EX-99 2 ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1


 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Investor Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Edward Stiften, Chief Financial Officer

Steve Littlejohn, Vice President, Public Affairs

David Myers, Vice President, Investor Relations

(314) 702-7556

(314) 702-7173

 

 

 

Steve Balet / Laurie Connell

Joele Frank / Steve Frankel

MacKenzie Partners, Inc.

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

(212) 929-5500

(212) 355-4449

                

 

Express Scripts Intends to Re-File Hart-Scott-Rodino Premerger Notification

 

St. Louis, January 31, 2007 – Express Scripts, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESRX) today announced that it intends to voluntarily withdraw on February 2, 2007, and will re-file on February 6, 2007, its notification under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act in connection with the proposed acquisition of Caremark Rx, Inc. (NYSE: CMX) by Express Scripts.

 

Express Scripts has determined to withdraw its Hart-Scott-Rodino filing and re-file it, which will provide the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) an additional 30 days to review the proposed transaction before deciding whether to issue a second request. The Company will use the next 30 days to continue the process with the FTC, seeking to clear the transaction without the need for a second request.

 

The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act will now expire at

11:59 pm ET on March 8, 2007, unless this period is terminated earlier or extended.

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Arnold & Porter LLP are acting as legal counsel to Express Scripts, and Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking and Credit Suisse are acting as financial advisors. MacKenzie Partners, Inc. is acting as proxy advisor to Express Scripts.

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations (financial and otherwise) or intentions. Actual results may differ significantly from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may impact these forward-looking statements include but are not limited to:

 

uncertainties associated with our acquisitions, which include integration risks and costs, uncertainties associated with client retention and repricing of client contracts, and uncertainties associated with the operations of acquired businesses

 

costs and uncertainties of adverse results in litigation, including a number of pending class action cases that challenge certain of our business practices

 

investigations of certain PBM practices and pharmaceutical pricing, marketing and distribution practices currently being conducted by the U.S. Attorney offices in Philadelphia

 



 

and Boston, and by other regulatory agencies including the Department of Labor, and various state attorneys general

 

changes in average wholesale prices (“AWP”), which could reduce prices and margins, including the impact of a proposed settlement in a class action case involving First DataBank, an AWP reporting service

 

uncertainties regarding the implementation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, including the financial impact to us to the extent that we participate in the program on a risk-bearing basis, uncertainties of client or member losses to other providers under Medicare Part D, and increased regulatory risk

 

uncertainties associated with U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s (“CMS”) implementation of the Medicare Part B Competitive Acquisition Program (“CAP”), including the potential loss of clients/revenues to providers choosing to participate in the CAP

 

our ability to maintain growth rates, or to control operating or capital costs

 

continued pressure on margins resulting from client demands for lower prices, enhanced service offerings and/or higher service levels, and the possible termination of, or unfavorable modification to, contracts with key clients or providers

 

competition in the PBM and specialty pharmacy industries, and our ability to consummate contract negotiations with prospective clients, as well as competition from new competitors offering services that may in whole or in part replace services that we now provide to our customers

 

results in regulatory matters, the adoption of new legislation or regulations (including increased costs associated with compliance with new laws and regulations), more aggressive enforcement of existing legislation or regulations, or a change in the interpretation of existing legislation or regulations

 

increased compliance relating to our contracts with the DoD TRICARE Management Activity and various state governments and agencies

 

the possible loss, or adverse modification of the terms, of relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, or changes in pricing, discount or other practices of pharmaceutical manufacturers or interruption of the supply of any pharmaceutical products

 

the possible loss, or adverse modification of the terms, of contracts with pharmacies in our retail pharmacy network

 

the use and protection of the intellectual property we use in our business

 

our leverage and debt service obligations, including the effect of certain covenants in our borrowing agreements

 

our ability to continue to develop new products, services and delivery channels

 

general developments in the health care industry, including the impact of increases in health care costs, changes in drug utilization and cost patterns and introductions of new drugs

 

increase in credit risk relative to our clients due to adverse economic trends

 

our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel

 

other risks described from time to time in our filings with the SEC

 

Risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed transaction that may impact forward-looking statements include but are not limited to:

 

 

Express Scripts and Caremark may not enter into any definitive agreement with respect to the proposed transaction

 

required regulatory approvals may not be obtained in a timely manner, if at all

 

the proposed transaction may not be consummated

 

the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction may not be realized

 

 



 

 

 

the integration of Caremark’s operations with Express Scripts may be materially delayed or may be more costly or difficult than expected

 

the proposed transaction would materially increase leverage and debt service obligations, including the effect of certain covenants in any new borrowing agreements.

 

We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

Important Information

Express Scripts has filed a proxy statement in connection with Caremark’s special meeting of stockholders at which the Caremark stockholders will consider the CVS Merger Agreement and matters in connection therewith. Express Scripts stockholders are strongly advised to read that proxy statement and the accompanying form of GOLD proxy card, as they contain important information. Express Scripts also intends to file a proxy statement in connection with Caremark’s annual meeting of stockholders at which the Caremark stockholders will vote on the election of directors to the board of directors of Caremark. Express Scripts stockholders are strongly advised to read this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card when they become available, as each will contain important information. Stockholders may obtain each proxy statement, proxy card and any amendments or supplements thereto which are or will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) free of charge at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) or by directing a request to MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at 800-322-2885 or by email at expressscripts@mackenziepartners.com.

 

In addition, this material is not a substitute for the prospectus/offer to exchange and registration statement that Express Scripts has filed with the SEC regarding its exchange offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Caremark. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents, all other applicable documents, and any amendments or supplements thereto when they becomes available, because each contains or will contain important information. Such documents are or will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) or by directing a request to MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at 800-322-2885 or by email at expressscripts@mackenziepartners.com.

 

Express Scripts and its directors, executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in any solicitation of Express Scripts or Caremark shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about Express Scripts’ directors and executive officers is available in Express Scripts’ proxy statement, dated April 18, 2006, filed in connection with its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders. Additional information about the interests of potential participants is included in any proxy statement filed in connection with Caremark’s special meeting to approve the proposed merger with CVS and will be included in any proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction. We have also filed additional information regarding our solicitation of stockholders with respect to Caremark’s annual meeting on a Schedule 14A pursuant to Rule 14a-12 on January 9, 2007.

 

About Express Scripts

Express Scripts, Inc. is one of the largest PBM companies in North America, providing PBM services to over 50 million members. Express Scripts serves thousands of client groups, including managed-care organizations, insurance carriers, employers, third-party administrators, public sector, and union-sponsored benefit plans.

 

Express Scripts provides integrated PBM services, including network-pharmacy claims processing, home delivery services, benefit-design consultation, drug-utilization review, formulary management, disease management, and medical- and drug-data analysis services. The Company also distributes a full range of injectable and infusion biopharmaceutical products directly to patients or their physicians, and provides extensive cost-management and patient-care services.

 

 



 

 

Express Scripts is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. More information can be found at www.express-scripts.com, which includes expanded investor information and resources.

 

###