10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015
OR
[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ______ to  ______

Commission file number   1-11353

LABORATORY CORPORATION OF
AMERICA HOLDINGS
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
13-3757370
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

358 South Main Street,
 
 
Burlington, North Carolina
 
27215
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 336-229-1127

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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (paragraph 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [X] No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer [X]
Accelerated Filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer [  ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ] No [X].

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer's common stock is 101.2 million shares, net of treasury stock as of October 27, 2015.


INDEX



INDEX


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
Item 4.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 6.


1

INDEX


PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions)
(unaudited)
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
713.0

 
$
580.0

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $234.1 and $211.6 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
1,235.2

 
815.7

Unbilled services
161.8

 

Inventory
181.6

 
139.5

Prepaid expenses and other
378.3

 
157.5

Deferred income taxes
37.2

 

Total current assets
2,707.1

 
1,692.7

Property, plant and equipment, net
1,806.8

 
786.5

Goodwill, net
6,068.6

 
3,099.4

Intangible assets, net
3,561.0

 
1,475.8

Joint venture partnerships and equity method investments
61.8

 
92.6

Other assets, net
217.0

 
154.8

Total assets
$
14,422.3

 
$
7,301.8

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
445.0

 
$
282.3

Accrued expenses and other
583.0

 
341.4

Unearned revenue
141.7

 

Deferred income taxes

 
5.5

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt
674.7

 
347.1

Total current liabilities
1,844.4

 
976.3

 
 
 
 
Long-term debt, less current portion
6,006.5

 
2,682.7

Deferred income taxes and other tax liabilities
1,291.3

 
530.4

Other liabilities
351.1

 
274.2

Total liabilities
9,493.3

 
4,463.6

Commitments and contingent liabilities


 


Noncontrolling interest
15.5

 
17.7

Shareholders’ equity:
 

 
 

Common stock, 101.2 and 84.6 shares outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
12.0

 
10.4

Additional paid-in capital
1,937.6

 

Retained earnings
4,108.7

 
3,786.1

Less common stock held in treasury
(976.3
)
 
(965.5
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(168.5
)
 
(10.5
)
Total shareholders’ equity
4,913.5

 
2,820.5

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
14,422.3

 
$
7,301.8


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

INDEX


LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net revenue
$
2,269.9

 
$
1,551.8

 
$
6,260.9

 
$
4,498.9

Reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses
47.4

 

 
118.7

 

Total revenues
2,317.3

 
1,551.8

 
6,379.6

 
4,498.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cost of revenues
1,507.0

 
980.6

 
4,098.2

 
2,842.3

Reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses
47.4

 

 
118.7

 

Total cost of revenues
1,554.4

 
980.6


4,216.9

 
2,842.3

Gross profit
762.9

 
571.2

 
2,162.7

 
1,656.6

Selling, general and administrative expenses
382.5

 
305.7

 
1,217.1

 
888.5

Amortization of intangibles and other assets
47.1

 
18.3

 
126.2

 
61.3

Restructuring and other special charges
26.4

 
5.8

 
59.9

 
15.4

Operating income
306.9

 
241.4

 
759.5

 
691.4

Other income (expenses):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest expense
(55.8
)
 
(25.9
)
 
(218.1
)
 
(77.4
)
Equity method income, net
2.1

 
3.7

 
7.6

 
10.4

Investment income
0.4

 
0.3

 
1.4

 
0.9

Other, net
(3.2
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(4.4
)
 
13.9

Earnings before income taxes
250.4

 
219.0

 
546.0

 
639.2

Provision for income taxes
97.3

 
81.5

 
222.5

 
246.5

Net earnings
153.1

 
137.5

 
323.5

 
392.7

Less: Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest
(0.3
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.9
)
 
(1.1
)
Net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
$
152.8

 
$
137.2

 
$
322.6

 
$
391.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share
$
1.51

 
$
1.62

 
$
3.29

 
$
4.61

Diluted earnings per common share
$
1.49

 
$
1.59

 
$
3.24

 
$
4.53


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

INDEX



LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net earnings
$
153.1

 
$
137.5

 
$
323.5

 
$
392.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(102.8
)
 
(48.6
)
 
(233.4
)
 
(49.1
)
Net benefit plan adjustments

 
20.7

 
1.4

 
25.2

Investment adjustments

 
(2.0
)
 

 
(18.4
)
Other comprehensive loss before tax
(102.8
)
 
(29.9
)
 
(232.0
)
 
(42.3
)
Benefit for income tax related to items of other comprehensive earnings
34.0

 
11.7

 
74.0

 
16.4

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(68.8
)
 
(18.2
)
 
(158.0
)
 
(25.9
)
Comprehensive earnings
84.3

 
119.3

 
165.5

 
366.8

Less: Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest
(0.3
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.9
)
 
(1.1
)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
$
84.0

 
$
119.0

 
$
164.6

 
$
365.7


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


4

INDEX


LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in millions)
(unaudited)

 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Total
Shareholders’
Equity
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2013
$
10.5

 
$

 
$
3,373.5

 
$
(958.9
)
 
$
66.2

 
$
2,491.3

Net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

 

 
391.6

 

 

 
391.6

Other comprehensive earnings, net of tax

 

 

 

 
(25.9
)
 
(25.9
)
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans

 
106.2

 

 

 

 
106.2

Surrender of restricted stock and performance share awards

 

 

 
(6.6
)
 

 
(6.6
)
Conversion of zero-coupon convertible debt

 
3.5

 

 

 

 
3.5

Stock compensation

 
35.1

 

 

 

 
35.1

Income tax benefit from stock options exercised

 
5.5

 

 

 

 
5.5

Purchase of common stock
(0.1
)
 
(150.3
)
 
(79.5
)
 

 

 
(229.9
)
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
$
10.4

 
$

 
$
3,685.6

 
$
(965.5
)
 
$
40.3

 
$
2,770.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2014
$
10.4

 
$

 
$
3,786.1

 
$
(965.5
)
 
$
(10.5
)
 
$
2,820.5

Net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

 

 
322.6

 

 

 
322.6

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

 

 

 
(158.0
)
 
(158.0
)
Issuance of common stock for acquisition consideration
1.5

 
1,761.0

 

 

 

 
1,762.5

Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans
0.1

 
88.8

 

 

 

 
88.9

Surrender of restricted stock and performance share awards

 

 

 
(10.8
)
 

 
(10.8
)
Stock compensation

 
77.7

 

 

 

 
77.7

Income tax benefit from stock options exercised

 
10.1

 

 

 

 
10.1

Purchase of common stock

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
$
12.0

 
$
1,937.6

 
$
4,108.7

 
$
(976.3
)
 
$
(168.5
)
 
$
4,913.5


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

INDEX


LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
(unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
323.5

 
$
392.7

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
344.5

 
182.0

Stock compensation
77.7

 
35.1

Loss (gain) on sale of assets
2.9

 
(16.0
)
Accrued interest on zero-coupon subordinated notes
1.5

 
1.5

Earnings in excess of distributions from equity method investments
(1.8
)
 
(3.3
)
Asset impairment
14.8

 

Deferred income taxes
(16.0
)
 
(3.5
)
Change in assets and liabilities (net of effects of acquisitions):
 

 
 

Increase in accounts receivable (net)
(89.9
)
 
(59.7
)
Increase in unbilled services
(23.0
)
 

Decrease (increase) in inventories
9.6

 
(1.3
)
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other
23.5

 
1.7

Decrease in accounts payable
(24.3
)
 
(16.2
)
Increase in unearned revenue
1.7

 

(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses and other
(46.9
)
 
12.3

Net cash provided by operating activities
597.8

 
525.3

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 

 
 

Capital expenditures
(170.7
)
 
(157.2
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
0.5

 
0.9

Proceeds from sale of investment
8.0

 
31.7

Investments in equity affiliates
(11.4
)
 
(12.9
)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
(3,692.7
)
 
(65.3
)
Net cash used for investing activities
(3,866.3
)
 
(202.8
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 

 
 

Proceeds from senior note offerings
2,900.0

 

Proceeds from term loan
1,000.0

 

Payments on term loan
(285.0
)
 

Proceeds from revolving credit facilities
60.0

 

Payments on revolving credit facilities
(60.0
)
 

Proceeds from bridge loan
400.0

 

Payments on bridge loan
(400.0
)
 

Payments on senior notes
(250.0
)
 

Payments on zero-coupon subordinated notes

 
(16.8
)
Payment of debt issuance costs
(36.7
)
 
(0.1
)
Noncontrolling interest distributions

 
(0.9
)
Deferred payments on acquisitions
(0.1
)
 
(5.2
)
Payments on long-term lease obligations
(3.3
)
 
(0.6
)
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation
10.1

 
5.5

Net proceeds from issuance of stock to employees
89.2

 
106.2

Purchase of common stock

 
(229.9
)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
3,424.2

 
(141.8
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(22.7
)
 
(9.0
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
133.0

 
171.7

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
580.0

 
404.0

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
713.0

 
$
575.7


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)



1.      BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (the “Company”) and its majority-owned subsidiaries over which it exercises control. Long-term investments in affiliated companies in which the Company exercises significant influence, but which it does not control, are accounted for using the equity method. Investments in which the Company does not exercise significant influence (generally, when the Company has an investment of less than 20% and no representation on the investee’s board of directors) are accounted for using the cost method. All significant inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The Company does not have any variable interest entities or special purpose entities whose financial results are not included in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
The financial statements of the Company’s operating foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average monthly exchange rates prevailing during the period. Resulting translation adjustments are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income.”
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of results of operations, cash flows and financial position have been made. Except as otherwise disclosed, all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles.
Effective as of the first quarter of 2015, the Company changed its operating segments due to a change in its underlying organizational model designed to support the business following the acquisition (“the Acquisition”) of Covance Inc. (“Covance”) (see Note 14 - Business Segment Information). The LabCorp Diagnostics (“LCD”) segment includes operations that offer a broad range of clinical diagnostic laboratory tests and procedures. The Covance Drug Development (“CDD”) segment includes early drug development, central laboratory and clinical trial services. Through CDD, the Company offers its biopharmaceutical clients a full range of drug development services, including the ability to conduct a broad range of preclinical and clinical safety and efficacy studies, and the associated laboratory testing, required by regulatory bodies as part of the development and approval of new medicines.
The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes are presented in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Therefore, the interim statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The following information summarizes the significant accounting policies of the Company's CDD segment. The significant accounting policies of the LCD segment, which are largely comprised of the historic operations of the Company prior to the Acquisition, have not changed since 2014 and are described in the Company's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Revenue Recognition
CDD recognizes revenue either as services are performed or products are delivered, depending on the nature of the work contracted. Historically, a majority of CDD’s net revenues have been earned under contracts that range in duration from a few months to two years, but can extend in duration up to five years or longer. CDD also has committed minimum volume arrangements with certain clients. Underlying these arrangements are individual project contracts for the specific services to be provided. These arrangements enable CDD's clients to secure its services in exchange for which they commit to purchase an annual minimum dollar value of services. Under these types of arrangements, if the annual minimum dollar value of service commitment is not reached, the client is required to pay CDD for the shortfall. Progress towards the achievement of annual minimum dollar value of service commitments is monitored throughout the year. Annual minimum commitment shortfalls are not included in net revenues until the amount has been determined and agreed to by the client.
Service contracts generally take the form of fee-for-service or fixed-price arrangements subject to pricing adjustments based on changes in scope. In cases where performance spans multiple accounting periods, revenue is recognized as services are performed, measured on a proportional-performance basis, generally using output measures that are specific to the service provided. Examples of output measures in early development services, include among others, the number of slides read, or specimens prepared for preclinical laboratory services, or number of dosings or number of volunteers enrolled for clinical pharmacology. Examples of

7

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


output measures in the clinical trials services, include among others, number of investigators enrolled, number of sites initiated, number of patients enrolled and number of monitoring visits completed. Revenue is determined by dividing the actual units of work completed by the total units of work required under the contract and multiplying that percentage by the total contract value. The total contract value, or total contractual payments, represents the aggregate contracted price for each of the agreed upon services to be provided. CDD does not have any contractual arrangements spanning multiple accounting periods where revenue is recognized on a proportional-performance basis under which the Company has earned more than an immaterial amount of performance-based revenue (i.e., potential additional revenue tied to specific deliverables or performance). Changes in the scope of work are common, especially under long-term contracts, and generally result in a change in contract value. Once the client has agreed to the changes in scope and renegotiated pricing terms, the contract value is amended with revenue recognized as described above. Estimates of costs to complete are made to provide, where appropriate, for losses expected on contracts. Costs are not deferred in anticipation of contracts being awarded, but instead are expensed as incurred.
Billing schedules and payment terms are generally negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis. In some cases, CDD bills the client for the total contract value in progress-based installments as certain non-contingent billing milestones are reached over the contract duration, such as, but not limited to, contract signing, initial dosing, investigator site initiation, patient enrollment or database lock. The term “billing milestone” relates only to a billing trigger in a contract whereby amounts become billable and payable in accordance with a negotiated predetermined billing schedule throughout the term of a project. These billing milestones are not performance-based (i.e., there is no potential additional consideration tied to specific deliverables or performance). In other cases, billing and payment terms are tied to the passage of time (e.g., monthly billings). In either case, the total contract value and aggregate amounts billed to the client would be the same at the end of the project. While CDD attempts to negotiate terms that provide for billing and payment of services prior or within close proximity to the provision of services, this is not always possible, and there are fluctuations in the levels of unbilled services and unearned revenue from period to period. While a project is ongoing, cash payments are not necessarily representative of aggregate revenue earned at any particular point in time, as revenues are recognized when services are provided, while amounts billed and paid are in accordance with the negotiated billing and payment terms.
In some cases, payments received are in excess of revenue recognized. For example, a contract invoicing schedule may provide for an upfront payment of 10% of the full contract value upon contract signing, but at the time of signing performance of services has not yet begun. Payments received in advance of services being provided are deferred as unearned revenue on the balance sheet. As the contracted services are subsequently performed and the associated revenue is recognized, the unearned revenue balance is reduced by the amount of revenue recognized during the period.
In other cases, services may be provided and revenue recognized before the client is invoiced. In these cases, revenue recognized will exceed amounts billed, and the difference, representing an unbilled receivable, is recorded for the amount that is currently unbillable to the customer pursuant to contractual terms. Once the client is invoiced, the unbilled services are reduced for the amount billed, and a corresponding account receivable is recorded. All unbilled services are billable to customers within one year from the respective balance sheet date.
Most contracts are terminable with or without cause by the client, either immediately or upon notice. These contracts often require payment to CDD of expenses to wind down the study or project, fees earned to date and, in some cases, a termination fee or a payment to CDD of some portion of the fees or profits that could have been earned by CDD under the contract if it had not been terminated early. Termination fees are included in net revenues when services are performed and realization is assured. In connection with the management of multi-site clinical trials, CDD pays on behalf of its customers fees to investigators, volunteers and certain out-of-pocket costs, for which it is reimbursed at cost, without mark-up or profit. Investigator fees are not reflected in net revenues or expenses where CDD acts in the capacity of an agent on behalf of the pharmaceutical company sponsor, passing through these costs without risk or reward to CDD. All other out-of-pocket costs are included in total revenues and expenses.
Foreign Currencies
For subsidiaries outside of the United States that operate in a local currency environment, income and expense items are translated to United States dollars at the monthly average rates of exchange prevailing during the period, assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates and equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates. Translation adjustments are accumulated in a separate component of shareholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets and are included in the determination of comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive earnings and consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity. Transaction gains and losses are included in the determination of net income in the consolidated statements of operations.


8

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


Prepaid Expenses and Other
In connection with the management of multi-site clinical trials, CDD pays on behalf of its customers certain out-of-pocket costs, for which the Company is reimbursed at cost, without markup or profit. Amounts receivable from customers in connection with such out-of-pocket pass-through costs are included in prepaid expenses and other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and totaled $90.9 at September 30, 2015.
Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses
CDD pays on behalf of its customers certain out-of-pocket costs for which the Company is reimbursed at cost, without mark-up or profit. Out-of-pocket costs paid by CDD are reflected in operating expenses, while the reimbursements received are reflected in revenues in the consolidated statements of operations. CDD excludes from revenue and expense in the consolidated statements of operations fees paid to investigators and the associated reimbursement because CDD acts as an agent on behalf of the pharmaceutical company sponsors with regard to investigator payments.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue includes direct labor and related benefit charges, other direct costs, shipping and handling fees, and an allocation of facility charges and information technology costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of administrative payroll and related benefit charges, advertising and promotional expenses, administrative travel and an allocation of facility charges and information technology costs. Cost of advertising is expensed as incurred.
New Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard on discontinued operations that significantly changed criteria for discontinued operations and disclosures for disposals. Under this new standard, to be a discontinued operation, a component or group of components must represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. Expanded disclosures for discontinued operations include more details about earnings and balance sheet accounts, total operating and investing cash flows, and cash flows resulting from continuing involvement. The Company has adopted the guidance of this new standard and will apply it prospectively to all new disposals of components and new classifications as held for sale. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued the converged standard on revenue recognition with the objective of providing a single, comprehensive model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability in the financial statements of companies reporting using International Financial Reporting Standards and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The standard contains principles that an entity must apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity must recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. An entity can apply the revenue standard retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method) or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard recognized at the date of initial application in retained earnings. As originally issued, the new revenue recognition standard would be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2017. On July 9, 2015, the FASB approved the proposal to defer the effective date of this standard by one year. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted for annual periods beginning after December 16, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the expected impact of the standard.
In August 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that explicitly requires management to assess an entity's ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related financial statement footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. Under this standard, in connection with each annual and interim period, management must assess whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued when applicable). Management shall consider relevant conditions and events that are known and reasonably knowable at such issuance date. Substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern exists if it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after issuance date. Disclosures will be required if conditions or events give rise to substantial doubt. This standard is effective for the Company for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued an update which requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the associated debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The new guidance will be applied on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

9

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


In May 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting standard allowing entities to exclude investments measured at new asset value per share under the existing practical expedient from the fair value hierarchy. In addition, when the net asset value practical expedient is not applied to eligible investments, certain other disclosures are no longer required. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In July 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that requires an entity to measure inventory, except inventory that is measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method, at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In September 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that eliminates the requirement to restate prior period financial statements for measurement period adjustments. The standard requires that the cumulative impact of a measurement period adjustment, including the impact on prior periods, be recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment is identified. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016 and will be applied prospectively to measurement period adjustments that occur after the effective date.
2.
BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS

On February 19, 2015 (the “Acquisition Date”), the Company completed the Acquisition for $6,150.7. The Company issued debt and common stock to fund the Acquisition. Covance stockholders received $75.76 in cash and 0.2686 shares of the Company's common stock for each share of Covance common stock they owned. The Company financed the Acquisition with $3,900.0 of debt, 15.3 shares of its common stock and $488.2 of available cash, $400.0 of which was derived from a bridge term loan credit facility. On January 30, 2015, the Company issued $2,900.0 in debt securities, consisting of $500.0 aggregate principal amount of 2.625% Senior Notes due 2020, $500.0 aggregate principal amount of 3.20% Senior Notes due 2022, $1,000.0 aggregate principal amount of 3.60% Senior Notes due 2025 and $900.0 aggregate principal amount of 4.70% Senior Notes due 2045 (together, the "Acquisition Notes"). The Company also entered into a $1,000.0 term loan facility which was advanced in full on February 19, 2015. The term loan credit facility will mature five years after the closing date of the Acquisition and may be prepaid without penalty.
During the third quarter of 2015, the Company continued to finalize its purchase price allocation during the measurement period and obtained new fair value information related to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed of Covance, including the related lives of acquired assets. The facts and circumstances that existed at the date of acquisition, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized at that date. In accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, measurement period adjustments are not included in current earnings, but recognized as of the date of the acquisition with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill resulting from the change in preliminary amounts. As a result, during the second and third quarters, the Company adjusted the preliminary allocation of the purchase price initially recorded at the Acquisition Date to reflect these measurement period adjustments. While significant progress was made during the second and third quarters, this allocation is still preliminary and subject to change. The areas of the purchase price that are not yet finalized are primarily related to certain income tax items, intangible assets and residual goodwill. Accordingly, adjustments may be made to the values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed at the valuation date. The final valuation associated with the Acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. The preliminary valuation of acquired assets and assumed liabilities at the date of Acquisition include the following:

10

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


Consideration Transferred
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash consideration
 
 
 
 
 
$
4,388.2

Stock consideration
 
 
 
 
 
1,762.5

 
 


 
 
 
$
6,150.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preliminary February 19, 2015
 
Measurement Period Adjustments
 
Adjusted February 19, 2015
Net Assets Acquired
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
780.8

 
$

 
$
780.8

Accounts receivable
 
334.8

 

 
334.8

Unbilled services
 
138.7

 

 
138.7

Inventories
 
51.9

 

 
51.9

Prepaid expenses and other
 
261.4

 
45.5

 
306.9

Deferred income taxes
 
34.4

 

 
34.4

Property, plant and equipment
 
844.2

 
216.7

 
1,060.9

Goodwill
 
3,176.1

 
(268.3
)
 
2,907.8

Customer relationships
 
1,917.2

 
(5.0
)
 
1,912.2

Trade names and trademarks
 
289.4

 
4.3

 
293.7

Land use right
 
4.9

 
(4.9
)
 

Technology
 

 
62.2

 
62.2

Favorable leases
 

 
5.5

 
5.5

Other assets
 
15.2

 

 
15.2

Total assets acquired
 
7,849.0

 
56.0

 
7,905.0

Accounts payable
 
190.8

 

 
190.8

Accrued expenses and other
 
280.8

 

 
280.8

Unearned revenue
 
168.0

 

 
168.0

Deferred income taxes
 
730.2

 
41.0

 
771.2

Senior notes
 
250.0

 

 
250.0

Other liabilities
 
78.5

 
15.0

 
93.5

Total liabilities acquired
 
1,698.3

 
56.0

 
1,754.3

Net assets acquired
 
$
6,150.7

 
$

 
$
6,150.7

As noted above, the valuation of acquired intangible assets is preliminary as of September 30, 2015. Similarly, the amortization periods are preliminary until the valuation is finalized. The preliminary amortization periods for intangible assets acquired are 28 years for customer relationships, 15 years for trade names and trademarks, 10 years for technology, and 8 years for favorable leases. The Company recorded certain measurement period adjustments and certain classifications of expenses, including items associated with the allocation of stock compensation, from cost of revenue to selling, general and administrative expenses. As a result of these measurement period adjustments, depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased $1.9 and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased $1.1.
The Acquisition contributed $647.0 and $27.8 of revenue and net income, respectively, during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and $1,535.0 and $7.4 of revenue and net income, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
Unaudited Pro Forma Information
The Company completed the Acquisition on February 19, 2015. Had the Acquisition been completed as of the beginning of 2014, the Company's pro forma results for 2015 and 2014 would have been as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Total revenues
 
$
2,222.8

 
$
6,732.8

 
$
6,523.3

Operating income
 
298.7

 
878.8

 
622.2

Net income attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
 
172.7

 
432.5

 
274.8

Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Basic
 
$
1.72

 
$
4.27

 
$
2.73

   Diluted
 
$
1.69

 
$
4.21

 
$
2.69


11

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


The unaudited pro forma results reflect certain adjustments related to past operating performance, acquisition costs and acquisition accounting adjustments, such as increased amortization expense and decreased depreciation expense based on the estimated fair value of assets acquired, the impact of the Company’s new financing arrangements, and the related tax effects. The pro forma results include costs directly attributable to the Acquisition which are not expected to have a continuing impact on the combined company, such as transaction costs of $207.6; comprised of change in control, retention and severance arrangements of $26.8; acceleration of stock based compensation of $43.2 and related employer taxes of $9.4; legal, advisor and success fees of $75.6; write-off of bridge and other deferred financing fees of $15.2; and make-whole payments of $37.4 made in connection with the prepayment of Covance's existing private placement debt, all of which are included in the pro forma results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The pro forma results do not include any anticipated synergies which may be achievable subsequent to the Acquisition. To produce the unaudited pro forma financial information, the Company adjusted Covance’s assets and liabilities to their estimated fair value based on a preliminary valuation as of the Acquisition Date. As noted previously, the Company is finalizing elements of the purchase price allocation during the measurement period, including certain elements of the valuation work necessary to arrive at the final estimates of the fair value of the Covance assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. These pro forma results of operations have been prepared for comparative purposes only, and they do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations that actually would have resulted had the Acquisition occurred on the date indicated or that may result in the future.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company also acquired various laboratories and related assets for approximately $85.3 in cash (net of cash acquired). The majority of these were acquired in the second quarter of 2015. The purchase consideration for these acquisitions has been allocated to the estimated fair market value of the net assets acquired, including approximately $19.6 in identifiable intangible assets (primarily customer relationships and non-compete agreements) and a residual amount of goodwill of approximately $63.3. These acquisitions were made primarily to extend the Company's geographic reach in important market areas and/or enhance the Company's scientific differentiation and esoteric testing capabilities. The Company's results would not have been materially different from its pro forma results had the Company's other 2015 acquisitions occurred at the beginning of 2014.

3.  
EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings including the impact of dilutive adjustments by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus potentially dilutive shares, as if they had been issued at the earlier of the date of issuance or the beginning of the period presented. Potentially dilutive common shares result primarily from the Company’s outstanding stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance share awards, and shares issuable upon conversion of zero-coupon subordinated notes.
The following represents a reconciliation of basic earnings per share to diluted earnings per share:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per
Share
Amount
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per
Share
Amount
 
Earnings
 
Shares
 
Per
Share
Amount
 
Earnings
 
Shares
 
Per
Share
Amount
Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
152.8

 
101.1

 
$
1.51

 
$
137.2

 
84.9

 
$
1.62

 
$
322.6

 
97.9

 
$
3.29

 
$
391.6

 
84.9

 
$
4.61

Dilutive effect of employee stock options and awards

 
1.2

 
 

 

 
1.1

 
 

 

 
1.2

 
 

 

 
1.1

 
 

Effect of convertible debt

 
0.6

 
 

 

 
0.5

 
 

 

 
0.6

 
 

 

 
0.5

 
 

Diluted earnings per share:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net earnings including impact of dilutive adjustments
$
152.8

 
102.9

 
$
1.49

 
$
137.2

 
86.5

 
$
1.59

 
$
322.6

 
99.7

 
$
3.24

 
$
391.6

 
86.5

 
$
4.53

The following table summarizes the potential common shares not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their impact would have been antidilutive:

12

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Stock options

 

 

 


4.  
RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER SPECIAL CHARGES

During the first nine months of 2015, the Company recorded net restructuring and other special charges of $59.9. The charges were comprised of $33.8 related to severance and other personnel costs along with $27.1 in costs associated with facility closures and impairment of certain information technology assets. These charges were offset by the reversal of previously established reserves of $1.0 in unused facility-related costs. The Company is evaluating any additional financial impacts for the proposed wind-down of operations related to the expiration of a CDD committed minimum volume contract. Additional costs which are currently under negotiation, are expected to include other employee and facility related charges, and are not yet determinable.
In addition, during the first nine months of 2015, the Company recorded $17.0 in consulting expenses (recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses) relating to fees incurred as part of Project LaunchPad as well as Covance integration costs. The Company also recorded $166.0 of deal costs related to the Acquisition, of which $113.4 is included in selling, general and administrative expenses and $52.6 is included in interest expense. During the third quarter of 2015, the Company also recorded a non-cash loss of $2.3, upon the dissolution of one of its equity investments, which is included in other, net expenses.
During the first nine months of 2014, the Company recorded net restructuring and other special charges of $15.4. The charges were comprised of $9.8 related to severance and other personnel costs along with $6.7 in costs associated with facility closures and general integration initiatives. These charges were offset by the reversal of previously established reserves of $0.4 in unused severance and $0.7 in unused facility-related costs.
In addition, during the third quarter of 2014, the Company recorded $10.1 in consulting expenses (recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses) relating to fees incurred as part of Project LaunchPad, as well as one-time CFO transition costs.
The following represents the Company’s restructuring reserve activities for the period indicated:
 
Severance and Other
Employee Costs
 
Lease and Other
Facility Costs
 
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2014
$
0.4

 
$
21.7

 
$
22.1

Restructuring charges
33.8

 
27.1

 
60.9

Reduction of prior restructuring accruals

 
(1.0
)
 
(1.0
)
Cash payments and other adjustments
(9.7
)
 
(20.0
)
 
(29.7
)
Balance as of September 30, 2015
$
24.5

 
$
27.8

 
$
52.3

Current
 

 
 

 
$
32.5

Non-current
 

 
 

 
19.8

 
 

 
 

 
$
52.3


5.  
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
As of September 30, 2015, the Company has recorded goodwill of $6,068.6, which includes a preliminary goodwill balance of $2,907.8 related to the Acquisition. Effective in the first quarter of 2015, the Company changed its operating segments due to a change in its underlying organizational model designed to support the business following the Acquisition (see Note 14 - Business Segment Information). The Company did not operate under the realigned operating segment structure prior to the first quarter of 2015. This change in segments resulted in a reassignment of goodwill of approximately $110.5 among the Company’s reportable segments (and reporting units) based on relative fair value. Prior period information has been retrospectively adjusted to reflect this reassignment.
The following is a summary of the Company’s goodwill by reportable segment, reflecting the retrospective reassignment as of December 31, 2014:
LCD
$
2,988.9

CDD
110.5

 
$
3,099.4

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine month period ended September 30, 2015 and for the year ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:

13

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


 
LCD
 
CDD
 
Total
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
Balance as of January 1
$
2,988.9

 
$
2,912.3

 
$
110.5

 
$
110.5

 
$
3,099.4

 
$
3,022.8

Goodwill acquired during the period
72.2

 
81.8

 
2,907.8

 

 
2,980.0

 
81.8

Foreign currency impact and other adjustments to goodwill
(10.9
)
 
(5.2
)
 
0.1

 

 
(10.8
)
 
(5.2
)
Balance at end of period
$
3,050.2

 
$
2,988.9

 
$
3,018.4

 
$
110.5

 
$
6,068.6

 
$
3,099.4

 The components of identifiable intangible assets are as follows:
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
Customer relationships
$
3,290.8

 
$
(699.4
)
 
$
2,591.4

 
$
1,361.6

 
$
(606.8
)
 
$
754.8

Patents, licenses and technology
184.5

 
(107.3
)
 
77.2

 
125.9

 
(95.9
)
 
30.0

Non-compete agreements
49.2

 
(36.0
)
 
13.2

 
45.6

 
(31.7
)
 
13.9

Trade names
428.7

 
(109.9
)
 
318.8

 
133.3

 
(91.6
)
 
41.7

Land use right
5.5

 
(0.4
)
 
5.1

 

 

 

Canadian licenses
555.3

 

 
555.3

 
635.4

 

 
635.4

 
$
4,514.0

 
$
(953.0
)
 
$
3,561.0

 
$
2,301.8

 
$
(826.0
)
 
$
1,475.8

Amortization of intangible assets for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 was $47.1 and $126.2, respectively; and $18.3 and $61.3 for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014, respectively. Amortization expense for the net carrying amount of intangible assets is estimated to be $47.9 for the remainder of fiscal 2015, $183.3 in fiscal 2016, $176.1 in fiscal 2017, $165.4 in fiscal 2018, $158.7 in fiscal 2019 and $2,259.9 thereafter.

6.  
DEBT

Short-term borrowings and the current portion of long-term debt at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consisted of the following:
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
Zero-coupon convertible subordinated notes
$
95.4

 
$
93.9

5.625% senior notes due 2015
250.0

 
250.0

3.125% senior notes due 2016
325.0

 

Current portion of capital leases
4.3

 
3.2

Total short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt
$
674.7

 
$
347.1

Long-term debt at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consisted of the following:

14

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31, 2014
3.125% senior notes due 2016
$

 
$
325.0

2.20% senior notes due 2017
500.0

 
500.0

2.50% senior notes due 2018
400.0

 
400.0

4.625% senior notes due 2020
638.6

 
618.5

2.625% senior notes due 2020
500.0

 

3.75% senior notes due 2022
500.0

 
500.0

3.20% senior notes due 2022
500.0

 

4.00% senior notes due 2023
300.0

 
300.0

3.60% senior notes due 2025
1,000.0

 

4.70% senior notes due 2045
900.0

 

Revolving credit facility

 

Term loan
715.0

 

Capital leases
52.9

 
39.2

Total long-term debt
$
6,006.5

 
$
2,682.7


Senior Notes
As a result of the Acquisition, the Company assumed privately placed senior notes in an aggregate principal amount of $250.0 issued pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated October 2, 2013. On March 5, 2015, due to certain restrictive covenants and unfavorable interest rates, the Company caused Covance to prepay all of the outstanding senior notes at 100 percent of the principal amount plus accrued interest, and a total make-whole amount of $37.4 which was expensed. The Note Purchase Agreement terminated effective March 5, 2015 in connection with the prepayment of the senior notes.
During the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into two fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements for its 4.625% senior notes due 2020 with an aggregate notional amount of $600.0 and variable interest rates based on one-month LIBOR plus 2.298% to hedge against changes in the fair value of a portion of the Company's long-term debt.  These derivative financial instruments are accounted for as fair value hedges of the senior notes due 2020.  These interest rate swaps are included in other long-term assets and added to the value of the senior notes, with an aggregate fair value of $38.6 at September 30, 2015.
Zero-Coupon Subordinated Notes

On September 11, 2015, the Company announced that for the period from September 12, 2015 to March 11, 2016, the zero-coupon subordinated notes will accrue contingent cash interest at a rate of no less than 0.125% of the average market price of a zero-coupon subordinated note for the five trading days ended September 9, 2015, in addition to the continued accrual of the original issue discount.
On October 1, 2015, the Company announced that its zero-coupon subordinated notes may be converted into cash and common stock at the conversion rate of 13.4108 per $1,000.0. principal amount at maturity of the notes, subject to the terms of the zero-coupon subordinated notes and the Indenture, dated as of October 24, 2006, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee and the conversion agent. In order to exercise the option to convert all or a portion of the zero-coupon subordinated notes, holders are required to validly surrender their zero-coupon subordinated notes at any time during the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2015, through the close of business on the last business day of the calendar quarter, which is 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, December 31, 2015. If notices of conversion are received, the Company plans to settle the cash portion of the conversion obligation (i.e. the accreted principal amount of the securities to be converted) with cash on hand and/or borrowings under its revolving credit facility. The remaining amount, if any, will be settled with shares of common stock.

Credit Facilities

As part of its financing of the Acquisition, the Company entered into a $1,000.0 term loan and $2,900.0 in debt securities consisting of $500.0 aggregate principal amount of 2.625% Senior Notes due 2020, $500.0 aggregate principal amount of 3.20% Senior Notes due 2022, $1,000.0 aggregate principal amount of 3.60% Senior Notes due 2025 and $900.0 aggregate principal amount of 4.70% Senior Notes due 2045. The term loan credit facility will mature five years after the closing date of the Acquisition and may be prepaid without penalty. The term loan balance at September 30, 2015 was $715.0.
On December 19, 2014, the Company also entered into an amendment and restatement of its existing senior revolving credit facility, which was originally entered into on December 21, 2011. The senior revolving credit facility consists of a five-year

15

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


revolving facility in the principal amount of up to $1,000.0, with the option of increasing the facility by up to an additional $250.0, subject to the agreement of one or more new or existing lenders to provide such additional amounts and certain other customary conditions. The new revolving credit facility also provides for a subfacility of up to $100.0 for swing line borrowings and a subfacility of up to $125.0 for issuances of letters of credit. The new revolving credit facility is permitted to be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, funding of share repurchases and certain other payments, and acquisitions and other investments. There was $0.0 and $0.0 outstanding on the Company's revolving credit facility at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
On February 13, 2015, the Company entered into a 60-day cash bridge term loan credit facility in the principal amount of $400.0 for the purpose of financing a portion of the cash consideration and the fees and expenses in connection with the Acquisition. The 60-day cash bridge term loan credit facility was entered into under the terms set forth in the bridge facility commitment letter for the $400.0 60-day cash bridge tranche. The 60-day cash bridge term loan credit facility was advanced in full on February 19, 2015, the date of the Company’s completion of the Acquisition. On March 16, 2015, the Company elected to prepay the bridge facility without penalty.
Under the term loan facility and the revolving credit facility, the Company is subject to negative covenants limiting subsidiary indebtedness and certain other covenants typical for investment grade-rated borrowers, and the Company is required to maintain a leverage ratio that declines over time. Prior to the Acquisition closing date, the leverage ratio was required to have been no greater than 3.75 to 1.0 calculated by excluding the $2,900.0 in Acquisition Notes. From and after the Acquisition closing date, the leverage ratio must be no greater than 4.75 to 1.0 with respect to the last day of each of the first four fiscal quarters ending on or after the closing date, 4.25 to 1.0 with respect to the last day of each of the fifth through eighth fiscal quarters ending after the closing date, and 3.75 to 1.0 with respect to the last day of each fiscal quarter ending thereafter. The Company was in compliance with all covenants in the term loan facility and the new revolving credit facility at September 30, 2015. As of September 30, 2015, the ratio of total debt to consolidated last twelve months EBITDA was 3.8 to 1.0.
The term loan credit facility accrues interest at a per annum rate equal to, at the Company’s election, either a LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.125% to 2.00%, or a base rate determined according to a prime rate or federal funds rate plus a margin ranging from 0.125% to 1.00%. Advances under the revolving credit facility will accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to, at the Company’s election, either a LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.00% to 1.60%, or a base rate determined according to a prime rate or federal funds rate plus a margin ranging from 0.00% to 0.60%. Fees are payable on outstanding letters of credit under the new revolving credit facility at a per annum rate equal to the applicable margin for LIBOR loans, and the Company is required to pay a facility fee on the aggregate commitments under the new revolving credit facility, at a per annum rate ranging from 0.125% to 0.40%. The interest margin applicable to the credit facilities, and the facility fee and letter of credit fees payable under the new revolving credit facility, are based on the Company’s senior credit ratings as determined by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, which are currently BBB and Baa2, respectively.
As of September 30, 2015, the effective interest rate on the revolving credit facility was 1.29% and the effective interest rate on the term loan was 1.44%.

7. PREFERRED STOCK AND COMMON SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The Company is authorized to issue up to 265.0 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share. The Company’s treasury shares are recorded at aggregate cost. The Company is authorized to issue up to 30.0 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share. There were no preferred shares outstanding as of September 30, 2015. 
The changes in common shares issued and held in treasury are summarized below:
 
Issued
 
Held in
Treasury
 
Outstanding
Common shares at December 31, 2014
107.1

 
(22.5
)
 
84.6

Common stock issued in conjunction with the Acquisition
15.3

 

 
15.3

Common stock issued under employee stock plans
1.3

 

 
1.3

Common shares at September 30, 2015
123.7

 
(22.5
)
 
101.2

 
Share Repurchase Program

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had outstanding authorization from the Board of Directors to purchase up to $789.5 of Company common stock based on settled trades as of these respective dates. The repurchase authorization

16

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


has no expiration date. Following the announcement of the Acquisition, the Company suspended its share repurchases. The Company does not anticipate resuming its share repurchase activity until it approaches its targeted ratio of total debt to consolidated EBITDA of 2.5 to 1.0.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings

     The components of accumulated other comprehensive earnings are as follows:
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
 
Net
Benefit
Plan
Adjustments
 
Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available for Sale Securities
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Earnings
Balance at December 31, 2014
$
68.0

 
$
(78.6
)
 
$
0.1

 
$
(10.5
)
 Other comprehensive earnings before reclassifications
(233.3
)
 
2.2

 
(0.1
)
 
(231.2
)
  Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (a)

 
(0.8
)
 

 
(0.8
)
Tax effect of adjustments
74.5

 
(0.5
)
 

 
74.0

Balance at September 30, 2015
$
(90.8
)
 
$
(77.7
)
 
$

 
$
(168.5
)
(a) The amortization of prior service cost is included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See Note 10 (Pension and Post-retirement Plans) below for additional information regarding the Company's net periodic benefit cost.

8.
INCOME TAXES

The Company does not recognize a tax benefit unless the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on audit by the taxing authority based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. If the recognition threshold is met, the Company recognizes a tax benefit measured at the largest amount of the tax benefit that the Company believes is greater than 50% likely to be realized.
The gross unrecognized income tax benefits were $27.9 and $16.7 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Substantially all of the increase relates to matters associated with the Acquisition. It is anticipated that the amount of the unrecognized income tax benefits will change within the next twelve months; however, these changes are not expected to have a significant impact on the results of operations, cash flows or the financial position of the Company.

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, $27.9 and $16.7, respectively, are the approximate amounts of gross unrecognized income tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods. Substantially all of the increase relates to matters associated with the Acquisition.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized income tax benefits in income tax expense. Accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions totaled $9.5 and $8.2 as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The transfer of Covance's beginning balances accounted for substantially all of the increase.  
The valuation allowance provided as a reserve against certain deferred tax assets is $15.4 and $17.1 as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
The Company has substantially concluded all U.S. federal income tax matters for years through 2011. Substantially all material state and local, and foreign income tax matters have been concluded through 2007 and 2004, respectively.
The Company has various state and international income tax examinations ongoing throughout the year.  Management believes adequate provisions have been recorded related to all open tax years.

9.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is involved from time to time in various claims and legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions, and other litigation (including those described in more detail below), arising in the ordinary course of business. Some of these actions involve claims that are substantial in amount. These matters include, but are not limited to, intellectual property disputes, professional liability, employee-related matters, and inquiries, including subpoenas and other civil investigative demands, from governmental agencies and Medicare or Medicaid payers and managed care payers reviewing billing practices or requesting comment on

17

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


allegations of billing irregularities that are brought to their attention through billing audits or third parties. The Company receives civil investigative demands or other inquiries from various governmental bodies in the ordinary course of its business. Such inquiries can relate to the Company or other health care providers. The Company works cooperatively to respond to appropriate requests for information.
The Company is also named from time to time in suits brought under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act and comparable state laws. These suits typically allege that the Company has made false statements and/or certifications in connection with claims for payment from federal or state health care programs. The suits may remain under seal (hence, unknown to the Company) for some time while the government decides whether to intervene on behalf of the qui tam plaintiff. Such claims are an inevitable part of doing business in the health care field today.
The Company believes that it is in compliance in all material respects with all statutes, regulations and other requirements applicable to its clinical laboratory operations and drug development support services. The health care diagnostics and drug development industries are, however, subject to extensive regulation, and the courts have not interpreted many of the applicable statutes and regulations. There can be no assurance, therefore, that the applicable statutes and regulations will not be interpreted or applied by a prosecutorial, regulatory or judicial authority in a manner that would adversely affect the Company. Potential sanctions for violation of these statutes and regulations include significant fines, the loss of various licenses, certificates and authorizations, and/or exclusion from participation in government programs.
Many of the current claims and legal actions against the Company are in preliminary stages, and many of these cases seek an indeterminate amount of damages. The Company records an aggregate legal reserve, which is determined using actuarial calculations based on historical loss rates and assessment of trends experienced in settlements and defense costs. In accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 450, “Contingencies”, the Company establishes reserves for judicial, regulatory, and arbitration matters outside the aggregate legal reserve if and when those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and estimable and would exceed the aggregate legal reserve. When loss contingencies are not both probable and estimable, the Company does not establish separate reserves.
The Company is unable to estimate a range of reasonably probable loss for the proceedings described in more detail below in which damages either have not been specified or, in the Company's judgment, are unsupported and/or exaggerated and (i) the proceedings are in early stages; (ii) there is uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals or motions; (iii) there are significant factual issues to be resolved; and/or (iv) there are novel legal issues to be presented. For these proceedings, however, the Company does not believe, based on currently available information, that the outcomes will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, though the outcomes could be material to the Company's operating results for any particular period, depending, in part, upon the operating results for such period.
As reported, the Company reached a settlement in the previously disclosed lawsuit, California ex rel. Hunter Laboratories, LLC et al. v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, et al. (“Hunter Labs Settlement Agreement”), to avoid the uncertainty and costs associated with prolonged litigation. Pursuant to the executed Hunter Labs Settlement Agreement, the Company recorded a litigation settlement expense of $34.5 in the second quarter of 2011 (net of a previously recorded reserve of $15.0) and paid the settlement amount of $49.5 in the third quarter of 2011. The Company also agreed to certain reporting obligations regarding its pricing for a limited time period and, at the option of the Company in lieu of such reporting obligations, to provide Medi-Cal with a discount from Medi-Cal's otherwise applicable maximum reimbursement rate from November 1, 2011, through October 31, 2012. In June of 2012, the California legislature enacted Assembly Bill No. 1494, Section 9 of which directed the Department of Health Care Services ("DHCS") to establish new reimbursement rates for Medi-Cal clinical laboratory services that will be based on payments made to California clinical laboratories for similar services by other third-party payers. With stakeholder input, DHCS established data elements and a format for laboratories to report payment data from comparable third-party payers. Laboratories reported payment data to DHCS in the summer of 2013. On March 28, 2014, Assembly Bill No. 1124 extended the implementation deadline of new regulations until June 30, 2016. Assembly Bill No. 1494 provides that until the new rates are set through this process, Medi-Cal payments for clinical laboratory services will be reduced (in addition to a 10.0% payment reduction imposed by Assembly Bill No. 97 in 2011) by “up to 10 percent” for tests with dates of service on or after July 1, 2012, with a cap on payments set at 80.0% of the lowest maximum allowance established under the federal Medicare program. In April 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a 10.0% payment reduction under Assembly Bill No. 1494. This cut, which will apply retroactively to the period of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015, is being implemented through recoupments from weekly reimbursements at a rate of 5% of the amount owed until paid in full. Under the terms of the Hunter Labs Settlement Agreement, the enactment of this California legislation terminates the Company's reporting obligations (or obligation to provide a discount in lieu of reporting) under that agreement. In December 2014, DHCS announced at a stakeholder meeting the results of its analysis of payment data reported by laboratories in 2013 and its proposed rate methodology, on which it solicited stakeholder comments. The Company objected to the proposal by DHCS to exclude from the new rate calculations data on payments from comparable

18

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


third-party payers exceeding 80.0% of Medicare reimbursement amounts and its proposal to impose the 10.0% payment reduction enacted in Assembly Bill No. 97 after calculation of the new rates. In January 2015, after receiving stakeholder comments, DHCS instructed laboratories to submit 2014 payment data by March 27, 2015, which DHCS used (except for data on payment amounts exceeding 80.0% of Medicare reimbursement) to establish new rates. DHCS obtained CMS approval of a state plan amendment adopting the new rate methodology and rates effective July 1, 2015, and posted the new rates on the DHCS website. DHCS intends to apply the 10.0% payment reduction referenced in Assembly Bill No. 97 to the new rates. Due to an implementation delay, the new rates will be implemented prospectively beginning November 1, 2015. A recoupment to account for differences between the new rates and the rates paid for the period of July 1, 2015 through October 31, 2015 will be implemented through recoupments applied to each weekly reimbursement. Therefore, until the recoupment is paid in full, the Company will not receive a weekly reimbursement. All retroactive recoupments are expected to be completed by February 2016. Taken together, these changes are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated revenues or results of operations.
As previously reported, the Company responded to an October 2007 subpoena from the United States Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General's regional office in New York. On August 17, 2011, the Southern District of New York unsealed a False Claims Act lawsuit, United States of America ex rel. NPT Associates v. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, which alleges that the Company offered UnitedHealthcare kickbacks in the form of discounts in return for Medicare business. The Plaintiff's third amended complaint further alleges that the Company's billing practices violated the false claims acts of fourteen states and the District of Columbia. The lawsuit seeks actual and treble damages and civil penalties for each alleged false claim, as well as recovery of costs, attorney's fees, and legal expenses. Neither the United States government nor any state government has intervened in the lawsuit. The Company's Motion to Dismiss was granted in October 2014. The Company intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit should it proceed further.
In addition, the Company has received various other subpoenas since 2007 related to Medicaid billing. In October 2009, the Company received a subpoena from the State of Michigan Department of Attorney General seeking documents related to its billing to Michigan Medicaid. In June 2010, the Company received a subpoena from the State of Florida Office of the Attorney General requesting documents related to its billing to Florida Medicaid. In October 2013, the Company received a civil investigative demand from the State of Texas Office of the Attorney General requesting documents related to its billing to Texas Medicaid. The Company is cooperating with these requests.
On November 4, 2013, the State of Florida through the Office of the Attorney General filed an Intervention Complaint in a False Claims Act lawsuit, State of Florida ex rel. Hunter Laboratories, LLC and Chris Riedel v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, et al. in the Circuit Court for the Second Judicial Circuit for Leon County. The complaint, originally filed by a competitor laboratory, alleges that the Company overcharged Florida’s Medicaid program. The lawsuit seeks actual and treble damages and civil penalties for each alleged false claim, as well as recovery of costs, attorney’s fees, and legal expenses. The Company's Motion to Dismiss was denied in February 2015. The Company will vigorously defend the lawsuit.
On May 2, 2013, the Company was served with a False Claims Act lawsuit, State of Georgia ex rel. Hunter Laboratories, LLC and Chris Riedel v. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, et al., filed in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia. The lawsuit, filed by a competitor laboratory, alleges that the Company overcharged Georgia's Medicaid program. The State of Georgia filed a notice of declination on August 13, 2012, before the Company was served with a complaint. The case was removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The lawsuit seeks actual and treble damages and civil penalties for each alleged false claim, as well as recovery of costs, attorney's fees, and legal expenses. On March 14, 2014, the Company's Motion to Dismiss was granted. The Plaintiffs repled their complaint and the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss the First Amended Complaint. In May 2015, the Court dismissed the Plaintiffs’ anti-kickback claim and remanded the remaining state law claims to the State Court of Fulton County. In July 2015, the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss these remaining claims. The Plaintiffs filed an opposition to the Company’s Motion to Dismiss in August 2015. Also, the State of Georgia filed a brief as amicus curiae. The Company will vigorously defend the lawsuit.
On November 18, 2011, the Company received a letter from United States Senators Baucus and Grassley requesting information regarding the Company's relationships with its largest managed care customers. The letter requested information about the Company's contracts and financial data regarding its managed care customers. Company representatives met with Senate Finance Committee staff after receiving the request and subsequently produced documents in response.
On February 27, 2012, the Company was served with a False Claims Act lawsuit, United States ex rel. Margaret Brown v. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings and Tri-State Clinical Laboratory Services, LLC, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division. The Company owned 50% of Tri-State Clinical Laboratory Services, LLC, which was dissolved in June of 2011 pursuant to a voluntary petition under Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the United States Code. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants submitted false claims for payment for laboratory testing services performed as a result of

19

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


financial relationships that violated the federal Stark and Anti-Kickback laws. The lawsuit seeks actual and treble damages and civil penalties for each alleged false claim, as well as recovery of costs, attorney's fees, and legal expenses. The United States government has not intervened in the lawsuit. The parties have reached a settlement in principle, but the Company will vigorously defend the lawsuit if the settlement is not finalized.
On June 7, 2012, the Company was served with a putative class action lawsuit, Yvonne Jansky v. Laboratory Corporation of America, et al., filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco. The complaint alleges that the Defendants committed unlawful and unfair business practices, and violated various other state laws by changing screening codes to diagnostic codes on laboratory test orders, thereby resulting in customers being responsible for co-payments and other debts. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, actual and punitive damages, as well as recovery of attorney's fees, and legal expenses. In June 2015, Plaintiff’s Motion for class certification was denied. Plaintiff has appealed the denial of class certification, and the trial court has stayed the case pending resolution of the appeal. The Company will vigorously defend the lawsuit.
On August 24, 2012, the Company was served with a putative class action lawsuit, Sandusky Wellness Center, LLC, et al. v. MEDTOX Scientific, Inc., et al., filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit alleges that on or about February 21, 2012, the defendants violated the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA") by sending unsolicited facsimiles to Plaintiff and more than 39 other recipients without the recipients' prior express permission or invitation. The lawsuit seeks the greater of actual damages or the sum of $0.0005 for each violation, subject to trebling under the TCPA, and injunctive relief. In September 2014, Plaintiff's Motion for class certification was denied. In January of 2015, the Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment on the remaining individual claim was granted. Plaintiff has filed a notice of appeal. The Company will vigorously defend the lawsuit.
The Company was a defendant in two separate putative class action lawsuits, Christine Bohlander v. Laboratory Corporation of America, et al., and Jemuel Andres, et al. v. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, et al., related to overtime pay. After the filing of the two lawsuits on July 8, 2013, the Bohlander lawsuit was consolidated into the Andres lawsuit and removed to the United States District Court for the Central District of California. In the consolidated lawsuit, the Plaintiffs allege on behalf of similarly situated phlebotomists and couriers that the Company failed to pay overtime, failed to provide meal and rest breaks, and committed other violations of the California Labor Code. On May 28, 2015, the District Court issued a preliminary approval of the class action settlement and notice of the settlement has been sent to putative class members.
The Company was also a defendant in two additional putative class action lawsuits alleging similar claims to the Bohlander/Andres consolidated lawsuit. The lawsuit of Rachel Rabanes v. California Laboratory Sciences, LLC, et al., was filed in April 2014 in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles, and the lawsuit Rita Varsam v. Laboratory Corporation of America DBA LabCorp, was filed in June 2014 in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego. As a result of the Andres settlement, the Plaintiff in the Rabanes case dismissed her case. The Plaintiff in the Varsam case alleges on behalf of similarly situated employees that the Company failed to pay overtime, failed to provide meal and rest breaks, and committed other violations of the California Labor Code. The complaint seeks monetary damages, civil penalties, costs, injunctive relief, and attorney's fees. The parties in the Varsam case have reached a settlement in principle, but the Company will vigorously defend the lawsuit if the settlement is not finalized.
On December 17, 2010, the Company was served with a lawsuit, Oliver Wuth, et al. v. Laboratory Corporation of America, et al., filed in the State Superior Court of King County, Washington. The lawsuit alleges that the Company was negligent in the handling of a prenatal genetic test order that allegedly resulted in the parents being given incorrect information. The matter was tried to a jury beginning on October 21, 2013. On December 10, 2013, the jury returned a verdict in in Plaintiffs’ favor in the amount of $50.0, with 50.0% of liability apportioned to the Company and 50.0% of liability apportioned to co-Defendant Valley Medical Center. The Company filed post-judgment motions for a new trial, which were denied, and then appealed to the Court of Appeals of the State of Washington. The Appeals Court heard oral argument in June 2015. In August 2015, the Appeals Court affirmed the trial court’s judgment. In September, the Company filed a Petition for Review with the Supreme Court of the State of Washington. The Company carries self-insurance reserves and excess liability insurance sufficient to cover the potential liability in this case.
On July 3, 2012, the Company was served with a lawsuit, John Wisekal, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Darien Wisekal v. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings and Glenda C. Mixon, filed in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida. The lawsuit alleges that the Company misread a Pap test. The case was removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The matter was tried to a jury beginning on April 1, 2014. On April 17, 2014, the jury returned a verdict in Plaintiff’s favor in the amount of $20.8, with non-economic damages reduced by 25% to account for the Plaintiff's negligence, for a final verdict of $15.8. The Company filed post-trial motions. On July 28, 2014, the Court granted the Company’s motion for remittitur and reduced the jury’s non-economic damages award to $5.0, reduced by

20

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


25.0% for the Plaintiff’s negligence. Accordingly, the total judgment is $4.4. In December 2014, the Court granted Plaintiff's Motion to Certify the remittitur order for interlocutory appeal. On June 3, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit denied Petitioner Wisekal's petition for permission to appeal the remittitur order. The case is set for re-trial on the issue of damages on the January 2016 trial calendar. The Company will vigorously defend this lawsuit.
On July 9, 2014, the Company was served with a putative class action lawsuit, Christopher W. Legg, et al. v. Laboratory Corporation of America, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint alleges that the Company willfully violated the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act by allegedly providing credit card expiration date information on an electronically printed credit card receipt. The lawsuit seeks damages of not less than $0.0001 but not more than $0.01 per violation, and punitive damages, injunctive relief, and attorney’s fees. The parties have reached a settlement in principle that is subject to court approval, but the Company will vigorously defend the lawsuit if the settlement is not finalized.
On August 31, 2015, the Company was served with a putative class action lawsuit, Patty Davis v. Laboratory Corporation of America, et al., filed in the Circuit Court of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit for Hillsborough County, Florida. The complaint alleges that the Company violated the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act by billing patients who were collecting benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Statutes. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and actual and statutory damages, as well as recovery of attorney's fees and legal expenses. The Company will vigorously defend the lawsuit.

Prior to the consummation of the Company’s acquisition of LipoScience, Inc. on November 20, 2014, purported stockholders of LipoScience filed four putative class action lawsuits against LipoScience, members of the LipoScience board of directors, the Company and Bear Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, in the Delaware Court of Chancery and, with respect to one of the lawsuits, in the Superior Court of Wake County, North Carolina. The lawsuits alleged breach of fiduciary duty and/or other violations of state law arising out of the proposed acquisition. Each suit sought, among other things, injunctive relief enjoining the merger. On October 23, 2014, the case in North Carolina was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice by the Plaintiff. On October 29, 2014, the Delaware Court of Chancery consolidated the remaining three actions under the caption In re LipoScience, Inc. Stockholder Litigation, Consolidated C.A. No. 10252-VCP (the “Consolidated Action”). On November 7, 2014, the Consolidated Action plaintiffs entered into a memorandum of understanding with the defendants regarding a settlement of the Consolidated Action. In connection with the memorandum of understanding, the parties agreed that LipoScience would make certain additional disclosures to its stockholders.

On November 19, 2014, the Company entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Covance for $6,150.7 in cash and Company common stock. The transaction closed on February 19, 2015. Prior to the closing of the transaction, purported stockholders of Covance filed two putative class action lawsuits. One of the lawsuits, captioned Berk v. Covance Inc., et al., C.A. No. 10440-VCL, was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery on December 9, 2014. The other lawsuit, captioned Ojeda v. Herring et al., No. MER-C-92-14, was filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Mercer County, New Jersey, on November 12, 2014. Both suits named as defendants Covance, members of the Covance board of directors, the Company and Neon Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company that was merged out of existence in connection with the Acquisition. The lawsuits alleged breach of fiduciary duty and/or other violations of state law arising out of the proposed acquisition. Each suit sought, among other things, injunctive relief enjoining the merger. On January 21, 2015, the case in New Jersey was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice by the Plaintiff. On February 9, 2015, the Plaintiffs in the Delaware case entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Defendants regarding a settlement. In connection with the memorandum of understanding, the parties agreed that Covance would make additional disclosures to its stockholders.
In December 2014, the Company received a Civil Investigative Demand issued pursuant to the federal False Claims Act from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina, which requests information regarding remuneration and services provided by the Company to physicians who also received draw and processing/handling fees from competitor laboratories Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. and Singulex, Inc. The Company is cooperating with the request.
In March 2015, the Company received a subpoena from the Attorney General of the State of New York, which requests information regarding the Company’s relationship with Direct Laboratories LLC. The Company is cooperating with the request.
The Company holds an investment in a joint venture partnership located in Alberta, Canada. The Canadian partnership has a license to conduct diagnostic testing services in the province of Alberta. Substantially all of its revenue is received as reimbursement from the Alberta government's health care programs. In December 2013, Alberta Health Services (“AHS”), the Alberta government's health care program, issued a request for proposals for laboratory services that included the scope of services performed by the Canadian partnership. In October 2014, AHS informed the Canadian partnership that it had not been selected as the preferred proponent. In November 2014, the Canadian partnership submitted a vendor bid appeal upon the belief that there were significant flaws and failures in the conduct of the request for proposal process, which drove to a biased conclusion. AHS established a Vendor

21

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


Bid Appeal Panel to hear the appeal, and the hearing was conducted in February 2015. In August 2015, AHS was directed to cancel the request for proposal process. Subsequently, the Canadian partnership entered into a one-year extension through March 31, 2017 of its existing contract with AHS. If the contract is not renewed after March 2017, then the Canadian partnership's revenues would decrease substantially and the carrying value of the Company's investment could potentially be impaired.
Under the Company's present insurance programs, coverage is obtained for catastrophic exposure as well as those risks required to be insured by law or contract. The Company is responsible for the uninsured portion of losses related primarily to general, professional and vehicle liability, certain medical costs and workers' compensation. The self-insured retentions are on a per occurrence basis without any aggregate annual limit. Provisions for losses expected under these programs are recorded based upon the Company's estimates of the aggregated liability of claims incurred. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had provided letters of credit aggregating approximately $45.4, primarily in connection with certain insurance programs. The Company's availability under its revolving credit facility is reduced by the amount of these letters of credit.

10.
PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

The Company’s defined contribution retirement plan (the “401K Plan”) covers substantially all pre-Acquisition employees. All employees eligible for the 401K Plan receive a minimum 3% non-elective contribution concurrent with each payroll period. The 401K Plan also permits discretionary contributions by the Company of up to 1% and up to 3% of pay for eligible employees based on years of service with the Company. The cost of this plan was $13.2 and $12.6 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $39.4 and $38.8 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. As a result of the Acquisition, the Company also incurred expense of $11.4 and $27.1 for the Covance 401K Plan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
The Company also maintains a frozen defined benefit retirement plan (the “Company Plan”), that as of December 31, 2009, covered substantially all employees. The benefits to be paid under the Company Plan are based on years of credited service through December 31, 2009 and ongoing interest credits. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company Plan was closed to new participants. The Company’s policy is to fund the Company Plan with at least the minimum amount required by applicable regulations.
The Company maintains a second unfunded, non-contributory, non-qualified defined benefit retirement plan (the “PEP”), that as of December 31, 2009, covered substantially all of its senior management group. The PEP supplements the Company Plan and was closed to new participants effective January 1, 2010.     
The effect on operations for the Company Plan and the PEP is summarized as follows:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Service cost for administrative expenses
$
1.0

 
$
0.8

 
$
2.9

 
$
2.5

Interest cost on benefit obligation
3.8

 
4.2

 
11.4

 
12.3

Expected return on plan assets
(4.5
)
 
(4.6
)
 
(13.7
)
 
(13.6
)
Net amortization and deferral
2.9

 
1.6

 
8.3

 
5.0

Defined benefit plan costs
$
3.2

 
$
2.0

 
$
8.9

 
$
6.2

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company contributed $7.1 to the Company Plan.
The Company has assumed obligations under a subsidiary’s post-retirement medical plan. Coverage under this plan is restricted to a limited number of existing employees of the subsidiary. This plan is unfunded and the Company’s policy is to fund benefits as claims are incurred. The effect on operations of the post-retirement medical plan is shown in the following table:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Service cost for benefits earned
$

 
$
0.1

 
$
0.1

 
$
0.2

Interest cost on benefit obligation
0.2

 
0.4

 
0.7

 
1.3

Net amortization and deferral
(2.9
)
 
(2.0
)
 
(7.5
)
 
(5.9
)
Post-retirement medical plan benefits
$
(2.7
)
 
$
(1.5
)
 
$
(6.7
)
 
$
(4.4
)
In addition to the PEP, as a result of the Acquisition, the Company also has a frozen non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”). The SERP, which is not funded, is intended to provide retirement benefits for certain executive officers of Covance. Benefit amounts are based upon years of service and compensation of the participating employees. The pension benefit obligation as of the Acquisition date was $32.8. The components of the net periodic pension cost are as follows:

22

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Service cost
$
0.1

 
$
0.1

Interest cost
0.2

 
0.6

Net amortization and deferral

 

Curtailment gain
(0.7
)
 
(0.7
)
Net periodic pension cost
$
(0.4
)
 
$

The SERP was frozen effective August 1, 2015, which resulted in a curtailment gain of $0.7.
Also as a result of the Acquisition, the Company sponsors a post-employment retiree health and welfare plan for the benefit of eligible employees at certain U.S. subsidiaries who retire after satisfying service and age requirements. This plan is funded on a pay-as-you-go basis and the cost of providing these benefit is shared with the retirees. The net periodic post-retirement benefit cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $0.1 and $0.2, respectively, and the pension benefit obligation as of the Acquisition date was $6.3.
As a result of the Acquisition, the Company sponsors two defined benefit pension plans for the benefit of its employees at two United Kingdom subsidiaries and one defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of its employees at a German subsidiary, all of which are legacy plans of previously acquired companies. Benefit amounts for all three plans are based upon years of service and compensation. The German plan is unfunded while the United Kingdom pension plans are funded. The Company’s funding policy has been to contribute annually a fixed percentage of the eligible employee’s salary at least equal to the local statutory funding requirements.
 
United Kingdom Plans
 
German Plan
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Service cost for administrative expenses
$
0.9

 
$
1.9

 
$
0.4

 
$
0.8

Interest cost on benefit obligation
2.3

 
5.4

 
0.1

 
0.3

Expected return on plan assets
(3.3
)
 
(7.6
)
 

 

Net amortization and deferral

 

 

 

Defined benefit plan costs
$
(0.1
)
 
$
(0.3
)
 
$
0.5

 
$
1.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assumptions used to determine defined benefit plan cost
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
3.6
%
 
3.6
%
 
1.5
%
 
1.5
%
Expected return on assets
5.4
%
 
5.4
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Salary increases
3.5
%
 
3.5
%
 
2.0
%
 
2.0
%
11.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company’s population of financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements as of
 
Fair Value
as of
 
September 30, 2015
 
 
Using Fair Value Hierarchy
 
September 30, 2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Noncontrolling interest put
$
15.5

 
$

 
$
15.5

 
$

Interest rate swap
38.6

 

 
38.6

 

Cash surrender value of life insurance policies
43.8

 

 
43.8

 

Deferred compensation liability
44.2

 

 
44.2

 


23

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements as of
 
Fair Value
as of
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Using Fair Value Hierarchy
 
December 31, 2014
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Noncontrolling interest put
$
17.7

 
$

 
$
17.7

 
$

Interest rate swap
18.5

 

 
18.5

 

Cash surrender value of life insurance policies
41.9

 

 
41.9

 

Deferred compensation liability
43.4

 

 
43.4

 

The Company has a noncontrolling interest put related to its Ontario subsidiary that has been classified as mezzanine equity in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. The noncontrolling interest put is valued at its contractually determined value, which approximates fair value.
The Company offers certain employees the opportunity to participate in a deferred compensation plan (“DCP”). A participant's deferrals are allocated by the participant to one or more of 16 measurement funds, which are indexed to externally managed funds. From time to time, to offset the cost of the growth in the participant's investment accounts, the Company purchases life insurance policies, with the Company named as beneficiary of the policies. Changes in the cash surrender value of these policies are based upon earnings and changes in the value of the underlying investments, which are typically invested in a manner similar to the participants' allocations. Changes in the fair value of the DCP obligation are derived using quoted prices in active markets based on the market price per unit multiplied by the number of units. The cash surrender value and the DCP obligations are classified within Level 2 because their inputs are derived principally from observable market data by correlation to the hypothetical investments.
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, income taxes receivable, and accounts payable are considered to be representative of their respective fair values due to their short-term nature. The fair market value of the zero-coupon subordinated notes, based on market pricing, was approximately $163.1 and $155.6 as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The fair market value of all of the senior notes, based on market pricing, was approximately $6,358.1 and $2,949.8 as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Company's note and debt instruments are classified as Level 2 instruments, as the fair market values of these instruments are determined using other observable inputs.

12.
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company addresses its exposure to market risks, principally the market risk associated with changes in interest rates, through a controlled program of risk management that includes, from time to time, the use of derivative financial instruments such as foreign currency contracts and interest rate swap agreements (see Interest Rate Swap section below). Although the Company’s zero-coupon subordinated notes contain features that are considered to be embedded derivative instruments (see Embedded Derivatives Related to the Zero-Coupon Subordinated Notes section below), the Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. The Company does not believe that its exposure to market risk is material to the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Interest Rate Swap

During the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into two fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements for its 4.625% senior notes due 2020 with an aggregate notional amount of $600.0 and variable interest rates based on one-month LIBOR plus 2.298% to hedge against changes in the fair value of a portion of the Company's long term debt.  These derivative financial instruments are accounted for as fair value hedges of the senior notes due 2020.  These interest rate swaps are included in other long term assets and added to the value of the senior notes, with an aggregate fair value of $38.6 and $18.5 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. As the specific terms and notional amounts of the derivative financial instruments match those of the fixed-rate debt being hedged, the derivative instruments are assumed to be perfectly effective hedges and accordingly, there is no net impact to the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
Embedded Derivatives Related to the Zero-Coupon Subordinated Notes

The Company’s zero-coupon subordinated notes contain the following two features that are considered to be embedded derivative instruments under authoritative guidance in connection with accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities:
1)
The Company will pay contingent cash interest on the zero-coupon subordinated notes after September 11, 2006, if the average market price of the notes equals 120% or more of the sum of the issue price, accrued original issue discount and contingent additional principal, if any, for a specified measurement period.

24

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


2)
Holders may surrender zero-coupon subordinated notes for conversion during any period in which the rating assigned to the zero-coupon subordinated notes by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services is BB- or lower.
The Company believes these embedded derivatives had no fair value at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. These embedded derivatives also had no impact on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Derivatives Instruments

The Company periodically enters into foreign currency forward contracts, which are recognized as assets or liabilities at their fair value. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and the changes in fair value are recorded directly to earnings. The contracts are short-term in nature and the fair value of these contracts is based on market prices for comparable contracts. The fair value of these contracts is not significant as of September 30, 2015.

13.
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Supplemental schedule of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid during period for:
 
 
 
Interest
$
126.5

 
$
74.7

Income taxes, net of refunds
176.0

 
211.1

Disclosure of non-cash financing and investing activities:
 

 
 

Surrender of restricted stock awards and performance awards
$
10.8

 
$
6.6

Non-cash stock consideration for the Acquisition
1,762.5

 

Conversion of zero-coupon convertible debt

 
8.6

Assets acquired under capital leases
18.1

 
13.1

Decrease in accrued property, plant and equipment
(2.2
)
 
(3.3
)

14.
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

The following table is a summary of segment information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. The “management approach” has been used to present the following segment information. This approach is based upon the way the management of the Company organizes segments within an enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Financial information is reported on the basis that it is used internally by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) for evaluating segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources to segments. The Company’s chief executive officer has been identified as the CODM.
Prior to the first quarter of 2015, the CODM managed the operating results of the Company as two segments: clinical laboratory diagnostics and other. In connection with the Acquisition, the Company changed its operating segments to align with how the CODM evaluates financial information used to allocate resources and assess performance of the Company following the Acquisition. The segment information presented in these financial statements has been conformed to present segments on this revised basis for all prior periods. Under the new organizational structure, the CODM manages the Company under two segments: LCD and CDD. LCD includes the Company's legacy LabCorp business, and the Company's nutritional chemistry and food safety business, which were previously part of Covance, but excludes LabCorp’s legacy clinical trials testing business, which is now part of CDD. CDD includes Covance's legacy business, and LabCorp’s legacy clinical trials testing business, but excludes Covance's nutritional chemistry and food safety business, which are now part of LCD.
Segment asset information is not presented because it is not used by the CODM at the segment level. Operating earnings (loss) of each segment represents net revenues less directly identifiable expenses to arrive at operating income for the segment. General management and administrative corporate expenses are included in general corporate expenses below. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those as set forth in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and Note 1 (Basis of Financial Statement Presentation) above to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
The table below represents information about the Company’s reporting segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

25

INDEX
LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share data)


 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Month Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Total revenues:
LCD - net revenue
$
1,600.9

 
$
1,507.3

 
$
4,647.9

 
$
4,373.9

CDD - net revenue
669.0

 
44.5

 
1,613.0

 
125.0

CDD - reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses
47.4

 

 
118.7

 

Total revenues
2,317.3

 
1,551.8

 
6,379.6

 
4,498.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating earnings:
LCD
303.9

 
270.7

 
841.7

 
780.0

CDD
44.8

 
7.0

 
43.8

 
16.7

Unallocated corporate expenses
(41.8
)
 
(36.3
)
 
(126.0
)
 
(105.3
)
Total operating income
306.9

 
241.4

 
759.5

 
691.4

Other income (expense), net
(56.5
)
 
(22.4
)
 
(213.5
)
 
(52.2
)
Earnings before income taxes
250.4

 
219.0

 
546.0

 
639.2

Provision for income taxes
97.3

 
81.5

 
222.5

 
246.5

Net earnings
153.1

 
137.5

 
323.5

 
392.7

Less income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(0.3
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.9
)
 
(1.1
)
Net income attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
$
152.8

 
$
137.2

 
$
322.6

 
$
391.6






































26

INDEX


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
The Company has made in this report, and from time to time may otherwise make in its public filings, press releases and discussions by Company management, forward-looking statements concerning the Company’s operations, performance and financial condition, as well as its strategic objectives, including statements regarding government regulations and investigations, litigation, reimbursement, the competitive environment, and relationships with payers, customers and suppliers.
Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “seeks”, “approximately”, “intends”, “plans”, “estimates”, or “anticipates” or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and the Company claims the protection afforded by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors in addition to those discussed elsewhere herein and in the Company’s other public filings, press releases and discussions with Company management, including:
1.
changes in federal, state, local and third party payer regulations or policies or other future reforms in the health care system (or in the interpretation of current regulations), new insurance or payment systems, including state, regional or private insurance cooperatives (Health Insurance Exchanges), new public insurance programs or a single-payer system, affecting governmental and third-party coverage or reimbursement for clinical laboratory testing;
2.
significant monetary damages, fines, penalties, assessments, refunds, repayments, and/or exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, among other adverse consequences, resulting from interpretations of, or future changes in, laws and regulations, including laws and regulations of Medicare, Medicaid, the False Claims Act, interpretations of such laws and regulations by federal or state government agencies or investigations, audits, regulatory examinations, information requests and other inquiries by state or federal government agencies;
3.
significant fines, penalties, costs and/or damage to the Company’s reputation arising from the failure to comply with U.S. and international privacy and security laws and regulations, including HIPAA, HITECH, state laws and regulations, and laws and regulations of the European Union and other countries;
4.
loss or suspension of a license or imposition of a fine or penalties under, or future changes in, or interpretations of, the law or regulations of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1967, and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988;
5.
penalties or loss of license arising from the failure to comply with the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements and the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, or similar laws and regulations of federal, state or local agencies;
6.
changes in testing guidelines or recommendations by government agencies, medical specialty societies and other authoritative bodies affecting the utilization of laboratory tests;
7.
changes in government regulations or policies, including regulations and policies of the Food and Drug Administration, affecting the approval, availability of, and the selling and marketing of diagnostic tests or drug development trials;
8.
changes in government regulations pertaining to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, changes in reimbursement of pharmaceutical products or reduced spending on research and development by pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers;
9.
liabilities that result from the inability to comply with corporate governance requirements;
10.
increased competition, including price competition, competitive bidding and/or changes or reductions to fee schedules and competition from companies that do not comply with existing laws or regulations or otherwise disregard compliance standards in the industry;
11.
changes in payer mix, including an increase in capitated reimbursement mechanisms or the impact of a shift to consumer-driven health plans and adverse changes in payer reimbursement or payer coverage policies related to specific testing procedures or categories of testing;
12.
failure to retain or attract managed care business as a result of changes in business models, including new risk based or network approaches, or other changes in strategy or business models by managed care companies;

27

INDEX


13.
failure to obtain and retain new customers or a reduction in tests ordered, specimens submitted or services requested by existing customers;
14.
difficulty in maintaining relationships with customers or retaining key employees as a result of uncertainty surrounding the integration of acquisitions and the resulting negative effects on the business of the Company;
15.
consolidation of managed care companies, pharmaceutical companies, health systems, physicians and other customers affecting pricing and sales;
16.
failure to effectively develop and deploy system modifications or enhancements required in response to evolving market and business needs;
17.
customers choosing to insource services that are or could be purchased from the Company;
18.
failure to identify, successfully close and effectively integrate and/or manage newly acquired businesses;
19.
inability to achieve the expected benefits and synergies of newly-acquired businesses, and impact on the Company's cash position, levels of indebtedness and stock price;
20.
the inability of the Company to meet expectations regarding accounting and tax treatments related to the Acquisition;
21.
termination, delay, reduction in scope or increased costs of customer contracts;
22.
liability arising from errors or omissions in the performance of contract research services;
23.
changes or disruption in services or supplies provided by third parties, including transportation;
24.
damage or disruption to the Company's facilities;
25.
damage to the Company's reputation, loss of business, harm from acts of animal rights extremists or potential liability arising from animal research activities;        
26.
adverse results in litigation matters;
27.
inability to attract and retain experienced and qualified personnel;
28.
failure to develop or acquire licenses for new or improved technologies, such as point-of-care testing and mobile health technologies, or potential use of new technologies by customers to perform their own tests;
29.
substantial costs arising from the inability to commercialize newly licensed tests or technologies or to obtain appropriate coverage or reimbursement for such tests;
30.
inability to obtain and maintain adequate patent and other proprietary rights for protection of the Company's products and services and successfully enforce the Company's proprietary rights;
31.
scope, validity and enforceability of patents and other proprietary rights held by third parties that may impact the Company's ability to develop, perform, or market the Company's products or services or operate its business;
32.
business interruption or other impact on the business due to adverse weather (including hurricanes), fires and/or other natural disasters, terrorism or other criminal acts, and/or widespread outbreak of influenza or other pandemic illness;
33.
discontinuation or recalls of existing testing products;
34.
loss of business or increased costs due to damage to the Company's reputation and significant litigation exposure arising from failure in the Company's information technology systems, including a negative effect on the performance of services or billing processes, failure to maintain the security of business information or systems or to protect against cyber security attacks, inability to meet required financial reporting deadlines, or the failure to meet future regulatory or customer information technology, data security and connectivity requirements;
35.
business interruption, increased costs, and other adverse effects on the Company's operations due to the unionization of employees, union strikes, work stoppages, or general labor unrest;
36.
failure to maintain the Company's days sales outstanding and/or bad debt expense levels including negative impact on the Company's reimbursement, cash collections and profitability arising from the failure of the Company, third party payers or physicians to comply with the ICD-10-CM Code Set, which was effective October 1, 2015, or arising from unfavorable changes in third party payer policies in connection with the implementation of the ICD-10-CM Code Set;
37.
impact on the Company's revenue, cash collections and the availability of credit for general liquidity or other financing needs arising from a significant deterioration in the economy or financial markets or in the Company's credit ratings by Standard & Poor's and/or Moody's;     

28

INDEX


38.
changes in reimbursement by foreign governments and foreign currency fluctuations; and
39.
expenses and risks associated with international operations, including but not limited to compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act, as well as laws and regulations that differ from those of the U.S., and economic, political, legal and other operational risks associated with foreign markets.


29

INDEX


GENERAL (dollars in millions, except per share data)

Net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2015 increased 46.3% as compared to the prior year. The Company's acquisition (the "Acquisition") of Covance Inc. ("Covance") accounted for 41.7% of the year-over-year net revenue growth. The remainder of the increase was due to strong organic volume growth and tuck-in acquisitions, partially offset by currency.
A committed minimum volume contract within the Covance Drug Development segment is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2015. This contract represents approximately $70.0 in annual revenue. The Company is currently evaluating any additional financial impacts for the proposed wind-down of operations related to this contract.
Prior to the first quarter of 2015, the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") managed the operating results of the Company as two segments: clinical laboratory diagnostics and other. In connection with the Acquisition, the Company changed its operating segments to align with how the CODM evaluates financial information used to allocate resources and assess performance of the Company following the Acquisition. The segment information presented in the Company's unaudited condensed combined financial statements has been conformed to present segments on this revised basis for all prior periods. Under the new organizational structure, the CODM manages the Company under two reportable segments: LabCorp Diagnostics ("LCD") and Covance Drug Development ("CDD"). LCD includes the Company's legacy LabCorp business, and the Company's nutritional chemistry and food safety business, which were previously part of Covance, but excludes LabCorp’s legacy clinical trials testing business, which is now part of CDD. CDD includes the Covance legacy business, and LabCorp’s legacy clinical trials testing business, but excludes Covance's nutritional chemistry and food safety business, which are now part of LCD.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (amounts in millions)

Three months ended September 30, 2015 compared with three months ended September 30, 2014

Net Revenues
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Net revenues
 
 
 
 
 
LCD
$
1,600.9

 
$
1,507.3

 
6.2
%
CDD
669.0

 
44.5

 
1,403.4
%
Total
$
2,269.9

 
$
1,551.8

 
46.3
%
The increase in net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared with the corresponding period in 2014 was due to the Acquisition along with strong organic volume growth in LCD and tuck-in acquisitions, partially offset by currency.
LCD net revenues for the third quarter were $1,600.9, an increase of 6.2% over net revenues of $1,507.3 in the third quarter of 2014. The increase in net revenues was driven by organic volume growth, measured by requisitions, of 2.2%. Beacon LBS, the Company's technology-enabled solution providing point-of-care decision support, contributed 1.2%. Price mix accounted for an additional 1.0% of the growth. The increase in net revenues also benefited from acquisitions of 2.8% while being unfavorably impacted by currency of (1.0%).
CDD net revenues for the third quarter were $669.0, an increase of 1,403.4% over net revenues of $44.5 in the third quarter of 2014. The increase in net revenues is due to the inclusion of Covance revenue. CDD net revenues were also impacted by volume growth, partially offset by mix and currency. The 2014 CDD net revenue amount represents LabCorp’s legacy clinical trials testing business.
CDD pays on behalf of its customers certain out-of-pocket costs for which the Company is reimbursed at cost, without mark-up or profit. Out-of-pocket costs paid by CDD are reflected in operating expenses, while the reimbursements received are reflected in revenues in the consolidated statements of operations. CDD excludes from revenue and expense in the consolidated statements of operations fees paid to investigators and the associated reimbursement because CDD acts as an agent on behalf of the pharmaceutical company sponsors with regard to investigator payments.






30

INDEX



Net Cost of Revenues
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Net cost of revenues
$
1,507.0

 
$
980.6

 
53.7
%
Cost of revenues as a % of net revenues
66.3
%
 
63.2
%
 
 

Net cost of revenues (primarily laboratory and distribution costs) increased 53.7% during the three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared with the corresponding period in 2014,period primarily due to the Acquisition. Excluding acquisitions, net costs of revenues increased approximately 5.0% due to increased volume, measured by requisitions, and test mix changes.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Selling, general and administrative expenses
$
382.5

 
$
305.7

 
25.1
%
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a % of net revenue
16.9
%
 
19.7
%
 
 

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 16.9% during the three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to 19.7% during the corresponding period in 2014. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues is primarily due to the Acquisition and the impact of Project LaunchPad and integration synergies. In addition, bad debt expense as a percentage of net revenues for LCD decreased to 4.2% of net revenues for that segment during the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to 4.7% during the corresponding period in 2014. This improvement in LCD's bad debt expense is a result of the segment's focus on improved cash collections.

Amortization of Intangibles and Other Assets
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
LCD
$
21.1

 
$
17.5

 
20.6
%
CDD
26.0

 
0.8

 
3,150.0
%
Total amortization of intangibles and other assets
$
47.1

 
$
18.3

 
157.4
%
The increase in amortization of intangibles and other assets primarily reflects the impact of the Acquisition.

Restructuring and Other Special Charges
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Restructuring and other special charges
$
26.4

 
$
5.8

 
355.2
%
During the third quarter of 2015, the Company recorded net restructuring and other special charges of $26.4, $4.9 within LCD and $21.5 within CDD. The charges were comprised of $24.4 related to severance and other personnel costs along with $2.3 in costs associated with facility closures and general integration initiatives. These charges were offset by the reversal of previously established reserves of $0.3 in unused facility-related costs. The Company is evaluating any additional financial impacts for the proposed wind-down of operations related to the expiration of a CDD committed minimum volume contract. Additional costs, which are currently under negotiation, are expected to include other employee and facility related charges, and are not yet determinable.
In addition, during the third quarter of 2015, the Company recorded $3.7 in consulting expenses (recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses) primarily relating to Covance integration costs, along with $1.4 in short-term equity retention arrangements relating to the Acquisition.
During the third quarter of 2014, the Company recorded net restructuring and other special charges of $5.8, all within LCD. The charges were comprised of $4.6 related to severance and other personnel costs along with $1.6 in costs associated with facility closures and general integration initiatives. These charges were offset by the reversal of previously established reserves of $0.2 in unused severance and $0.2 in unused facility-related costs.

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INDEX


In addition, during the third quarter of 2014, the Company recorded $5.4 in consulting expenses (recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses) relating to fees incurred as part of Project LaunchPad and one-time CFO transition costs.
The Company believes that any restructuring costs that may be incurred in future periods will be more than offset by subsequent savings realized from these potential actions and that any related restructuring charges will not have a material impact on the Company's operations or liquidity.

Interest Expense
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Interest expense
$
55.8

 
25.9

 
115.4
%
The increase in interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared with corresponding period in 2014 was primarily due to the issuance, in the first quarter of 2015, of $3,900.0 in debt and other financing costs in connection with the Acquisition.

Equity Method Income, net
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Equity method income, net
$
2.1

 
$
3.7

 
(43.2
)%
 
Equity method income represents the Company's ownership share in joint venture partnerships along with equity investments in other companies in the health care industry. All of these partnerships reside within LCD. The decrease in income for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was due to the liquidation of one of the joint venture partnerships on June 30, 2015.

Other, net
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Other, net
$
(3.2
)
 
$
(0.5
)
 
540.0
%
 
The expense increase in other, net for the three months ended September 30, 2015, is due to the dissolution of one of the Company's equity investments in the third quarter of 2015 as compared to a gain on the sale of the remaining investment of an equity investment in the third quarter of 2014.

Income Tax Expense
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Income tax expense
$
97.3

 
$
81.5

 
19.4
%
Income tax expense as a % of earnings before tax
38.9
%
 
37.3
%
 
 

The Company's tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was negatively impacted by a third quarter restructuring charge of approximately $12.0 with no anticipated tax benefit. The rate was favorably impacted by foreign earnings taxed at lower rates than the U.S. statutory tax rate. The Company considers substantially all of the ongoing foreign earnings to be permanently reinvested overseas.











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INDEX


Nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared with nine months ended September 30, 2014

Net Revenues
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Net revenues
 
 
 
 
 
LCD
$
4,647.9

 
$
4,373.9

 
6.3
%
CDD
1,613.0

 
125.0

 
1,190.4
%
Total
$
6,260.9

 
$
4,498.9

 
39.2
%
The increase in net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared with the corresponding period in 2014 was due to the Acquisition along with strong organic volume growth in LCD and tuck-in acquisitions, partially offset by price, mix and currency.
LCD net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $4,647.9, an increase of 6.3% over net revenues of $4,373.9 in the corresponding period in 2014. The increase in net revenues was driven by organic volume growth, measured by requisitions of 3.9%. Beacon LBS, the Company's technology-enabled solution providing point-of-care decision support, contributed 0.8%. The increase in net revenues was unfavorably impacted by (0.8%) of currency and favorably impacted by 0.1% on revenue per requisition. In addition, acquisitions added 2.3% to net revenues.
CDD net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $1,613.0, an increase of 1,190.4% over net revenues of $125.0 in the corresponding period in 2014. The increase in net revenues was due to the Acquisition. The 2014 CDD net revenue amount represents LabCorp’s legacy clinical trials testing business.
Net Cost of Revenues
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Net cost of revenues
$
4,098.2

 
$
2,842.3

 
44.2
%
Cost of revenues as a % of net revenue
65.5
%
 
63.2
%
 
 

Net cost of revenues (primarily laboratory and distribution costs) increased 44.2% during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared with the corresponding period in 2014 period primarily due to the Acquisition.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Selling, general and administrative expenses
$
1,217.1

 
$
888.5

 
37.0
%
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a % of net revenues
19.4
%
 
19.7
%
 
 

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 19.4% during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to 19.7% during the corresponding period in 2014. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues was primarily due to Project LaunchPad and integration synergies and a reduction in bad debt expense. These increases were offset by $113.4 of transaction costs for the Acquisition as well as consulting fees and expenses of $17.0 related to Project LaunchPad and Covance integration costs. The Company also recorded certain measurement period adjustments and certain classifications of expenses, including items associated with the allocation of stock compensation, from cost of revenue to selling, general and administrative expenses. Bad debt expense as a percentage of net revenues for LCD decreased to 4.3% for that segment during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to 4.7% during the corresponding period in 2014. This improvement in LCD's bad debt expense is a result of the segment's focus on improved cash collections.







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INDEX




Amortization of Intangibles and Other Assets
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
LCD
$
62.0

 
$
60.9

 
1.8
%
CDD
64.2

 
0.4

 
15,950.0
%
Total amortization of intangibles and other assets
$
126.2

 
$
61.3

 
105.9
%
The increase in amortization of intangibles and other assets primarily reflects the impact of the Acquisition.

Restructuring and Other Special Charges
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Restructuring and other special charges
$
59.9

 
$
15.4

 
289.0
%
During the first nine months of 2015, the Company recorded net restructuring and other special charges of $59.9. The charges were comprised of $33.8 related to severance and other personnel costs along with $27.1 in costs associated with facility closures and impairment of certain information technology assets. These charges were offset by the reversal of previously established reserves of $1.0 in unused facility-related costs. The Company is evaluating any additional financial impacts for the proposed wind-down of operations related to the expiration of a CDD committed minimum volume contract. Additional costs which are currently under negotiation, are expected to include other employee and facility related charges, and are not yet determinable.
In addition, during the first nine months of 2015, the Company recorded $17.0 in consulting expenses (recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses) relating to fees incurred as part of Project LaunchPad as well as Covance integration costs. The Company also recorded $166.0 of deal costs related to the Acquisition, of which $113.4 is included in selling, general and administrative expenses, and $52.6 is included in interest expense. The Company also expensed $4.3 in short-term equity retention arrangements relating to the Acquisition.
During the first nine months of 2014, the Company recorded net restructuring and other special charges of $15.4. The charges were comprised of $9.8 related to severance and other personnel costs along with $6.7 in costs associated with facility closures and general integration initiatives. These charges were offset by the reversal of previously established reserves of $0.4 in unused severance and $0.7 in unused facility-related costs.
In addition, during the third quarter of 2014, the Company recorded $10.1 in consulting expenses (recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses) relating to fees incurred as part of Project LaunchPad, as well as one-time CFO transition costs.
Interest Expense
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Interest expense
$
218.1

 
77.4

 
181.8
%
The increase in interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared with the corresponding period in 2014 was primarily due to the issuance, in the first quarter of 2015, of $3,900.0 in debt and other financing costs in connection with the Acquisition. Another component of the increase was a $37.4 make-whole payment that was required in connection with the prepayment of the $250.0 Covance senior notes. In addition, the Company recorded $15.2 in interest expense relating to the deferred financing costs associated with the Company's previous credit agreement and the bridge financing facilities used to complete the Acquisition. The bridge facility was repaid in March 2015.

Equity Method Income, net
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Equity method income, net
$
7.6

 
$
10.4

 
(26.9
)%
 

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INDEX


Equity method income represents the Company's ownership share in joint venture partnerships along with equity investments in other companies in the health care industry. All of these partnerships reside within LCD. The decrease in income was due to liquidation of one of the partnerships effective June 30, 2015.

Other, net
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Other, net
$
(4.4
)
 
$
13.9

 
(131.7
)%
 
The decrease in other, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, was due to the dissolution of one of the Company's equity investments in 2015 as compared to a gain on the sale of investment of an equity investment in 2014.

Income Tax Expense
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
Income tax expense
$
222.5

 
$
246.5

 
(9.7
)%
Income tax expense as a % of earnings before tax
40.8
%
 
38.6
%
 
 

The Company's tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was negatively impacted by a third quarter restructuring charge of approximately $12.0 with no anticipated tax benefit. In the first quarter, the Company recorded non-deductible deal costs of approximately $19.6 associated with the Acquisition and one-time tax charges of $12.8 to realign the Company's legal structure to facilitate the Acquisition. The rate is favorably impacted by lower tax rates on foreign earnings as compared to the U.S. statutory rate. The Company considers substantially all of the ongoing foreign earnings to be permanently reinvested overseas.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (dollars and shares in millions)

The Company's strong cash-generating capability and financial condition typically have provided ready access to capital markets. The Company's principal source of liquidity is operating cash flow, supplemented by proceeds from debt offerings. The Company's senior unsecured revolving credit facility is further discussed in Note 6 (Debt) to the Company's Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In summary the Company's cash flows were as follows:
 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
597.8

 
$
525.3

Net cash used for investing activities
(3,866.3
)
 
(202.8
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
3,424.2

 
(141.8
)
Effect of exchange rate on changes in cash and cash equivalents
(22.7
)
 
(9.0
)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
$
133.0

 
$
171.7

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2015 and 2014 totaled $713.0 and $575.7, respectively. Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid instruments, such as commercial paper, time deposits, and other money market investments, which have original maturities of three months or less.
Operating Activities 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company's operations generated $597.8 of cash as compared to $525.3 in 2014. The increase in cash provided by operations was due primarily to additional cash generated by the CDD operations following the Acquisition. While there were lower net earnings due to the Acquisition, this included a number of one-time non-cash charges. The Company’s earnings were impacted by restructuring and special items of $232.0 during the first nine months of 2015, $153.5 of which represents cash payments in connection with the Acquisition, compared to $15.4 during the same period in 2014. Excluding the cash payments made in connection with the Acquisition, CDD generated over $90.0 in operating cash due to seasonal turns of working capital.  

35

INDEX


Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $3,866.3 as compared to $202.8 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The $3,663.5 increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily due to cash paid for the Acquisition of $4,388.2, net of cash acquired of $780.8. Capital expenditures were $170.7 and $157.2 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company expects capital expenditures of approximately $270.0 to $295.0 in 2015. The Company intends to continue to pursue acquisitions to fund growth and make important investments in its business, including in information technology, to improve efficiency and enable the execution of the Company's strategic vision. Such expenditures are expected to be funded by cash flow from operations, as well as borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility or any successor facility, as needed.
During the first nine months of 2014, the Company received cash proceeds of $30.3 and recorded a net gain of $20.3 on the sale of an investment. The investment was one of several strategic investments the Company has made in the area of diagnostics.

Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $3,424.2 compared to $141.8 net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The $3,282.4 increase in the cash provided by financing activities for nine months ended September 30, 2015, as compared to the prior year, was primarily a result of $4,360.0 of financing proceeds for the Acquisition offset by repayments and debt issue costs of $1,031.7. The remainder of the period-over-period increase is primarily due to the suspension of share repurchases following the announcement of the Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared to $229.9 of share repurchases for the first nine months of 2014.
As part of its financing of the Acquisition, the Company entered into a $1,000.0 term loan and $2,900.0 in debt securities consisting of $500.0 aggregate principal amount of 2.625% Senior Notes due 2020, $500.0 aggregate principal amount of 3.20% Senior Notes due 2022, $1,000.0 aggregate principal amount of 3.60% Senior Notes due 2025 and $900.0 aggregate principal amount of 4.70% Senior Notes due 2045. The term loan credit facility will mature five years after the closing date of the Acquisition and may be prepaid without penalty. The term loan balance at September 30, 2015 was $715.0.
On December 19, 2014, the Company also entered into an amendment and restatement of its existing senior revolving credit facility, which was originally entered into on December 21, 2011. The senior revolving credit facility consists of a five-year revolving facility in the principal amount of up to $1,000.0, with the option of increasing the facility by up to an additional $250.0, subject to the agreement of one or more new or existing lenders to provide such additional amounts and certain other customary conditions. The new revolving credit facility also provides for a subfacility of up to $100.0 for swing line borrowings and a subfacility of up to $125.0 for issuances of letters of credit. The new revolving credit facility is permitted to be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, funding of share repurchases and certain other payments, and acquisitions and other investments. There was $0.0 and $0.0 outstanding on the Company's revolving credit facility at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
On February 13, 2015, the Company entered into a 60-day cash bridge term loan credit facility in the principal amount of $400.0 for the purpose of financing a portion of the cash consideration and the fees and expenses in connection with the Acquisition. The 60-day cash bridge term loan credit facility was entered into under the terms set forth in the bridge facility commitment letter for the $400.0 60-day cash bridge tranche. The 60-day cash bridge term loan credit facility was advanced in full on February 19, 2015, the date of the Company’s completion of the Acquisition. The 60-day cash bridge term loan credit facility was repaid in March 2015.
Under the term loan credit facility and the new revolving credit facility, the Company is subject to negative covenants limiting subsidiary indebtedness and certain other covenants typical for investment grade-rated borrowers and the Company is required to maintain a leverage ratio that varies. Prior to the Acquisition Date, the leverage ratio was required to have been no greater than 3.75 to 1.00, calculated by excluding the $2,900.0 Acquisition Notes. From and after the Acquisition Date, the leverage ratio must be no greater than 4.75 to 1.00 with respect to the last day of each of the first four fiscal quarters ending on or after the closing date, 4.25 to 1.00 with respect to the last day of each of the fifth through eighth fiscal quarters ending after the closing date, and 3.75 to 1.00 with respect to the last day of each fiscal quarter ending thereafter. The Company was in compliance with all covenants in the Credit Agreement at September 30, 2015. As of September 30, 2015, the ratio of total debt to consolidated EBITDA was 3.8 to 1.0.
The term loan credit facility accrues interest at a per annum rate equal to, at the Company’s election, either a LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.125% to 2.00%, or a base rate determined according to a prime rate or federal funds rate plus a margin ranging from 0.125% to 1.00%. Advances under the new revolving credit facility will accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to, at the Company’s election, either a LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 1.00% to 1.60%, or a base rate determined according to a prime rate or federal funds rate plus a margin ranging from 0.00% to 0.60%. Fees are payable on outstanding letters of credit under the new revolving credit facility at a per annum rate equal to the applicable margin for LIBOR loans, and the Company is

36

INDEX


required to pay a facility fee on the aggregate commitments under the new revolving credit facility, at a per annum rate ranging from 0.125% to 0.40%. The interest margin applicable to the credit facilities, and the facility fee and letter of credit fees payable under the new revolving credit facility, are based on the Company’s senior credit ratings as determined by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, which are currently BBB and Baa2, respectively.
    
As of September 30, 2015, the effective interest rate on the revolving credit facility was 1.29% and the effective interest rate on the term loan was 1.44%.

As of September 30, 2015, the Company provided letters of credit aggregating $45.4, primarily in connection with certain insurance programs. Letters of credit provided by the Company are issued under the Company's revolving credit facility and are renewed annually, around mid-year.
 
As of September 30, 2015, the Company had outstanding authorization from the Board of Directors to purchase up to $789.5 of Company common stock based on settled trades as of that date. Following the announcement of the Acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company suspended its share repurchases. The Company does not anticipate resuming its share repurchase activity until it approaches its targeted leverage ratio of total debt to consolidated EBITDA of 2.5 to 1.0.
 
The Company had a $37.4 and $24.9 reserve for unrecognized income tax benefits, including interest and penalties as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Acquisition accounted for substantially all of the increase. Substantially all of these tax reserves are classified in other long-term liabilities in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.


Zero-coupon Subordinated Notes
On September 11, 2015, the Company announced that for the period from September 12, 2015 to March 11, 2016, the zero-coupon subordinated notes will accrue contingent cash interest at a rate of no less than 0.125% of the average market price of a zero-coupon subordinated note for the five trading days ended September 9, 2015, in addition to the continued accrual of the original issue discount.
On October 1, 2015, the Company announced that its zero-coupon subordinated notes may be converted into cash and common stock at the conversion rate of 13.4108 per $1,000.0 principal amount at maturity of the notes, subject to the terms of the zero-coupon subordinated notes and the Indenture, dated as of October 24, 2006, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee and conversion agent. In order to exercise the option to convert all or a portion of the zero-coupon subordinated notes, holders are required to validly surrender their zero-coupon subordinated notes at any time during the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2015, through the close of business on the last business day of the calendar quarter, which is 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, December 31, 2015. If notices of conversion are received, the Company plans to settle the cash portion of the conversion obligation (i.e., the accreted principal amount of the securities to be converted) with cash on hand and/or borrowings under the revolving credit facility. The remaining amount, if any, will be settled with shares of common stock.
As a result of the Acquisition, the Company assumed privately placed senior notes in an aggregate principal amount of $250.0 issued pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated October 2, 2013. On March 5, 2015, the Company caused Covance to prepay all of the outstanding Senior Notes at 100 percent of the principal amount plus accrued interest, and a total make-whole amount of $37.4 which is included in interest expense. The Note Purchase Agreement terminated effective March 5, 2015 in connection with the prepayment of the Senior Notes.

Credit Ratings
The Company’s debt ratings of Baa2 from Moody’s and BBB from Standard and Poor’s contribute to its ability to access capital markets.

New Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard on discontinued operations that significantly changed criteria for discontinued operations and disclosures for disposals. Under this new standard, to be a discontinued operation, a component or group of components must represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. Expanded disclosures for discontinued operations include more details about earnings and balance sheet accounts, total operating and investing cash flows, and cash flows resulting from continuing involvement. The Company has adopted the guidance of this new standard and will apply it prospectively to all new disposals of components and new classifications as held for sale. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

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INDEX


In May 2014, the FASB issued the converged standard on revenue recognition with the objective of providing a single, comprehensive model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability in the financial statements of companies reporting using International Financial Reporting Standards and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The standard contains principles that an entity must apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity must recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. An entity can apply the revenue standard retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method) or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard recognized at the date of initial application in retained earnings. As originally issued, the new revenue recognition standard would be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2017. On July 9, 2015, the FASB approved the proposal to defer the effective date of this standard by one year. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted for annual periods beginning after December 16, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the expected impact of the standard.
In August 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that explicitly requires management to assess an entity's ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related financial statement footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. Under this standard, in connection with each annual and interim period, management must assess whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued when applicable). Management shall consider relevant conditions and events that are known and reasonably knowable at such issuance date. Substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern exists if it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after issuance date. Disclosures will be required if conditions or events give rise to substantial doubt. This standard is effective for the Company for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued an update which requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability. This standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016. The new guidance will be applied on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In May 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting standard allowing entities to exclude investments measured at new asset value per share under the existing practical expedient from the fair value hierarchy. In addition, when the net asset value practical expedient is not applied to eligible investments, certain other disclosures are no longer required. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In July 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that requires an entity to measure inventory, except inventory that is measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method, at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In September 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that eliminates the requirement to restate prior period financial statements for measurement period adjustments. The standard requires that the cumulative impact of a measurement period adjustment, including the impact on prior periods, be recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment is identified. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016 and will be applied prospectively to measurement period adjustments that occur after the effective date.

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company addresses its exposure to market risks, principally the market risk associated with changes in interest rates, through a controlled program of risk management that includes, from time to time, the use of derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swap agreements. Although, as set forth below, the Company's zero-coupon subordinated notes contain features that are considered to be embedded derivative instruments, the Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. The Company does not believe that its exposure to market risk is material to the Company's financial position or results of operations.
During the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into two fixed-to-variable interest rate swap agreements for its 4.625% senior notes due 2020 with an aggregate notional amount of $600.0 and variable interest rates based on one-month LIBOR plus 2.298% to hedge against changes in the fair value of a portion of the Company's long-term debt.

38

INDEX


The Company's zero-coupon subordinated notes contain the following two features that are considered to be embedded derivative instruments under authoritative guidance in connection with accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities:
1)
The Company will pay contingent cash interest on the zero-coupon subordinated notes after September 11, 2006, if the average market price of the notes equals 120% or more of the sum of the issue price, accrued original issue discount and contingent additional principal, if any, for a specified measurement period.
2)
Holders may surrender zero-coupon subordinated notes for conversion during any period in which the rating assigned to the zero-coupon subordinated notes by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services is BB- or lower.
Borrowings under the Company's Revolving Credit Facility are subject to variable interest rates, unless fixed through interest rate swaps or other agreements.
The Company has operations throughout the United States and other countries including Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, and, accordingly, the earnings and cash flows generated from these operations are subject to foreign currency exchange risk.

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company carried out, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules13-a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2015.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

On February 19, 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of Covance Inc. The Company’s management has extended its oversight and monitoring processes that support internal control over financial reporting to include Covance's operations. The Company’s management is continuing to integrate the acquired operations of Covance into the Company’s overall internal control over financial reporting process. However, in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2015, management will exclude Covance from its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting. There have been no other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


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INDEX


LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See Note 9 (Commitments and Contingencies) to the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, above, which is incorporated by reference.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The risk factors set forth below revises and supplements the corresponding risk factor set forth in Part I - Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  With the exception of the following, there have been no material changes in the risk factors that appear in Part 1 - Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Failure to comply with privacy and security laws and regulations could result in fines, penalties and damage to the Company’s reputation with customers and have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s business.
The federal HIPAA privacy and security regulations, including the expanded requirements under HITECH, establish comprehensive federal standards with respect to the use and disclosure of protected health information by health plans, health care providers, and health care clearinghouses, in addition to setting standards to protect the confidentiality, integrity and security of protected health information. The regulations establish a complex regulatory framework on a variety of subjects, including:
the circumstances under which the use and disclosure of protected health information are permitted or required without a specific authorization by the patient, including but not limited to treatment purposes, activities to obtain payments for the Company’s services, and its health care operations activities;
a patient’s right to access, amend and receive an accounting of certain disclosures of protected health information;
the content of notices of privacy practices for protected health information;
administrative, technical and physical safeguards required of entities that use or receive protected health information; and
the protection of computing systems maintaining PHI.

The Company has implemented policies and procedures related to compliance with the HIPAA privacy and security regulations as required by law. The privacy and security regulations establish a “floor” and do not supersede state laws that are more stringent. Therefore, the Company is required to comply with both federal privacy and security regulations and varying state privacy and security laws and regulations. The federal privacy regulations restrict the Company’s ability to use or disclose patient identifiable laboratory data, without patient authorization, for purposes other than payment, treatment or health care operations (as defined by HIPAA), except for disclosures for various public policy purposes and other permitted purposes outlined in the privacy regulations. HIPAA, as amended by HITECH, provides for significant fines and other penalties for wrongful use or disclosure of protected health information in violation of privacy and security regulations, including potential civil and criminal fines and penalties. In addition, other federal and state laws that protect the privacy and security of patient information may be subject to enforcement and interpretations by various governmental authorities and courts resulting in complex compliance issues. For instance, the Company could incur damages under state laws pursuant to an action brought by a private party for the wrongful use or disclosure or confidential health information or other private personal information.
In addition, laws and regulations of the European Union, as well as other countries, protect the use and disclosure of personal information. Compliance with these laws and regulations may result in increased costs and failure to comply may result in significant fines, penalties and damage to the Company’s reputation with customers.
Continued and increased consolidation of managed care companies, pharmaceutical companies, health systems, physicians and other customers could adversely affect the Company's business.
Many healthcare companies and providers, including managed care companies, pharmaceutical companies, health systems and physician practices are consolidating through mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other types of transactions and collaborations. As the healthcare industry consolidates, competition to provide goods and services may become more intense. This competition and increased customer bargaining power may adversely affect the price and volume of the Company’s services.

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Changes or disruption in services or supplies provided by third parties, including transportation, could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company depends on third parties to provide services critical to the Company’s business. The Company's central laboratories and certain of the Company's other businesses are heavily reliant on air travel for transport of clinical trial and diagnostic testing supplies and specimens, research products, and people, and a significant disruption to the air travel system, or the Company's access to it, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business. The Company depends on a limited number of suppliers for certain services and for certain animal populations. Disruptions to the continued supply of these services or products may arise from export/import restrictions or embargoes, foreign political or economic instability, or otherwise. Disruption of supply could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.
Damage or disruption to the Company’s facilities could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s preclinical and central laboratory facilities are highly specific and would be difficult to replace in a short period of time. Any event that causes a disruption of the operation of these facilities might impact the Company's ability to provide service to customers and, therefore, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company bears financial risk for contracts that are underpriced or for which there are cost overruns.
The Company, particularly CDD, has many contracts that are structured as fixed price for fixed contracted services or fee-for-service with a cap. The Company bears the financial risk if these contracts are underpriced or if contract costs exceed estimates. Such underpricing or significant cost overruns could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
The Company's quarterly operating results may vary.
The Company's operating results, particularly in the CDD segment, may vary significantly from quarter to quarter and are influenced by factors over which the Company has little control such as:
changes in the general global economy;
exchange rate fluctuations;
the commencement, completion, delay or cancellation of large projects or groups of projects;
the progress of ongoing projects;
the timing of and charges associated with completed acquisitions or other events; and
changes in the mix of the Company's services.

The Company believes that operating results for any particular quarter are not necessarily a meaningful indication of future results. While fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results could negatively or positively affect the market price of the Company's common stock, these fluctuations may not be related to the Company's future overall operating performance.
Health care reform and related products (e.g. Health Insurance Exchanges), changes in government payment and reimbursement systems, or changes in payer mix, including an increase in capitated reimbursement mechanisms and evolving delivery models, could have a material adverse impact on the Company's net revenues, profitability and cash flow.
Testing services are billed to private patients, Medicare, Medicaid, commercial clients, managed care organizations ("MCOs") and other insurance companies. Tests ordered by a physician may be billed to different payers depending on the medical insurance benefits of a particular patient. Most testing services are billed to a party other than the physician or other authorized person who ordered the test. Increases in the percentage of services billed to government and managed care payers could have an adverse impact on the Company’s net revenues.
The various MCOs have different contracting philosophies, which are influenced by the design of the products they offer to their members. Some MCOs contract with a limited number of clinical laboratories and engage in direct negotiation of the rates reimbursed to participating laboratories. Other MCOs adopt broader networks with a generally largely uniform fee structure for participating clinical laboratories. In addition, some MCOs have used capitation in an effort to fix the cost of laboratory testing services for their enrollees. Under a capitated reimbursement mechanism, the clinical laboratory and the managed care organization agree to a per member, per month payment to pay for all authorized laboratory tests ordered during the month by the physician for the members, regardless of the number or cost of the tests actually performed. Capitation shifts the risk of increased test utilization (and the underlying mix of testing services) to the clinical laboratory provider. The Company makes significant efforts to ensure that its services are adequately compensated in its capitated arrangements. For the year ended December 31, 2014, such capitated contracts accounted for approximately $211.1 million, or 3.7%, of the Company's net sales.


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The Company's ability to attract and retain managed care clients is critical given the impact of health care reform, related products and expanded coverage (e.g. Health Insurance Exchanges and Medicaid Expansion) and evolving delivery models (e.g. Accountable Care Organizations).
A portion of the managed care fee-for-service revenues are collectible from patients in the form of deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. As patient cost-sharing increases, collectibility may be impacted. 
In addition, Medicare and Medicaid and private insurers have increased their efforts to control the cost, utilization and delivery of health care services, including clinical laboratory services. Measures to regulate health care delivery in general, and clinical laboratories in particular, have resulted in reduced prices, added costs and decreased test utilization for the clinical laboratory industry by increasing complexity and adding new regulatory and administrative requirements. Pursuant to legislation passed in late 2003, the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare managed care plans has increased. The percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid managed care plans has also increased, and is expected to continue to increase. Implementation of the ACA, the health care reform legislation passed in 2010, also may affect coverage, reimbursement, and utilization of laboratory services, as well as administrative requirements.
The Company expects efforts to impose reduced reimbursement, more stringent payment policies and utilization and cost controls by government and other payers to continue. If the Company cannot offset additional reductions in the payments it receives for its services by reducing costs, increasing test volume and/or introducing new procedures, it could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s net revenues, profitability and cash flows. In 2014, Congress passed the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), requiring Medicare to change the way payment rates are calculated for tests paid under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), and to base the payment on the weighted median of rates paid by private payers.  On October 1, 2015, CMS published a proposed rule to implement PAMA.  This rule proposes to require applicable laboratories, including the Company’s labs, to begin reporting their test-specific private payer payment amounts to CMS during the first quarter of 2016, which CMS would then use to calculate new CLFS rates that would be effective in 2017.  ACLA and the lab community will provide extensive comments on the proposed rule and work with CMS to try to ensure the final regulation accurately reflects the statutory language on applicable labs, and results in a reimbursement framework that reflects the broad scope of the laboratory market, encourages innovation, and maintains access to laboratory services for Medicare beneficiaries. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the proposed rule.
As an employer, health care reform legislation also contains numerous regulations that will require the Company to implement significant process and record keeping changes to be in compliance. These changes increase the cost of providing health care coverage to employees and their families. Given the limited release of regulations to guide compliance, the exact impact to employers including the Company is uncertain.
In addition, implementation of health care reform legislation that contains costs could limit the profits that can be made from the development of new drugs. This could adversely affect research and development expenditures by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, which could in turn decrease the business opportunities available to CDD both in the United States and abroad. New laws or regulations may create a risk of liability, increase CDD costs or limit service offerings through CDD.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds (Dollars in millions)

The Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of specified amounts of the Company's common stock since 2007. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had outstanding authorization from the Board of Directors to purchase up to $789.5 of Company common stock based on settled trades as of that date. The repurchase authorization has no expiration date. Following the announcement of the Acquisition in late 2014, the Company suspended its share repurchases. The Company does not anticipate resuming its share repurchase activity until it approaches its targeted ratio of total debt to consolidated EBITDA of 2.5 to 1.0.















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Item 6. Exhibits

(a)
Exhibits
 
 
12.1*
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
31.1*
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
31.2*
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
32*
Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350)
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
*
 
filed herewith


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

LABORATORY CORPORATION OF AMERICA HOLDINGS
Registrant

 
By:
/s/ DAVID P. KING
 
 
David P. King
 
 
Chairman of the Board, President
 
 
and Chief Executive Officer

 
By:
/s/ GLENN A. EISENBERG
 
 
Glenn A. Eisenberg
 
 
Executive Vice President,
 
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

October 30, 2015


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