AmerisourceBergen Corp. Reports Operating Results (10-K)

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Nov 29, 2012
AmerisourceBergen Corp. (ABC, Financial) filed Annual Report for the period ended 2012-09-30.

. Amerisourcebergen Corp had an annual average earning growth of 11.8% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Amerisourcebergen Corp the business predictability rank of 3.5-star.

Highlight of Business Operations:

During fiscal 2012, 72% of Pharmaceutical Distribution revenue was from sales to institutional customers and 28% was from sales to retail customers; this compared to a customer mix in fiscal 2011 of 70% institutional and 30% retail. Sales to institutional customers remained flat in the current fiscal year and sales to retail customers decreased 7% from the prior fiscal year.

Gross profit in fiscal 2012 increased $167.5 million from the prior fiscal year due to the contributions made by our recent acquisitions (primarily World Courier and TheraCom), the solid growth and profitability of our non-specialty generic programs, and brand price increases, all of which were offset, in part, by the reduced contribution from the sales of certain specialty oncology drugs, and by competitive pressures on customer margins. As expected, in fiscal 2012, the gross profit contributions from the sales of Oxaliplatin, Gemcitabine, and Docetaxel (all generic oncology drugs) were approximately $132 million lower than the prior fiscal year. We had no sales of Oxaliplatin in our current fiscal year until mid-August 2012 and; therefore, gross profit on the sale of Oxaliplatin was significantly lower than in fiscal 2011. In fiscal 2012, the gross profit decline from the above-mentioned three specialty generic drugs was partially offset by the gross profit contribution from over 30 ABDC brand to generic product conversions. In the current fiscal year, we recognized a gain of $14.8 million from antitrust litigation settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers. This compared to a recognized gain of $2.1 million from antitrust litigation settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers in the prior fiscal year. These gains were recorded as reductions to cost of goods sold. We are unable to estimate future gains, if any, that we will recognize as a result of antitrust settlements (see Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). Additionally, in fiscal 2011, our gross profit was impacted by a non-recurring $12 million benefit in connection with a customer being acquired by a third party.

Our cost of goods sold includes a last-in, first-out ("LIFO") provision that is affected by changes in inventory quantities, product mix, and manufacturer pricing practices, which may be impacted by market and other external influences. We recorded a LIFO charge of $0.7 million and $34.7 million in fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively. Our LIFO charge in fiscal 2012 was lower than the prior fiscal year charge due to higher brand inventory sales prior to the end of our fiscal year.

Gross profit of $2.5 billion in fiscal 2011 increased $176.5 million or 7.6% from fiscal 2010. This increase was greater than our revenue growth in large part due to the impact of certain specialty generic product introductions (launches), the continued strong growth and profitability of our non-specialty generic programs and increased contributions from our fee-for-service agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers. All of the above was offset, in part, by normal competitive pressures on customer margins. Oxaliplatin, Gemcitabine, and Docetaxel (all generic oncology drugs) were launched in the quarters ended September 30, 2009, December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011, respectively. The gross profit benefit achieved collectively from all three generic oncology drugs in fiscal 2011 was higher than the benefit achieved from Oxaliplatin alone in fiscal 2010 by approximately $96 million. Sales of Oxaliplatin, the largest contributor of the three specialty generic drugs, benefited our gross profit by approximately $106 million and $117 million in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively. Beginning in our fourth quarter ended September 30, 2011, the gross profit contributions from the sales Gemcitabine and Docetaxel began to moderate as additional pharmaceutical manufacturers offered these products for sale and as third party reimbursement rates to our customers declined. In fiscal 2011, we recognized a gain of $2.1 million from antitrust litigation settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers. This compared to a recognized gain of $20.7 million from antitrust litigation settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers in fiscal 2010. These gains were recorded as reductions to cost of goods sold. Lastly, in fiscal 2010, we completed a reconciliation with one of our generic suppliers relating to rebate incentives owed to us. Our gross profit benefited by approximately $12 million in fiscal 2010 as a result of having completed this reconciliation.

During fiscal 2011, our operating activities provided $1,167.9 million of cash in comparison to cash provided of $1,108.6 million in fiscal 2010. Net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2011 was principally the result of income from continuing operations of $695.9 million, an increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes of $403.7 million, and non-cash items of $377.3 million, offset, in part, by an increase in merchandise inventories of $267.6 million. Non-cash items included the provision for deferred income taxes of $194.0 million, which represents an increase of $109.5 million from fiscal 2010 and is primarily attributable to income tax deductions associated with merchandise inventories and tax bonus depreciation resulting from our Business Transformation capital expenditures. Our inventory and accounts payable balances at September 30, 2011 were 5% and 4% higher, respectively, than those balances at September 30, 2010. These increases were largely attributable to the growth in our business in fiscal 2011. Despite the 3% increase in revenue in fiscal 2011, accounts receivable at September 30, 2011 was relatively flat when compared to the balance at September 30, 2010. This was primarily due to timing of customer payments to us. Operating cash uses during fiscal 2011 included $74.2 million of interest payments and $214.6 million of income tax payments, net of refunds.

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