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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 December 31, 1998
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number 1-10787
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 95-4097995
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)
3420 OCEAN PARK BOULEVARD, SUITE 1000
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA 90405
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(310) 392-9599
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
NONE
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
Common stock, $.001 par value
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
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 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. [ ]
At March 25, 1999, there were outstanding 21,016,250 shares of the Common Stock
of Registrant and the aggregate market value of the shares held on that date by
non-affiliates of Registrant, based on the closing price ($15.06 per share) of
the Registrant's Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market, was $300,394,645.
For purposes of this computation, it has been assumed that the shares
beneficially held by directors and officers of Registrant were "held by
affiliates;" this assumption is not to be deemed to be an admission by such
persons that they are affiliates of Registrant.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of Registrant's Proxy Statement relating to its 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report.
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. and subsidiaries ("VCA" or the
"Company") was founded in 1986 and is a leading animal health care company. The
Company has established a premier position in two core businesses, animal
hospitals ("Animal Hospitals") and veterinary diagnostic laboratories
("Laboratories"). In addition, the Company owns a partnership interest in a
joint venture, Vet's Choice, with Heinz Pet Products ("HPP"), which markets and
distributes premium pet foods. The Company also has an investment in Veterinary
Pet Insurance, Inc., the nation's largest pet health insurance company. The
Company operates the largest network of free-standing, full-service animal
hospitals in the country and the largest network of veterinary-exclusive
laboratories in the nation.
The Company's animal hospitals offer a full range of medical and
surgical services for companion animals, including dogs, cats, birds and other
household pets. In addition to treating disease and injury, the Company's animal
hospitals emphasize pet wellness and offer programs to encourage routine
vaccinations, health examinations, spaying and neutering and dental care. The
Company's veterinary laboratories offer a full range of diagnostic and reference
tests. Laboratory tests are used by veterinarians to diagnose, monitor and treat
diseases through the detection of substances in blood, urine or tissue samples
and other specimens. The Company does not conduct experiments on animals and is
not engaged in animal research.
THE ANIMAL HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY
The animal hospital and veterinary laboratory markets in which the
Company operates had total domestic revenues in 1998 of approximately $11
billion. The Company's two market segments, Animal Hospitals and Laboratories,
represented approximately 70% and 30%, respectively, of the Company's revenues
for the year ended December 31, 1998.
ANIMAL HOSPITALS
Veterinarians diagnose and treat animal illnesses and injuries, perform
surgeries, provide routine medical exams and prescribe medication. Some
veterinarians specialize by type of medicine, such as orthopedics, dentistry,
ophthalmology or dermatology, and by type of animal. The United States market
for veterinary services is highly fragmented with approximately 124 million
dogs, cats and birds cared for by an estimated 55,000 veterinarians practicing
at 16,000 animal hospitals. These animal hospitals are primarily single site,
sole practitioner facilities. The Company believes that the principal factors in
a pet owner's decision as to which veterinarian to use include convenient
location, recommendation of friends, reasonable fees and convenient hours.
The animal hospital industry is consolidating. Factors contributing to
this trend include: (i) the desire of some owners of animal hospitals to
diversify their investment portfolio by selling all or a portion of their
investment in the animal hospital; (ii) the buying, marketing and administrative
cost advantages which can be realized by a large, multiple location,
multi-practitioner veterinary provider; (iii) the desire of veterinarians to
practice veterinary medicine rather than spend a large portion of their working
time performing administrative tasks necessary to operate an animal hospital;
(iv) the cost of financing equipment purchases and upgrading technology
necessary for a successful practice; and (v) the desire of many veterinarians
for more flexible work hours and benefits than are typically available to a sole
practitioner or single site provider.
VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES
Given the inability of the patient to communicate verbally with the
doctor, laboratory testing is an important part of the diagnostic process in
veterinary medicine. Clinical laboratory tests are used by veterinarians to
diagnose, monitor and treat diseases through the detection of substances in
blood or tissue samples and other specimens.
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Veterinary laboratory tests are performed primarily at the animal
hospital, using on-site diagnostic equipment, or at outside veterinary
diagnostic laboratories. On-site diagnostic equipment is sold by a number of
manufacturers. For many types of tests, on-site diagnostic equipment can provide
more timely results than outside laboratories but requires the animal hospital
or veterinarian to purchase the equipment and provide trained personnel to
operate it. Veterinary diagnostic laboratories, such as those operated by the
Company, can provide a wider range of tests than are generally available on-site
at most animal hospitals and do not require any up-front investment on the part
of the animal hospital or veterinarian. Veterinary laboratory services are also
available through universities and several national laboratory companies.
The veterinary laboratory industry is highly fragmented and is primarily
characterized by local and regional competitors. The Company believes that
veterinarians usually prefer to use laboratories that specialize in the
veterinary market and that offer individual attention, rapid test reporting,
response to inquiries by veterinary professionals, a broad spectrum of tests,
convenient sample pick-up times, and customized testing services.
Achieving rapid sample pick-up, diagnostics and reporting at competitive
prices is benefited by high throughput volumes. The Company believes that the
industry will continue to consolidate as participants seek to gain a cost
advantage.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's goal is to strengthen its position as a leading animal
health care company serving the animal hospital and veterinary diagnostic
laboratory markets. The Company intends to achieve this goal by continuing to:
(i) expand its Animal Hospitals and Laboratories businesses through internal
growth and acquisitions; (ii) achieve cost savings by consolidating operations
and realizing economies of scale in marketing, purchasing and administrative
support functions and by implementing the Company's standard management
programs; (iii) establish brand identification with the VCA name through
signage, marketing and association with its pet healthcare publication, VCA
Family Pet; (iv) take advantage of its unique opportunity to deliver its
products and services through multiple channels to its customers, primarily
veterinarians and pet owners; and (v) capitalize on its leadership position
within the animal health care industry to expand into other products and
services for veterinarians and pet owners.
EXPAND THROUGH ACQUISITIONS IN NEW AND EXISTING MARKETS
Since 1988 the Company has expanded rapidly from a single animal
hospital in Los Angeles to a nationwide network of 170 animal hospitals in 27
states at March 25, 1999. As a result of these acquisitions and their successful
integration into the Company's operations, the Company has gained a leadership
position in the animal hospital industry, allowing it to expand into the
veterinary diagnostics laboratory business. Since March 1994, the Company has
acquired the businesses of 16 veterinary diagnostic laboratories, which have
been consolidated into 12 facilities, making it the nation's largest network of
veterinary-exclusive diagnostic laboratories serving over 13,000 animal
hospitals located in all 50 states. The Company plans to continue its aggressive
hospital acquisition program. The Company will also consider acquiring multiple
hospital organizations and veterinary diagnostic laboratories, as opportunities
arise.
CONSOLIDATE AND STANDARDIZE OPERATIONS TO ENHANCE PROFITABILITY
Upon the acquisition of an animal hospital or veterinary diagnostic
laboratory, the Company immediately begins to implement management programs to
enhance the productivity of veterinarians and to improve operating results. The
Company's business model enables it to realize improved operating margins at its
animal hospitals and veterinary diagnostic laboratories through a strategy of
centralizing various corporate and administrative functions and leveraging fixed
costs while providing its customers with improved services. This model includes
the following objectives:
o PROVIDE MARKETING MATERIALS - The Company seeks to market additional
services to clients at its hospitals by providing its hospitals
marketing and educational materials promoting pet health and quality
pet care programs.
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o CENTRALIZE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS - The Company centralizes most
administrative functions at its corporate office, including
purchasing, accounting, payroll, data processing, personnel, accounts
payable, information services, marketing, planning and budgeting and
other administrative functions.
o CONSOLIDATE PURCHASING - When advantageous, the Company purchases its
supplies on a consolidated basis in order to negotiate better prices
and terms from vendors.
o STANDARDIZE TRAINING PROCEDURES - The Company implements standardized
training procedures for its administrators and professional personnel.
These programs are developed in conjunction with the Medical Advisory
Board and Client Services Advisory Board, two entities which are
staffed by Company personnel to recommend medical standards and to
establish service and training standards for local hospitals and
laboratories.
INTERNAL REVENUE GROWTH
The Company also seeks to expand through internal growth. To achieve
growth, the Company; (i) increases veterinarian productivity by freeing the
veterinarian from administrative tasks and providing state-of-the-art equipment
and technical support; (ii) expands the services and operating hours of certain
of its facilities in selected markets; (iii) provides its facilities with client
education and marketing materials promoting pet health and quality pet health
care programs; (iv) provides its facilities with access to medical specialists;
(v) adds VCA's name to the acquired facilities to enhance customer awareness;
(vi) implements sales programs to attract new customers; and (vii) publishes and
distributes to over 600,000 of its clients a pet care magazine, VCA Family Pet,
which builds brand loyalty, educates consumers on the value of preventive pet
health care and promotes utilization of the Company's animal hospitals. By
implementing these strategies, VCA seeks to become the most convenient and most
recognized provider of veterinary services in its markets.
UPGRADE AND EXPAND FACILITIES
The Company seeks to enhance client satisfaction by providing a
pleasant, attractive, state-of-the-art hospital environment. The Company
continually evaluates its facilities and seeks opportunities to upgrade or
expand its animal hospitals in order to increase capacity, improve visibility or
enhance its attractiveness. The Company is currently rebuilding or performing an
extensive remodeling of 23 of its hospitals for a total projected cost of
approximately $10.2 million.
CONTINUE TO CAPITALIZE ON EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS TO LEVERAGE LINES OF BUSINESS
The Company believes that its two lines of business -- Animal Hospitals
and Laboratory --are complementary. As a result of the Company's national
presence and name recognition throughout the veterinary services industry, the
Company believes it is building a reputation of professional integrity and trust
among veterinary professionals and brand identification among pet owners. The
Company's strategy is to leverage this professional reputation and leadership
position to expand its operations, both in other geographic areas and related
products and services. The Company uses its relationships, as well as it's
national presence and name recognition in one line of business to facilitate
growth in other lines. Often, new business opportunities arise in one line of
business from contacts made in connection with and relations developed through
the Company's other lines of business. For example, animal hospital acquisitions
may be developed through contacts initially established in the Company's
laboratory business.
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ACQUISITION STRATEGY
ANIMAL HOSPITALS
The Company seeks to enter a new market through the acquisition of one
or more relatively large, high quality animal hospitals. It has been the
Company's experience that this initial acquisition in a new market requires
substantially more time to identify, negotiate and consummate than additional
acquisitions in the same market. Following this initial acquisition, the Company
seeks to increase its presence in such market as opportunities arise.
The Company identifies potential candidates for acquisition through its
reputation in the professional community, direct contacts, finder relationships
and advertisements. The Company believes that acquisition opportunities will
continue to increase as it expands the geographic scope of its operations and
the products and services it offers to the animal health care community. The
typical acquisition candidate targeted by the Company is located in a
4,000-6,000 square foot, free-standing facility, has annual revenues of between
$1 million and $2 million per year, employs two to six veterinarians, has an
operating history of at least five years and has achieved positive cash flow at
an attractive location with an established reputation in the community.
VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES
The Company intends to expand its nationwide network of
veterinary-exclusive diagnostic laboratories through internal growth and
selective acquisitions. The Company seeks acquisition opportunities in the
veterinary diagnostics laboratory industry which will complement its existing
business or will expand the geographic area which it services. Although the
Company continues to evaluate laboratory acquisition opportunities, the Company
anticipates that the pace of laboratory acquisitions will slow down in future
periods when compared to historical activity. By obtaining additional testing
volume for the laboratories and spreading fixed costs over a larger revenue
base, the unit costs of providing laboratory services to clients should decline,
producing improved operating margins. As a result of these economies of scale,
the Company believes it is competitively positioned to continue to service its
customers.
ACQUISITION CONSIDERATION
Historically, consideration for acquisitions has consisted of a
combination of cash, the assumption of liabilities, promissory notes and VCA
common stock. The Company normally obtains non-competition and employment
agreements from the selling owners. There can be no assurance, however, that the
Company will be able to identify and acquire animal hospitals or veterinary
diagnostic laboratories on terms favorable to the Company in the future, or in a
timely manner, or convert the acquisitions to the VCA business model as planned.
See "Item 7 -- Risk Factors -- Rapid Expansion and Management of Growth".
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OPERATIONS AND MARKETING
ANIMAL HOSPITALS
The Company operates the largest network of free-standing, full-service
animal hospitals in the United States. At December 31, 1998, the Company
operated 168 animal hospitals. From January 1, 1999 through March 25, 1999, the
Company acquired three animal hospitals and closed one animal hospital. At March
25, 1999, the Company operated 170 animal hospitals in 27 states, as detailed in
the following tables:
Western States Central States Eastern States
-------------- -------------- --------------
Alaska 4 Illinois 14 Connecticut 2
Arizona 1 Indiana 7 Delaware 3
California 39 Michigan 12 Florida 19
Colorado 2 Missouri 1 Georgia 1
Hawaii 1 Nebraska 1 Maryland 8
Nevada 6 Ohio 4 Massachusetts 7
New Mexico 3 New Jersey 6
Texas 8 New York 2
Utah 2 North Carolina 1
Pennsylvania 10
Virginia 5
West Virginia 1
-- -- --
Totals 66 39 65
== == ==
The animal hospitals operated by the Company offer a full range of
general medical and surgical services for small animals, including dogs, cats,
birds and other household pets. In addition to treating disease and injury, the
Company's hospitals emphasize pet wellness through pet health education and
preventative care. The Company's animal hospital programs encourage routine
vaccinations, health examinations, spaying, neutering and dental care. The
Company also publishes and mails to its client base a magazine promoting the
benefits of preventative pet health care. The Company offers specialized
treatment, including advanced diagnostic services, internal medicine, surgery,
oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology and cardiology. Additional services
provided by the Company at certain locations include grooming, bathing and
boarding. The Company also sells specialty pet products at its hospitals,
including pet food, a full range of pharmaceuticals, vitamins, therapeutic
shampoos and conditioners, flea collars and sprays and other accessory products.
The Company's facilities are open an average of 10 to 15 hours per day,
six to seven days per week. Several of its facilities provide 24-hour emergency
care service.
The Company seeks to provide a broad range of uniform quality veterinary
services. The Company actively recruits highly qualified veterinarians and
technicians and is committed to supporting continuing professional education for
its professional and lay staff. The Company operates two of the largest teaching
programs maintained at privately owned animal hospitals. The Company believes
that these programs enhance its reputation in the veterinary profession and
provide it with access to qualified recruits among graduating classes of
veterinarians. The Company believes it is an employer of choice for
veterinarians because it offers an increased patient flow and a diverse case
mix, employee benefits not generally available to a sole practitioner,
continuing education, management opportunities, scheduling flexibility to
accommodate personal lifestyles and the ability to relocate to different regions
of the country.
VCA has established a Medical Advisory Board to support its operations.
The Medical Advisory Board's function, under the direction of the Company's
Chief Medical Officer, is to recommend medical standards for local hospitals.
The committee is comprised of leading veterinarians representing different
geographic regions and medical specialties served by the Company.
The Company seeks to provide state-of-the-art medical care in a clean,
attractive environment, by renovating facilities and upgrading its equipment on
a periodic basis. A broad range of services are available at the Company's
facilities. The Company provides, at some of its locations, board certified or
board eligible
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veterinarians in such specialized fields as internal medicine, surgery,
oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology, orthopedics and cardiology.
The Company's animal hospitals generally require a staff of between 10
to 60 full-time equivalent employees, depending upon the facility's size and
customer base. The staff includes administrative and technical support
personnel, two or more veterinarians, an office manager who supervises the
day-to-day activities of the facility and a small office staff. The Company
employs a relatively small corporate staff to provide centralized administrative
services to all of its animal hospitals and laboratories. Financial control is
maintained through uniform fiscal and accounting policies which are established
at the corporate level for use by operations. Financial information is
centralized through a computerized data collection and processing system at the
corporate level.
Use of veterinary services has traditionally been seasonal. In addition,
use of veterinary services may be affected by weather conditions, levels of
infestation of fleas, heartworms and ticks, the number of daylight hours and
general economic conditions. The seasonality of the use of veterinary services
may cause operating results to vary significantly from quarter to quarter.
Historically, demand for the Company's services has been greater in the second
and third quarters than in the first and fourth quarters.
The Company's internal marketing programs rely heavily on its existing
client base in order to increase the frequency and intensity of the services
used by its clients. Reminder notices are used to increase awareness among the
Company's customers of the advantages of regular, comprehensive veterinary
medical care, including preventive care, such as vaccinations, dental screening
and geriatric care. The Company seeks to obtain referrals from veterinarians by
promoting its specialized diagnostic and treatment capabilities to veterinarians
and veterinary practices which cannot offer their clients such services.
As the number of hospitals in a single regional network grows, media
advertising of the Company's services will become increasingly cost effective.
The Company believes that an effective media advertising program will allow the
Company to establish brand identification as well as expand the revenues derived
from the sale of new and existing services and products. The Company believes,
such programs, services and products, may increase the opportunities to expand
the Company's market share in the regional markets for veterinary services in
which it competes.
The Company provides management services to certain professional
corporations ("PCs") in states with laws that prohibit veterinarians from
splitting fees with non-veterinarians and prohibit business corporations from
providing veterinary services through the direct employment of veterinarians.
The Company has established operations in six of such states that it believes
comply in all material respects with applicable laws. In these states, the
Company has long-term management agreements ("Management Agreements") with PCs,
ranging from 10 to 40 years with non-binding renewal options available. The PCs
are owned by veterinarians who provide veterinary medical services at the animal
hospitals located in their particular state. Pursuant to the Management
Agreements, the PCs are each solely responsible for all aspects of the practice
of veterinary medicine, as defined by their respective state. The Company is
responsible for providing the following: (i) day-to-day financial and
administrative supervision and management; (ii) non-veterinarian personnel
needed to operate and support the animal hospital; (iii) maintenance of patient
records; (iv) recruitment of veterinary staff; (v) marketing; and (vi)
malpractice and general insurance. As compensation for these services, the
Company receives management fees, which are included in revenues. The amount of
such fees are not specifically defined in the Management Agreements. In most
instances, the PCs receive a salary for its services, and the Company enjoys the
risks and rewards related to the overall profitability of the animal hospital.
VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES
The Company operates the largest network of veterinary-exclusive
diagnostic laboratories in the United States, servicing over 13,000 animal
hospitals located in all 50 states. The Company operates 12 full-service
laboratories located in Irvine, California; Chicago, Illinois; Phoenix, Arizona;
Farmingdale, New York; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Tampa, Florida; Portland,
Oregon; San Jose, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Memphis,
Tennessee.
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The Company regularly performs numerous types of diagnostic laboratory
tests, including chemistry, hematology, cytology, anatomical pathology as well
as other disease-specific tests. Clinical tests are performed on animal fluids
such as blood or urine and provide information that is used by veterinarians for
medical diagnosis. The Company does not conduct experiments on animals and is
not engaged in animal research. The Company performs most of its clinical tests
with state-of-the-art automated laboratory testing equipment.
The first step in the testing process is for a veterinarian to take a
specimen from the patient and complete a test request form indicating the tests
to be performed on that specimen. The specimen is then picked up by the
laboratory's driver or by a commercial courier service and delivered to one of
the Company's laboratories for testing. When received at the laboratory, each
specimen and related request form is checked for accuracy and completeness and
then given a unique identification number to ensure that the results are
attributed to the appropriate animal. The test request information is entered
into the laboratory's computer system, where a file of testing and billing
information is established for each specimen. Once this information is entered,
the tests are performed by one of the laboratory technicians or by utilizing the
Company's automated testing equipment. Test results are entered into the
computer system through a computer interface or, in some instances, manually,
depending upon the test and the type of equipment used to conduct the test. Most
routine testing is performed at night and the test results are automatically
transmitted via fax machine to the veterinarian before the start of business the
next morning.
In addition to diagnostic laboratory testing, the Company provides a
variety of laboratory services to its veterinarian clients which the Company
believes enhances its competitive position.
Laboratory services include:
o Specimen Transportation - The Company has developed an extensive
network of drivers and independent couriers which enables the Company
to provide timely pickup and delivery of specimens to its
laboratories. Specimens are picked up from clients and transported to
the Company's laboratory facilities on a daily basis, and in some
areas, twice each day. Animal hospital clients located outside the
areas serviced by the Company's pickup and delivery network are
serviced using the Company's Test Express service whereby specimens
are send via Federal Express to the Company's Memphis, Tennessee
laboratory.
o Results Reporting - Rapid turn-around of test results is critical to
the successful operation of a clinical laboratory. Usually, routine
testing is performed overnight and results are transferred to the
veterinarian by fax machine before 8:00 a.m. the following day.
o STAT Results Reporting - The Company performs certain routine tests
quickly and reports results to veterinarians within hours of being
picked up from the veterinarian. The turn-around time for such STAT
reporting is generally three hours or less. The laboratories that
provide STAT reporting are located in geographic areas where there is
a high concentration of veterinarians and an airline hub operation.
The Company may establish or close laboratories with STAT reporting
capabilities depending upon the volume of tests performed and the
needs of its veterinarian clients.
o Client Service - Veterinarians are not obligated to use the services
of any particular laboratory and can change their laboratory service
provider at any time. Therefore, the timeliness and quality of
services offered by a laboratory are critical to client satisfaction
and retention. In addition to emphasizing client service through rapid
turnaround time and electronic reporting, the Company has veterinarian
specialists on staff to assist the veterinarians in interpreting the
lab's results and diagnosing or treating diseases. Accordingly, the
laboratories' professional staff include board certified specialists
in pathology, internal medicine, oncology, cardiology, dermatology,
neurology and endocrinology.
o Quality Assurance - The Company's quality assurance programs are
intended to: (i) ensure that specimens are collected and transported
properly; (ii) tests are performed accurately; and (iii) client,
patient and test information is reported and billed correctly. The
quality assurance programs include quality control testing of
specimens of known concentration or reactivity in order to ensure
accuracy and precision, routine checks and preventive maintenance of
laboratory testing equipment and personnel standards which ensure that
only qualified personnel perform testing.
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The Company has 26 full-time sales and field service representatives who
market laboratory services and maintain relationships with existing customers.
The Company supports its marketing efforts by developing marketing literature,
attending trade shows, involving itself in trade associations and providing
educational services, among other activities.
FEES AND SOURCES OF PAYMENT
The Company's fees for provision of veterinary and laboratory services
vary upon the complexity of the required procedure, the relative involvement of
the applicable professionals and local market conditions. The Company does not
incur a significant amount of accounts receivable for the provision of
veterinary services since payment for these services is generally received at
the time services are provided. The Company offers its laboratory services on
customary commercial terms, requiring payment within 30 days of the date the
service is performed. The Company is not dependent upon third-party payors for
collection of its fees.
SYSTEMS
The Company realized the importance of management information systems in
the past and thus has made a significant investment in these systems. Currently,
substantially all of the Company's animal hospitals operate on one of four
computer systems. All of the Company's financial and customer records and
laboratory results are stored in computer databases, most of which may be
accessed by the Company's management.
The Company intends to further upgrade and integrate its management
information system. When completed, the Company believes that this enhanced
management information system will allow for further cost savings and provide
management with a powerful tool in implementing its marketing and operating
strategies.
The Company is currently in the process of assessing and testing its
computer hardware and software systems to determine if they will be impacted by
the Year 2000 issue (see further discussion in "Impact of Year 2000" in "Item 7
- -- Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations").
COMPETITION
The companion animal health care industry is highly competitive and
subject to continual change in the manner in which services are delivered and
providers are selected. The Company believes that the primary competitive
factors in connection with animal hospitals are convenient location,
recommendation of friends, reasonable fees, quality of care and convenient
hours. The Company's primary competitors for its animal hospitals in most
markets are individual practitioners or small, regional multi-clinic practices.
In addition, certain national companies in the pet care industry, including the
operators of super-stores, are developing multi-regional networks of animal
hospitals in markets which include the Company's animal hospitals. Among
veterinary diagnostic laboratories, the Company believes that quality, price and
the time required to report results are the major competitive factors. There are
many clinical laboratory companies which provide a broad range of laboratory
testing services in the same markets services by the Company. In addition,
several national companies provide on-site diagnostic equipment that allows
veterinarians to perform their own laboratory tests.
JOINT VENTURES AND INVESTMENT
Through 1996, the Company's operations included the management of the
Company's joint venture, Vet's Choice, with HPP. In February 1997, Vet's Choice
was restructured and management of the joint venture was assumed by HPP.
Pursuant to a restructuring agreement, the Company maintains its 50.5% equity
interest in Vet's Choice but profits and losses are allocated 99.9% to HPP and
0.1% to the Company. Additionally, the Company agreed to provide certain
consulting and management services to HPP for a three-year period commencing on
February 1, 1997 and to continue to support and sell the Select Balance and
Select Care brands through its network of animal hospitals.
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The two products developed by Vet's Choice are a complete line of
premium, life-stage pet foods marketed under the brand name Select Balance and a
line of premium therapeutic pet foods, marketed under the brand name Select
Care. The Select Balance line consists of dry and canned dog and cat food
products nutritionally tailored to meet the specific dietary needs of dogs and
cats in different stages of their lives. The Select Care line consists of dry
and canned dog and cat food products, nutritionally tailored to meet the
specific dietary needs of dogs and cats afflicted with illness or disease or
other medical conditions requiring special diets. From inception of the joint
venture through 1996 these products were marketed under the Vet's Choice brand
name. Commencing in 1997, the Select Balance and the Select Care products are
marketed and distributed under HPP's Nature's Recipe and the Innovative
Veterinary Diets brand names, respectively.
In December 1997 and January 1998, the Company made a combined $5
million strategic investment in Veterinary Pet Insurance, Inc., the largest
provider of pet health insurance in the United States.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
All of the states in which the Company operates impose various
registration requirements. To fulfill these requirements, the Company has
properly registered each of its facilities with appropriate governmental
agencies and, where required, has appointed a licensed veterinarian to act on
behalf of each facility. All veterinary doctors practicing in the Company's
clinics are required to maintain valid, unexpired and unrevoked state licenses
to practice.
In addition, the laws of many states prohibit veterinarians from
splitting fees with non-veterinarians and prohibit business corporations from
providing, or holding themselves out as providers of, veterinary medical care.
These laws vary from state to state and are enforced by the courts and by
regulatory authorities with broad discretion. While the Company seeks to
structure its operations to comply with the corporate practice of veterinary
medicine laws of each state in which it operates, there can be no assurance
that, given varying and uncertain interpretations of such laws, the Company
would be found to be in compliance with restrictions on the corporate practice
of veterinary medicine in all states. A determination that the Company is in
violation of applicable restrictions on the practice of veterinary medicine in
any state in which it operates, could have a material adverse effect on the
Company if the Company were unable to restructure its operations to comply with
the requirements of such states.
The Company's growth strategy is dependent principally on its ability to
acquire existing animal hospitals. Acquisitions may be subject to pre-merger or
post-merger review by governmental authorities for anti-trust and other legal
compliance. Adverse regulatory action could negatively affect the Company's
operations through the assessment of fines or penalties against the Company or
the possible requirement of divestiture of one or more of the Company's
operations.
EMPLOYEES
At December 31, 1998, the Company had approximately 3,036
full-time-equivalent employees, including approximately 575 licensed
veterinarians. None of the Company's employees are covered by a collective
bargaining agreement. The Company believes that its relations with its employees
are satisfactory.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's corporate headquarters and principal executive offices are
located in Santa Monica, California, in approximately 21,000 square feet of
space occupied under two leases which expire on July 3, 1999. The Company has
entered into a lease at a new location for approximately 30,000 square feet. The
lease currently provides for aggregate minimum monthly rental payments of
approximately $47,000. The Company maintains leased and owned facilities at 211
other locations which house its animal hospitals and laboratories. The Company
owns 73 facilities and the remainder are leased from third parties. For the year
ended December 31, 1998, the Company had lease costs of approximately $8,400,000
and the Company expects to have lease costs at facilities existing at December
31, 1998 of approximately $7,980,000 in 1999. Lease costs for the hospitals
acquired
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between December 31, 1998 and March 25, 1999, will amount to approximately
$55,880 in 1999. The Company believes that its real property facilities are
adequate for its current needs.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
For discussion of legal proceedings see "Item 7 -- Risk Factors --
Pending Litigation," and Footnote 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders of the Company
during the fourth quarter of 1998.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the
symbol "VCAI". The following table sets forth the range of high and low last
sale prices per share for the common stock as quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market
for the periods indicated:
High Low
---- ---
Fiscal 1997
First Quarter.......................... 11 5/8 9
Second Quarter......................... 13 9 3/16
Third Quarter.......................... 15 1/8 12
Fourth Quarter......................... 16 1/4 11 1/2
Fiscal 1998
First Quarter.......................... 16 1/2 13 5/16
Second Quarter......................... 19 7/16 15 1/2
Third Quarter.......................... 20 5/8 16 1/2
Fourth Quarter......................... 20 3/16 13 3/8
At March 25, 1999, the closing price of the common stock on the Nasdaq
Stock Market was $15.06.
At March 25, 1999, there were approximately 623 holders of record of the
Company's common stock.
The Company has not paid cash dividends on its common stock and does not
anticipate that it will do so in the near future. The present policy of the
Company is to retain earnings to finance the development and expansion of its
operations.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
On June 19, 1996, VCA completed the merger with Pets' Rx, Inc. ("Pets'
Rx"). This transaction has been accounted for as a pooling of interests. As a
result of this merger, the Company has restated its historical financial
statements to include the historical results of Pets' Rx with VCA. Certain
adjustments to conform Pets' Rx's accounting policies to VCA's are reflected in
these financial statements.
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The historical selected financial data set forth below for the three
years ended December 31, 1998 are derived from the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and
should be read in conjunction with those financial statements and notes thereto.
Those financial statements have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent
public accountants, whose report with respect thereto appears elsewhere in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected financial data set forth for the two
years ended December 31, 1995 is derived from the Company's audited consolidated
financial statements. Reference is made to Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements for information regarding the Company's acquisitions.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA: For the Years Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands, except for per share data) 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
-------- --------- --------- --------- --------
Revenues ...................................... $281,039 $ 235,913 $ 181,428 $ 107,694 $ 51,871
Gross profit .................................. 71,659 57,283 42,574 27,595 11,112
Selling, general and administrative
expense .................................... 19,693 17,676 19,735 13,684 8,779
Depreciation and amortization expense ......... 13,132 11,199 7,496 4,144 2,065
Merger costs .................................. -- -- 2,901 -- --
Restructuring charges and write-down
of assets ..................................... -- 2,074 15,213 3,234 --
Reversal of the 1996 Plan restructuring charges -- (2,074) -- -- --
Operating income (loss) ....................... 38,834 28,408 (2,771) 6,533 268
Interest income ............................... 2,357 4,182 4,487 828 404
Interest expense .............................. 11,189 11,593 7,812 3,377 2,388
Minority interest in income (loss) of
subsidiaries ............................... 780 424 6,577 2,960 (540)
Provision for income taxes .................... 12,954 9,347 1,959 2,238 731
Net income (loss) ............................. 16,268 11,226 (14,632) (1,214) (1,907)
Diluted earnings per share:
Net earnings (loss) per common share ........ $ 0.74 $ 0.53 $ (0.92) $ (0.13) $ (0.31)
Shares used for computing
diluted earnings (loss) per share ......... 21,940 21,013 15,942 9,224 6,202
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
(In thousands) As of December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
-------- --------- --------- --------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents ..................... $ 8,977 $ 19,882 $ 29,621 $ 5,396 $ 7,807
Marketable securities ......................... 33,358 51,371 73,306 42,155 --
Total assets .................................. 392,883 386,089 354,009 153,416 67,902
Current portion of long-term obligations
and notes payable ........................... 17,431 19,369 14,055 7,496 5,552
Long-term obligations, less current
portion ....................................... 142,356 154,506 134,767 36,778 25,057
Total stockholders' equity .................... 202,685 180,851 167,350 90,217 25,370
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GENERAL
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. and subsidiaries ("VCA" or the
"Company") is a leading animal health care company. The Company has established
a premier position in its two core businesses, Animal Hospitals and
Laboratories. In addition, the Company owns a partnership interest in a joint
venture with Heinz Pet Products ("HPP"), which markets and distributes premium
pet foods. The Company also has an investment in Veterinary Pet Insurance, Inc.,
the nation's largest pet health insurance company. The Company operates the
largest network of free-standing, full service animal hospitals in the country
and the largest network of veterinary-exclusive laboratories in the nation.
The Company made its first animal hospital acquisition in December 1986,
when it acquired West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, one of the largest
privately-owned teaching animal hospitals in the United States. Between 1987 and
1995, the Company's operations were directed primarily at establishing a
corporate infrastructure and building a network of animal hospitals in selected
regional markets. During this period, the Company grew with the acquisition of
53 additional animal hospitals. In 1996, the Company completed two significant
acquisitions which more than doubled the Company's animal hospital operations.
Pets' Rx, Inc. ("Pets' Rx") was acquired in June 1996 (16 hospitals) in a
business combination accounted for as a pooling of interest and The Pet
Practice, Inc. ("Pet Practice") was acquired in July 1996 (84 hospitals). The
Company made these acquisitions in order to promote the growth of the Company's
hospital network, broaden the geographic scope of the Company's operations, and
to take advantage of synergies that the Company believes exist between its
business lines. In addition to the two significant 1996 acquisitions, the
Company has acquired 46 animal hospitals during the three years ended December
31, 1998. At December 31, 1998, the Company owned or operated 168 animal
hospitals, throughout 26 states.
In 1993, the Company began to expand the scope of its operations by
launching into the veterinary diagnostic laboratory markets. The integration of
the veterinary care, veterinary diagnostic laboratory and premium pet food
markets is the foundation of the Company's business strategy to leverage its
access to its primary customers, veterinarians and pet owners.
In 1994, the Company expanded its veterinary diagnostic laboratory
operations by acquiring a 70% interest in Professional Animal Laboratory
("PAL"). In 1995, the Company acquired the remaining 30% of PAL. Also in 1995,
the Company acquired a 51% interest in Vet Research Laboratories, LLC ("Vet
Research"), and acquired three smaller regional veterinary diagnostic
laboratories. The Company's laboratory operations continued to grow with the
acquisition of Southwest Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory, Inc. ("Southwest")
in 1996. Throughout 1996 and 1997, an additional eight laboratories were
acquired, as well as the remaining interest in Vet Research in January 1997. In
February 1998, the Company acquired certain assets of the veterinary diagnostic
laboratory business of LabCorp for $10.9 million. This purchase from LabCorp has
enhanced the Laboratory operations' presence in the Midwest and East coast and
helped in the growth of the Test Express laboratory business. Test Express is a
segment of the Laboratory operations that utilizes Federal Express to service
our clients in remote areas. At December 31, 1998, the Company's network of
veterinary diagnostic laboratories consisted of 12 full-service laboratories
located throughout the United States.
The Company entered into a joint venture, Vet's Choice, with HPP in 1993
to develop, manufacture and market a full-line of premium pet food. Vet's Choice
was primarily engaged in developing and testing the formulas for its first
product line, Select Balance, and building a marketing infrastructure in
anticipation of commencing distribution in 1994. Vet's Choice began to generate
revenue in 1994 with the launch of Select Balance. In 1995, Vet's Choice began
selling its second product line, Select Care. Through 1996, the Company, as
majority owner and managing general partner, exercised day-to-day operating
control for all aspects of Vet's Choice, including sales, marketing,
administration and distribution. As a result of the acquisition of two other
premium pet food companies during 1996, HPP obtained expanded capabilities to
manufacture, market and distribute premium pet foods. In order for the Vet's
Choice business to benefit from the economies of scale in marketing, sales and
distribution that HPP had attained with the acquisitions in 1996, the joint
venture agreement was restructured
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effective February 1, 1997. Under the terms of the restructuring, HPP was made
managing partner and assumed the day-to-day control of the joint venture. The
operations of Vet's Choice was merged into HPP's other premium pet food
business. In connection with the restructuring, the Company and HPP entered into
consulting and management services agreements whereby the Company will provide
consulting and marketing services and continue to support the Select Balance and
Select Care products in the veterinary marketplace.
The acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Pets' Rx in June
1996 was treated for accounting purposes as a pooling of interests. Accordingly,
the accompanying financial statements reflect the combined results of the pooled
businesses for the respective periods presented. Previously reported financial
information for VCA and Pets' Rx for the year ended December 31, 1996, is shown
below (in thousands):
Net Income
Revenues (loss)
---------- --------
Pre-merger (pre-June 19, 1996)
VCA ............................ $ 64,763 $ 1,647
Pets' Rx ....................... 7,849 (658)
Merger adjustments ............. -- 212
--------- --------
72,612 1,201
Post-merger (post June 19, 1996).. 108,816 (15,833)
--------- --------
$ 181,428 $(14,632)
========= ========
VCA's 1996 pre-merger net income includes merger expenses of $2,901,000.
These merger expenses consisted principally of legal, accounting, investment
advisor, termination of employment agreements and severance costs. A merger
adjustment was recorded to conform certain accounting methods of Pets' Rx to
those of VCA. The 1996 adjustment reduced Pets' Rx's pre-merger intangible asset
amortization expense by $212,000.
RECENT ACQUISITIONS
During 1998, the Company completed the acquisitions of 11 animal
hospitals and one veterinary diagnostic laboratory. In connection with these
acquisitions, which were accounted for as purchases, VCA paid an aggregate
consideration including acquisition costs of $30,740,000, consisting of
$20,255,000 in cash, $6,482,000 in debt, 171,564 shares of common stock of the
Company with a value of $3,100,000, and the assumption of liabilities totaling
$903,000.
Since January 1, 1999 through March 25, 1999, the Company has acquired
three animal hospitals, two veterinary practices which were merged into existing
VCA animal hospitals, and one laboratory for an aggregate consideration of
$5,862,000, consisting of $2,793,000 in cash, $1,801,000 in debt, the assumption
of liabilities totaling $193,000 and the issuance of 70,712 shares of the
Company's common stock valued at $1,075,000.
On March 10, 1999, the Company entered into a merger agreement with AAH
Management Corp, ("AAH"). AAH manages 15 veterinary practices in the New York
and New Jersey markets. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will buy
the stock of AAH for a total consideration of approximately $12.6 million,
consisting of $4.3 million in cash and notes and 517,568 shares of VCA common
stock valued at approximately $8.3 million. In addition, the Company will
assume AAH debt totaling approximately $15 million.
BASIS OF REPORTING
The Company reports its operations in two business lines -- Animal
Hospital and Laboratory. Animal Hospital operations include the operations of
the Company's animal hospitals. Laboratory operations include the operations of
the Company's veterinary diagnostic laboratories. Throughout 1996, the Company
owned a 51% interest in Vet Research. The Company's consolidated operating
results include the results of operations of the Vet Research joint venture in
1996. The Company acquired the remaining 49% of Vet Research in January 1997.
Through 1996, the Company reported a third business line -- Premium Pet
Food. Premium Pet Food includes the operations of the Vet's Choice joint venture
of which the Company owns a 50.5% interest. Commencing February 1, 1997, the
day-to-day management of Vet's Choice was assumed by HPP. The Company maintains
its 50.5% equity interest in Vet's Choice, but profits and losses are allocated
99.9% to HPP and 0.1% to the Company. The Company included the operating results
of the Vet's Choice joint venture in its consolidated financial statements in
1996. Effective February 1, 1997, the Company no longer reported the results of
operations of Vet's Choice on a consolidated basis.
In December 1997 and January 1998, the Company made a combined $5
million strategic investment in Veterinary Pet Insurance, Inc., the largest
provider of pet health insurance in the United States. The Company accounts for
this investment using the cost method.
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The Company's animal hospitals use the Company's veterinary diagnostic
laboratory services and purchase and resell the pet food products of Vet's
Choice. Revenue and the corresponding expense from intercompany sales of those
entities included in consolidated operating results, totaled $5,845,000,
$4,696,000 and $4,130,000 in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, have been
eliminated from the Company's operating results.
The Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board has recently issued its Consensus Opinion 97-2 ("EITF 97-2").
EITF 97-2 addresses certain specific matters pertaining to the contractual
management relationships between entities that operate in the health care
industry, which includes the practices of medicine, dentistry and veterinary
science. EITF 97-2 has been adopted by the Company for its year ending December
31, 1998. EITF 97-2 addresses the ability of EITF 97-2 management companies to
consolidate the results of practices with which it has an existing relationship.
The Company has not met the EITF consolidation requirements for the 22 animal
hospitals it manages. Management fees received pursuant to the Management
Agreements are included in revenues. The Company's financial statements for the
years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 have been restated to conform to the 1998
presentation. The adoption of EITF 97-2 had no effect on the Company's
previously reported operating income (loss) or net income (loss).
FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS
This filing contains statements that constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. The words "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "predict", "believe" and
similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Such statements appear in a number of places in this
filing and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current
expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to,
among other things: (i) trends affecting the Company's financial condition or
results of operations; and (ii) the Company's business and growth strategies.
The readers of this filing are cautioned that any such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and
uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those
projected in this filing, including, without limitation, the information set
forth under the heading "Risk Factors," as well as the information set forth
below.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the
percentage of certain items in relation to revenues:
Percentage of Revenues
For the Years Ended December 31,
--------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
----- ----- -----
Revenues ....................................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Direct costs ................................... 74.5 75.7 76.5
----- ----- -----
Gross profit ................................ 25.5 24.3 23.5
Selling, general and administrative expense .... 7.0 7.5 10.9
Depreciation and amortization expense .......... 4.7 4.7 4.1
Merger costs ................................... -- -- 1.6
Restructuring charges .......................... -- 0.9 3.1
Reversal of the 1996 Plan restructuring
charges ...................................... -- (0.9) --
Write-down of assets ........................... -- -- 5.2
----- ----- -----
Operating income (loss) ..................... 13.8 12.1 (1.4)
Interest income ................................ 0.8 1.8 2.5
Interest expense ............................... 4.0 4.9 4.3
----- ----- -----
Income (loss) before minority interest
and income taxes .......................... 10.6 9.0 (3.2)
Minority interest in income of subsidiaries .... 0.3 0.2 3.6
----- ----- -----
Income (loss) before income taxes ........... 10.3 8.8 (6.8)
Provision for income taxes ..................... 4.6 4.0 1.1
----- ----- -----
Net income (loss) ........................... 5.7% 4.8% (7.9)%
===== ===== =====
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REVENUES
Animal Hospital operations represented 70.1%, 72.3% and 66.2% of total
Company revenues in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Laboratory operations
represented 29.9%, 27.3% and 30.1% of total Company revenues in 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively. Premium Pet Food operations represented 0.4% and 3.7% of
total Company revenues in 1997 and 1996, respectively. The Company's
consolidated revenues in 1997 only include one month of revenue from Premium Pet
Food operations, as the Company ceased consolidating the results of operations
of Vet's Choice, effective February 1, 1997. The Company anticipates that Animal
Hospital revenues as a percentage of total revenues will increase in future
periods as a result of the expansion of the Animal Hospital operations.
The following table summarizes the Company's revenues for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1998 (amounts in thousands):
1997 %
1998 % Increase/
1998 1997 1996 Increase (Decrease)
--------- --------- --------- -------- ----------
Animal Hospital .. $ 196,988 $ 170,548 $ 120,110 15.5% 42.0%
Laboratory ....... 89,896 68,997 56,774 30.3% 21.5%
Premium Pet Food . -- 1,064 8,674 -- (87.7%)
Intercompany Sales (5,845) (4,696) (4,130) -- --
--------- --------- ---------
$ 281,039 $ 235,913 $ 181,428 19.1% 30.0%
========= ========= =========
Total revenues from animal hospitals owned and managed were
$202,577,000, $174,024,000 and $120,842,000 for the years ended December 31,
1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. The growth in combined revenues from these
VCA affiliated animal hospitals was 16.4% from 1997 to 1998 and 44.0% from 1996
to 1997.
The growth in Animal Hospital revenues experienced in 1998 and 1997 was
primarily the result of growth in the number of facilities owned and managed by
the Company. In 1998, the increase in combined revenues from animal hospitals
owned and managed by VCA resulting from changes in volume or prices at
facilities operated during all of 1998 and 1997 was 5.8%. In 1997, the increase
in combined revenues from animal hospitals owned and managed by VCA resulting
from changes in volume or prices at facilities operated during all of 1997 and
1996 was 2.2%.
Laboratory revenues grew by 30.3% in 1998 from 1997 primarily as a
result of the $10.9 million acquisition from LabCorp, effective April 1, 1998.
This purchase of LabCorp's veterinary diagnostic laboratory business has
enhanced the Laboratory operations presence in the Midwest and the East. The
Laboratory's Test Express business has grown as a result of these enhanced
operations. Laboratory revenues increased by 21.5% from 1996 to 1997, primarily
as a result of 1997 and 1996 acquisitions.
Effective February 1, 1997, Vet's Choice was no longer reported as part
of the Company's consolidated results of operations. Pursuant to the
restructuring agreement and other related agreements between HPP and the
Company, the Company has agreed to provide certain consulting and management
services for a three-year period commencing February 1, 1997, and to continue to
support and sell the Select Balance and Select Care brands through its network
of animal hospitals. The agreements call for the Company to receive an aggregate
of $15.3 million payable in semi-annual installments over a five-year period
(the "Consulting Fees"). The Consulting Fees earned in the years ended December
31, 1998 and 1997 of $5.1 million and $4.7 million, respectively, are included
in Animal Hospital revenues.
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GROSS PROFIT
The following table summarizes the Company's gross profit for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998 (amounts in thousands):
1998 % 1997 %
1998 1997 1996 Increase Increase
-------- --------- ------- -------- --------
Animal Hospital .... $41,969 $32,390 $17,858 29.6% 81.4%
Laboratory ......... 29,690 24,325 21,184 22.1% 14.8%
Premium Pet Food ... -- 568 3,532 -- --
------- ------- -------
$71,659 $57,283 $42,574 25.1% 34.6%
======= ======= =======
Gross profit for the Animal Hospital operations is comprised of revenues
less all costs of services and products at the hospitals, including salaries of
veterinarians, technicians and all other hospital-based personnel, facilities
rent, occupancy costs, medical supply costs and costs of goods sold associated
with the retail sales of pet food and pet supplies. Animal Hospital gross profit
represented 21.3%, 19.0% and 14.9% of Animal Hospital revenues for the years
ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The increase in the 1998
gross profit margin from 1997 is the result of internal revenue growth, better
prices obtained for medical supplies and improved inventory management
procedures. The 1997 increase in gross profit margin from 1996 was primarily
attributable to the addition of the Consulting Fees, as well as to the higher
gross profit margins at newly acquired hospitals (those acquired on or after
January 1, 1996). The Company continues to take actions designed to improve
gross margins at the animal hospitals. However, there can be no assurance that
in the future the Company will be successful in its efforts to improve gross
profit margins at these facilities.
If all animal hospitals owned and managed by VCA met all the EITF
consolidation requirements, total gross profit as a percentage of total revenues
would have been 20.7%, 18.6% and 14.8% for the years ended December 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively. The gross profit margin for "same-store" hospitals
(those acquired by or affiliated with VCA prior to January 1, 1997) was 18.7%
and 16.7% for 1998 and 1997, respectively. The gross profit margin for "newly
acquired" hospitals (those acquired by or affiliated with VCA on or after
January 1, 1997) was 17.7% for 1998. "Same-store" gross profit margins were 16%
for both 1997 and 1996, for those hospitals acquired by or affiliated with VCA
prior to January 1, 1996. Gross profit margins for "newly acquired" hospitals
were 21.0% and 13.5% in 1997 and 1996, respectively. Gross profit margins for
"same-store" and "newly acquired" hospitals have been calculated excluding the
Consulting Fees of $5.1 million and $4.7 million earned in 1998 and 1997,
respectively.
Gross profit of the Laboratory operations is comprised of revenues less
all direct costs of services, including salaries of veterinarians, technicians
and other non-administrative laboratory-based personnel, facilities rent and
occupancy costs and supply costs. Laboratory gross profit represented 33.0%,
35.3% and 37.3% of Laboratory revenues for the years ended December 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996 respectively. The decrease in the gross profit margin for 1998
compared to 1997 was primarily attributable to costs incurred in connection with
the phase-in of operations from the acquisition of LabCorp's veterinary
diagnostic laboratory business. The decrease in the gross profit margin for
1997 compared to 1996, was primarily the result of the expansion of Laboratory
services, particularly in the East, and the strengthening of the Laboratory
division's management team.
Premium Pet Food gross profit is comprised of revenues less cost of
goods sold, including freight and distribution costs. Premium Pet Food gross
profit , as a percentage of revenues, was 53.4% in 1997 and 40.7% in 1996.
The Company's Animal Hospital business historically has realized gross
profit margins that are lower than that of the Laboratory business. As the
portion of the Company's revenues attributable to its Animal Hospital operations
grow in the future, the historical gross profit margins for the Company as a
whole may not be indicative of those to be expected in the future.
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SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE
VCA Corporate selling, general and administrative expense consists of
administrative expense at the Company's headquarters, including the salaries of
corporate officers, accounting, legal and other professional expenses, rent and
occupancy costs. Selling, general and administrative expense for the three years
ended December 31, 1998, is comprised of the following (amounts in thousands):
1998 1997 1996
-------- -------- -------
VCA Corporate .................. $ 14,218 $ 13,093 $ 10,450
Laboratory ..................... 5,475 4,183 4,619
Premium Pet Food ............... -- 400 4,666
-------- -------- --------
$ 19,693 $ 17,676 $ 19,735
======== ======== ========
VCA Corporate selling, general and administrative expense increased
$1,125,000 or 8.6%, from 1997 to 1998, and $2,643,000 or 25.3%, from 1996 to
1997. As a percentage of Animal Hospital revenues, VCA Corporate selling,
general and administrative expense decreased from 8.7% for 1996 to 7.7% for 1997
and to 7.2% for 1998. The decreases in selling, general and administrative
expense as a percentage of revenue were primarily attributable to increases in
revenues without comparable increases in expenses.
Laboratory selling, general and administrative expense consists
primarily of sales and administrative personnel and selling, marketing and
promotional expense. Laboratory selling, general and administrative expense
increased $1,292,000, or 30.9%, from 1997 to 1998, and decreased $436,000, or
9.4%, from 1996 to 1997. As a percentage of Laboratory revenues, Laboratory
selling, general and administrative expense decreased from 8.1% for 1996 to 6.1%
for both 1997 and 1998. The decreases in selling, general and administrative
expense as a percentage of revenue were primarily attributable to increases in
revenues without comparable increases in expenses.
Premium Pet Food selling, general and administrative expense consists
primarily of sales and administrative personnel and selling, marketing and
promotional expense. Premium Pet Food general and administrative expense
decreased $4,266,000 or 91.4%, from 1996 to 1997, due to the assumption of
management responsibilities for Vet's Choice by HPP in February 1997.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE
Depreciation and amortization expense primarily relates to the
depreciation of capital assets and the amortization of excess cost over the fair
value of net assets acquired (goodwill) and certain other intangibles.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1,933,000, or 17.3%, from 1997
to 1998, and $3,703,000, or 49.4%, from 1996 to 1997. The Company's policy is to
amortize goodwill over the expected period to be benefited, not exceeding forty
years. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense is primarily due to
the acquisition of animal hospitals and veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
RESTRUCTURING AND ASSET WRITE-DOWN
During 1996, the Company adopted and implemented a restructuring plan
(the "1996 Plan") and recorded a restructuring charge of $5,701,000 and an asset
write-down charge of $9,512,000. The major components of the 1996 Plan included:
(1) the termination of leases, the write-down of intangibles, property and
equipment, and employee terminations in connection with the closure, sale or
consolidation of 12 animal hospitals; (2) the termination of contracts and
leases, the write-down of certain property and equipment and the termination of
employees in connection with the restructuring of the Company's laboratory
operations; and (3) contract terminations and write-down of assets in connection
with the move to common communications and computer systems. Collectively, the
12 hospitals had aggregate revenue of $6,814,000 and net operating loss of
$350,000 for the year ended December 31, 1996. The restructuring of the
laboratory operations consisted primarily of: (i) plans to relocate the
Company's facility in Indiana to Chicago; (ii) the downsizing of its Arizona
operations; (iii) the standardization of laboratory and testing methods
throughout all the Company's laboratories, resulting in the write-down of
equipment that will no longer be utilized; and (iv) the shut-down of a facility
in the Midwest.
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During 1998, actions taken pursuant to the 1996 Plan were as follows:
(a) The Company closed one animal hospital.
(b) The Company shut-down certain computer hardware and software as
part of its migration to common computer systems.
(c) The Company decided that two hospitals would continue to be
operated instead of closed as was originally outlined in the 1996
Plan. The hospitals' local markets improved since the 1996 Plan
was determined, causing the Company's management to revise its
plan.
(d) The Company terminated its attempts to sell one hospital because
it has been unable to negotiate a fair sales price based on the
hospital's operating results.
Reserves of $593,000 related to the three hospitals discussed in (c) and
(d) above were utilized to offset increases in the expected cost to extinguish
lease commitments and contract obligations that were part of the 1996 Plan.
In 1998, asset write-downs of $632,000 were recorded and cash
expenditures of $988,000 were made for the 1996 Plan.
The activity that occurred within the 1996 Plan during 1997 was as
follows:
(a) The Company sold four of its animal hospitals.
(b) The Company's laboratory division relocated its facility in
Indiana to Illinois, downsized its Arizona operations,
substantially completed its standardization of laboratory and
testing methods, and replaced its communications system.
(c) The Company's hospital division completed its evaluation of the
property value at one of its hospitals and replaced certain
equipment and software.
(d) At September 30, 1997, the Company reversed $2,074,000 of the
restructuring reserve established for the 1996 Plan. The events
that triggered the need to reverse a portion of the 1996 Plan
charge were as follows:
(i) A favorable termination of a communications system contract
was negotiated and became effective October 1, 1997.
(ii) A hospital practice was acquired on May 15, 1997 and was
merged into an animal hospital that was scheduled to be
closed. The Company evaluated the performance of the merged
practices during the 1997 third quarter and decided to
rescind its decision to close the animal hospital.
(iii) The Company completed negotiations to terminate a lease
agreement early for one of the hospitals scheduled to be
closed at a favorable amount.
(iv) The Company rescinded its decision to close three other
animal hospitals due to their improved performance.
In 1997, asset write-downs of $2,121,000 were recorded and cash
expenditures of $1,264,000 were made for the 1996 Plan.
At December 31, 1998, $1,392,000 of the restructuring reserve from the
1996 Plan remains on the Company's balance sheet, including $972,000 of lease
obligations which extend through 2014.
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During 1997, the Company reviewed the financial performance of its
hospitals. As a result of this review, an additional 12 hospitals did not meet
the Company's performance standards. Accordingly, the Company adopted phase two
of its restructuring plan (the "1997 Plan"), resulting in restructuring and
asset write-down charges of $2,074,000. The major components of the 1997 Plan
consisted of the termination of leases, amounting to $1,198,000, and the
write-down of intangibles, property and equipment, amounting to $876,000.
Collectively, the 12 hospitals had aggregate revenue of $5,378,000 and net
operating income of $176,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997.
The Company closed three animal hospitals in 1998 pursuant to the 1997
Plan, resulting in the write-off of $299,000 of property and equipment, and cash
expenditures of $81,000 for lease obligations and closing costs.
During 1998, the Company determined that five of the animal hospitals
that were to be sold as part of the 1997 Plan would be kept due to their
improved performance. The $378,000 reserve recorded in the 1997 Plan for these
five hospitals will be utilized for charges expected for the remaining four
animal hospitals to be sold pursuant to the 1997 Plan.
During 1997, the Company, as part of the 1997 Plan, recorded $466,000 of
non-cash write-downs, consisting of a write-down of intangibles.
At December 31, 1998, $1,228,000 of the restructuring reserve from the
1997 Plan remains on the Company's balance sheet, consisting primarily of lease
obligations and non-cash charges pertaining to the sale of four animal
hospitals. The 1997 Plan is expected to be completed by the second quarter of
1999, although certain lease obligations will continue through 2005.
MERGER COSTS
In connection with the Pets' Rx merger in 1996, the Company recorded
costs to complete the transaction amounting to $2,901,000, primarily comprised
of legal, accounting, investment advisor, termination of employment agreements
and severance costs.
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
Operating income increased to $38,834,000 for 1998 from $28,408,000 for
1997, which had increased from a loss of $2,771,000 for 1996. The operating loss
in 1996 includes restructuring charges, asset write-downs and merger costs
totaling $18,114,000, as well as the operating losses of Vet's Choice amounting
to $1,263,000. Excluding these items, operating income would have been
$16,606,000 for 1996. Operating income would have increased $11,802,000 from
1996 to 1997. The increases experienced in 1998 and 1997 are primarily the
result of the increased number of animal hospitals and veterinary diagnostic
laboratories owned and operated by the Company and the addition of the
Consulting Fees. As a percentage of revenues, operating income, excluding the
restructuring charges, asset write-downs, merger costs and Vet's Choice losses,
would have been 9.1% for 1996, 11.9% for 1997 and 13.8% for 1998.
INTEREST INCOME
Interest income decreased to $2,357,000 in 1998 from $4,182,000 for 1997
and $4,487,000 for 1996. The decreases over the three-year period were the
result of decreases in the Company's cash and marketable securities balances
resulting primarily from cash used in acquisitions.
INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest expense was $11,189,000 for 1998, $11,593,000 for 1997 and
$7,812,000 for 1996, representing a decrease of $404,000, or 3.5%, in 1998 and
an increase of $3,781,000, or 48.4%, in 1997. The increase from 1996 to 1997 was
primarily due to increases in the Company's outstanding indebtedness incurred
for acquisitions and the sale of $84,385,000 of 5.25% convertible subordinated
debentures in April 1996.
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INCOME TAXES
Income tax expense was $12,954,000, $9,347,000, and $1,959,000 for 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively. A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes
to the amount computed at the Federal statutory rate for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 1998 is included in Note 11 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company's effective income tax rate for
each of the years was higher than the statutory rate and the Company expects
that its effective income tax rate will be higher than the statutory rate in the
future primarily due to the nondeductibility for income tax purposes of the
amortization of certain goodwill. In addition, the Company's effective tax rate
was higher than the statutory rate in 1996 due to the uncertainty of the
deductibility of the write-down of certain assets, restructuring charges and
acquisition related costs.
MINORITY INTEREST
Minority interest in income of the consolidated subsidiaries was
$780,000, $424,000, and $6,577,000 for 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The
decrease from 1996 to 1997 is primarily due to the Company acquiring the
remaining 49% interest in the Vet Research joint venture and the restructuring
of the Vet's Choice joint venture.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company requires continued access to cash, primarily to fund
acquisitions, reduce long-term debt obligations and to fund property and
equipment additions.
Cash provided by operations during the years ended December 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996 was $27,123,000, $22,674,000 and $1,603,000, respectively. The
increases from 1996 to 1998 are primarily attributable to increases in income as
a result of the growth in the number of facilities operated by the Company,
increases in operating margins, and the addition of the Consulting Fees. The
Company's operating cash flow for 1996 was adversely impacted by the Vet's
Choice joint venture, which had a net cash outflow of $1,715,000. Excluding the
Vet's Choice operations, cash provided by operations in 1996 was $3,318,000.
During 1998, 1997 and 1996, in connection with acquisitions, the Company
used cash in the amounts of $21,378,000 (acquisition of 11 hospitals and one
veterinary diagnostic laboratory), $28,988,000, (acquisition of 15 hospitals,
three veterinary diagnostic laboratories and the remaining interest in Vet
Research) and $27,496,000 (acquisition of 22 hospitals and six veterinary
diagnostic laboratories), respectively. From January 1, 1999 through March 25,
1999, the Company used cash of approximately $2,793,000 to acquire three animal
hospitals and one veterinary diagnostic laboratory. In addition, on March 10,
1999, the Company entered into a merger agreement with AAH Management Corp.
("AAH"), wherein the Company will buy the stock of AAH and assume AAH
liabilities. In connection with the merger, the Company will use approximately
$8.4 million in cash.
During 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Company used $11,678,000, $7,241,000 and
$6,962,000, respectively, to purchase property and equipment and $20,591,000,
$16,198,000 and $11,135,000 to reduce long-term obligations, respectively.
In April 1996, the Company received net proceeds of $82,034,000 related
to the sale, in an offshore offering and concurrent private placement in the
United States, of $84,385,000 of 5.25% convertible subordinated debentures due
in 2006. The debentures, non-callable for three years, are convertible into
approximately 2.5 million shares of the Company's common stock at a rate of
$34.35 per share. Also in 1996 the Company received net proceeds of $13,800,000
in connection with the exercise of 1,962,452 of its redeemable warrants. The
warrants expired in October 1996. In connection with the formation of Vet
Research in March 1995, the Company issued warrants to purchase 363,636 shares
of its common stock at $11.00 per share. During 1996, the Company received
$2,134,000 in connection with the exercise of 194,000 of these warrants. The
warrants expired in the first quarter of 1997.
The Company has achieved its growth in the past, and anticipates it will
continue its growth in the future, through the acquisition of animal hospitals
for cash, stock and notes. Subject to available capital, the Company anticipates
it will complete the acquisition of AAH and an additional 10 to 20 individual
animal hospitals in 1999,
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which will require cash of up to $20 million. In addition, the Company continues
to examine acquisition opportunities in the veterinary laboratory field which
may impose additional cash requirements.
The Company has debt payment obligations related to the Animal Hospital
and Laboratory operations owned as of December 31, 1998, of approximately $17.4
million and $17.6 million in the years ended December 31, 1999 and 2000,
respectively. Interest payments on the convertible debentures amount to
$4,430,000 annually. In addition, the Company is building or has plans to
upgrade, expand or replace facilities for 23 animal hospitals for a total cost
of approximately $10.2 million, as well as to replace or upgrade equipment, as
needed. The Company also expects to continue to upgrade its management
information systems in 1999 for approximately $7.7 million.
On March 23, 1999, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the
Company to repurchase up to $15 million of its common stock on the open market.
As of March 25, 1999, the Company has acquired 54,000 shares for a total
consideration of $804,250.
The Company intends to fund its future cash requirements primarily from
cash on hand, the sale of its marketable securities and internally generated
funds. The Company believes these sources of funds will be sufficient to
continue the Company's operations and planned capital expenditures for at least
the next 12 months. A significant portion of the Company's cash requirements is
determined by the pace and size of its acquisitions.
IMPACT OF YEAR 2000
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE YEAR 2000 ISSUE
The Year 2000 issue is the result of computer hardware and software
language which utilizes two digits rather than four digits to define the
applicable year. As a result, some of the Company's software, hardware,
equipment and building operating systems have date-sensitive software or
embedded chips which may recognize a date using "00" as Year 1900 rather than as
Year 2000, or not recognize the year at all. This could result in system
failures resulting in disruptions in Company operations, including a temporary
inability of the Company to process transactions and customer invoices or engage
in normal business activities.
The Company has determined that it will be required to modify or replace
significant portions of its software, hardware, equipment and building operating
systems so that those systems and equipment will properly function beyond
December 31, 1999. The Company presently believes that with modification or
replacement of certain existing software, hardware, equipment and building
operating systems, the Year 2000 issue should be mitigated. However, if such
modifications and replacements are not completed timely, the Year 2000 issue
could have a material impact on the operations of the Company.
STATE OF READINESS
The Company's plan to resolve its Year 2000 issues involves the
following four phases: (i) completing an inventory of all software, hardware,
equipment and building operating systems ("Inventory"); (ii) assessing the Year
2000 compliance status of all software, hardware, equipment and building
operating systems ("Assessment"); (iii) repairing or replacing software,
hardware, equipment and building operating systems that are determined not to be
Year 2000 compliant ("Repair/Replace"); and (iv) testing software, hardware,
equipment and building operating systems for Year 2000 compliance ("Testing").
The Company will assess each of its three divisions of business operations
(Animal Hospital, Laboratory and VCA Corporate) for Year 2000 compliance.
As of March 25, 1999, the Company has completed its inventory of all
software, hardware, equipment and building operating systems. The Company has
completed its assessment of the IT (Information Technology) systems that could
be significantly affected by the Year 2000 issue. A preliminary assessment of
the non-IT systems and equipment resulted in the determination that the impact
of the Year 2000 issue on such non-IT systems and equipment would not be
material to the Company's overall operations. A final assessment and
determination of non-IT systems and equipment will be performed in April 1999.
There are no significant IT projects that have currently been deferred due to
the Year 2000 efforts.
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The Company's Year 2000 compliance plan includes either upgrades to or
replacement of software, hardware, equipment and building operating systems to
bring all of the Company's systems and equipment into compliance. The Company's
Year 2000 efforts are progressing according to schedule. The status of the
Company's progress, identified by phase and division, is summarized in the table
below:
Estimated
Projected Percentage
Phase Division Start Date Completion Date Complete
----- --------------- -------------- --------------- ----------
Inventory Animal Hospital September 1998 January 1999 100%
VCA Corporate September 1998 January 1999 100%
Laboratory September 1998 January 1999 100%
Assessment Animal Hospital October 1998 April 1999 80%
VCA Corporate October 1998 March 1999 100%
Laboratory September 1998 April 1999 90%
Repair/Replace Animal Hospital February 1999 November 1999 10%
VCA Corporate October 1998 August 1999 60%
Laboratory October 1998 June 1999 90%
Testing Animal Hospital February 1999 November 1999 10%
VCA Corporate October 1998 August 1999 60%
Laboratory October 1998 June 1999 80%
The Company projects that modifications to all software, hardware,
equipment and building operating systems will be Year 2000 compliant by November
1999. It is expected that this will allow sufficient time for further
modifications, if necessary, prior to the arrival of the Year 2000. There is no
certainty that the schedule will proceed according to plan or will not be
delayed. Specific factors that might cause such delays include the availability
of personnel and the ability to locate and correct all relevant IT and non-IT
systems and equipment.
The Company has completed the process of contacting material third
parties (suppliers, vendors and subcontractors) to determine the extent to which
the Company may be vulnerable as a result of a failure by any of these third
parties to remedy their own Year 2000 issues. The Company has requested all
material third parties to respond to a questionnaire, which was sent by the
Company, on the status of their Year 2000 compliance, and to provide written
assurance that they will be Year 2000 compliant. As of March 25, 1999, the
Company has received approximately 65% of the required responses from material
third parties. Most of the responses received from third parties indicated that
they are in process of evaluating their Year 2000 compliance. The Company
expects to evaluate and verify the status of all material third-party Year 2000
compliance status through follow-up questionnaires, letters and phone calls. The
Company is uncertain whether the risks of non-Year 2000 compliance by third
parties will materially affect the Company's operations or financial position.
The Company has determined it is not substantially reliant on any one vendor or
supplier and expects to find alternative resources in order to continue to
conduct daily operations. However, there can be no assurance that material third
parties will not suffer a Year 2000 business disruption which could have an
adverse effect on the Company's results of operations or financial position.
COSTS TO ADDRESS YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
The Company will utilize both internal and external resources to
inventory, assess, repair or replace and test the software, hardware, equipment
and building operating systems needed for Year 2000 modifications. The Company
has prepared a budget relating to all aspects for Year 2000 compliance. This
budget accounts for all labor, hardware, software, maintenance and equipment,
including Animal Hospital's medical billing systems, VCA Corporate's accounting
system and Laboratory's billing and diagnostic systems.
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Expenditures for Year 2000 compliance costs approximated $365,000 in
1998. The Company's expenditures in 1999 through March 25, 1999 amounted to
approximately $600,000. The Company currently has contractual obligations
amounting to approximately $1.5 million and projects spending an additional $5.6
million in 1999. The total 1999 budget for the Year 2000 project is estimated at
approximately $7.7 million. There can be no assurance that the actual cost of
Year 2000 correction will not materially exceed these estimates. The projected
costs will be funded through normal operations and leasing of hardware and
software. Additionally, the Company has recently determined that certain
software, hardware, equipment and building operating systems will not have
useful lives beyond 1999 because of Year 2000 system issues. This will result in
shorter useful lives than originally projected. Total depreciation on such
software, hardware, equipment and building operating systems in 1999 is
estimated to amount to $1.6 million, which includes $975,000 of additional
accelerated depreciation as a result of the shorter projected useful lives.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH YEAR 2000 ISSUES
Unless the Company completes the planned upgrades and implementation
software, hardware, equipment and building operating systems, the Year 2000
issue will pose significant operational problems. If such conversions are not
made, or are not completed in a timely manner, the Year 2000 issue could have a
material impact on the operations of the Company. Failure to be Year 2000
compliant could result in potential unidentified liabilities, a decline in
billing and collections, and the Company's inability to perform necessary
day-to-day functions. At this time, the estimated lost revenues and the impact
on the Company's operations and financial position cannot be determined. The
following describes the most reasonably likely worst case Year 2000 scenarios
for each division of the Company:
(a) The Company's animal hospitals' medical billing systems could
cease to function properly, resulting in an inability of the
Company to access data or operate the computerized cash balancing
features. Additionally, the medical non-IT systems and equipment
could fail, resulting in an inability of the Company to provide
certain services for clients.
(b) The Company's accounting and payroll systems could fail or
malfunction, resulting in data files to become corrupted on a
Company-wide basis. Such failure or malfunction would also
prevent the accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll
functions from operating properly, thus resulting in the
inability to produce checks and could possibly delay billings and
cash collections.
(c) The Company's laboratories could experience problems if the
computer interface with the lab equipment and/or fax machines
fail. This would prohibit the computerization of lab reports and
results, resulting in a delay in reporting results to clients.
Certain non-IT medical systems and equipment also could fail,
resulting in an inability of the Company to provide certain
services for customers.
(d) In addition, if any material third parties fail to appropriately
remedy their Year 2000 issues, such failure could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's daily operations, results of
operations and financial position.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
The Company's Year 2000 compliance plan will ultimately include the
development of contingency plans for each division in the event that the Company
has not completed all of its compliance phases in a timely manner or as a result
of any third parties who are unable to provide goods or services essential to
the Company's operations. The Company is in the process of developing the
appropriate contingency plans should it fail to meet its Year 2000 compliance
objectives by December 31, 1999. The Company expects to establish formal
contingency plans for each division by June 1999.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June, 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities," (SFAS 133"), which is
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effective for all fiscal quarters of fiscal years beginning after June 15,
1999. SFAS 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative
instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other
contracts, (collectively referred to as derivatives) and for hedging activities.
It requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or
liabilities in the statement of financial position and measures those
instruments at fair market value. The Company has not determined what impact the
adoption of SFAS 133 will have on its financial position or results of
operations.
In April 1998, the American Institute Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 98-5, "Reporting on Costs of Start-up Activities",
("SOP 98-5"), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
1998. SOP 98-5 requires that costs of start-up activities and organization costs
be expensed as incurred. The adoption of SOP 98-5 will have no material effect
on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
In March 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS 128"). SFAS 128 revises and
simplifies the computation for earnings per share and requires certain
additional disclosures. The adoption of SFAS 128 did not have a material effect
on the Company's financial position or its results of operations.
In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," ("SFAS 130"), which was
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. SFAS 130 defines
comprehensive income as all changes in equity during a period, except those
resulting from investment by owners and/or distribution to owners. The Company
adopted SFAS 130 in the first quarter of 1998. The adoption of SFAS 130 resulted
in additional disclosure and presentation in the financial statements for the
year ended December 31, 1998.
In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information" ("SFAS 131"). SFAS 131 requires companies to report selected
financial information by segments as defined in SFAS 131. The Company adopted
SFAS 131 with its annual financial statements for the year ended December 31,
1998, as dictated by the requirements of SFAS 131. The adoption of SFAS 131 did
not have a material effect on the Company's financial position or its results of
operations.
The Emerging Issues Task Force of the FASB has recently issued its
Consensus Opinion 97-2 ("EITF 97-2"). EITF 97-2 addresses certain specific
matters pertaining to the contractual management relationships between entities
that operate in the health care industry, which includes the practices of
medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. The Company adopted EITF 97-2 with
its annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1998 as dictated
by the requirements of EITF 97-2. The adoption of EITF 97-2 did not have a
material effect on the Company's financial position or its results of
operations. The Company's financial statements for the years ended December 31,
1997 and 1996 have been restated to conform to the 1998 presentation.
SEASONALITY AND QUARTERLY FLUCTUATIONS
Although not readily detectable because of the impact of acquisitions,
the Company's operations are somewhat seasonal. In particular, revenues at the
Company's Animal Hospital and Laboratory operations historically have been
greater in the second and third quarters than in the first and fourth quarters.
The demand for the Company's veterinary services are significantly higher during
warmer months because pets spend a greater amount of time outdoors, where they
are more likely to be injured and are more susceptible to disease and parasites.
In addition, use of veterinary services may be affected by levels of infestation
of fleas, heartworms and ticks, the number of daylight hours, as well as general
economic conditions. A substantial portion of the Company's costs are fixed and
do not vary with the level of demand. Consequently, net income for the second
and third quarters, at individual animal hospitals, generally has been higher
than that experienced in the first and fourth quarters.
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The following table sets forth revenues, net income and diluted earnings per
share for each of the quarters in 1998 and 1997 (in thousands, except per share
amounts):
Quarter Ended
----------------------------------------------
Mar 31, June 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31,
1998 1998 1998 1998
------- ------- ------- -------
1998
Revenues ................... $62,069 $74,680 $74,599 $69,691
Net income ................. 2,307 6,082 4,841 3,038
Diluted earnings per share.. 0.11 0.28 0.22 0.14
Quarter Ended
----------------------------------------------
Mar 31, June 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31,
1997 1997 1997 1997
------- ------- ------- -------
1997
Revenues .................. $55,428 $62,348 $61,230 $56,907
Net income ................ 1,410 4,351 3,415 2,050
Diluted earnings per share 0.07 0.21 0.16 0.10
INFLATION
Historically, the Company's operations have not been materially affected
by inflation. There can be no assurance that the Company's operations will not
be affected by inflation in the future.
RISK FACTORS
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR GROWTH
Since January 1, 1996, we have experienced rapid growth and expansion.
In 1996, we acquired The Pet Practice Inc. ("Pet Practice"), Pets' Rx, Inc.
("Pets' Rx"), as well as 22 individual animal hospitals and six veterinary
diagnostic laboratories. In 1997, we acquired 15 animal hospitals and three
veterinary diagnostic laboratories. In 1998, we acquired 11 animal hospitals and
one veterinary diagnostic laboratory. As a result of these acquisitions, our
revenues grew from $181.4 million in 1996 to $235.9 million in 1997 to $281.0
million in 1998. In 1999, through March 25, 1999, we acquired three animal
hospitals and one veterinary diagnostic laboratory. On March 10, 1999, we
entered into a merger agreement with AAH Management Corp. to acquire 15
veterinary practices in the New York and New Jersey markets, effective April 1,
1999.
We have experienced, and will continue to experience, a strain on our
administrative and operating resources. Our growth has also increased the
demands on our information systems and controls. We cannot guarantee that we
will be able to identify, consummate and integrate acquired companies without
substantial delays, costs or other problems. Once integrated, these acquired
companies may not be profitable. In addition, acquisitions involve several other
risks including:
o adverse short-term effects on our reported operating results
o impairments of goodwill and other intangible assets
o the diversion of management's attention
o the dependence on retention, hiring and training of key personnel
o the amortization of intangible assets
o risks associated with unanticipated problems or legal liabilities
Our failure to manage our growth effectively will have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations and our ability to execute our
business strategy.
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DEPENDENCE ON ACQUISITIONS FOR GROWTH - IF WE DO NOT ACHIEVE OUR ACQUISITION
PROGRAM STRATEGY OUR GROWTH WILL BE DIMINISHED.
We plan to grow primarily by acquisitions of established animal
hospitals. Our acquisition strategy involves a number of factors which are
difficult to control including:
o the identification of potential acquisition candidates
o the willingness of the owners to sell on reasonable terms
o the satisfactory completion of negotiations
o minimal disruption to our existing operations
Also, our acquisitions may be subject to pre-merger or post-merger
review by governmental authorities for antitrust and other legal compliance. Any
adverse regulatory decision may negatively affect our operations by assessing
fines or penalties or requiring us to divest one or more of our operations.
Our acquisition strategy may cause us to divert our time from operating
matters, which may cause the loss of business and personnel. There are also
possible adverse effects on earnings resulting from the possible loss of
acquired customer bases, amortization of goodwill created in purchase
transactions and the contingent and latent risks associated with the past
operations of and other unanticipated problems arising in the acquired business.
If we have sufficient capital, our acquisition strategy involves the acquisition
of at least 15 to 25 facilities per year. Our success is dependent upon our
ability to timely identify, acquire, integrate and manage profitably acquired
businesses. If we cannot do this, our business and growth may be harmed.
SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE - OUR SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INDEBTEDNESS COULD
ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL HEALTH.
We have a significant amount of indebtedness. We incurred our debt
primarily in connection with the acquisition of our animal hospitals and
veterinary diagnostic laboratories and through the sale of the $84,385,000 of
5.25% convertible debentures in April 1996. In certain instances, the debt we
incur in connection with the acquisition of animal hospitals is secured by the
assets of the acquired hospital. At December 31, 1998, we have consolidated
long-term obligations (including current portion) of $159.8 million and our
ratio of long-term debt (including current portion) to total stockholders'
equity was 79%. We will require substantial capital to finance our anticipated
growth, so we expect to incur additional debt in the future.
WE HAVE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR INTANGIBLE ASSETS
A substantial portion of our assets consists of intangible
assets, including goodwill and covenants not to compete relating to the
acquisition of animal hospitals and veterinary diagnostic laboratories. At
December 31, 1998, our balance sheet reflected $261.2 million of intangible
assets of these types which is a substantial portion of our total assets of
$392.9 million at that date. We expect that the aggregate amount of goodwill and
other intangible assets on our balance sheet will increase as a result of future
acquisitions. An increase will have an adverse impact on earnings because
goodwill and other intangible assets will be amortized against earnings. If VCA
is sold or liquidated, we cannot assure you that the value of these intangible
assets will be realized.
We continually evaluate whether events and circumstances have
occurred that suggest that we may not be able to recover the remaining balance
of our intangible assets or that the estimated useful lives of our intangible
assets has changed. If we determine that certain intangible assets have been
impaired, we will reduce the carrying value of those intangible assets, which
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations during the
period in which we recognize the reduction. Also, if we determine that the
estimated useful life of certain intangible assets has decreased, we will
accelerate depreciation or amortization of that asset, which could have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations. We recognized a write-down
of goodwill and related assets in the amount of $9.5 million as part of our
restructuring plan adopted during the third and fourth quarters of 1996. We may
have further write-downs in future periods.
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FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY RESULTS - OUR OPERATING RESULTS VARY SIGNIFICANTLY
FROM QUARTER TO QUARTER WHICH COULD IMPACT OUR STOCK PRICE.
Our operating results may fluctuate significantly in the future. We
believe that quarter to quarter or annual comparisons of our operating results
are not a good indication of our future performance. Historically, we have
experienced higher sales in the second and third quarters than in the first and
fourth quarters. The demand for our veterinary services is higher during warmer
months because pets spend a greater amount of time outdoors, where they are more
likely to be injured and are more susceptible to disease and parasites. Also,
use of veterinary services may be affected by levels of infestation of fleas,
heartworms and ticks, and the number of daylight hours, as well as general
economic conditions. A substantial portion of our costs are fixed and do not
vary with the level of demand for our services. Therefore, net income for the
second and third quarters at individual animal hospitals and veterinary
diagnostic laboratories generally is higher than in the first and fourth
quarters.
OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON KEY MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT
Our success will continue to depend on our executive officers and other
key management personnel, particularly our Chief Executive Officer, Robert L.
Antin. VCA has employment contracts with Mr. Robert Antin, Mr. Arthur Antin,
Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Neil Tauber, Senior Vice President. Each of
these agreements terminates in January 2002. VCA has no other employment
contracts with its officers. None of VCA's officers is a party to
non-competition covenants which extend beyond the term of their employment with
VCA. VCA does not maintain any key man life insurance coverage on the lives of
its senior management. As we continue to grow, we will continue to hire, appoint
or otherwise change senior managers and other key executives. We cannot assure
you that we will be able to retain our executive officers and key personnel or
attract additional qualified members to management in the future. Also, the
success of certain of our acquisitions may depend on our ability to retain
selling veterinarians of the acquired companies. If we lose the services of any
key manager or selling veterinarian, our business may be materially adversely
affected.
COMPETITION
The animal health care industry is highly competitive. We believe that
the primary competitive factors in connection with animal hospitals include:
o convenient location
o recommendation of friends
o reasonable fees
o quality of care
o convenient hours
Our primary competitors for our animal hospitals in most markets are individual
practitioners or small, regional multi-clinic practices. Also, regional pet care
companies and certain national companies, including operators of super-stores,
are developing multi-regional networks of animal hospitals in markets in which
we operate. We believe that the primary competitive factors in connection with
veterinary diagnostic laboratories include:
o quality
o price
o time required to report results
There are many clinical laboratory companies which provide a broad range of
laboratory testing services in the same markets we service. Also, several
national companies provide on-site diagnostic equipment that allows
veterinarians to perform their own laboratory tests.
OUR BUSINESS IS SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT REGULATION
The laws of many states prohibit veterinarians from splitting fees with
non-veterinarians and prohibit business corporations from providing, or holding
themselves out as providers of, veterinary medical care. These laws
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29
vary from state to state and are enforced by the courts and by regulatory
authorities with broad discretion. While we seek to comply with these laws in
each state in which we operate, we cannot assure you that, given varying and
uncertain interpretations of these laws, we are in compliance with these
restrictions in all states. A determination that we violate any applicable
restriction on the practice of veterinary medicine in any state in which we
operate could have a material adverse effect on our operations if we are unable
to restructure our operations to comply with the requirements of those states.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
The Board of Directors is authorized to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of
preferred stock. The Board also is authorized to determine the price, rights,
preferences and privileges of those shares without any further vote or action by
the stockholders. The rights of the holders of any preferred stock may adversely
affect the rights of holders of common stock. Our ability to issue preferred
stock gives us flexibility concerning possible acquisitions and financings, but
it could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our
outstanding voting stock. In addition, any preferred stock to be issued may have
other rights, including economic rights, senior to the common stock which could
have a material adverse effect on the market value of the common stock.
We are subject to Delaware laws that could have the effect of delaying,
deterring or preventing a change in control of the Company. One of these laws
prohibits us from engaging in a business combination with any interested
stockholder for a period of three years from the date the person became an
interested stockholder, unless some conditions are met. In addition, provisions
of our Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws could have the effect of
discouraging potential takeover attempts or making it more difficult for
stockholders to change management. Also, H.J. Heinz Company has an option to
purchase our interest in the Vet's Choice joint venture if there is a change in
control (as defined in that agreement), which may have the same effect. As a
result, stockholders may not have the opportunity to sell their shares at a
substantial premium over the market price of the shares.
In addition, we have adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan (see Note 6 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). Under the Rights Plan, we
distributed a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of our common
stock. These rights will cause substantial dilution to the ownership of a person
or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by our Board of
Directors and may have the effect of deterring hostile takeover attempts.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE MAY IMPACT OUR STOCK PRICE
Future sales by existing stockholders could adversely affect the
prevailing market price of the common stock. As of March 25, 1999, VCA had
21,016,250 shares of common stock outstanding (including 281,165 shares held in
treasury), most of which are either freely tradable in the public market without
restriction or tradable in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
There are also 9,145 shares which VCA is obligated to issue in connection with
the Pets' Rx and Pet Practice mergers and certain acquisitions; 3,821,007 shares
of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options; and
2,456,623 shares issuable upon conversion of convertible debentures. Shares may
also be issued under price guarantees delivered in connection with acquisitions.
VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE
Historically, our stock price has been volatile. Factors that may have
significant impact on the market price of our stock include:
o variations in quarterly operating results
o litigation involving VCA
o announcements by VCA or its competitors
o general conditions in the animal health care industry
The stock market in recent years has fluctuated in price and volume
significantly. These fluctuations have been unrelated or disproportionate to the
operating performance of publicly traded companies. Our future earnings
29
30
and stock price may be subject to significant volatility, particularly on a
quarterly basis. Shortfalls in our revenues or earnings in any given period
relative to the levels expected by securities analysts could immediately,
significantly and adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
PENDING LITIGATION
The Company and certain of its current and former officers and directors
were named as defendants in two purported class action lawsuits filed in Los
Angeles Superior Court (Marilyn J. Thompson, et al. v. Veterinary Centers of
America, Inc., et al., filed April 1, 1997, and John Martin v. Veterinary
Centers of America, Inc., et al., filed August 8, 1997), and a purported class
action lawsuit filed on June 9, 1997, in the United States District court for
the Central District of California, entitled Marilyn J. Thompson, et al. v.
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc., et al. In addition, certain of the
Company's current and former directors and officers were named as defendants in
a lawsuit filed on September 26, 1997, in the Superior Court of California for
the County of Los Angeles, entitled Kent E. Mason IRA SEP v. Robert L. Antin, et
al.
Settlements have been reached with respect to these lawsuits and have
been approved by the respective courts in which the actions were pending. Under
the settlement, the claims against VCA and all other defendants will be
dismissed without presumption or admission of any liability or wrongdoing. The
full amount of the settlement and associated legal costs have either been
previously reserved or will be covered by VCA's insurance carriers.
The Company and certain of its current and former officers and directors
were named as defendants in lawsuits filed in both Los Angeles Superior Court
and the United States District Court for the Central District of California,
each entitled Pegasus Holdings and Pacific Strategic Funds Group, Inc. v.
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc., et al., each filed on June 19, 1998. These
lawsuits primarily involve claims alleging securities fraud. Since this action
is in its very preliminary stages, we are unable to assess the likelihood of an
adverse result. We cannot assure you regarding the outcome of these lawsuits.
Our inability to resolve the claims that are the basis for the lawsuits or to
prevail in any related litigation could result in our payment of substantial
monetary damages for which we may not be adequately insured, which could have
material adverse effect on our business, financial position and result of
operations. In any event, our defense of these lawsuits may result in
substantial cost to VCA, as well as significant dedication of management
resources, as we intend to vigorously defend against them.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
-----------------
PAGE
----
Report of Independent Public Accountants ............................................................. 32
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 ......................................... 33
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 ........... 34
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income
for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996............................................... 35
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 ........... 36
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ........................................................... 38
31
32
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Veterinary Centers of America,
Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as
of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Veterinary Centers
of America, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
\s\ Arthur Andersen LLP
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Los Angeles, California
February 18, 1999
32
33
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PAR VALUES)
A S S E T S
1998 1997
--------- ---------
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents ...................................... $ 8,977 $ 19,882
Marketable securities .......................................... 33,358 51,371
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for uncollectible
accounts of $6,532 and $5,128 at December 31, 1998 and 1997,
respectively .................................................... 11,436 8,964
Inventory ...................................................... 4,608 4,125
Prepaid expenses and other ..................................... 3,289 2,357
Deferred income taxes .......................................... 4,111 3,068
Prepaid income taxes ........................................... 5,040 5,634
--------- ---------
Total current assets .......................................... 70,819 95,401
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET ..................................... 50,140 39,985
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net .................................................. 256,505 239,117
Covenants not to compete, net .................................. 4,722 4,725
Notes receivable ............................................... 2,088 1,921
Investment in Veterinary Pet Insurance ......................... 5,000 1,000
Deferred costs and other ....................................... 3,609 3,940
--------- ---------
$ 392,883 $ 386,089
========= =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term obligations ....................... $ 17,431 $ 19,369
Accounts payable ............................................... 5,208 6,267
Accrued payroll and related liabilities ........................ 5,426 7,502
Accrued restructuring costs .................................... 2,834 4,996
Other accrued liabilities ...................................... 8,447 9,837
--------- ---------
Total current liabilities ..................................... 39,346 47,971
LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS, less current portion ..................... 142,356 154,506
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES ........................................... 5,800 1,186
MINORITY INTEREST ............................................... 2,696 1,575
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock; $.001 par value; authorized -- 60,000 shares:
Issued and outstanding, including shares in treasury
-- 20,816 and 20,320 at December 31, 1998 and 1997,
respectively ............................................... 20 20
Additional paid-in capital ..................................... 202,850 196,745
Retained earnings (deficit) .................................... 3,380 (12,888)
Other comprehensive income - unrealized loss on investments .... (468) --
Notes receivable from stockholders ............................. (617) (546)
Less cost of common stock held in treasury -- 227 shares at both
December 31, 1998 and 1997 ................................ (2,480) (2,480)
--------- ---------
Total stockholders' equity .................................... 202,685 180,851
--------- ---------
$ 392,883 $ 386,089
========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated balance sheets.
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VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
1998 1997 1996
-------- --------- ---------
Revenues .......................................... $281,039 $ 235,913 $ 181,428
Direct costs ...................................... 209,380 178,630 138,854
-------- --------- ---------
Gross profit ................................. 71,659 57,283 42,574
Selling, general and administrative expense ....... 19,693 17,676 19,735
Depreciation and amortization expense ............. 13,132 11,199 7,496
Merger costs ...................................... -- -- 2,901
Restructuring charges ............................. -- 2,074 5,701
Write-down of assets .............................. -- -- 9,512
Reversal of the 1996 Plan restructuring charges ... -- (2,074) --
-------- --------- ---------
Operating income (loss) ...................... 38,834 28,408 (2,771)
Interest income ................................... 2,357 4,182 4,487
Interest expense .................................. 11,189 11,593 7,812
-------- --------- ---------
Income (loss) before minority interest and
provision for
income taxes .............................. 30,002 20,997 (6,096)
Minority interest in income of subsidiaries ....... 780 424 6,577
-------- --------- ---------
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes 29,222 20,573 (12,673)
Provision for income taxes ........................ 12,954 9,347 1,959
-------- --------- ---------
Net income (loss) ............................ $ 16,268 $ 11,226 $ (14,632)
======== ========= =========
Basic earnings (loss) per common share ....... $ 0.80 $ 0.57 $ (0.92)
======== ========= =========
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share ..... $ 0.74 $ 0.53 $ (0.92)
======== ========= =========
Shares used for computing basic earnings
(loss) per share ........................ 20,350 19,626 15,942
======== ========= =========
Shares used for computing diluted earnings
(loss) per share ........................ 21,940 21,013 15,942
======== ========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
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VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996
(IN THOUSANDS)
Notes
Common Stock Additional Treasury Stock Receivable
----------------- Paid-In ----------------- From
Shares Amount Capital Shares Amount Stockholders
------- ------ -------- ------ ------ ------------
BALANCES, December 31, 1995 .................. $12,826 $13 $ 99,685 -- $ -- $--
Net loss ................................... -- -- -- -- -- --
Sale of common stock ....................... 8 -- 207 -- -- --
Exercise of redeemable warrants ............ 1,962 2 13,798 -- -- --
Exercise of warrants issued in
connection with the Vet Research joint
venture ................................. 194 -- 2,134 -- -- --
Exercise of stock options .................. 79 -- 337 -- -- --
Business acquisitions ...................... 4,120 5 74,814 -- -- --
Conversion of convertible debt ............. 6 -- 54 -- -- --
Settlement of guaranteed purchase price
contingently payable in cash or
common stock ............................. 9 -- -- -- -- --
Purchase of treasury shares ................ -- -- -- (78) (724) --
Issuance of stock in settlement of
employment obligations ................... 45 -- 1,138 -- -- --
------ -- ------- ---- ------ ----
BALANCES, December 31, 1996 .................. 19,249 20 192,167 (78) (724) --
Net income ................................. -- -- -- -- -- --
Exercise of stock options .................. 278 -- 2,455 -- -- (546)
Business acquisitions and earn-outs ........ 176 -- 2,122 -- -- --
Settlement of guaranteed purchase price
contingently payable in cash or
common stock ............................. 34 -- -- -- -- --
Conversion of preferred stock to common
stock .................................... 583 -- 1 -- -- --
Purchase of treasury shares ................ -- -- -- (149) (1,756) --
------ -- ------- ---- ------ ----
BALANCES, December 31, 1997 .................. 20,320 20 196,745 (227) (2,480) (546)
Net income ................................. -- -- -- -- -- --
Other comprehensive income -- unrealized loss
on investments (No tax benefit recognized) . -- -- -- -- -- --
Comprehensive income ......................... -- -- -- -- -- --
Exercise of stock options .................. 194 -- 2,037 -- -- --
Interest on Notes .......................... -- -- -- -- -- (71)
Business acquisitions and earn-outs ........ 174 -- 3,147 -- -- --
Conversion of convertible debt ............. 12 -- 85 -- -- --
Settlement of guaranteed purchase price
contingently payable in cash or common
stock ..................................... 21 -- -- -- -- --
Restricted stock bonus ..................... 95 -- 836 -- -- --
BALANCES, December 31, 1998 .................. $20,816 $20 $202,850 $(227) $(2,480) $(617)
======= === ======== ===== ======= =====
Accumulated
Retained Other
Earnings Comprehensive Comprehensive
(Deficit) Loss Income
--------- ------------- -------------
BALANCES, December 31, 1995 .................. $ (9,482) $-- $--
Net loss ................................... (14,632) -- (14,632)
Sale of common stock ....................... -- -- --
Exercise of redeemable warrants ............ -- -- --
Exercise of warrants issued in
connection with the Vet Research joint
venture ................................. -- -- --
Exercise of stock options .................. -- -- --
Business acquisitions ...................... -- -- --
Conversion of convertible debt ............. -- -- --
Settlement of guaranteed purchase price
contingently payable in cash or
common stock ............................. -- -- --
Purchase of treasury shares ................ -- -- --
Issuance of stock in settlement of
employment obligations ................... -- -- --
------- ----- -------
BALANCES, December 31, 1996 .................. (24,114) -- --
Net income ................................. 11,226 -- 11,226
Exercise of stock options .................. -- -- --
Business acquisitions and earn-outs ........ -- -- --
Settlement of guaranteed purchase price
contingently payable in cash or
common stock ............................. -- -- --
Conversion of preferred stock to common
stock .................................... -- -- --
Purchase of treasury shares ................ -- -- --
------- ----- -------
BALANCES, December 31, 1997 .................. (12,888) --
Net income ................................. 16,268 -- 16,268
Other comprehensive income -- unrealized loss
on investments (No tax benefit recognized) . -- (468) (468)
-------
Comprehensive income ......................... -- -- $15,800
Exercise of stock options .................. -- -- =======
Interest on Notes .......................... -- --
Business acquisitions and earn-outs ........ -- --
Conversion of convertible debt ............. -- --
Settlement of guaranteed purchase price
contingently payable in cash or common
stock ..................................... -- --
Restricted stock bonus ..................... -- --
BALANCES, December 31, 1998 .................. $ 3,380 $(468)
======== =====
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996
(IN THOUSANDS)
1998 1997 1996
-------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss) .......................................... $ 16,268 $ 11,226 $ (14,632)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
provided
by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization ............................ 13,132 11,199 7,496
Provision for uncollectible accounts ..................... 2,898 2,726 1,844
Amortization of debt discount ............................ 431 392 290
Restructuring costs and asset write-downs ................ -- -- 15,213
Minority interest in income of subsidiaries .............. 780 424 6,577
Distributions to minority interest partners .............. (627) (424) (7,292)
Issuance of common stock in settlement of employment
obligations ............................................ -- -- 1,138
Increase in accounts receivable, net ..................... (3,749) (3,176) (2,573)
Decrease (increase) in inventory ......................... (242) 201 (2,111)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid income taxes .............. 594 (3,497) (1,643)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other ........ (1,061) 655 (231)
Decrease (increase) in deferred income tax asset ......... (1,043) 615 1,249
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued
liabilities ........................................... (4,872) 1,147 (2,421)
Increase (decrease) in deferred income tax liability ..... 4,614 1,186 (1,301)
-------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities ................ 27,123 22,674 1,603
-------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired .............. (21,378) (28,988) (27,496)
Property and equipment additions, net .................... (11,678) (7,241) (6,962)
Investments in marketable securities ..................... (44,902) (102,363) (249,934)
Proceeds from sales or maturities of marketable securities 62,447 124,298 218,783
Proceeds from the sale of property equipment ............. 239 153 209
Capital contribution of minority interest partners ....... 13 246 990
Capital distribution to minority interest partner ........ -- (1,318) --
Investment in Veterinary Pet Insurance ................... (4,000) (1,000) --
-------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities .................... (19,259) (16,213) (64,410)
-------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of convertible subordinated
debentures ............................................... -- -- 82,034
Reduction of long-term obligations and notes payable ..... (20,591) (16,198) (11,135)
Payments received on notes receivable .................... 161 110 379
Advances for notes receivable not related to sale of ..... --
assets ................................................. (281) (265) --
Payments on guaranteed purchase price contingently
payable in cash or common stock ........................ (95) -- --
Net proceeds from sale of common stock ................... -- -- 207
Net proceeds from exercise of redeemable warrants ........ -- -- 13,800
Proceeds from exercise of warrants issued in connection
with Vet Research joint venture ........................ -- -- 2,134
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock option
plans .................................................. 2,037 1,909 337
Purchase of treasury stock ............................... -- (1,756) (724)
-------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities ...... (18,769) (16,200) 87,032
-------- --------- ---------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (10,905) (9,739) 24,225
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR .............. 19,882 29,621 5,396
-------- --------- ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR .................... $ 8,977 $ 19,882 $ 29,621
======== ========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
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VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996
(CONTINUED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
1998 1997 1996
-------- -------- ---------
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW
INFORMATION:
Interest paid ..................................... $ 11,301 $ 10,900 $ 6,828
Income taxes paid ................................. 10,944 9,664 3,774
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
In connection with acquisitions, assets acquired
and liabilities assumed were as follows:
Fair value of assets acquired .................... $ 30,740 $ 72,331 $ 146,756
Less consideration given:
Cash paid ...................................... (20,255) (28,880) (25,345)
Cash paid in settlement of assumed liabilities . (812) (108) (2,151)
Common stock issued ............................ (3,100) (2,122) (74,819)
-------- -------- ---------
Liabilities assumed including notes payable issued $ 6,573 $ 41,221 $ 44,441
======== ======== =========
Non-cash capital contribution of minority
interest partners .............................. $ -- $ -- $ 295
======== ======== =========
Issuance of common stock in exchange
for convertible debt ........................... $ -- $ -- $ 54
======== ======== =========
Non-cash increase in long-term obligations due to
purchase of equipment and building ............. $ -- $ -- $ 510
======== ======== =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
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38
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998
1. THE COMPANY
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. ("VCA" or the "Company"), a Delaware
corporation, was founded in 1986 and is a leading animal health care company.
The Company has established a premier position in two core businesses, animal
hospitals and veterinary diagnostic laboratories. In addition, the Company owns
a partnership interest in a joint venture with Heinz Pet Products ("HPP"), which
markets and distributes premium pet foods. The Company also has an investment in
Veterinary Pet Insurance, Inc., the nation's largest pet health insurance
company. The Company operates one of the largest networks of free-standing, full
service animal hospitals in the country and one of the largest networks of
veterinary-exclusive diagnostic laboratories in the nation.
In 1993, the Company began to expand the scope of its Operations by
launching into the veterinary diagnostic laboratory and premium pet food
markets. The integration of the veterinary care, veterinary diagnostic
laboratory and premium pet food markets is the foundation of the Company's
business strategy to leverage its access to its primary customers, veterinarians
and pet owners. From 1993 through 1995, the Company acquired and integrated into
its operations 36 animal hospitals. In 1996, the Company completed two
significant acquisitions, which more than doubled the Company's animal hospital
operations. Pets' Rx, Inc. ("Pets' Rx") was acquired in June 1996 (16 hospitals)
in a business combination accounted for as a pooling of interests, and The Pet
Practice, Inc. ("Pet Practice") was acquired in July 1996 (84 hospitals). The
Company made these acquisitions in order to promote the growth of the Company's
hospital network, broaden the geographic scope of the Company's operations, and
to take advantage of synergies that the Company believes exist between its
business lines. In addition to the two significant 1996 acquisitions, the
Company has purchased 46 animal hospitals in the three years ended December 31,
1998. At December 31, 1998, the Company owned or operated 168 animal hospitals,
throughout 26 states, as detailed in the following tables:
Western States Central States Eastern States
-------------------- ------------------- --------------------
Alaska 4 Illinois 14 Connecticut 2
Arizona 1 Indiana 7 Delaware 3
California 39 Michigan 12 Florida 19
Colorado 2 Nebraska 1 Georgia 1
Hawaii 1 Ohio 4 Maryland 8
Nevada 6 Massachusetts 7
New Mexico 3 New Jersey 5
Texas 8 New York 1
Utah 2 North Carolina 1
Pennsylvania 11
Virginia 5
West Virginia 1
--- --- ---
Totals 66 38 64
=== === ===
In 1994, the Company expanded its veterinary diagnostic laboratory
operations by acquiring a 70% interest in Professional Animal Laboratory
("PAL"). In 1995, the Company acquired the remaining 30% of PAL. Also in 1995,
the Company acquired a 51% interest in Vet Research Laboratories, LLC ("Vet
Research"), and acquired three smaller regional veterinary diagnostic
laboratories. The Company's laboratory operations continued to grow with the
acquisition of Southwest Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory, Inc. ("Southwest")
in 1996. Throughout 1996 and 1997, an additional eight laboratories were
acquired, as well as the remaining 49% interest in Vet Research in January 1997.
In February 1998, the Company acquired certain assets of the veterinary
diagnostic laboratory business of LabCorp for $10.9 million. This purchase from
LabCorp has enhanced the Company's laboratory operations' presence in the
Midwest and East coast and helped in the growth of the Test Express laboratory
business. Test Express is a segment of the Company's laboratory operations that
utilizes Federal Express to service our clients in remote areas. At December 31,
1998, the Company's network of veterinary diagnostic laboratories consisted of
12 full-service laboratories located throughout the country.
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39
In 1993, the Company entered into a joint venture, Vet's Choice, with
HPP to develop, manufacture and market a full-line of premium pet food. Vet's
Choice was primarily engaged in developing and testing the formulas for its
first product line, Select Balance, and building a marketing infrastructure in
anticipation of commencing distribution in 1994. Vet's Choice began to generate
revenue in 1994 with the launch of Select Balance. In 1995, Vet's Choice began
selling its second product line, Select Care. Through 1996, the Company, as
majority owner and managing general partner, performed day-to-day management for
all aspects of Vet's Choice operations, including sales, marketing,
administration and distribution. As a result of the acquisition of two other
premium pet food companies during 1996, HPP obtained expanded capabilities to
manufacture, market and distribute premium pet foods. In order for the Vet's
Choice business to benefit from the economies of scales in marketing, sales and
distribution that HPP had attained with the acquisitions in 1996, the joint
venture agreement was restructured effective February 1, 1997. Under the terms
of the restructuring, HPP was made managing partner and assumed the day-to-day
control of Vet's Choice. Operations of Vet's Choice were then merged into HPP's
other premium pet food business. The Company maintains its 50.5% equity interest
in Vet's Choice, but profits and losses are allocated 99.9% to HPP and 0.1% to
the Company. In connection with the restructuring, the Company and HPP entered
into certain consulting and management services agreements whereby the Company
will provide certain consulting and marketing services and continue to support
the Select Balance and Select Care products in the veterinary marketplace.
The acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Pets' Rx in June
1996 was treated for accounting purposes as a pooling of interests. Accordingly,
the accompanying financial statements reflect the combined results of the pooled
businesses for the respective period presented. Previously reported financial
information for VCA and Pets' Rx for the year ended December 31, 1996, is shown
in the table below (in thousands).
Net Income
Revenues (Loss)
--------- --------
Pre-merger (pre-June 19, 1996)
VCA ............................. $ 64,763 $ 1,647
Pets' Rx ........................ 7,849 (658)
Merger adjustments .............. -- 212
--------- --------
72,612 1,201
Post-merger (post June 19, 1996)... 108,816 (15,833)
--------- --------
$ 181,428 $(14,632)
========= ========
VCA's 1996 pre-merger net income included merger expenses of $2,901,000;
these expenses consisted principally of legal, accounting, investment advisor,
termination of employment agreements and severance costs. The merger adjustments
were recorded to conform certain accounting methods of Pets' Rx to those of VCA.
These adjustments reduced Pets' Rx's pre-merger intangible asset amortization
expense in 1996 by $212,000.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
a. Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the
Company and all those majority-owned subsidiaries where the Company has control.
Significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
The Company provides management services to certain professional
corporation ("PCs") in states with laws that prohibit veterinarians from
splitting fees with non-veterinarians and prohibit business corporations from
providing veterinary services through the direct employment of veterinarians.
The Company has established operations in six of such states that it believes
comply in all material respects with applicable laws. In these states, the
Company has long-term management agreements ("Management Agreements") with PCs,
ranging from 10 to 40 years with non-binding renewal options available. The PCs
are owned by veterinarians who provide veterinary medical services at the animal
hospitals located in their particular state. Pursuant to the Management
Agreements, the PCs are each solely responsible for all aspects of the practice
of veterinary medicine, as defined by their
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respective state. The Company is responsible for providing the following: (i)
day-to-day financial and administrative supervision and management; (ii)
non-veterinarian personnel needed to operate and support the animal hospital;
(iii) maintenance of patient records; (iv) recruitment of veterinary staff; (v)
marketing; and (vi) malpractice and general insurance. As compensation for these
services, the Company receives a monthly management fee. The amount of such fees
are not specifically defined in the Management Agreements. In most instances,
the PCs receive a salary for its services, and the Company enjoys the risks and
rewards related to the overall profitability of the animal hospital. As
described in "Recent Accounting pronouncements", the Company has adopted EITF
97-2 and has not met the requirements to consolidate 22 animal hospitals it
manages. Management fees received pursuant to the Management Agreements are
included in revenues. The Company's financial statements for the years ended
December 31, 1997 and 1996 have been restated to conform to the 1998
presentation.
b. Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the balance sheets and statements of cash flows, the
Company considers only highly liquid investments to be cash equivalents.
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31 consisted of (in thousands):
1998 1997
------- -------
Cash $ 5,526 $14,649
Money market funds 3,451 5,233
------- -------
$ 8,977 $19,882
======= =======
c. Marketable Securities
All marketable securities are classified as held for sale and are
available to support current operations and acquisitions. The following table
details specific characteristics of the Company's investment portfolio at
December 31 (in thousands):
Portfolio Composition
------------------------------ Gross Gross
High Quality Higher Yielding Unrealized Unrealized
Short-term Short-term Losses Gains
------------ --------------- ---------- ----------
1998 90% 10% $468 $--
1997 100% -- $ -- $--
Additionally, for the years ending December 31, 1998 and 1997, there
were no significant realized gains or losses primarily due to the nature of the
Company's investment portfolio and the investment strategy of the Company's
management.
Marketable securities at December 31, consisted of (in thousands):
1998 1997
------- -------
Corporate bonds $ 4,918 $30,041
Mutual funds - municipalities 20,178 11,165
Municipal bonds 623 1,126
Short-term notes 1,530 4,534
Mutual funds - taxable auction
securities 2,804 4,505
Preferred Stock 865 --
Mutual funds - corporate bonds 2,440 --
------- -------
$33,358 $51,371
======= =======
Gross proceeds on sales and maturities of marketable securities were
$44,902,000, $102,363,000 and $249,934,000 for the years ended December 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
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d. Inventory
Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in,
first-out method.
e. Notes Receivable
Notes receivable are not market traded financial instruments. The
amounts recorded approximate fair value. The notes bear interest at rates
varying from 7% to 9% per annum.
f. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Equipment held under capital
leases is recorded at the lower of the present value of the minimum lease
payments or the fair value of the equipment at the beginning of the lease term.
Depreciation and amortization are provided for on the straight-line
method over the following estimated useful lives:
Buildings and improvements ............ 5 to 30 years
Leasehold improvements ................ Lesser of lease term or 15 years
Furniture and equipment ............... 5 to 7 years
Property held under capital leases..... 5 to 30 years
Property and equipment at December 31, consisted of (in thousands):
1998 1997
-------- --------
Land ............................................ $ 10,976 $ 7,355
Building and improvements ....................... 19,005 14,926
Leasehold improvements .......................... 8,095 6,408
Construction in progress ........................ 1,853 809
Furniture and equipment ......................... 24,261 19,455
Equipment held under capital leases ............. 1,552 1,552
-------- --------
Total fixed assets .............................. 65,742 50,505
Less -- Accumulated depreciation and amortization (15,602) (10,520)
-------- --------
$ 50,140 39,985
======== ========
Accumulated depreciation on equipment held under capital leases amounted
to $946,000 and $763,000 at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
g. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill relating to acquisitions represents the purchase price paid and
liabilities assumed in excess of the fair market value of net assets acquired.
Goodwill is amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period to be
benefited, not exceeding 40 years.
The Company continually evaluates whether events and circumstances have
occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful life of goodwill may
warrant revision or that the remaining balance of goodwill may not be
recoverable. When factors indicate that goodwill should be evaluated for
possible impairment, the Company uses an estimate of the related facility's
undiscounted net income over the remaining life of the goodwill in measuring
whether the goodwill is recoverable.
Other intangible assets principally include covenants not to compete.
The value assigned to the covenants not to compete is amortized on a
straight-line basis over the term of the agreements (principally 5 to 10 years).
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Accumulated amortization of goodwill and covenants not to compete at
December 31, 1998 and 1997 was $30,315,000 and $6,577,000, respectively.
Accumulated amortization of goodwill and covenants not to compete at December
31, 1997 was $23,664,000 and $5,419,000, respectively.
h. Investment in Veterinary Pet Insurance
In December 1997 and January 1998, the Company made a combined $5
million strategic investment in Veterinary Pet Insurance, Inc. ("VPI"), a
provider of pet health insurance in the United States. The Company accounts for
this investment on a cost basis. The Company periodically evaluates this
investment for potential impairment of value and has determine that fair market
value of the initial investments has not been impaired as of December 31, 1998.
i. Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Credit Risk
The carrying amount reported in the balance sheets for cash, accounts
receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates fair value
because of the immediate or short-term
maturity of these financial instruments. Concentration of credit risk with
respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the diversity of the Company's
client base.
j. Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The Company has determined that certain hardware and software will need
to be replaced as a result of its Year 2000 compliance plan. Accordingly, the
Company has revised the estimated useful lives of certain hardware and software.
Additional accelerated depreciation of approximately $975,000 will be recognized
in 1999.
k. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, ("the FASB")
issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" (SFAS 133"), which is effective
for all fiscal quarters of fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999. SFAS 133
establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments,
including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts,
(collectively referred to as derivatives) and for hedging activities. It
requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or
liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure those instruments
at fair value. The Company has not yet completed its evaluation of the impact of
the adoption of SFAS 133 on its financial position or results of operations.
In April 1998, the American Institute Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 98-5, "Reporting on Costs of Start-up Activities"
("SOP 98-5"), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
1998. SOP 98-5 requires that costs of start-up activities and organization costs
be expensed as incurred. The adoption of SOP 98-5 will have no material effect
on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
In March 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS 128"). SFAS 128 revises and
simplifies the computation for earnings per share and requires certain
additional disclosures. The adoption of SFAS 128 did not have a material effect
on the Company's financial position or its results of operations.
In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" ("SFAS 130"), which is
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. SFAS 130 defines
comprehensive income as all changes in equity during a period, except those
resulting from
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investment by owners and/or distribution to owners. The Company adopted SFAS 130
in the first quarter of 1998. The adoption of SFAS 130 resulted in additional
disclosure and presentation in its financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 1998 as a result of certain unrealized holding losses reported in
shareholders' equity.
In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information" ("SFAS 131"). SFAS 131 requires companies to report selected
financial information by segments as defined in SFAS 131. The Company adopted
SFAS 131 with its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1998, as
dictated by the requirements of SFAS 131. The adoption of SFAS 131 did not have
a material effect on the Company's financial position or its results of
operations. The Company's financial statements for the years ended December 31,
1997 and 1996 have been restated to conform to the 1998 presentation.
The Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board has recently issued its Consensus Opinion 97-2 ("EITF 97-2").
EITF 97-2 addresses certain specific matters pertaining to the contractual
management relationships between entities that operate in the health care
industry, which includes the practices of medicine, dentistry and veterinary
science. EITF 97-2 has been adopted by the Company for its year ended December
31, 1998. EITF 97-2 addresses the ability of EITF 97-2 management companies to
consolidate the results of practices with which it has an existing relationship.
The Company has not met the EITF consolidation requirements for the 22 animal
hospitals it manages. Management fees received pursuant to the Management
Agreements are included in revenues. The Company's financial statements for the
years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 have been restated to conform to the 1998
presentation. The adoption of EITF 97-2 had no effect on the Company's
previously reported operating income (loss) or net income (loss).
l. Reclassifications
Certain 1997 balances have been reclassified to conform with the 1998
financial statement presentation.
3. ACQUISITIONS
During 1998, the Company purchased 11 animal hospitals and one
veterinary diagnostic laboratory for an aggregate consideration (including
acquisitions costs) of $30,740,000 consisting of $20,255,000 in cash, $6,482,000
in debt, 171,564 shares of VCA common stock with a value of $3,100,000, and the
assumption of liabilities totaling $903,000. The $30,740,000 aggregate purchase
price was allocated $6,156,000 to tangible assets, $23,395,000 to goodwill and
$1,189,000 to other intangible assets.
In January 1997, the Company acquired the remaining 49% interest in the
Vet Research joint venture for a price as computed in accordance with the
operating agreement, amounting to $18,703,000 in cash and a $29,002,000 note,
payable in quarterly installments over six years. During 1997, the Company
purchased 15 animal hospitals and three veterinary diagnostic laboratories for
an aggregate consideration (including acquisition costs) of $22,198,000
consisting of $9,358,000 in cash, $10,531,000 in debt, 155,924 shares of VCA
common stock with a value of $1,900,000, and the assumption of liabilities
totaling $409,000. The $69,903,000 aggregate purchase price was allocated
$5,099,000 to tangible assets, $64,012,000 to goodwill and $792,000 to other
intangible assets.
On July 19, 1996, the Company completed the acquisition of Pet Practice
for a total consideration (including acquisition costs) of $97,930,000
consisting of 3,516,268 shares of VCA common stock with a value at the date of
acquisition of $65,930,000, and the assumption of liabilities totaling
$32,000,000. In addition, outstanding employee stock options were converted into
options to purchase an additional 41,280 shares of VCA common stock. On the
acquisition date, Pet Practice was the operator of 84 veterinary clinics located
in 11 states. The acquisition of Pet Practice was accounted for as a purchase.
The $97,930,000 purchase price was allocated $13,485,000 to tangible assets,
$80,020,000 to goodwill and $4,425,000 to other intangible assets. As of
December 31, 1998, the Company has closed or sold 25 former Pet Practice animal
hospitals that did not meet the Company's standard operating model.
On June 19, 1996, the Company completed the merger with Pets' Rx for
801,054 shares of VCA common stock. In addition, outstanding Pets' Rx warrants,
options and convertible securities were converted into the right to purchase an
additional 111,607 shares of VCA common stock. Pets' Rx owned 16 veterinary
hospitals in the San
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Jose and Sacramento, California and the Las Vegas, Nevada markets. The Pets' Rx
acquisition was accounted for as a pooling of interests.
During 1996, the Company purchased 22 animal hospitals for an aggregate
consideration (including acquisition costs) of $28,261,000, consisting of
$9,691,000 in cash, $9,296,000 in debt, 518,056 shares of VCA common stock with
a value of $7,389,000, and the assumption of liabilities totaling $1,885,000.
Also during 1996, the Company purchased six veterinary diagnostic laboratories
for an aggregate consideration (including acquisition costs) of $20,565,000,
consisting of $15,654,000 in cash, $2,510,000 in long-term obligations, 85,776
shares of VCA common stock with a value of $1,500,000, and the assumption of
liabilities totaling $901,000. The $48,826,000 aggregate purchase price was
allocated $4,388,000 to tangible assets, $41,091,000 to goodwill and $3,347,000
to other intangible assets.
All acquisitions described above, with the exception of the merger with
Pets' Rx, have been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting.
The pro forma results listed below are unaudited and reflect purchase
price accounting adjustments assuming 1998 and 1997 acquisitions occurred at
January 1, 1997. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of what
actually would have occurred if the acquisitions had been in effect for the
entire periods presented. In addition, they are not intended to be a projection
of future results and do not reflect any efficiencies that might be achieved
from the combined operation.
For the Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
1998 1997
-------- --------
Revenues ............................. $291,133 $274,147
Net income ........................... $ 16,338 $ 12,505
Diluted earnings per share ........... $ 0.75 $ 0.60
Shares used for computing diluted
earnings per share ............... 21,940 21,013
Certain purchase agreements also provide for contingent earn-out
arrangements. When the contingency is resolved and the additional consideration
is distributable, the Company records the current fair value of such
consideration issued or issuable as an additional cost of the acquired company.
The additional costs of affected assets, usually goodwill, is amortized over the
remaining life of the asset.
4. JOINT VENTURES AND INVESTMENT
In February 1997, the Company's joint venture, Vet's Choice, was
restructured and management of the joint venture was assumed by the Company's
partner, HPP. Pursuant to a restructuring agreement, the Company maintains its
50.5% equity interest in Vet's Choice. Profits and losses are allocated 99.9% to
HPP and 0.1% to the Company and all management control has been transferred from
the Company to HPP. Additionally, the Company agreed to provide certain
consulting and management services for a three-year period commencing on
February 1, 1997 for an aggregate fee of $15.3 million payable in semi-annual
installments over a five-year period. Consulting and management fees earned
under this agreement are included in revenues and amounted to $5.1 million and
$4.7 million for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. On or
after the earlier of a change of control in the Company or January 1, 2000, HPP
may purchase all of the Company's interest in the joint venture at a purchase
price equal to 51% of 1.3 times the annual sales of all products bearing the
Select Balance or Select Care brand (the "Annual Sales") less $4.5 million. If
HPP fails to exercise its option prior to January 1, 2001, the Company may
purchase all of the interest of HPP in the joint venture at a purchase price
equal to 49.5% of 1.3 times the Annual Sales plus $4.5 million. Effective
February 1, 1997, the Company no longer reports the results of operations of
Vet's Choice on a consolidated basis.
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Through December 31, 1996, the Company operated Vet Research, a joint
venture with VRI. Vet Research's operating results have been reported as part of
the consolidated operations of the Company. Distributions of distributable cash,
as defined, were made pursuant to a formula contained in the operating agreement
between the Company and VRI. Pursuant to that formula, during each contract
year, the first $1.5 million of distributable cash was distributed to VRI; the
next $3 million of distributable cash was distributed to the Company; and the
remaining distributable cash was distributed 25% to the Company and 75% to VRI.
The Company has recorded minority interest expense related to the joint venture
of $6,809,000 in 1996, representing 57.3% of Vet Research's income. In January
1997, the Company acquired the remaining 49% interest in the Vet Research.
In December 1997 and January 1998, the Company made a combined $5
million strategic investment in VPI, a provider of pet health insurance in the
United States.
5. LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
Long-term obligations consisted of the following at December 31 (in
thousands):
1998 1997
-------- --------
Mortgage debt Notes payable and other obligations, various maturities
through 2006, secured by land and buildings of certain
subsidiaries, various interest rates ranging from 7.0% to
9.0% with a weighted average of 7.6%
at December 31, 1998 .................................... $ 1,961 $ 1,191
Secured debt Notes payable and other obligations, various maturities
through 2014, secured by assets and stock of certain
subsidiaries, various interest rates ranging from 5.3% to
12.0% with a weighted average of 7.8%
at December 31, 1998 .................................... 69,964 82,876
Convertible debt Notes payable, convertible into VCA common
stock at prices ranging from $7.00 to $15.00 per
share, due through 2003, secured by stock of certain
subsidiaries at interests rates ranging from 7.0% to 8.5%
with a weighted average of 8.3% at December
31, 1998 ................................................ 816 1,074
Unsecured debt Notes payable, various maturities through
2004, adjustable interest rates of 6.2% and fixed
interest rates ranging from 5.0% to 12.0%
with a weighted average of 6.1% at December 31, 1998..... 2,843 3,385
Debentures Convertible subordinated 5.25% debentures,
due in 2006, convertible into VCA common stock at
$34.35 per share......................................... 84,385 84,385
------ ------
Total debt obligations....................................................... 159,969 172,911
Capital lease obligations.................................................... 306 1,583
Less - unamortized discount.................................................. (488) (619)
-------- --------
159,787 173,875
Less--current portion........................................................ (17,431) (19,369)
-------- --------
$142,356 $154,506
======== ========
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The annual aggregate scheduled maturities of debt obligations for the
five years subsequent to December 31, 1998 are presented below (in thousands):
1999.................................................. $ 17,431
2000.................................................. 17,617
2001.................................................. 14,143
2002.................................................. 13,272
2003.................................................. 5,577
Thereafter............................................ 91,747
---------
$ 159,787
=========
The convertible subordinated debentures may be redeemed at the option of
the Company in whole or in part at any time after May 15, 1999 at 103%, after
May 15, 2000 at 102%, after May 15, 2001 at 101%, and after May 15, 2002 at
100%.
Certain acquisition debt of the Company included above and amounting to
$71,925,000 and $83,596,000 at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively, is
non-recourse debt secured solely by the assets or the stock of the veterinary
hospital acquired under security arrangements whereby the creditor's sole remedy
in the event of default is the contractual right to take possession of the
entire veterinary hospital regardless of the outstanding indebtedness at the
time of default.
The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of the Company's
debt at December 31, 1998 is made in accordance with the requirements of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107 "Disclosures about Fair
Value of Financial Instruments." The estimated fair value amounts have been
determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate
valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is required to develop the
estimates of fair value, and the estimates provided herein are not necessarily
indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange.
(in thousands)
Carrying Fair
Amount Value
-------- --------
Fixed-rate long-term debt................. $157,617 $127,399
Variable-rate long-term debt.............. 2,170 2,170
The estimated fair value of the Company's fixed-rate long-term debt is
based on market value or prime plus an estimated spread at December 31, 1998 for
similar securities with similar remaining maturities. The carrying value of
variable-rate long-term debt is a reasonable estimate of its fair value.
6. PREFERRED STOCK
On December 22, 1997, the Company adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan (the
"Rights Agreement") and in connection therewith, out of its authorized but
unissued shares of preferred Stock, designated 400,000 shares as Series B
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Series B Preferred Stock").
Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company distributed to its stockholders
rights entitling the holders to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series
B Preferred Stock for each share of common stock then held at an exercise price
of $60.00. One one-hundredth of a share of Series B Preferred Stock is
functionally equivalent in all respects, including voting and dividend rights,
to one share of common stock. Upon the occurrence of certain "triggering
events," each right entitles its holder to purchase, at the rights then-current
exercise price, a number of one one-hundredths of a share of Series B Preferred
Stock having a market value equal to twice the exercise price. A triggering
event occurs ten days following the date a person or group (other than an
"Exempt Person"), without the consent of the Company's board of directors,
acquires 15% or more of the Company's common stock or upon the announcement of a
tender offer or an exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in the
ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the Company's common stock. The
rights will expire on January 5, 2008.
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The Company's Certificate of Incorporation initially authorized 1,000,000
shares of preferred stock. At the 1998 Annual Meeting, the stockholders approved
an amendment to the Certificate of incorporation to increase the authorized
number of shares of preferred stock to 2,000,000. The rights, preferences and
privileges of the preferred stock are to be determined by the board of directors
and do not require stockholder approval. During 1997, 583,333 shares held by HPP
were converted into common stock. At December 31, 1998, 1,016,667 shares of
preferred stock are authorized and remain unreserved and unissued.
7. COMMON STOCK
During 1998, the Company issued 171,564 shares of its common stock
valued at $3,100,000, the fair market value at the date of commitment, as a
portion of the consideration for certain acquisitions.
At December 31, 1998, the Company held two notes receivable with
balances totaling $617,000 from certain management stockholders of the Company.
These notes arose from transactions whereby the Company loaned funds to the
stockholders to purchase an aggregate of 182,666 shares of the Company's common
stock. These notes, which bear interest at 6.1% per annum, mature on January 22,
2001. The receivables are shown in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets
as a reduction of stockholders' equity.
During 1997, the Company issued 189,998 shares of its common stock
valued at $1,900,000, the fair market value at the date of commitment, as a
portion of the consideration for certain acquisitions.
8. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
The Company has granted stock options to various employees and
directors. The Company accounts for these plans under APB Opinion 25, under
which no compensation cost has been recognized.
In November 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation" ("SFAS 123"). SFAS 123 recommends changes in accounting for
employee stock-based compensation plans, and requires certain disclosures with
respect to these plans. SFAS 123 disclosures have been adopted by the Company
effective January 1, 1996.
Had compensation cost for these plans been determined consistent with
SFAS 123, the Company's net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share would
have been reduced to the following pro forma amounts (in thousands, except per
share amounts):
1998 1997 1996
---------- ---------- ----------
Net income (loss)
As reported ................... $ 16,268 $ 11,226 $ (14,632)
Pro forma ..................... $ 12,040 $ 8,276 $ (17,510)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
As reported ................... $ 0.74 $ 0.53 $ (0.92)
Pro forma ..................... $ 0.55 $ 0.42 $ (1.09)
Because the SFAS 123 method of accounting has not been applied to
options granted prior to January 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma compensation
cost may not be representative of that to be expected in future years.
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The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions:
1998 1997 1996
----- ----- ------
Risk free interest rate.................... 5.0% 6.4% 6.4%
Dividend yield............................. 0% 0% 0%
Expected volatility........................ 64.5% 60.6% 55.1%
Weighted average fair value................ $9.25 $6.85 $10.76
Expected option life (years)............... 9.56 9.10 8.09
Under the provisions of the Company's non-qualified and incentive stock
option plans for officers and key employees, 3,000,000 shares of common stock
were reserved for issuance at December 31, 1998. The options become exercisable
over a two to five-year period, commencing at the date of grant or one year from
the date of grant depending on the option. All options expire 10 years from the
date of grant. The prices of all options granted were greater than or equal to
the fair market value at the date of the grant.
In addition to the options granted under VCA's stock option plans, the
Company had 2,030,333 and 2,031,000 options outstanding at December 31, 1998 and
1997, respectively, to certain members of the board of directors and to the
previous owners of certain acquired companies. During 1997, the Company granted
to certain officers of the Company 2,025,000 options with an exercise price of
$10.25 per share. The options vest in 60 equal monthly installments commencing
in September 1997.
The table below summarizes the transactions in the Company's stock
option plans (in thousands, except per share amounts):
1998 1997 1996
------ ------ ------
Options outstanding at beginning of year 3,584 1,739 1,625
Granted ................................ 485 2,171 255
Exercised .............................. (194) (278) (79)
Canceled ............................... (54) (48) (62)
------ ------ ------
Options outstanding at end of year
($3.25 to $36.79 per share).......... 3,821 3,584 1,739
===== ===== =====
Exercisable at end of year.............. 1,674 1,318 878
===== ===== =====
The following table summarizes information about certain options in the
stock option plans outstanding as of December 31, 1998 in accordance with SFAS
123:
Options Outstanding Options Exerciseable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Weighted Avg.
Range of Number Remaining Weighted Avg. Number Weighted Avg.
Exercise Price Outstanding Contractual Life Exercise Price Exerciseable Exercise Price
- ------------------- ----------- ---------------- -------------- ------------ --------------
Less than $9.00 255,327 4.46 $ 5.02 254,927 $ 5.02
$9.00 to $19.00 3,560,788 7.96 11.03 1,416,719 11.02
Greater than $19.00 4,892 6.92 28.05 2,527 28.42
--------- ---------
3,821,007 1,674,173
========= =========
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9. COMMITMENTS
The Company operates many of its animal hospitals from premises that are
leased from the hospitals' previous owners under operating leases with terms,
including renewal options, ranging from one to 35 years. Certain leases include
purchase options which can be exercised at the Company's discretion at various
times within the lease terms.
The annual lease payments under the lease agreements have provisions for
annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index or other amounts specified
within the lease contracts. The Company also leases certain medical and computer
equipment under capital leases.
The future minimum lease payments on operating leases at December 31,
1998, including renewal option periods, are as follows (in thousands):
1999..................................... $ 8,486
2000..................................... 7,917
2001..................................... 7,827
2002..................................... 7,740
2003..................................... 7,021
Thereafter............................... 83,030
--------
$122,021
========
Rent expense totaled $9,122,000, $8,624,000 and $7,036,000 for the years
ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Rental income totaled
$203,000, $235,000 and $313,000 for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively.
In connection with the acquisition of Pet Practice, the Company assumed
certain contractual arrangements, whereby additional shares of the Company's
common stock and cash may be issued to former owners of acquired hospitals upon
attainment of specified financial criteria over periods of three to five years,
as set forth in the respective agreements ("Earn-out Payments"). The number of
shares of common stock and cash to be issued cannot be determined until the
earn-out periods expire and the attainment of criteria is established. Earn-out
Payments in 1998 amounted to approximately $358,000, consisting of $311,000 in
cash and 2,394 shares of common stock valued on the date of issuance at $47,000.
If the specified financial criteria is attained in the future, but not exceeded,
the Company will be obligated to make cash payments of approximately $450,000
and issue approximately 3,822 shares of common stock over the next three years.
The Company has employment agreements with three officers of the Company
which currently expire on December 31, 2002. Each of the agreements provide for
annual compensation (subject to upward adjustment) which aggregated $785,000 for
the year ended December 31, 1998.
The Company has purchase commitments with third-party vendors for
software development, hardware, licenses and maintenance, related to their year
2000 compliance plan, in the amount of $1.8 million.
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10. CALCULATION OF PER SHARE AMOUNTS
A reconciliation of the income (loss) and shares used in the
computations of the basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share ("EPS") for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998 follows (amounts shown
in thousands, except earnings per-share):
For the Year Ended December 31, 1998
------------------------------------
Per-Share
Income Shares Amount
------- ------ --------
Basic EPS
Net income $16,268 20,350 $ 0.80
========
Effect of dilutive securities
Convertible preferred stock -- --
Stock options -- 1,545
Stock guarantees 13 20
Convertible debt -- 25
------- ------
Diluted EPS $16,281 21,940 $ 0.74
======= ====== ========
For the Year Ended December 31, 1997
------------------------------------
Per-Share
Income Shares Amount
------- ------ --------
Basic EPS
Net income $11,226 19,626 $ 0.57
========
Effect of dilutive securities
Convertible preferred stock -- 451
Stock options -- 688
Stock guarantees 13 25
Convertible debt -- 223
Diluted EPS $11,239 21,013 $ 0.53
======= ====== ========
For the Year Ended December 31, 1996
-----------------------------------
Per-Share
Income Shares Amount
-------- ------ --------
Basic EPS
Net income $(14,632) 15,942 $ (0.92)
========
Effect of dilutive securities -- --
-------- ------
Diluted EPS $(14,632) 15,942 $ (0.92)
======== ====== ========
During 1998 and 1997, $84,385,000 of 5.25% convertible debentures,
convertible into 2,456,623 shares of common stock were outstanding, but were not
included in the computation of diluted EPS because conversion would have an
antidilutive effect on EPS.
Because the Company had a net loss in 1996, the following dilutive
securities were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because they
would have an antidilutive effect: (i) convertible preferred stock convertible
into 583,333 shares of common stock, (ii) stock options outstanding at December
31, 1996 to purchase 1,741,000 shares of common stock at a weighted average
price of $9.69 per share, and (iii) redeemable warrants outstanding at December
31, 1996 to purchase 194,000 shares of common stock at $11.00 per share.
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11. INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes is comprised of the following for the years
ended December 31, (in thousands):
1998 1997 1996
------- ------ -------
Federal:
Current ............ $ 8,064 $5,952 $ 1,842
Deferred ........... 2,080 1,534 (444)
------- ------ -------
10,144 7,486 1,398
------- ------ -------
State:
Current ............ 2,157 1,594 450
Deferred ........... 653 267 111
------- ------ -------
2,810 1,861 561
------- ------ -------
$12,954 $9,347 $ 1,959
======= ====== =======
The Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" ("SFAS
109"). SFAS 109 requires recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for
the expected future consequences of events that have been included in the
financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities
and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial
statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates for
the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
The net deferred tax asset (liability) at December 31, is comprised of
(in thousands):
1998 1997
------- -------
Current deferred tax assets (liabilities):
Accounts receivable............................ $ 2,827 $ 1,998
State taxes .................................... (988) (1,343)
Other liabilities and reserves ................. 2,393 1,930
Start-up costs ................................. 66 66
Restructuring charges .......................... 1,069 1,801
Other assets ................................... (216) (149)
Inventory ...................................... 818 815
Valuation allowance ............................ (1,858) (2,050)
------- -------
Total current deferred tax asset, net....... $ 4,111 $ 3,068
======= =======
1998 1997
------- -------
Non-current deferred tax (liabilities) assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards............... $ 7,996 $ 7,676
Write-down of assets ........................... 1,479 1,589
Start-up costs ................................. 298 288
Other assets ................................... 293 73
Intangible assets .............................. (5,414) (2,037)
Property, plant and equipment .................. (1,131) 225
Unrealized loss on investments ................. 191 --
Valuation allowance ............................ (9,512) (9,000)
------- -------
Total non-current deferred tax asset
(liability), net ......................... $(5,800) $(1,186)
======= =======
At December 31, 1998, the Company has federal net operating loss ("NOL")
carryforwards of approximately $22,340,000, comprised principally of NOL
carryforwards acquired in the Pets' Rx and Pet Practice mergers. These NOL
carryforwards expire at various dates through 2010.
Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the utilization of NOL carryforwards
to reduce taxable income will be restricted under certain circumstances. Events
which cause such a limitation include, but are not limited to, a
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cumulative ownership change of more than 50% over a three-year period.
Management believes that the Pets' Rx and Pet Practice mergers caused such a
change of ownership and, accordingly, utilization of the NOL carryforwards may
be limited in future years. Accordingly, the valuation allowance is principally
related to subsidiaries' NOL carryforwards, as well as certain acquisition
related expenditures where the realization of this deduction is uncertain at
this time.
A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amount
computed at the federal statutory rate is as follows:
1998 1997 1996
------ ------ ------
Federal income tax at statutory rate........ 35% 35% (34)%
Effect of amortization of goodwill........... 3 4 5
State taxes, net of federal benefit.......... 6 6 3
Tax exempt income............................ (1) (1) (3)
Subsidiary net operating loss................ -- -- 10
Change in valuation allowance associated
with certain write-down of assets,
restructuring and acquisition related
costs and other............................ -- 1 34
Other........................................ 1 -- --
------ ------ ------
44% 45% 15%
====== ====== ======
12. 401(K) PLAN
During 1992, the Company established a voluntary retirement plan under
Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan covers all eligible
employees, those with at least six months of employment with the Company, and
provides for annual matching contributions by the Company at the discretion of
the Company's board of directors. As part of the 1996 acquisitions of Pets' Rx,
Pet Practice and Southwest, the Company assumed the administrative
responsibilities of their respective 401(k) plans. In January 1998, these plans
were merged into the Company's plan. In 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Company
provided a total matching contribution at the discretion of the Board of
Directors, approximating $942,000, $496,000 and $291,000, respectively.
13. RESTRUCTURING AND ASSET WRITE-DOWN
During 1996, the Company adopted and implemented a restructuring plan
(the "1996 Plan") and recorded a restructuring charge of $5,701,000 and an asset
write-down charge of $9,512,000. The major components of the 1996 Plan included:
(1) the termination of leases, the write-down of intangibles, property and
equipment, and employee terminations in connection with the closure, sale or
consolidation of 12 animal hospitals; (2) the termination of contracts and
leases, the write-down of certain property and equipment and the termination of
employees in connection with the restructuring of the Company's laboratory
operations; and (3) contract terminations and write-down of assets in connection
with the move to common communications and computer systems. Collectively, the
12 hospitals had aggregate revenue of $6,814,000 and net operating loss of
$350,000 for the year ended December 31, 1996. The restructuring of the
laboratory operations consisted primarily of: (i) plans to relocate the
Company's facility in Indiana to Chicago; (ii) the downsizing of its Arizona
operations; (iii) the standardization of laboratory and testing methods
throughout all the Company's laboratories, resulting in the write-down of
equipment that will no longer be utilized; and (iv) the shut-down of another of
its facilities in the Midwest.
During 1998, the actions taken pursuant to the 1996 Plan were as
follows:
(a) The Company closed one animal hospital.
(b) The Company shut-down certain computer hardware and software, as
part of its migration to common computer systems.
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(c) The Company decided that two hospitals will continue to be
operated instead of closed as was originally outlined in the 1996
Plan. The hospitals' local markets improved since the 1996 Plan
was determined, causing the Company's management to revise its
plan.
(d) The Company terminated its attempts to sell one hospital because
it has been unable to negotiate a fair sales price based on the
hospital's operating results.
Reserves of $593,000 related to the three hospitals discussed in (c) and
(d) above, were utilized to offset increases in the expected cost to extinguish
lease commitments and contract obligations that were part of the 1996 Plan.
The activity that occurred within the 1996 Plan during 1997 was as
follows:
(a) The Company sold four of its animal hospitals.
(b) The Company's laboratory division relocated its facility in
Indiana to Illinois, downsized its Arizona operations,
substantially completed its standardization of laboratory and
testing methods, and replaced its communications system.
(c) The Company's hospital division completed its evaluation of the
property value at one of its hospitals and replaced certain
equipment and software.
(d) At September 30, 1997, the Company reversed $2,074,000 of the
restructuring reserve established for the 1996 Plan. The events
that triggered the need to reverse a portion of the 1996 Plan
charge were as follows:
(i) A favorable termination of a communications system contract
was negotiated and became effective October 1, 1997.
(ii) A hospital practice was acquired on May 15, 1997 and was
merged into an animal hospital that was scheduled to be
closed. The Company evaluated the performance of the merged
practices during the 1997 third quarter and decided to
rescind its decision to close the animal hospital.
(iii) The Company completed negotiations to terminate a lease
agreement early for one of the hospitals scheduled to be
closed at a favorable amount.
(iv) The Company rescinded its decision to close three other
animal hospitals due to their improved performance.
At December 31, 1998, $1,392,000 of the restructuring reserve from the
1996 Plan remains on the Company's balance sheet, including $972,000 of lease
obligations which extend through 2014.
During 1997, the Company reviewed the financial performance of its
hospitals. As a result of this review, an additional 12 hospitals were
determined not to meet the Company's performance standards. Accordingly, the
Company adopted phase two of its restructuring plan (the "1997 Plan"), resulting
in restructuring and asset write-down charges of $2,074,000. The major
components of the 1997 Plan consisted of the termination of leases, amounting to
$1,198,000, and the write-down of intangibles, property and equipment, amounting
to $876,000, in connection with the closure or sale of 12 animal hospitals.
Collectively, the 12 hospitals had aggregate revenue of $5,378,000 and net
operating income of $176,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997.
The Company closed three animal hospitals in 1998 pursuant to the 1997
Plan, resulting in the write-off of $299,000 of property and equipment, and cash
expenditures of $81,000 for lease obligations and closing costs.
During 1998, the Company determined that five of the animal hospitals
that were to be sold as part of the 1997 Plan would be kept due to their
improved performance. The reserve recorded in the 1997 Plan for these five
hospitals, of $378,000, will be utilized for charges expected for the remaining
four animal hospitals to be sold pursuant to the 1997 Plan.
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During 1997, the Company, as part of the 1997 Plan, recorded $466,000 of
non-cash write-downs, consisting of a write-down of intangibles.
At December 31, 1998, $1,228,000 of the restructuring reserve from the
1997 Plan remains on the Company's balance sheet, consisting primarily of lease
obligations and non-cash charges pertaining to the sale of four animal
hospitals. The 1997 Plan is expected to be completed by the second quarter of
1999, although certain lease obligations will continue through 2005.
The following tables summarize the activity in the Company's
restructuring reserves (in thousands):
The 1996 Plan
Cash Non-Cash
Charges Charges Total
------- ------- -------
Balance, December 31, 1996 $ 5,690 $ 2,781 $ 8,471
Cash expenditures for lease and other contractual
obligations (1,264) -- (1,264)
Non-cash net assets write-downs -- (2,121) (2,121)
Reverse excess reserves for:
Communications system contract termination (1,198) -- (1,198)
Net asset write-downs and closing costs (459) (283) (742)
Closed hospital facilities leases and other, (134) -- (134)
------- ------- -------
Balance, December 31, 1997 2,635 377 3,012
Cash expenditures for lease and other contractual
obligations (988) -- (988)
Non-cash net assets write-downs -- (632) (632)
Reclassifications (255) 255 --
------- ------- -------
Balance, December 31, 1998 $ 1,392 $ -- $ 1,392
======= ======= =======
The 1997 Plan
Cash Non-Cash
Charges Charges Total
----- ------- -------
Balance, December 31, 1996 $ -- $ -- $ --
Restructuring charge reserve established 842 1,232 2,074
Non-cash net assets write-downs -- (466) (466)
----- ------- -------
Balance, December 31, 1997 842 766 1,608
Cash expenditures for lease and other contractual
obligations (81) -- (81)
Non-cash net assets write-downs -- (299) (299)
Reclassifications 105 (105) --
----- ------- -------
Balance, December 31, 1998 $ 866 $ 362 $ 1,228
===== ======= =======
14. LINES OF BUSINESS
During the three years ending December 31, 1998, the Company had four
reportable segments: Animal Hospital, Laboratory, Premium Pet Food and
Corporate. These segments are strategic business units that have different
products, services and functions. The segments are managed separately because
each is a distinct and different business venture with unique challenges,
rewards and risks. The Animal Hospital segment provides veterinary services for
companion animals and sells related retail products. The Laboratory segment
provides testing services for veterinarians both associated with the Company and
independent of the Company. The Premium Pet Food segment manufactures and sells
premium pet food both to independent third parties and to the Company's animal
hospitals. Commencing February 1, 1997, the day-to-day management of the Premium
Pet Food segment was assumed by HPP, and the Company no longer reports the
results of operations for this segment on a consolidated basis. Corporate
provides selling, general and administrative support for the other segments.
Though Corporate does not generate revenue, it is being included as a reportable
segment to provide a better understanding of the Company as a whole.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described
in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company evaluates
performance of segments based on profit or loss before income taxes, interest
income, interest expense and minority interest, which are evaluated on a
consolidated level. For purposes of
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reviewing the operating performance of the segments all inter-segment sales and
purchases are accounted for as if they were transactions with independent third
parties at current market prices.
The following is a summary of certain financial data for each of the
four segments (in thousands):
Inter-Segment
Animal Premium Sales
Hospital Laboratory Pet Food Corporate Eliminations Total
--------- ---------- -------- --------- ------------- ---------
1998
Revenues ................... $ 196,988 $ 89,896 $ -- $ -- $(5,845) $ 281,039
Operating income (loss) .... 27,636 25,986 -- (14,788) -- 38,834
Depreciation/amortization
expense .................. 8,488 4,074 -- 570 -- 13,132
Identifiable assets ........ 226,182 106,217 -- 60,484 -- 392,883
Capital expenditures ....... 7,450 3,813 -- 415 -- 11,678
1997
Revenues ................... $ 170,548 $ 68,997 $1,064 $ -- $(4,696) $ 235,913
Operating income (loss) .... 20,331 21,509 156 (13,588) -- 28,408
Depreciation/amortization
expense .................. 7,363 3,329 12 495 -- 11,199
Identifiable assets ........ 205,653 95,073 -- 85,363 -- 386,089
Capital expenditures ....... 5,578 1,088 -- 575 -- 7,241
1996
Revenues ................... $ 120,110 $ 56,774 $8,674 $ -- $(4,130) $ 181,428
Operating income (loss) .... (5,312) 15,229 645 (13,333) -- (2,771)
Depreciation/amortization
expense .................. 5,156 1,823 129 388 -- 7,496
Identifiable assets ........ 188,675 48,205 4,491 112,638 -- 354,009
Capital expenditures ....... 4,065 1,049 169 1,679 -- 6,962
Corporate operating loss includes salaries, general and administrative
expense for the executive, finance, accounting, human resources, marketing,
purchasing and regional operational management functions that support the Animal
Hospital, Laboratory and Premium Pet Food segments.
The following is a reconciliation between total segment operating income
after eliminations and consolidated income (loss) before provision for income
taxes as reported on the consolidated statements of operations.
1998 1997 1996
------- ------- --------
Total segment operating income (loss) after
eliminations ................................... $38,834 $28,408 $ (2,771)
Interest income ................................... 2,357 4,182 4,487
Interest expense .................................. 11,189 11,593 7,812
Minority interest ................................. 780 424 6,577
------- ------- --------
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes ... $29,222 $20,573 $(12,673)
======= ======= ========
15. STOCKHOLDER LAWSUIT
The Company and certain of its current and former officers and directors
were named as defendants in two purported class action lawsuits filed in Los
Angeles Superior Court (Marilyn J. Thompson, et al. v. Veterinary Centers of
America Inc., et al., filed April 1, 1997, and John Martin v. Veterinary Centers
of America, Inc., et. al., filed August 8, 1997), and a purported class action
lawsuit filed on June 9, 1997, in the United States District court for the
Central District of California, entitled Marilyn J. Thompson, et al. v.
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc., et al. (collectively, the "Class Actions").
In addition, certain of the Company's current and former directors and officers
were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed on September 26, 1997, in the
Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles, entitled Kent E.
Mason IRA SEP v. Robert L. Antin, et al. (the "Derivative Action").
Settlements have been reached with respect to these lawsuits and have
been approved by the respective courts in which the actions were pending. Under
the settlement, the claims against the Company and all other defendants will be
dismissed without presumption or admission of any liability or wrongdoing. The
full amount of
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the settlement and associated legal costs have either been previously reserved
or will be covered by the Company's insurance carriers.
The Company and certain of its current and former officers and directors
were named as defendants in lawsuits filed in both Los Angeles Superior Court
and the United States District Court for the Central District of California,
each entitled Pegasus Holdings and Pacific Strategic Funds Group, Inc. v.
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc., et al., (the "Pegasus Lawsuits") each filed
on June 19, 1998. The Pegasus Lawsuits primarily involve claims alleging
securities fraud. Since this action is in its very preliminary stages, the
Company is unable to assess the likelihood of an adverse result. There can be no
assurances as to the outcome of the Pegasus Lawsuits. The inability of the
Company to resolve the claims that are the basis for the lawsuits or to prevail
in any related litigation could result in the Company being required to pay
substantial monetary damages for which the Company may not be adequately
insured, which could have material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial position and results of operations. In any event, the Company's
defense of the Pegasus Lawsuits may result in substantial cost to the Company,
as well as significant dedication of management resources, as the Company
intends to vigorously defend against the Pegasus Lawsuits.
16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Since January 1, 1999 through February 18, 1999, the Company has
acquired one animal hospital, one veterinary practice which was merged into an
existing VCA animal hospital, and one laboratory for an aggregate consideration
of $2,503,000, consisting of $1,476,000 in cash, $900,000 in debt, and the
assumption of liabilities totaling $127,000.
ITEM 9. CHANGE IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
There have been no events or transactions requiring reporting under this
Item.
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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Information regarding directors and executive officers of the Company
will appear in the Proxy Statement for the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
and is incorporated herein by this reference. The Proxy Statement will be filed
with the SEC within 120 days following December 31, 1998.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information regarding executive compensation will appear in the Proxy
Statement for the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein
by this reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners
and management will appear in the Proxy Statement for the 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and is incorporated herein by this reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions
will appear in the Proxy Statement for the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
and is incorporated herein by this reference.
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PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Exhibits:
See attached exhibit index.
(b) Financial Statement Schedules:
Report of Independent Public Accounts
Schedules for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997, 1996
II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Schedules other than those listed above are omitted since they are not
applicable, not required or the information required to be set forth
herein is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes
thereto.
(c) Reports on Form 8-K:
None
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, this 30 day of March, 1999.
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Tomas W. Fuller
-------------------------------
Tomas W. Fuller
Its: Chief Financial Officer
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Robert L. Antin and Arthur J. Antin, or any one
of them, his attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for
him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual Report, and
to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or their substitutes, may do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this Report has been signed below
by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities
indicated and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
- --------- ----- ----
/s/ Robert L. Antin President, Chief Executive Officer March 30, 1999
- ----------------------- and Chairman of the Board
Robert L. Antin (Principal Executive
Officer and Director)
/s/ Arthur J. Antin Senior Vice President, March 30, 1999
- ----------------------- Chief Operating Officer,
Arthur J. Antin Secretary and Director
/s/ Neil Tauber Senior Vice President, March 30, 1999
- ----------------------- Treasurer and Director
Neil Tauber
/s/ Tomas W. Fuller Vice President, March 30, 1999
- ----------------------- Chief Financial Officer
Tomas W. Fuller and Assistant Secretary
(Principal Accounting Officer)
- ----------------------- Director
John Heil
/s/ John Chickering Director March 30, 1999
- -----------------------
John Chickering
Director
- -----------------------
Dr. Richard Gillespie
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc.:
We have audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, the consolidated financial statements of Veterinary Centers of
America, Inc. and subsidiaries included in this Form 10-K and have issued our
report thereon dated February 18, 1999. Our audits were made for the purpose of
forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The
schedule identified as "Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts" is the
responsibility of the Company's management and is presented for purposes of
complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and is not part of
the basic consolidated financial statements. This schedule has been subjected to
the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic consolidated financial
statements and, in our opinion, fairly states in all material respects the
financial data required to be set forth therein in a relation to the basic
financial statements taken as a whole.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Los Angeles, California
February 18, 1999
62
VETERINARY CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996
(IN THOUSANDS)
Balance at Charged to
beginning costs and Balance at
of period expenses Write-offs Other (1) end of period
---------- ---------- ---------- --------- -------------
Year ended December 31, 1998
Allowance for uncollectible accounts ......... $ 5,128 $ 2,898 $ (1,831) $ 337 $ 6,532
Year ended December 31, 1997
Allowance for uncollectible accounts ......... $ 4,212 $ 2,726 $ (2,184) $ 374 $ 5,128
Year ended December 31, 1996
Allowance for uncollectible accounts ......... $ 1,671 $ 1,844 $ (1,230) $1,927 $ 4,212
(1) "Other" changes in the allowance for uncollectible accounts include
allowances acquired with Animal Hospital and Laboratory acquisitions.