FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a new $3 billion share repurchase program.
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“At our Analyst Day in November 2010, we indicated that we intended to repurchase approximately $2 billion of our shares in 2011 funded from free cash flow, and this authorization enables us to achieve that goal. Share repurchases have always been an important component of Medco’s capital allocation strategy and we are well positioned to leverage the value of the generics wave in 2012 and beyond,” said Medco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David B. Snow Jr.
Medco has completed its $3 billion share repurchase program authorized by the Board in May 2010. Since the inception of its first share repurchase program in 2005, the Company has repurchased more than 263 million shares to date.
Medco may repurchase shares in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and extent of any repurchase will depend upon market conditions, corporate requirements and other factors. Medco’s Board of Directors periodically reviews the Company’s share repurchase programs and approves the associated trading parameters.
The share repurchase program does not obligate Medco to acquire any particular amount of shares and the share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion. Repurchases will be made in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.
About Medco
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) is pioneering the world’s most advanced pharmacy® and its clinical research and innovations are part of Medco making medicine smarter for approximately 65 million members.
With more than 23,000 employees dedicated to improving patient health and reducing costs for a wide range of public and private sector clients, and estimated 2010 revenues of more than $65 billion, Medco ranks 35th on the 2010 Fortune 500 list and is named among the world’s most innovative, most admired and most trustworthy companies. For more information, go to http://www.medcohealth.com.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about the business and future financial results of the pharmacy benefit management (“PBM”) and specialty pharmacy industries, and other legal, regulatory and economic developments. We use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “projects,” “future,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “guidance” and similar expressions to identify these forward-looking statements. Medco’s actual results could differ materially from the results contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those set forth below.
- Competition in the PBM, specialty pharmacy and the broader healthcare industry isintense and could impair our ability to attract and retain clients;
- Failure to retain key clients and their members, either as a result of economicconditions, increased competition or other factors, could result in significantlydecreased revenues, harm to our reputation and decreased profitability;
- Government efforts to reduce healthcare costs and alter healthcare financingpractices could lead to a decreased demand for our services or to reducedprofitability;
- Failure in continued execution of our retiree strategy, including the potential loss of Medicare Part D-eligible members, could adversely impact our business and financial results;
- If we fail to comply with complex and evolving laws and regulations domestically andinternationally, we could suffer penalties, be required to pay substantial damages and/or make significant changes to our operations;
- If we do not continue to earn and retain purchase discounts, rebates and service fees from manufacturers at current levels, our gross margins may decline;
- From time to time we engage in transactions to acquire other companies or businesses and if we are unable to effectivelyintegrate acquired businesses into ours, our operating results may be adverselyaffected. Even if we are successful, the integration of these businesses hasrequired, and will likely continue to require, significant resources and managementattention;
- New legislative or regulatory initiatives that restrict or prohibit the PBM industry’s ability to use patient identifiable information could limit our ability to use information critical to the operation of our business;
- Our Specialty Pharmacy business is highly dependent on our relationships with alimited number of suppliers and the loss of any of theserelationships, or limitations on our ability to provide services to these suppliers, could significantly impact our ability to sustain and/or improve ourfinancial performance;
- Our ability to grow our Specialty Pharmacy business could be limited if we do notexpand our existing base of drugs or if we lose patients;
- Our Specialty Pharmacy business, certain revenues from diabetes testing supplies andour Medicare Part D offerings expose us to increased credit risk. Additionally, current economic conditions may expose us to increased credit risk;
- Changes in reimbursement, including reimbursement for durable medicalequipment, could negatively affect our revenues andprofits;
- Prescription volumes may decline, and our net revenues and profitability may benegatively impacted, if the safety risk profiles of drugs increase or if drugs arewithdrawn from the market, including as a result of manufacturing issues, or ifprescription drugs transition to over-the-counter products;
- PBMs could be subject to claims under ERISA if they are found to be a fiduciary of ahealth benefit plan governed by ERISA;
- Pending litigation could adversely impact our business practices and have a materialadverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and operating results;
- Changes in industry pricing benchmarks could adversely affect our financial performance;
- We are subject to a corporate integrity agreement and noncompliance may impede ourability to conduct business with the federal government;
- The terms and covenants relating to our existing indebtedness could adversely impactour financial performance and liquidity;
- We may be subject to liability claims for damages and other expenses notcovered by insurance;
- The success of our business depends on maintaining a well-secured pharmacy operation and technology infrastructure. Additionally, significant disruptions to our infrastructure or any of our facilities due to failure to execute security measures or failure to execute business continuity plans in the event of an epidemic or pandemic or some other catastrophic event could adversely impact our business;
- We may be required to record a material non-cash charge to income if our recordedintangible assets or goodwill are impaired, or if we shorten intangible asset usefullives; and
- Anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), ourcertificate of incorporation and our bylaws could delay or deter a change in controland make it more difficult to remove incumbent officers and directors.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that affect our business described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
