Express Scripts Urges Caremark Board to Negotiate
09 Février 2007 - 11:35PM
PR Newswire (US)
Mails Letter to Caremark Board ST. LOUIS, Feb. 9
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Express Scripts, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESRX) today
mailed the following letter to the Board of Caremark Rx, Inc.
(NYSE:CMX): February 9, 2007 Board of Directors Caremark Rx, Inc.
211 Commerce Street, Suite 800 Nashville, Tennessee 37201 Ladies
and Gentlemen: Since our initial proposal to you more than seven
weeks ago, setting out the terms of our proposed acquisition of
Caremark Rx, Inc., Caremark stockholders and the marketplace as a
whole have demonstrated their strong support for our offer. It
clearly provides Caremark stockholders with superior value to the
proposed acquisition of Caremark by CVS Corporation. We feel that
it is time to sit down and discuss our superior proposal to acquire
Caremark. We are ready, willing and able to commence confirmatory
due diligence immediately, and with your cooperation should be able
to complete the process in a few weeks. It is time to level the
playing field and negotiate a transaction that would create
superior value and benefits for our respective stockholders, plan
sponsors and patients. Over the past weeks, we have had the
opportunity to meet with many of your stockholders across the
country as we explained the benefits of an Express Scripts/Caremark
combination to stockholders, plan sponsors and patients. We have
also met with many of our stockholders. The consensus has been
clear -- Caremark and Express Scripts stockholders have clearly
stated their desire to see Caremark and Express Scripts sit down at
the table and talk. In light of this, it is not too late to begin
discussions regarding our offer, nor is it necessary to bring the
CVS proposal to a vote of your stockholders on February 20th 2007.
We do not believe that rushing your stockholders to a vote on such
an important question is in the best interests of your Board or
your stockholders. In any case, we strongly believe that there will
be only one result at this meeting -- the rejection of the CVS
transaction by Caremark's stockholders. Let me reiterate that we
and our advisors are ready to meet with you and your advisors at
any time to discuss our offer and to answer any questions you or
they may have. We look forward to hearing from you so that we can
promptly begin working together to bring about the best outcome for
our respective stockholders. Sincerely, /s/ George Paz George Paz
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board Safe
Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking
statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to
the Company's plans, objectives, expectations (financial and
otherwise) or intentions. Actual results may differ significantly
from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking
statements. Factors that may impact these forward-looking
statements include but are not limited to: * uncertainties
associated with our acquisitions, which include integration risks
and costs, uncertainties associated with client retention and
repricing of client contracts, and uncertainties associated with
the operations of acquired businesses * costs and uncertainties of
adverse results in litigation, including a number of pending class
action cases that challenge certain of our business practices *
investigations of certain PBM practices and pharmaceutical pricing,
marketing and distribution practices currently being conducted by
the U.S. Attorney offices in Philadelphia and Boston, and by other
regulatory agencies including the Department of Labor, and various
state attorneys general * changes in average wholesale prices
("AWP"), which could reduce prices and margins, including the
impact of a proposed settlement in a class action case involving
First DataBank, an AWP reporting service * uncertainties regarding
the implementation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug
benefit, including the financial impact to us to the extent that we
participate in the program on a risk-bearing basis, uncertainties
of client or member losses to other providers under Medicare Part
D, and increased regulatory risk * uncertainties associated with
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid's ("CMS") implementation
of the Medicare Part B Competitive Acquisition Program ("CAP"),
including the potential loss of clients/revenues to providers
choosing to participate in the CAP * our ability to maintain growth
rates, or to control operating or capital costs * continued
pressure on margins resulting from client demands for lower prices,
enhanced service offerings and/or higher service levels, and the
possible termination of, or unfavorable modification to, contracts
with key clients or providers * competition in the PBM and
specialty pharmacy industries, and our ability to consummate
contract negotiations with prospective clients, as well as
competition from new competitors offering services that may in
whole or in part replace services that we now provide to our
customers * results in regulatory matters, the adoption of new
legislation or regulations (including increased costs associated
with compliance with new laws and regulations), more aggressive
enforcement of existing legislation or regulations, or a change in
the interpretation of existing legislation or regulations *
increased compliance relating to our contracts with the DoD TRICARE
Management Activity and various state governments and agencies *
the possible loss, or adverse modification of the terms, of
relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, or changes in
pricing, discount or other practices of pharmaceutical
manufacturers or interruption of the supply of any pharmaceutical
products * the possible loss, or adverse modification of the terms,
of contracts with pharmacies in our retail pharmacy network * the
use and protection of the intellectual property we use in our
business * our leverage and debt service obligations, including the
effect of certain covenants in our borrowing agreements * our
ability to continue to develop new products, services and delivery
channels * general developments in the health care industry,
including the impact of increases in health care costs, changes in
drug utilization and cost patterns and introductions of new drugs *
increase in credit risk relative to our clients due to adverse
economic trends * our ability to attract and retain qualified
personnel * other risks described from time to time in our filings
with the SEC Risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed
transaction that may impact forward-looking statements include but
are not limited to: * Express Scripts and Caremark may not enter
into any definitive agreement with respect to the proposed
transaction * required regulatory approvals may not be obtained in
a timely manner, if at all * the proposed transaction may not be
consummated * the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction
may not be realized * the integration of Caremark's operations with
Express Scripts may be materially delayed or may be more costly or
difficult than expected * the proposed transaction would materially
increase leverage and debt service obligations, including the
effect of certain covenants in any new borrowing agreements. We do
not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to
such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events. Important Information Express Scripts has filed a proxy
statement in connection with Caremark's special meeting of
stockholders at which the Caremark stockholders will consider the
CVS Merger Agreement and matters in connection therewith. Express
Scripts stockholders are strongly advised to read that proxy
statement and the accompanying form of GOLD proxy card, as they
contain important information. Express Scripts also intends to file
a proxy statement in connection with Caremark's annual meeting of
stockholders at which the Caremark stockholders will vote on the
election of directors to the board of directors of Caremark.
Express Scripts stockholders are strongly advised to read this
proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card when they become
available, as each will contain important information. Stockholders
may obtain each proxy statement, proxy card and any amendments or
supplements thereto which are or will be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC") free of charge at the SEC's website
(http://www.sec.gov/) or by directing a request to MacKenzie
Partners, Inc., at 800-322-2885 or by email at . In addition, this
material is not a substitute for the prospectus/offer to exchange
and registration statement that Express Scripts has filed with the
SEC regarding its exchange offer for all of the outstanding shares
of common stock of Caremark. Investors and security holders are
urged to read these documents, all other applicable documents, and
any amendments or supplements thereto when they become available,
because each contains or will contain important information. Such
documents are or will be available free of charge at the SEC's
website (http://www.sec.gov/) or by directing a request to
MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at 800-322-2885 or by email at . Express
Scripts and its directors, executive officers and other employees
may be deemed to be participants in any solicitation of Express
Scripts or Caremark shareholders in connection with the proposed
transaction. Information about Express Scripts' directors and
executive officers is available in Express Scripts' proxy
statement, dated April 18, 2006, filed in connection with its 2006
annual meeting of stockholders. Additional information about the
interests of potential participants is included in the proxy
statement filed in connection with Caremark's special meeting to
approve the proposed merger with CVS and will be included in any
proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction. We have also
filed additional information regarding our solicitation of
stockholders with respect to Caremark's annual meeting on a
Schedule 14A pursuant to Rule 14a-12 on January 9, 2007. About
Express Scripts Express Scripts, Inc. is one of the largest PBM
companies in North America, providing PBM services to over 50
million members. Express Scripts serves thousands of client groups,
including managed-care organizations, insurance carriers,
employers, third-party administrators, public sector, and
union-sponsored benefit plans. Express Scripts provides integrated
PBM services, including network-pharmacy claims processing, home
delivery services, benefit-design consultation, drug-utilization
review, formulary management, disease management, and medical- and
drug-data analysis services. The Company also distributes a full
range of injectable and infusion biopharmaceutical products
directly to patients or their physicians, and provides extensive
cost-management and patient-care services. Express Scripts is
headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. More information can be found
at http://www.express-scripts.com/, which includes expanded
investor information and resources. Investor Contacts: Edward
Stiften, Chief Financial Officer David Myers, Vice President,
Investor Relations (314) 702-7173 Steve Balet / Laurie Connell
MacKenzie Partners, Inc. (212) 929-5500 Media Contacts: Steve
Littlejohn, Vice President, Public Affairs (314) 702-7556 Joele
Frank / Steve Frankel Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher (212)
355-4449 DATASOURCE: Express Scripts, Inc. CONTACT: Investor,
Edward Stiften, Chief Financial Officer, or David Myers, Vice
President, Investor Relations, both of Express Scripts, Inc.,
+1-314-702-7173; or Steve Balet, or Laurie Connell, both of
MacKenzie Partners, Inc., +1-212-929-5500, for Express Scripts,
Inc.; or Media, Steve Littlejohn, Vice President, Public Affairs,
of Express Scripts, Inc., +1-314-702-7556; or Joele Frank, or Steve
Frankel, both of Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher,
+1-212-355-4449, for Express Scripts, Inc. Web site:
http://www.express-scripts.com/
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