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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

 

For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2003;

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

 

For the transition period from              to             .

 

Commission file number: 000-26326

 


 

PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY PRODUCTS, LTD.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nebraska   5047   37-1119387
(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

10077 South 134th Street

Omaha, Nebraska 68138

(402) 331-4440

(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 


 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

None

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

(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 proceeding 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 Regulations S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

As of September 30, 2003, the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $5,480,000. Shares of Common Stock held by each executive officer and director of the Registrant have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates of the Registrant. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes. As of September 30, 2003, 1,850 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock were outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed within 120 days of the fiscal year ended July 31, 2003 are incorporated by reference in Items 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 



Table of Contents

PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY PRODUCTS, LTD.

INDEX TO 10-K FOR THE ANNUAL

PERIOD ENDED JULY 31, 2003

 

PART I        
        ITEM 1.  

BUSINESS

  1
        ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES   6
        ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS   7
        ITEM 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS   7
PART II        
        ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS   7
        ITEM 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA   8
        ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION   10
        ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK   26
        ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA   26
        ITEM 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE   27
        ITEM 9A   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES   27

PART III

       
        ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF REGISTRANT   27
        ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION   28
        ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT   28
        ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS   28
        ITEM 14.   PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES   28

PART IV

       
        ITEM 14.   FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES   29
    EXHIBITS REPORTS ON FORM 8-K   II-1
    REPORTS ON FORM 8-K   II-2
    SIGNATURES   II-3


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PART I

 

THIS REPORT CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS BASED ON THE COMPANY’S CURRENT EXPECTATIONS, ASSUMPTIONS, ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS ABOUT THE COMPANY AND ITS INDUSTRY. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. THE COMPANY’S ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN FACTORS, AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED ELSEWHERE IN THIS REPORT. THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE PUBLICLY ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS FOR ANY REASON, EVEN IF NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE OR OTHER EVENTS OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

The Company is a leading wholesale distributor of animal health products to practicing veterinarians. We also offer a broad array of prescription, non-prescription and sundry items to assist veterinarians in their practice. The Company does not sell pet foods. A small quantity of feed additive type products are sold by the Company.

 

The Company distributes approximately 18,000 different items including biologicals, pharmaceuticals, parasiticides, instruments and equipment. Routinely some 12,000 items are inventoried for immediate shipment. The balance of items are either drop-shipped from the manufacturer to the customer or are special order items.

 

As of July 31, 2003, the Company had 1,845 shareholder veterinary clinics. These shareholders are principally located from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Seaboard with some presence in the South. No shareholder represented more than 1% of the Company’s total revenues during the past fiscal year and only one customer, MARKETLink, represented more than 1% of the Company’s total revenues during the past fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2003, MARKETLink represented approximately 8.1% of the Company’s total revenues.

 

Due to the geographical location of the majority of its shareholders, nearly 55% of the Company’s gross sales are related to products used for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases in food animals. The balance of product sales are for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases in companion animals and equine.

 

The Company primarily sells branded products as marketed by the major animal health manufacturers and suppliers. The Company does not currently private label any products, but would consider a private label product agreement if there was a decisive competitive advantage for doing such.

 

The Company’s business strategy is to be the leading supplier of animal health products to veterinary clinics by offering a complete assortment of items at competitive prices which are supported by superior levels of customer service. The Company believes that this strategy provides it with a competitive advantage by combining the broad product selection with everyday low prices and support from very efficient operations. The shareholder veterinary clinics are able to lower their product acquisition costs which both increases profitability and gives them a competitive market advantage.

 

The Company has heavily invested in electronic information systems to maximize efficiencies. All phases of the transactional process are electronically driven. The Company believes this advanced electronic technology will assist in earlier adoption of electronic commerce through the internet by both its customers and suppliers.

 

Value-Added Services

 

The Company offers its customers and suppliers a comprehensive menu of value-added services. These services allow individual customers various selections based on their individual needs. The Company manages a database of all transactions so that its customers may maximize their

 

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participation in promotions frequently offered by suppliers. The customer is periodically apprised, either by phone or mailings, of their level of participation in these promotions. This promotional tracking service gives the customer the option to maximize their participation in a promotion which can ultimately increase their profitability and allow them to more effectively compete in certain markets.

 

The Company has developed a multi-day inventory management and purchasing techniques seminar for its customers. This seminar is held at the Company’s headquarters. The customer is trained to better use the Company’s resources and also be increasingly efficient in managing their product and inventory activities.

 

The Company has Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) capability which provides the supplier with product sales and movement. The supplier is able to monitor sales activities, advertising effectiveness and market trends in an efficient manner. The Company also assists the manufacturer in the design of effective promotions. The historical transactional database and the promotional tracking service are unique tools to assist the manufacturer in tailoring effective promotions.

 

Company Subsidiaries

 

The Company has two direct subsidiaries: Exact Logistics, LLC and ProConn, LLC.

 

Exact Logistics, LLC was organized in the State of Nebraska on December 6, 2000. The limited liability company is a single member entity and is 100% owned by the Company. The purpose of Exact Logistics, LLC is to act as a contract logistics partner to warehouse and ship products.

 

ProConn, LLC was organized in the State of Nebraska on December 6, 2000. The limited liability company is a single member entity and is 100% owned by the Company. The purpose of ProConn, LLC is to act as a supplier of animal health products to the producer and/or consumer. ProConn, LLC was organized in the State of Nebraska on December 6, 2000. The limited liability company is a single member entity and is 100% owned by the Company. The purpose of ProConn, LLC is to act as a supplier of animal health products directly to the producer and/or consumer. Producers and end users order veterinary products directly from ProConn instead of the manufacturer or supplier and ProConn then sells and delivers the products directly to producers and consumers. ProConn is responsible for all shipping, billing and related services. As part of its business operations, ProConn enters into agreements with “veterinarians of record” pursuant to which ProConn agrees to pay the “veterinarian of record” a percentage of the sales received by ProConn from qualified purchases. The “veterinarian of record” is responsible for providing various services to the producers and consumers, including, without limitation, conducting on-site visits of producers’ facilities; reviewing the producers’ or consumers’ data pertaining to purchases from ProConn and maintaining compliance with all pharmaceutical-related laws, regulations and any applicable food safety guidelines.

 

MARKETLink

 

In August 1999, the Company, American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and AAHA Services Corporation (SERVCO) d/b/a MARKETLink, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAHA (at the time), entered into an agreement pursuant to which the Company became the logistics partner for AAHA MARKETLink, a buying group and distribution service provided by AAHA to its veterinary clinic members. AAHA’s members include over 13,000 veterinarians in 6,300 animal hospitals providing veterinary services to companion animals. AAHA established MARKETLink based on a belief that it was possible to improve the purchasing economics of its members’ practices by allowing members to buy animal health products at low average prices while maintaining or exceeding the level of service obtained by existing distributors.

 

Under MARKETLink, members of AAHA are able to purchase products directly from MARKETLink at a cost savings. Under the terms of the August 1999 Agreement, SERVCO has certain responsibilities, including, without limitation, marketing the MARKETLink program, determining the mix, price, sales and shipping policies and line of products, being responsible for all aspects of the credit approval, accounts receivable and collections in connection with the sale of MARKETLink products. The

 

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Company’s responsibilities include, without limitation, purchasing and managing the required inventory, paying all accounts payables and complying with other contract terms with manufacturers, suppliers or customers relating to shipping, receiving and billing for MARKETLink products, maintaining sales and service representatives for all in-bound and out-bound telephone sales necessary to process orders, cross-sell alternative products, implement special promotional programs, fulfilling and shipping all orders received via the Company’s MARKETLink sales and service representatives or the SERVCO email order entry system, including at the time of shipment an AAHA MARKETLink invoice in the shipment.

 

In June 2000, the Company purchased a 20% interest in AAHA Services Corporation (SERVCO) d/b/a MARKETLink for $1,500,000. The remaining 80% is owned by American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Lionel L. Reilly, the Company’s CEO and President serves on the Board of Directors of SERVCO.

 

Rebates to Shareholders

 

The Company and its shareholders are in a contractual relationship evidenced in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation which requires that all sales of Company products to Company shareholders be at no more than 5% over the cost of the Company as determined by a certified public accountant. Based on this requirement, a certified public accounting firm (not the same firm who was appointed auditors of the Company) annually makes a determination of the shareholder’s product costs. This valuation of the shareholder product costs is then divided by 95% and compared to shareholder sales including any vendor rebates. Amounts in excess of this computation are overcharges which are then rebated back to shareholders by credit memo. Such rebates are made on a pro rata basis to shareholders, based on the aggregate amount of products purchased by each shareholder during the year for which the rebate is made. Rebates are included in the Company’s financial statements and are netted against sales and accounts receivable on the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Company recently modified its policies and procedures relating to the shareholder rebate in order to address concerns regarding late payments by shareholders. Effective August 1, 2003, the determination of the amount rebated back to shareholders by credit memo during any fiscal year will include a review of whether the respective shareholder made timely payments to the Company and whether there are any past due invoices as of the end of the fiscal year. The Company will determine the shareholder’s “average days to pay” which is the number of days past the due date on which the Company receives the shareholder payment. If the average days to pay exceeds 20 days the amount of the rebate credited back to the shareholder will be reduced accordingly to the Company’s then current reduction percentage policy. If a shareholder has any unpaid amount which is more than 90 days past due as of the fiscal year end no rebate will be issued to the shareholder for that fiscal year.

 

The Animal Health Industry

 

A national veterinary organization lists over 22,000 veterinary practices in the United States. There are some 45,000 veterinarians practicing in the various disciplines of veterinary medicine. This survey indicated nearly 73% of the veterinarians in private clinical practice predominately specialize in companion animal medicine.

 

We believe, based on industry sources, the U.S. animal health manufacturer sales of biologicals, pharmaceuticals, insecticides and other packaged goods was over $4.3 billion for 2002. This segment of business in which the Company participates is intended to meet the product and supply needs of the private clinical practice. The actual Compounded Annual Growth Rate for the last 5 years has averaged 1.9% and is forecasted to remain in the 2% range for the next 5 years.

 

Sundry items such as collars, leashes, cages, books, aquatic supplies and equine tack are primarily sold through retail pet supply outlets. These products typically are not purchased from veterinary practices. The Company makes these items available; however, annual sales are very minimal.

 

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Consolidation is a primary force reshaping the animal health industry. We believe, based on industry sources, sales by the top ten animal health product manufacturers account for over 75% of the U.S. market. At this time, the top five U.S. animal health product companies have a market share that nears 60% of the total animal health business.

 

Livestock production continues the consolidation trend that started a number of years ago. Agribusiness integrators continue to build larger livestock raising facilities. Improved management systems coupled with new preventative products have resulted in an ongoing reduction in food producing animal product sales for the past several years. There also has been a loss of market share in several key product groups due to generic competition. The generic products generally sell for lower prices which causes a pricing deflation in the market.

 

The companion animal market is experiencing considerable growth. Several new therapeutic and preventative products have contributed to most of this increased sales volume. Nutraceuticals (nutritional pharmaceuticals) have an increasing presence in the companion animal market. Based on industry sources, during the past five years companion animal product sales have grown to nearly 50% of the total U.S. market.

 

Operating Segments

 

The Company has three reportable segments: Wholesale Distribution, Logistics Services, and Direct Customer Services. The Wholesale Distribution segment is a wholesaler of pharmaceuticals and other veterinary related items. This segment distributes products primarily to Company shareholders, who are licensed veterinarians or business entities comprised of licensed veterinarians.

 

The Logistics Services segment provides logistics and distribution service operations for vendors of animal health products. The Logistic Services segment serves its customers by consolidating, packaging and delivering animal health products closer to the final destination, resulting in reduced freight costs and improved delivery performance.

 

The Direct Customer Services segment is as a supplier of animal health products to the producer or consumer. Animal health products are shipped to locations closer to the final destination. The segment’s trucking operations transport the products directly to the producer or consumer

 

Financial Information About Industry Segments

 

The sales and operating profits of each industry segment and the identifiable assets attributable to each industry segment for each of the three years in the period ended July 31, 2003 are set forth in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations – Operating Segments” below and in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Financial Information About Geographic Areas

 

All of the Company’s customers are located in the United States. The Company does not export any products outside of the United States. All of the Company’s assets are located within the United States.

 

Customers and Suppliers

 

Management does not consider the Company’s business to be dependent on a single customer or a few customers, and the loss of any of our customers would not have a material adverse effect on our results. Except for MARKETLink, which comprised approximately 8.1% of the Company’s total revenues during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2003, no single customer accounted for more than 5% of our fiscal 2003 revenues. The Company typically does not enter into long-term contracts with its customers. One vendor comprised 24.7% of all of the Company’s purchases for fiscal year 2003. Two vendors comprised 20.9% and 11.9% of all of the Company’s purchases for fiscal year 2002.

 

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Competition

 

Distribution of animal health products is characterized by either “ethical” or “OTC” channels of product movement. Ethical distribution is defined as those sales of goods to licensed veterinarians for use in their professional practice. Many of these products are prescription and must only be sold to a licensed professional. OTC (over-the-counter) distribution is the movement of non-prescription goods to the animal owner and the end user. Many of these products will also be purchased by the licensed veterinarian for professional use or for resale to their client.

 

There are numerous ethical distribution companies operating in the same geographical regions as the Company and competition in this distribution industry is intense. Most of the competitors generally offer a similar range of products at prices often comparable to the Company’s. The Company seeks to distinguish itself from its competitors by offering a higher level of customer service as well as having its principal customers also as its shareholders/owners. In addition to competition from other distributors, the Company also faces existing and potentially increased competition from manufacturers and suppliers who distribute some percentage of their products directly to veterinarians. Although the Company competes against direct sales by manufacturers and suppliers, it is often able to compete with such direct sales by adding new value-added services and pricing differentiation.

 

The role of the animal health distributor has changed dramatically during the last decade. Successful distributors have shifted from a selling mentality to providing products and services in a consultative environment. Declining profit margins typify current financial trends. Currently there is an over capacity in the animal health distribution network, although there have been few animal health distributor mergers or acquisitions. We believe the Company must continue to add value to the distribution channel, and reduce the redundancies that exist, while removing unnecessary costs associated with product movement.

 

Government Regulation

 

Both state and federal government agencies regulate the manufacturing and distribution of certain animal health products such as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, insecticides and certain controlled substances. Our suppliers of these products are typically regulated by one or more of the following federal agencies, the US Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as well as several state agencies and therefore, the Company is subject, either directly or indirectly, to regulation by the same agencies. Several states and the Drug Enforcement Administration require the Company to be registered or otherwise keep a current permit or license to handle controlled substances. Manufacturers of vaccines are required by the Department of Agriculture to comply with various storage and shipping criteria and requirements for the vaccines. To the extent Company distributes such products, Company must comply with the same Department of Agriculture, FDA and EPA requirements including, without limitation, the storage and shipping requirements for vaccines.

 

Several State Boards of Pharmacy require the Company to be licensed in their state for the sale of animal health products with their jurisdiction. Some states (as well as certain cities and counties) require the Company to collect sales taxes/use taxes on differing types of animal health products.

 

The Company is subject to laws governing its relationship with employees, including minimum wage requirements, overtime, working conditions and citizenship requirements.

 

Environmental Considerations

 

The Company does not manufacture, re-label or in any way alter the composition or packaging of products. All products are distributed in compliance with the relevant rules and regulations as approved by various State and Federal regulatory agencies. The Company’s distribution business practices create no or minimal impact on the environment.

 

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Employees

 

As of July 31, 2003 the Company had 276 employees. We are not subject to any collective bargaining agreements and have not experienced any work stoppages. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

 

Executive Officers

 

Set forth below is information concerning our current executive officers and their ages as of July 31, 2003.

 

Name


   Age

  

Position


Lionel L. Reilly, D.V.M.

   60    President, Chief Executive Officer and
non-voting Director

Neal B. Soderquist

   48    Chief Financial Officer

Michael B. Davis, D.V.M.

   56    Secretary and Class II Director

 

Lionel L. Reilly, D.V.M., has served as President and CEO of the Company since 1994. Prior to that he was Vice President, Business Operations and functioned as the CEO. He has been with the Company since 1983, shortly after its founding. Dr. Reilly spent several years as a military veterinarian, over five years in private clinical veterinary practice and five years in industry as a researcher and technical services veterinarian. He has a degree from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas. Dr. Reilly graduated in 1970 from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.

 

Neal B. Soderquist was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 1994. From 1989 to 1994 he served in that position as well as managed much of the human resources functions. For the previous 14 years Mr. Soderquist was controller/officer manager for Lincoln Lumber Co., Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1975 he received an Associates Degree from Lincoln School of Commerce, Lincoln, Nebraska.

 

Michael B. Davis, D.V.M., has served as Secretary and Director since December 7, 2001. He is general practitioner and president with Carroll Veterinary Clinic located in Carroll, Iowa. Dr. Davis received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Iowa State University in 1971.

 

Additional Information

 

The Company is a reporting company that files an annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The public may read and copy any materials the Company files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site (http://www.sec.gov). The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this annual report on Form 10-K, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless we are required to do so by law.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

The Company owns its building, which contains nearly 100,000 square feet of open warehouse space and 40,000 square feet of finished office area. The building is a facility the Company constructed and completed in late 1999 and is located on 9.6 acres of land in a newly developed industrial subdivision of Omaha, Nebraska. The latest in technology was incorporated into the design of the new facility to

 

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maximize distribution efficiencies. The building is subject to a first and second mortgage held by US Bank. In October 2002, the Company purchased 10 acres of land adjacent to the current corporate facility in Omaha, Nebraska for $808,274 in order to provide the Company with land available for future expansion of its Omaha facility.

 

On March 15, 2002, the Company signed a lease agreement with Kinsley Equities II Limited Partnership for 70,000 square feet of warehouse space in York, Pennsylvania. The initial term of the lease is five years. The Company uses this facility to ship products to its customers in that geographical area of the United States. In June 2003, the Company exercised an option to lease additional 17,500 square feet of space in the York facility for a total of 87,500 square feet of leased space in York, Pennsylvania.

 

Management believes that our existing facilities are and will be adequate for the conduct of our business as currently conducted and as currently contemplated to be conducted.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company has not been informed of any legal matters that would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operation or cash flow.

 

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

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended July 31, 2003.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

There is no established public trading market for the Company’s common stock. Ownership of the Company’s stock is limited to licensed, practicing veterinarians (or businesses comprised of veterinarians such as a partnership or corporation). Each veterinarian shareholder is limited to ownership of one share of stock, which is purchased at the fixed price of $3,000. The share of stock may not be sold or transferred, except back to the Company at the same $3,000 price. On July 31, 2003, there were 1,845 record holders of the Company’s common stock.

 

The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on the common stock. The Company intends to retain any future earnings for funding growth of the Company’s business and therefore does not currently anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

On October 19, 1999 the registration statement (Registration No. 333-86629) for the initial public offering of our common stock became effective. The Company registered 500 shares of common stock with an aggregate offering price of $1,500,000 pursuant to this registration statement. On November 8, 2001, the Company filed another registration statement (Registration No. 333-72962) for the public offering of an additional 500 shares of common stock, in addition to the 114 shares previously registered under Registration No. 333-86629 that remain unsold. The Company’s current combined offering is for 614 shares of common stock for an aggregate offering price of $1,842,000. Through July 31, 2003, 338 shares of common stock have been sold for an aggregate offering price of $1,014,000.

 

The amount of expenses incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of our common stock increased by approximately $91,000 to $217,792, including the additional SEC registration fee, Blue Sky filing fees and expenses, printing expenses, legal fees, and miscellaneous expenses. None of these expenses represented a direct or indirect payment to directors, officers, persons owning 10% or more of any class of our common stock.

 

The net offering proceeds to the Company after deducting the total expenses are $796,208 as of July 31, 2003.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The historical selected financial data set forth below for the five years ended July 31, 2003 are derived from the Company’s Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report and should be read in conjunction with those financial statements and notes thereto. The financial data for the periods ended July 31, 2003 and July 31, 2002 is consolidated and includes accounts of Exact Logistics, LLC and ProConn, LLC from December 6, 2000, the date the Company became the sole member of Exact Logistics, LLC and ProConn, LLC. All amounts are in thousands except per share data. No cash dividends were declared.

 

     At the Year Ended July 31,

    

1999

(Restated)


  

2000

(Restated)


  

2001

(Restated)


   2002

   2003

For the Year:

                        

Net sales and other revenues

   120,536    176,275    197,523    239,922    298,919

Operating income

   11    1,410    1,320    2,143    5,177

Net income

   141    547    387    1,109    3,214

Income per share:

                        

Operating income

   9.57    1,109.40    912.08    1,386.42    2987.10

Net Income

   128.52    430.55    267.58    717.14    1854.47

Common shares outstanding used in the calculation

   1,095    1,271    1,447    1,546    1,733

At Year End:

                        

Total assets

   28,358    59,612    50,737    68,634    84,323

Total long-term obligations

   —      6,013    5,565    5,076    7,972

 

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The following table presents selected financial data for the Company for each of the quarters in the two-year period ended July 31, 2003. The financial data for the periods ended July 31, 2003 and July 31, 2002 is consolidated and includes accounts of Exact Logistics, LLC and ProConn, LLC from December 6, 2000, the date the Company became the sole member of Exact Logistics, LLC and ProConn, LLC. The historical selected financial data are derived from the Company’s Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report and should be read in conjunction with those financial statements and notes thereto. All amounts are in thousands except per share data.

 

     Quarters Ended

   

Year Ended

July 31, 2002


     October 31, 2001
(Restated)


   January 31, 2002
(Restated)


   April 30, 2002

   July 31, 2002

   

Revenues

   $ 59,153    $ 55,483    $ 63,131    $ 62,155     $ 239,922

Gross profit

     4,336      4,308      6,425      5,002       20,071

Operating income

     738      418      1,643      (656 )     2,143

Net income

     342      110      1,111      (454 )     1,109

Net income per share

   $ 222.40    $ 70.43    $ 717.93    $ (293.83 )   $ 717.14

Weighted average common shares
outstanding

     1,536      1,557      1,548      1,544       1,546

 

     Quarters Ended

  

Year Ended

July 31, 2003


     October 31, 2002

   January 31, 2003

   April 30, 2003

   July 31, 2003

  

Revenues

   $ 75,236    $ 68,025    $ 74,624    81,034    $ 298,919

Gross profit

     6,723      8,107      8,887    7,194      30,911

Operating income

     301      1,730      2,601    545      5,177

Net income

     114      964      1,723    413      3,214

Net income per share

   $ 69.66    $ 560.45    $ 980.33    227.66    $ 1,854.47

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     1,641      1,721      1,757    1,812      1,733

 

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

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are contained principally in the sections entitled “Business,” “Factors Affecting Future Operating Results” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

  the current economic environment affecting the Company and the markets it serves;

 

  sources of revenues and anticipated revenues, including the contribution from the growth of new products and markets;

 

  estimates regarding the Company’s capital requirements and its need for additional financing;

 

  the Company’s ability to attract customers and the market acceptance of its products;

 

  our ability to establish relationships with suppliers of products;

 

  plans for future products and services and for enhancements of existing products and services.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “intend,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these statements. We discuss many of these risks in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in greater detail under the heading “Business Trends and Risk Factors That May Impact Business”. Also, these statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements.

 

Overview

 

The Company was chartered on August 2, 1982 as a Missouri corporation. Since January 1, 1983 the Company has operated from various facilities in Omaha, Nebraska. The Company shareholders approved Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation at the Company’s Annual Meeting held in August, 1999 to permit the Company to become a Nebraska corporation. The Company surrendered its Missouri charter and became a Nebraska corporation on September 22, 1999. The Company’s fiscal year begins on August 1 and concludes on July 31 of the following year.

 

The Company is one of the largest distributors of animal health products to veterinarians who practice food producing animal medicine in the United States. The Company was founded in 1982 by veterinarians whose primary interests were “food animal” related. The changing trends of veterinary medicine has resulted in a gradual shift toward the sale of more “companion animal” products which accounts for nearly 45% of revenues.

 

The Company’s revenues have increased from $63.5 million in fiscal year 1995 to $299 million in fiscal year 2003. To date, sales to non-shareholders have had a minimal impact on the Company’s net income.

 

We expect the trend of increases in sales to continue as we continue to increase the number and type of customer accounts. We will continue our strategy of supporting the food producing animal veterinarian with a broad range of products and value-added services. However, sales in the food producing animal sector are subject to very low margins. In view of the increasing maturity of the food producing animal market, the Company must continue to look for future growth in the companion animal sector.

 

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Historically companion animal product related transactions have enjoyed higher margins than sales of food producing animal products. However, as competition increases in the companion animal sector it is likely that margins will begin to erode. We believe there is likely to be consolidation of the many small privately owned veterinary clinics, which will result in an increasing number of larger veterinary practice business units. As a result, the larger veterinary practices will have increased purchasing leverage and will negotiate for lower product costs which will reduce margins at the distribution level and impact Company revenue and net income.

 

There are two major types of transactions that affect the flow of products to the Company’s customers. Traditional “buy/sell” transactions account for a significant majority of the Company’s business. In this type of transaction the customer places an order with the Company, which is then picked, packed, shipped, invoiced to the customer, followed by payment from the customer to the Company. There are a few product lines where the Company provides all transactional activities described above, except that the manufacturer retains title to the product. The manufacturer retains title in accordance with the distribution agreements for these products. Within these agreements the manufacturer determines if any promotional funds or rebates will be given to the Company. Animal health manufacturers create and implement sales promotions for the products they manufacture for the veterinarian. These promotions reward the veterinarian for their purchase of certain products or volume of products. The Company submits the relevant purchase data to the manufacturer. The Company is paid or reimbursed by the manufacturer, and the veterinarian receives value pursuant to the terms of the promotion. The “consignment” transactions account for approximately six percent (6%) of the Company’s business. The Company inventories these products for the manufacturer but does not pay the manufacturer until the product is sold to the customer and reported to the manufacturer. The Company is responsible for maintaining insurance on the products but the value of the product is not included in the inventory for accounting purposes.

 

A second transaction model used by the Company is termed the “agency agreement”. Under this approach, the Company receives orders for products from its customer. The Company transmits the order to the manufacturer who then picks, packs, ships, invoices and collects payment from the customer. The Company receives a commission payment for soliciting the order as well as other customer service activities. The Company’s operating expenses associated with this type of sale may be lower than the traditional buy/sell transaction. Agency selling allows the manufacturer and the Company to immediately react to market conditions. This arrangement allows the manufacturer to establish and standardize price of its products in the market. This current information often is used by the Company and the various manufacturers to develop data based marketing programs.

 

The mode of selling products to veterinarians is dictated by the manufacturer. Recently, there has been a slight shift away from agency agreements in favor or the traditional buy/sell transactional business model.

 

Product returns from our customers and to our suppliers occur in the ordinary course of business. The Company extends to its customers the same return of goods policies as extended to the Company by the various manufacturers. The Company does not believe its operations will be adversely impacted due to the return of products. Product returns have a minimum impact on the Company’s performance.

 

The Company has two direct subsidiaries: Exact Logistics, LLC and ProConn, LLC. Exact Logistics, LLC was organized in the State of Nebraska on December 6, 2000. The limited liability company is a single member entity and is 100% owned by the Company. The purpose of Exact Logistics, LLC is to act as a contract logistics partner to warehouse and ship products.

 

ProConn, LLC was organized in the State of Nebraska on December 6, 2000. The limited liability company is a single member entity and is 100% owned by the Company. The purpose of ProConn, LLC is to act as a supplier of animal health products directly to the producer and/or consumer. Producers and end users order veterinary products directly from ProConn instead of the manufacturer or supplier and ProConn then sells and delivers the products directly to producers and consumers. ProConn is responsible for all shipping, billing and related services. As part of its business operations, ProConn enters into agreements with “veterinarians of record” pursuant to which ProConn agrees to pay the “veterinarian of

 

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record” a percentage of the sale received by ProConn from qualified purchases. The “veterinarian of record” is responsible for providing various services to the producers and consumers, including, without limitation, conducting on-site visits of producers’ facilities; reviewing the producers’ or consumers’ data pertaining to purchases from ProConn and maintaining compliance with all pharmaceutical-related laws, regulations and any applicable food safety guidelines.

 

In August 1999, the Company, American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and AAHA Services Corporation (SERVCO) d/b/a MARKETLink, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAHA (at the time), entered into an agreement pursuant to which the Company became the logistics partner for AAHA MARKETLink, a buying group and distribution service provided by AAHA to its veterinary clinic members. AAHA’s members include over 13,000 veterinarians in 6,300 animal hospitals providing veterinary services to companion animals. AAHA established MARKETLink based on a belief that it was possible to improve the purchasing economics of its members’ practices by allowing members to buy animal health products at low average prices while maintaining or exceeding the level of service obtained by existing distributors.

 

Under MARKETLink, members of AAHA are able to purchase products directly from MARKETLink at a cost savings. Under the terms of the August 1999 Agreement, SERVCO has certain responsibilities, including, without limitation, marketing the MARKETLink program, determining the mix, price, sales and shipping policies and line of products, being responsible for all aspects of the credit approval, accounts receivable and collections in connection with the sale of MARKETLink products. The Company’s responsibilities include, without limitation, purchasing and managing the required inventory, paying all accounts payables and complying with other contract terms with manufacturers, suppliers or customers relating to shipping, receiving and billing for MARKETLink products, maintaining sales and service representatives for all in-bound and out-bound telephone sales necessary to process orders, cross-sell alternative products, implement special promotional programs, fulfilling and shipping all orders received via the Company’s MARKETLink sales and service representatives or the SERVCO email order entry system, including at the time of shipment an AAHA MARKETLink invoice in the shipment.

 

In June 2000, the Company purchased a 20% interest in AAHA Services Corporation (SERVCO) d/b/a MARKETLink for $1,500,000. The remaining 80% is owned by American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Lionel L. Reilly, the Company’s CEO and President serves on the Board of Directors of SERVCO.

 

Restatement of Certain Debt Financing

 

In May 2003, the Company and U.S. Bank mutually agreed to amend and restate the Company’s Revolving Credit Agreement with U.S. Bank dated December 1, 2001 in its entirety and to establish a revolving line of credit facility and a term loan facility and to add the Company’s subsidiaries, ProConn, LLC and Exact Logistics, LLC as borrowers. As part of this amendment and restatement, the Company, ProConn, Exact Logistics and US. Bank entered into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated May 12, 2003 and the Company converted $4,000,000 of the Company’s then current obligations under the original Revolving Credit Agreement into a term loan. The Company, ProConn, Exact Logistics and U.S. Bank entered into a Term Promissory Note dated May 12, 2003 in the amount of $4,000,000 which accrues interest at a fixed rate of 5.77% per annum. The Company, ProConn and Exact Logistics are jointly and severally liable for the obligations under the Term Promissory Note. The Term Promissory Note matures June 1, 2008. The payment terms for the Term Promissory Note provide that the Company make interest payments of $