263,667shares owned directly, and 213,334 shares issuable upon
exercise of options.
(4) Includes 211,000 shares owned directly, and 166,667 shares issuable
upon exercise of options.
(5) Includes 202 shares owned directly and 10,000 shares issuable upon
exercise of warrants.
(6) Includes 1,667 shares owned directly and 30,000 shares issuable upon
exercise of warrants.
(7) Includes 25,200 shares owned directly.
Item 13. - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
In July 1989, the Company discontinued the operation of its Med-Mobile
Division. At such time, Dr. Grodman, as the Associated Physician, was indebted
to the Company in the amount of $235,354 in connection with the operation of
this division. Pursuant to an October 1, 1989 Settlement Agreement, Dr. Grodman
issued a $235,354 promissory note to the Company bearing interest at 10% per
annum and payable at the rate of $50,000 per annum in payment of this
indebtedness. On April 30, 1992, the Board of Directors amended this agreement,
in consideration for Dr. Grodman's personal guarantee of the Company's
$2,500,000 financing arrangement with Towers Financial Corporation, suspending
all rental and interest charges for periods subsequent to November 1, 1991. As
of October 31, 2000, $73,718 in outstanding principal, interest and van rentals
was due from Dr. Grodman.
31
On April 20, 1993, in order to facilitate the Company's 1993 proposed
public offering, Dr. Grodman canceled his pro-rata option contained in his
employment contract and all other outstanding options and warrants to purchase
shares of Common Stock held by Dr. Grodman, his wife and an affiliated entity
(the "Grodman Group") exercisable to purchase an aggregate 604,078 shares of
Common Stock at prices ranging from $1.4438 to $1.50 or an average price of
$1.47 per share, in consideration for the issuance to the Grodman Group of
604,078 shares of a new class of senior preferred stock, $.10 par value per
share ("Senior Preferred Stock"). Each share of Senior Preferred Stock had the
same voting rights (one vote per share), dividend rights and liquidation rights
as each share of Common Stock and for a period of 10 years after issuance, was
convertible into one share of Common Stock upon payment of a conversion price of
$1.50 per share. The 604,078 shares of Senior Preferred Stock were issued to the
Grodman Group on August 23, 1993.
On May 13, 1997 pursuant to a recapitalization, the Senior Preferred
was retired in exchange for a new class of Series A Senior Preferred Stock